SKZ Writing prompts

Blade or Poison - Minsungjin (pt.1)

Is the effects simply visible all the time?
Is it less dangerous the less seen?
Just because you don't recognise it doesn't mean it isn't there, tearing you apart bit by bit.

~

Han smiled, watching Hyunjin and Minho arm wrestle. He was the lankiest of the three so he usually never challenged either, but the other two were always going against each other, eager to prove they had superior strength. Han thought they were being ridiculous but he didn't do anything to interfere.

It felt good to just lay back and watch his closest friends fight because he knew that they were all too tightly knitted together to ever break apart from one argument. 

In fact, their three-way friendship felt so perfect that Han sometimes claimed that it was fated to be, that their mothers would chance upon one another and thus their sons hung out together often. Their connection was so fluid that Minho would joke that they were soulmates.

And each and every time, Hyunjin would snort, grunting about the ridiculousness of Minho's statement, yet he would always grin. Han wouldn't say anything but he would simply laugh softly, calling off the squabbles.

Hyunjin was ever the sassy dramatic delinquent. Of course the responsibility fell on Han to keep the little pest out of trouble. Minho was no better, encouraging the fool to keep causing trouble and so Han felt like an exhausted mother taking care of two insufferable kids. Ironically, he was the youngest.

Hyunjin took the liberty to make things difficult for Han but in the end, Han would always chase the older down and chastise him.

"Yah!" Minho was glaring icily at Hyunjin, who had two hands over the oldest's and pinned the back of Minho's hand to the table.

Hyunjin smiled sheepishly. Minho turned to Han, "Hannie! He cheated! Punish him!" 

Hyunjin yelped and extracted his hand from Minho's vice grip. The oldest merely grinned evilly as Han chirped, "Alrighty!" Han leapt from his seat and tickled Hyunjin. The older writhed under him and laughed painfully.

"St-stop! Ji Ji! STAWWWWP! STAPP!" Hyunjin's face was reddening with every second and Han was giggling so hard that he was struggling to focus on tickling the older.

Finally, Hyunjin managed to overpower Han, grabbing his wrists and flipping them over on the bench. They disappeared below the table sight and Minho stood up to peer over at the pair.

Hyunjin was panting heavily, his grip on Han's wrist unrelenting. Hyunjin teased, "This is what you get for trying to tickle me, Hannie."

Beyond that smile, Han could see a glint of something...more. Han shook his head clearing his thoughts and grunted as he wrenched his hands away from Hyunjin. Han managed a smile, "Hyunnie, it's almost time for dinner, you should start heading off since you live further away from here."

Minho only sat at the table, cocking an eyebrow at the scene that played out in front of him, with faint amusement. Hyunjin, disgruntled, agreed and got his bag to leave. Before doing so, he slapped both Han and Minho on the head, "Goodbye, you idiots."

Minho clenched his fist and shook it in front of Hyunjin's face, "You be careful, imp, I'm older than you!"

Hyunjin's laugh was cut short by Minho snarling lowly. Only then did he yelp and make a break for it, sprinting down the street towards his house. Minho tsk-ed at Hyunjin back and rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance, "Honestly, he's such a thorn in my side."

Han raised a brow, "You're not serious." His breath was caught in his throat.

Minho went from staring dazedly past Han's shoulder to locking in an intense eye contact with Han. Han shivered slightly as Minho's eyes darkened. It happened so quickly Han was convinced he had hallucinated it, but something in Minho's voice made Han rethink it.

"Of course I'm not serious, Han," his eyes softened and his frown curled into a soft smile, "I just have a bad feeling about him-" Minho cracked his knuckles,- "he's not good for you, Han. You can't clean up his mess for him forever, Ji. He has to learn to behave or else his influence is going impact the both of us negatively."

Han blinked hard, not believing his childhood friend had said that. Especially about Hyunjin, who had been there for them for 10 years now. "Y- how could you say that, Minho? Hyunjin doesn't mean us any harm!"

Minho tore his gaze from Han's eyes, apparent frustration flickering in his eyes. He stood up, hands slamming onto the table, startling Han's attention back to him, "Think what you want, Han. Hyunjin's influence is going to start festering within you, whether you like it or not, whether you are aware of it, or not."

Minho stalked away from the table, bag in tow. Han just stared after his friend, mouth slightly agape.

-

"Jisung!"

Han sighed, "What?!"

Silence. (if this is not relatable, you're lucky istg)

"WHAT?"

Silence.

Groaning, Han inched off of his bed and headed for the kitchen. His mother was at the doorway of the kitchen, hands on her hips, awaiting him. Han copied her pose and asked in his sassiest tone, "What?"

"I have a surplus of food, so do Min and Jin wanna come over? Dinner's on me," she gave Han a knowing look, "plus when have they ever paid for food in this household?"

Han made a funny face, "Probably never," then his face fell as he thought about yesterday's events. No doubt Minho would be hostile. At best, he would hide it masterfully but Hyunjin would be none the wiser and Han felt bad for not sharing what Minho had told him with his close friend, "sure..I'll ask them."

Han scurried back to his bedroom and flopped onto his bed, opening his group chat. As usual, there were at least a dozen memes sent from Hyunjin and all were read by Minho. Both were offline. 

So Han sent a simple text.

Han: hey guys, wanna come over for dinner

Han: it's on my mum

He wasn't sure what he expected but it sure wasn't that both would be on almost instantly after he sent the first text. Both started typing at the same time. And sent a reply at the same time.

If Han didn't know better, he would've thought it was funny.

Minho: ye sure

Hyunjin: OuO what foooood

Han snorted. Both's texting styles were so drastically different it was amusing. His question was how Hyunjin managed to type all o' that in the same time it took Minho to write his short answer.

Han tossed his phone aside and charged for the kitchen.

- 

Han: its assorted dishes

Han: like chicken wings, chicken stew, salted corn

Minho: why

Hyunjin replying to 'like chick-': yeeeeeeeee

Han replying to 'why': 2 much food

Minho: oh

Hyunjin: count me INNNNNN

Han: aight be here by 7

Minho reacted to 'aight be h-': 👍

Hyunjin replying to 'aight be h-': ;D ofcc

Han let out a sigh of relief. At least Minho wasn't making a fuss. Hopefully his outburst yesterday was due to stress.

[1143 words]