Horizon | C.JH , K.YS | rewrite

{6}

Days had passed since Yeosang last encountered Jongho. Despite the calmness settling over him, he remained vigilant, constantly on guard for any sign of Minwoo's presence. His routine now revolved around outings with Wooyoung, a stark departure from his previous life.

Physically, Yeosang was healing well; the scars had faded, but the emotional wounds still lingered, often haunting him in the quiet of night. Despite Jongho's offer to reach out if needed, Yeosang couldn't bring himself to text him. His number sat saved in Yeosang's phone, a silent reminder of an unspoken debt.

Though he berated himself for his lack of gratitude, Yeosang couldn't muster the courage to send a simple thank you. Instead, he chose to move forward, hoping to leave that chapter of his life behind. Deep down, however, he harboured a lingering suspicion—that Jongho might reappear unexpectedly, just as he had that fateful night at the store.

As Yeosang idly sketched doodles on a scrap of paper, the jingle of the store bell announced a visitor. Without lifting his gaze, Yeosang offered a muted greeting, engrossed in his whimsical creation dubbed "Hehetmon."

It took the newcomer a few moments to locate their desired items, eventually placing them on the counter for checkout. Yeosang rose from his seat, scanning the barcode on a packet of sweets before reaching for a carton of strawberry milk.

"I think I recognize you," the deep voice of the customer broke the silence, prompting Yeosang to look up. Standing before him was the tall, orange-haired man from the encounter with Jongho on that fateful night. Yeosang arched an eyebrow before offering a small acknowledgment.

"Yeah, I remember you too," he replied, his tone tinged with awkwardness.

"You were the one we bumped into that night, weren't you?" the man inquired, and Yeosang nodded in confirmation.

The man's smile widened as he introduced himself. "I'm Mingi, Song Mingi."

Yeosang recognized the name from Jongho's mention, though he hadn't anticipated this animated, almost anime-like appearance.

"No need for formalities. Jongho—I mean, my boss—mentioned you," Mingi nodded.

Yeosang's brow furrowed with curiosity. Why would Jongho talk about him?

Mingi elaborated, "The other guy who escorted you home was San. Despite his cold-ish personality, he's not as icy as he seems. Quite the opposite, actually."

Yeosang nodded thoughtfully, recalling the stern countenances of both Jongho and San. "Oh, cool. But what exactly did Jongho say about me?" Anxiety crept into Yeosang's voice as he pondered the possibilities. What if Jongho had been plotting something sinister?

"Oh, he was just mentioning you to Hongjoong," Mingi clarified.

Hongjoong? Yeosang's mind raced with questions about this new figure. Was he another associate of Jongho's?

Relief flooded Yeosang as he realised he wasn't in imminent danger, but Mingi's next words sparked a new concern. "But he did wonder why you didn't text him, from what I remember."

Yeosang's eyes widened in surprise. "What?" The words slipped out before he could stop them.

Mingi nodded casually. "Yeah. Jongho and Hongjoong were discussing it."

Wait, were Jongho and Hongjoong... together? The thought flitted across Yeosang's mind, but Mingi swiftly dispelled it. "Oh, no. They aren't a couple. Hongjoong is just his right hand."

Yeosang cringed inwardly at his inadvertent comment. Did he just say that out loud? Mingi's chuckle confirmed his fear.

"Yeah, you did," Mingi confirmed with a grin.