YOON | Prequel to THE8

THREE

| CHAPTER THREE |

3 days pass.

Jeonghan leans against the brick wall, staring at the payphone across from him like it's his world's worst enemy.

He'd managed to scrape up a few coins, fiddles them across each finger as his mind runs wild, fighting him, yet screaming at him what he should do.

Jeonghan stares at the card in his free hand, zones out at the phone number.

And then he's walking forward, lifting the phone off the stand and bringing it to his ear. He tosses the coins in the slot and stares at the phone number in his hold while he types, and he doesn't realize he's actually gone through with everything until the low ring of the receiver hits his eardrum.

Jeonghan swallows, crumbling the card and stuffing it back in his pocket.

The person answers fast.

"You really called." Is the first thing Jeonghan hears from Seungcheol, and he looks around at the few people out tonight, holding the phone closer to his ear.

Seungcheol's voice is very distinct. Even though they've only met once, Jeonghan's got it down.

"I really called."

"Why?"

"You told me to." Jeonghan parts his lips, "But, why?"

Seungcheol chuckles on the other end of the call, "You interest me." He says, and Jeonghan hears muffled voices before the sound of a door closing follows, "I want you."

Jeonghan blinks, moving the phone to his other ear, "I hope you know I'm not some prize to be won."

Seungcheol hums, "That's not what I mean." He explains.

Jeonghan rolls his eyes, "Then, what are you talking about? Tell me I didn't go out of my way for a prank call."

"I'm saying—" Seungcheol sighs, "I'm saying I want you... to join me."

"To... join you?" Jeonghan repeats, brows furrowed. He slips another coin in the slot when the phone starts to beep, "What do you mean join you?"

"Let's see... you're good at picking locks, you seem fit, you're clever, you break into hotels and make a room your own... you're special, I can tell." Seungcheol lists, and Jeonghan's cheeks go pink for a moment, "I'm saying you're smart. You're useful."

"Useful?" Jeonghan sounds like an echo, "What, do you need me for a contest? I told you, I'm not a prize."

"Don't take it that way."

"How else am I supposed to take it?" Jeonghan asks, leaning against the payphone box, "You break into the hotel I did, telling me you want to know me, leaving me with a number to call, and then now you're sitting here and telling me how much you want me. For all I know, you could be a serial killer."

"Honey.... or, what'd you end up telling me? Daeho, was it?" Seungcheol laughs. Jeonghan rolls his eyes, "If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it the second I locked eyes with you. Got it?"

Jeonghan gulps, "What do you want with me?"

"Like I said, I want you. We need you."

"We?" Jeonghan's face sours.

"My friend who was waiting in the car." Seungcheol says.

"Your father?"

"Father figure." Seungcheol corrects, "Look, I can promise you endless things. Just meet with me, and you'll have a roof over your head. You'll have lots of food and you'll be off the streets if you just agree."

"What am I agreeing to?" Jeonghan asks, "You keep dancing around the question."

"I can't say over the phone. We don't know who could be listening." Seungcheol tells him, "Meet me at that old abandoned building near the far end of Incheon tonight. Just off the field. I'll explain everything."

"I don't—" Jeonghan plays with the crumbled up card in his pocket, "I don't know..."

"Look, you don't have to say yes. Just meet with me. Hear me out."

Jeonghan ponders over what to do. He could stay right where he is and live the life he's been living for the past year. Endless hotel rooms and free food and showers...

Or he could be risky and take Seungcheol up on this opportunity, can take a leap forward into something strange because doing something is better than nothing.

In the end, he does something stupid.

He agrees.

"I'll see you soon."

"Bye bye, princess."

The phone call ends.