Murder at the Masquerade | Minsung

Shopping [7]

It was a few hours after Chan had made him go to sleep when Minho woke up. He looked over at his clock, the glowing red numbers showing '4:00' he thought for a moment about why he would be up at 4:00am before hearing a noise coming from outside his room.

He opened the door and looked across the dark hallway to see the lights in his closet on. Curiously, he walked over to it and saw that one of the change room doors closed which were usually left open.

"Jisung? Is that you?"

"Minho? Why aren't you asleep?"

"Because someone was being too loud while trying on my clothes," Minho says, annoyed.

"You wear dresses?"

"What?" Minho looks over to the dresses to see some missing from the rack

In that moment Minho's mind is running 1000 kilometres every second. He probably looks really pretty. But then his mind goes back to what Mr. Kang has said. Boys don't wear dresses. That little fag. Minho so desperately wants the thoughts to stop. They can't. They won't.

"Only girls should wear dresses," oh fuck that's not what he meant to say.

"Oh," Jisung says, his voice cracking from inside the change room, "sorry. I'll put them away now."

Minho watches Jisung hurry out of the changing room with an armful of dresses and his head down as he stood to the side contemplating whether he should apologize or just leave.

Jisung looked at Minho's apologetic face before scoffing and walking out.

By the time everyone woke up it was around 2:00pm and everyone was in the kitchen waiting for the last person to wake up. Minho.

He walked down the stairs in the same outfit that Jisung saw him with last night. He looked up and everyone saw his pale face and red eyes.

"Woah, Min you good?" Chan asked kindly.

"Oh piss off," he replied.

Why would he be crying? Jisung shifted awkwardly as Minho took the farthest seat from him, stumbling while getting sitting down.

"Anyways, Mr. Kang gave us our group name!" Chan announced excitedly.

"Ooo what is it?" Changbin asked.

"Stray Kids!"

An awkward silence filled the room before Jeongin spoke, "that's kinda weird I'm not gonna lie."

"Okay well I didn't choose it. Mr. Kang just told me to tell you guys that once we have eight people we will be referred to as Stray Kids," Chan explained.

"So we only need three more people?" Jisung asked.

"Yeah," Minho replied coldly.

"Damn alright Mr. Grumpy Pants. Don't have to be so cold."

Minho roles his eyes at Jisung and turns away. Instead looking at Changbin who sees his pale face turning slightly green, "woah, Minho. You are not looking too sharp."

"I'm fine I just need a little nap."

"Are you sick?" Jeongin asked.

"No I feel fine."

"Do you want me to get you some water or something to eat?"

"Ugh, no I'm fine how many times do I have tell you."

A sigh is heard from Chan as Minho walks off, "idiot."

"Is he always like this?" Jisung asks.

"No, it's only happened once before. It was right after Mr. Kang took his boyfriend who we haven't seen since." Jeongin explains, "both of the times it has made him really irritable and hard to be around."

" Do you want me to show you around the practice room?" Changbin offers to Jisung.

"Oh sure!"

The room has large, black soundproof walls and concrete flooring, some parts covered by black mats. There is a boxing ring in the centre of the room. On one of the walls there is the of armour and weapons. On another there is equipment for working out and exercising.

Although Jisung had briefly been in this room he hadn't had a good chance to concentrate on what it looks like because of the attractive shirtless man who is previously in the room.

"So how does it look?" Changbin asks, looking for approval.

"It looks great!" Jisung replies, "how often do you work out? Your physique is very impressive!"

"Oh thank you! I usually try to find time every day to work out. I work out with Chan most of the time, but sometimes he doesn't want to and I don't feel like going alone."

"Maybe I could be you and Chan's new workout buddy?!" Jisung suggests.

"Oh, definitely!" Changbin responds, "hey, are you going to go out shopping for clothes with Jongseob today?"

"Yeah, I think I will. Can you come too?"

"I have to do something with Chan today but you could ask Jeongin and Minho," he suggests.

"I got a strong feeling during breakfast that Minho doesn't want to be around me," Jisung says, "but I'll ask Jeongin."

The drive is about half an hour because the mall is in the main city. Jisung is getting drowned in questions about his style from an overly enthusiastic Jeongin.

They are getting near when they drive past Jisung and Hyunjin's studio. Jisung was supposed to go today. Hyunjin might be worried and call the police. Jisung thinks about asking Jongseob to drop him off there after they're done shopping and then Jisung can tell Hyunjin he has to leave earlier.

"Ji, you good?"

"Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine Jeongin. Thanks."

"No problem, you just look really deep in thought."

Jisung hums in response before Jongseob announces, "we're here."

They have been shopping for a while when Jisung notices the time. By now he has enough clothes and it's nearing the time that Jisung needs to be at the studio, "hey, Jongseob," he begins, "can we make another stop on the way home?"

"Sure!" he replies, "do you have enough clothes?"

"Yes, definitely. We should go now."

"Alright."

They stop at the studio where Jisung is meeting Hyunjin a couple minutes after the time he was supposed to be there.

"Hey Hyunjin," Jisung says as he walks in.

"Hi Ji," Hyunjin replies as he looks up from his computer, "why haven't you been answering my messages?"

Oh shit. Jisung had left his phone at home the night of the masquerade, "dropped it in the toilet. Hasn't been working well since."

Hyunjin nods, "I guess that makes sense. Just text me when you get a new one."

Jisung sits down beside him and looks at what Hyunjin has been working on, "let me have a listen."

^ - ^

Hi! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I've been pretty busy lately and that's why I haven't updated in a while.

Shit, the boys need me for the album.. text you later jagiya ❤️