New life || SKZ

14

  After days of meticulous preparation for their upcoming concert, the eight members of the group finally arrived in Busan, South Korea. As they disembarked the plane, a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air.

Chan began a headcount, his voice echoing through the bustling airport terminal. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... Who's missing?" he inquired, a hint of concern in his voice. "Jeongin needed to use the bathroom. I saw him run off," Jisung replied, his fingers tapping away at a video game on his phone.

Chan rolled his eyes, a wry smile playing across his lips. He turned to Minho and Changbin and instructed them to keep an eye on the remaining members while he searched for the missing Jeongin.

Chan made his way to the nearest restroom, but Jeongin was nowhere to be found. Undeterred, he ventured deeper into the airport, his footsteps echoing in the vastness of the terminal.

Finally, he spotted Jeongin in the corner of a candy shop, his thumb in his mouth as he rocked back and forth, one of his arms wrapped tightly around his legs. "Jeongin?" Chan called out, his voice filled with a mix of concern and amusement. Faint sobs and incoherent mumblings met his ears. "Innie, are you okay?" Chan asked, gently pulling Jeongin into a comforting embrace.

The hug lingered longer than usual, the absence of other shoppers in the quiet candy shop created a sense of closeness. Chan held Jeongin close, as Jeongin lifted his head, Chan's eyes meeting Jeongin's as he silently inquired about the cause of his distress. Jeongin simply looked up at Chan, his eyes filled with an unspoken plea. Chan couldn't help but find Jeongin's appearance, complete with the thumb in his mouth, endearingly childlike.

......

After moments of staring at each other Chan managed to get Jeongin up and start walking toward the rest of the group. throughout the whole walk Jeongin was walking slow and pouting the whole time, something Chan never seen with Jeongin.

As they walked up to the six boys the were seen eating subway with stuffed faces.

"Chan and jeongin, We got you some food too!" Seungmin said.

Chan smiled while pulling and seat out for jeongin.

"Jeongin are you gonna eat?" Chan asked. Jeongin just pouted and continue to sit there, crisscross applesauce, looking into the void.

6 hours later

"Okay everyone y'all know the drill pick up partner, but the two youngest get their own room!" Chan announce opening the door to their rented out air bnb. Slowing jeongin walking to his room while Chan watched him from afar. A few hours passed and it was getting dark and Jeongin had not come out of his room.

"Hello?" Chan knocked on Jeongin's door. No answer. After waiting for some type of response Chan decided just to open the door instead of waiting. The first thing Chan saw was Jeongin curled up in a ball with and thumb in his mouth. It seemed like he was in a deep sleep so Chan was getting ready to leave but he couldn't stop staring. He thought the younger looked quite cute and wondered if he had always been like that.

As Chan stood in the doorway, a wave of warmth spread through him as he observed Jeongin's serene expression, the soft rise and fall of the younger's chest a rhythmic lullaby. It wasn't unusual for Jeongin to be shy or withdrawn, especially in new environments, but tonight felt different. Outside, the city of Busan buzzed with life, but here was a cocoon of quiet privacy.

Chan stepped softly into the room, careful not to disrupt Jeongin's peaceful slumber. It was a small space, but it felt lively nonetheless—much like the boy asleep within. Chan couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself. The sight of Jeongin, curled up with his thumb in his mouth, reminded him of how young Jeongin truly was, despite being a part of such a high-pressure industry. He felt a sudden surge of protectiveness wash over him.

After silently debating for a moment, Chan grabbed a blanket from the armchair in the corner and draped it gently over Jeongin. The soft weight stirred Jeongin slightly, but he merely nuzzled deeper into his sleep, pouting a little before settling again. Chan took a moment to sit on the floor across from him, leaning against the bed's edge, letting himself relax while watching over his friend.

"Hey, Innie," Chan whispered softly, breaking the silence. "You'll be okay."

The door creaked open, and Minho peeked his head in, his eyes landing on Chan. "Is he awake?" he asked quietly, noticing the tranquil scene before him.

"Not yet," Chan replied, motioning for him to lower his voice. "I think he just needs some time."

Minho shrugged, walking over and sitting cross-legged next to Chan. "You're really good with him, you know? Sometimes I feel like you're the only one he listens to."

Chan smiled, glancing down at Jeongin and recalling the bond they'd forged over time. "I guess it's because we share a lot of the same fears," Chan admitted. "He's really brave, though. It's hard being in the spotlight at his age."

As if summoned by the conversation, Jeongin stirred again, his eyes fluttering open to reveal those sly, fox-like eyes. He blinked several times, confusion settling on his face as he took in the sight of Chan and Minho before him.

"Hey, sleepyhead," Chan said, his voice gentle as if addressing a delicate flower. "Welcome back to the land of the awake."

Jeongin groaned, rubbing his eyes and taking a moment to process. "What time is it?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

"Almost 8," Minho answered, a teasing glint in his eyes. "We thought you might be hibernating."

"I wasn't hibernating!" Jeongin protested in a much baby like matter, though it sounded rather unconvincing. He sat up, pulling the blanket tighter around his shoulders, his expression still a mixture of sleepiness and mild defiance.

Chan hoped the coaxing tone in his voice would help. "How about we go grab some more food? I think everyone's still hungry. Plus, I think Seungmin packed some snacks for you."

At the mention of food, Jeongin's expression brightened slightly, the shadow of earlier distress beginning to lift. "Snacks?" The word seemed to reinvigorate him, and he swiftly pulled himself off the bed, stretching like a cat.

"Let me change," Jeongin said, suddenly bubbling with youthful energy. "I'll be quick!"

Minho shared a pleased glance with Chan as they both rose, retreating towards the door. "You've got this, manager Chan," Minho teased lightly, and Chan smirked in response.

As Jeongin darted into the bathroom, Chan picked up the stray clothes on the floor, straightening the small mess before making his way back to Minho who was waiting in the living area.

"So he's okay now?" Minho reassured as they both leaned against the wall, their relaxed postures reflecting their camaraderie. "You should have seen the way he looked at you. I think he sees you as his anchor."

Chan chuckled at this. "Let's just hope it stays that way. I'd rather he didn't float off to another candy shop."

Minho rolled his eyes playfully. "Next concert, we'll keep all candy shops off the itinerary!"

Just then, Jeongin appeared, looking adorable in a much brighter outfit, a small grin sneaking across his face. "Let's go, I'm starving!"

_________

Thank you depressingshitylife for taking me out of my writer's block.

Your suggestion really hoped me to back to finishing this book. although it's not at the point right now, throughout the chapters it will make more sense! :)