The Beauty and the Beast (Seventeen Meanie story)

Chapter 20 - To The Rescue!

A/N: Good news: I'm officially done with the school year so from now on I'm updating the book on Wednesdays and on Sundays!

Kinda bad news: only a few chapters left of this book.

Random TMI: I scheduled this post last night extremely sugar-high so I'm sorry if there are any errors, eh I'm tired lol

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'Are you okay?' asked Jisoo once they finally stopped Seokmin's nose from bleeding where previously the door hit him in the face. They were sitting on the floor of Wonwoo's living room and Seokmin was pinching his nose with a tissue.

'Yeah, it's fine now' said the younger. Meanwhile the yelling outside got louder, and Jisoo really wanted to see what was going on, but he also couldn't just leave Seokmin alone with a bleeding nose.

'We need to check Wonwoo and Seungcheol, they can't take Cheol away!' said Jisoo. He was about to stand up, but Seokmin caught his arm.

'Hyung... thanks' he said quietly. Jisoo looked at him confusedly.

'For what?'

'You know... for helping now... and for following me when I went to find Cheol hyung on my own' said Seokmin awkwardly. Jisoo sighed.

'It's nothing, Minnie. We are friends, that's what friends do' he said, having a bitter taste in his mouth as he said the word friends. It reminded both of them of what happened previously when Seungcheol yelled at them for being cowards even to confess. Little did they know, he was talking to both of them.

Seokmin inhaled deeply, his hold on Jisoo's hand tightening. He couldn't divert his gaze from the older's doe eyes and he subconsciously reached out with his free hand to smooth a stray strand of hair behind Jisoo's ear. Jisoo gulped. He is being friendly, he told himself, but he couldn't help it as he leaned closer, his gaze wandering down to Seokmin's lips he wanted to kiss so bad. Weirdly enough it looked like if the other was leaning in too and both of them tilted their heads slightly.

Then suddenly a loud yell from outside cut them off and they just realized their surroundings. Seungcheol is about to be taken away, Wonwoo is trying his best to save him, while they are here in their own bubble... whatever that bubble was.

Jisoo quickly stumbled back awkwardly and stood up, reaching his hand for Seokmin to help him up. The younger accepted it without a second thought, the two of them making their way over to the window. Their eyes widened when they saw the crowd with torches, looking like some kind of cult. Gyeongsu was talking to them loudly with a mirror in his hand and they just witnessed Wonwoo being shoved inside an old carriage and being locked up.

'Oh my gosh' whispered Seokmin. Then suddenly the crowd broke out in loud cheers and began marching in one direction with the leading of Gyeongsu who quickly got on his horse. They went towards the forest, leaving the old carriage behind with a man guarding it.

'Shit, that's not good' shook his head Jisoo.

'We need to save them!' said Seokmin.

They got their capes and quickly went outside, hiding behind a wall to keep an eye on the guard and the carriage. Suddenly Seokmin got an idea and began running towards the carriage.

'Seok, no!' whisper-yelled Jisoo. The younger reached the two horses that were supposed to pull the carriage, and quickly working on their equipment he set one of them free. It didn't take the horse a second to realize her freedom and with a loud neigh she began galloping towards one of the streets.

'Oh shit!' exclaimed the guard and he began running after the horse. Seokmin gestured to Jisoo to catch up to him and they continued sneaking around the carriage.

'Smart' said Jisoo. Seokmin shrugged, slightly blushing at the compliment. They reached the gridded door of the carriage.

'Wonwoo hyung!' whisper-yelled Seokmin.

'Seok-ah!' came Wonwoo's voice from the inside and he and Seungcheol crawled to the door of the carriage in relief. 'We need to get out! Guys, I know that it sounds insane, but we need to save the beast!' begged Wonwoo. 'He is not the bad guy here! Gyeongsu is the bad guy!'

'I think that's obvious' said Jisoo and he pulled out a hairpin from his hair, beginning to fidget with the lock.

Seungcheol looked at Wonwoo from the corner of his eye, looking at his disheveled attire, his suit that he wore for the dinner earlier with Mingyu.

'Wonu... you really love him, don't you?' he asked quietly. Wonwoo looked into the eyes of his brother and slowly nodded.

'I do.'

Suddenly there was a click and the door of the carriage opened.

'Quick, Wonwoo-yah, let's go before the guard comes back!' said Jisoo. Wonwoo jumped out of the carriage and hugged Jisoo quickly.

'Thank you so much' he whispered.

'I'm going with you' said Seungcheol, then hissed at the pain in his leg. His wound started bleeding again.

'You're not going anywhere, Seungcheol!' said Jisoo strictly. 'I'm treating your leg, you are staying here and that's final! Jeez, you keep injuring yourself every time you get out of my sight!' he shook his head in disapproval.

'But Won-'

'Wonwoo is a big boy, he can protect himself!' said Jisoo.

'And I'll be there for him' said suddenly Seokmin, arriving back with Wonwoo's horse Philippe and a random horse. Jisoo was about to question where he got the horse from, but then he remembered of the other horse in front of the carriage and waved it off.

'I don't have time to argue with that' sighed Wonwoo and took Philippe over from Seokmin. He quickly hugged Seungcheol.

'Jisoo hyung will take care of you, hyung. I'll be back soon' he promised and climbed on Philippe's back.

Seokmin was about to get on his (stolen) horse, but he suddenly stopped in his movement. He turned around and with two quick steps he went up to Jisoo. Not knowing where the sudden confidence came from, he cupped the confused boy's face with his hands and leaned in, pressing their lips together for a few seconds.

'I'll see you later, hyung' he said shyly and turned away, rushing back to his horse and climbing on its back. Wonwoo and Seokmin both nudged their horses and soon they disappeared into the night.

Jisoo stood there with wide eyes, touching his lips with his fingertips subconsciously.

'Took you idiots long enough' groaned Seungcheol before limping back towards their house.