SILENCE | ATEEZ

17 | I'm Coming Home, To You

Jongho was not an intelligent student even when he poured everything into studying.

Born in a family that consists mostly of people who have many achievements tied to their names, his life wasn't actually easy. Constantly being reminded of his priorities and the family's pride had shaped him to be an angry, rebellious man. It's not like he didn't try, he had done everything to be the person that they wanted him to be. He had thrown his youth, his childhood, everything good that had happened to him away just to fit the story that they had written about how his entire life should be.

Jongho had loathed his old man. When he had stepped out from the mansion, he promised himself one thing, and that is to never step back here again no matter how hard life is for him. He had turned against his own family, and he had never been happier. For a moment, he finally breathed. He thought he was finally free.

That was until the virus had spread, eating the world bit by bit.

His eyes rapidly open as he feels a nudge on his shoulder. The sight of Elenna's right hand appears in front of his face, holding out a small chunk of bread. Elenna herself is munching something with her mouth. Seeing how Jongho does not react as she holds out the bread, her lips break into a small sheepish smile.

"It's kinda hard to find food so if you don't want this then I'll just—"

Jongho snatches the bread and directly shoves it in his mouth as Elenna lets out a little chuckle before taking a seat on his side. They had been in this little hideout for three hours. Jongho found the space and thought that it was safe to hide in it for the time being. Yeosang had only agreed, considering they had Elenna to protect.

Now it's only both of them as Yeosang had left to look for more weapons or kits for them. Elenna sighs as she relaxes her body against the walk behind them, taking in the rubbles view in front of them. She feels a little funny but decides to go against laughing, as it seems like not a really good time to crack a joke to him.

"You thinking about something?" She asks, not hoping for any answer, clearly surprised when she sees Jongho responding.

"Escape."

"What?"

"I'm thinking about escaping," his voice steady, as if waiting for her response to it. Considering how her brother had been against him from the start, he's not shocked if Elenna ended up having the same mindset.

"Is it possible?"

Jongho looks at the girl beside him. Elenna's brown curls caught his attention. He couldn't deny that she indeed looks more or less like her brother, but instead of having the strong personality and aura like Mingi himself, Elenna represents more of soft, feminine energy. Anyone who's around her has this sense of responsibility to make sure she's safe, not just because of how fragile she looks, but just how overall Elenna is.

Too kind. Too forgiving. Too fragile to survive in a world full of chaos.

"Don't you see it?" Jongho's voice rings in both of her ears, "everything that happens here in VESTRA, every second of it doesn't feel.. right."

"Wasn't it always like this? I mean the organisation itself doesn't seem legit so believe it or not, I never did take any of these seriously," she says, for a moment wondering if any of the staff could hear their conversations.

"That's not what I mean."

Elenna sighs, turning to nudge him in the shoulder again as Jongho keeps a straight face in front, "then enlighten me please."

"The trials. The tests and drugs they have been giving us. They don't feel real," he continues, taking a moment to articulate his thoughts, "everytime they inject those drugs.. shit, I don't know how to say this but I just don't feel like they are actually doing it, if you get what I mean."