Winter Falls || Lee Know ✓

🎓:The Festival Day

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The school festival was in full swing. The lively sounds of laughter, chatter, and music filled the air as students and teachers bustled about, setting up booths and decorations. Minho, Suhyun, Jisung, Hyunjin, and the rest of the group were all assigned different tasks by the teachers to help with the event. Suhyun was in charge of the art station, decorating banners and signs for the festival booths.

But, Suhyun being Suhyun, she had managed to dip her hand into a tray of bright paint while reaching for a brush.

"Ew! Look at my hand! I'm finally the first artist to paint myself!" she exclaimed, holding up her paint-covered fingers.

"Nice job, athlete," Minho teased, smirking at her with that familiar cocky grin.

"Oh, shut up!" Suhyun retorted, rolling her eyes playfully. "I'm going to go wash this off before I end up painting myself entirely."

Minho watched her head off toward the restroom, still smirking as she disappeared down the hallway. His attention shifted back to the group, focusing on helping Jisung set up another booth. The festival had only just begun, but the atmosphere was contagious with excitement.

Time flew by as Minho, Jisung, Hyunjin, and the rest of the group continued with their tasks. But after about 30 minutes, Minho realized something unsettling. Suhyun still hadn't returned.

He glanced around, feeling an unexpected twinge of unease. "Has anyone seen Suhyun?" he asked, looking at the others.

"No," Hyunjin replied, wiping his hands. "I thought she went to wash her hands?"

"She did. That was like...thirty minutes ago," Minho said, a frown forming on his face.

Jisung raised an eyebrow. "She's not back yet? Knowing her, she probably got distracted or is off plotting something ridiculous."

Minho wasn't convinced. Suhyun might be distracted easily, but she wouldn't just disappear like this. The uneasy feeling in his gut intensified. "I'm going to go check," Minho said, already heading toward the hallway where Suhyun had gone earlier.

"I'll come with you," Jisung said, his tone more serious now. Hyunjin followed without a word, sensing the sudden shift in Minho's mood.

Together, they searched the restroom and nearby halls. But Suhyun was nowhere to be found. Panic started to bubble beneath the surface, gnawing at Minho's thoughts as he and the others scoured the school. Room after room, hallway after hallway—there was no sign of her.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, Jisung jogged up to Minho, his expression tense. "Minho, Jiho's missing too."

Minho froze.

His heart dropped. A chilling realization hit him hard. He knew what Jiho was capable of. Jiho wasn't afraid of crossing lines, of hurting people, especially Minho. And if he was with Suhyun...

Hyunjin shared a concerned look with Jisung. "We've searched everywhere... except..."

"The storeroom," Minho whispered, his heart now hammering in his chest.

Without wasting another second, Minho sprinted down the hall, his pulse racing as he pushed through students and teachers alike, heading straight for the storeroom. He knew Jiho. He knew what kind of twisted satisfaction he might get from hurting someone Minho cared about. And Suhyun... she didn't deserve to be caught in Jiho's cruel games.

Reaching the storeroom, Minho shoved the door open with all his strength. His breath hitched at the sight before him.

There, against the back wall, was Jiho. He had Suhyun cornered, his hands gripping her bruised wrist tightly as she struggled to push him away. Her tear-streaked face was twisted in fear, and she was trembling under his control. Jiho's eyes held that twisted, cold satisfaction, leaning in too close for comfort. He was trying to touch her, his intentions clear.

It was too late. Minho's heart dropped at the realization that something had already happened—Suhyun's sobs and the fear in her eyes told him that much.

"Get away from her!" Minho's voice boomed through the room, filled with fury.

Jiho turned his head, his grin widening at the sight of Minho. "Ah, Minho. Right on time."

Minho took a step forward, fists clenched, wanting nothing more than to punch Jiho into the ground. But Suhyun's tear-filled gaze froze him. She was shaking, clutching her bruised wrist, completely vulnerable. Minho's rage collided with his need to protect her, and it was taking everything in him not to lose control.

Jiho smirked, stepping away from Suhyun slowly, as if daring Minho to do something. "Looks like I touched a nerve, huh?" he taunted. "She's quite the crybaby."

Minho's eyes were locked onto Jiho's every move, but he couldn't act recklessly. Not with Suhyun in this state.

"Leave, Jiho," Minho growled, his voice low and menacing.

But Jiho simply laughed, taking one last look at Suhyun before heading toward the door. "We'll see about that, Minho. I told you, I'll make sure to ruin your happiness."

As Jiho left the room, Minho's body relaxed just slightly, but the tension still weighed heavily on him. He rushed to Suhyun, kneeling down beside her.

"Suhyun..." His voice softened, filled with concern, but she flinched at his touch.

"D-don't touch me," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Minho swallowed hard, guilt overwhelming him. He didn't know what Jiho had done exactly, but seeing Suhyun like this—afraid, broken—it was unbearable. He carefully took off his jacket and placed it over her trembling shoulders, his touch gentle and cautious.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. "I'm so sorry...it's all my fault."

At first, Suhyun tried to pull away, still shaking, her face hidden behind her hands. But when Minho gently wrapped his arms around her in a protective embrace, the dam finally broke. She melted into his hug, her sobs growing louder as she clung to him, crying into his chest.

Minho held her tighter, whispering, "You're safe now. I promise."

And for a moment, despite the storm raging inside him, Minho stayed there, holding her close, knowing that whatever had just happened, he would never let Jiho touch her again.

To be continued~

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