The Cure [KNK + Monsta X]

CHAPTER 7

Wonho returned from his short trip to the stream. He entered the cave expecting the boys to be scattered on the floor and high. Instead, he found the younger ones gathered in one spot while Kihyun and Minhyuk were sitting down on the other side. Shownu was out of sight. Wonho went to the chamber where The Cure was boiling away. The scent was stronger than he remembered. He went to join the younger ones. Hyungwon, Changkyun and Jooheon were having a quiet discussion about something. It sounded serious.

But before Wonho could hear their conversation, someone screamed.

All of them turned their heads to the mouth of the cave where a not so small person was standing. His fists were clenched and his breath was deep and fast. Minhyuk stood up to approach the person. Minhyuk wasn't pleased by the surprise visit. Kihyun followed him, limping, with his hand behind his back - prepared to take out his gun.

"Hey, Oh Heejun! What are you doing here and shouting like a lunatic?!" Minhyuk barked and grabbed Heejun's collar.

Heejun resisted Minhyuk's force with yelp. Heejun's eyes were filled with tears yet his stare was filled with anger and hatred. Kihyun took out his gun but let his hand on his side. He knew Heejun wasn't really a threat to them. Heejun was a weak man - inside and out.

"You...you lied to me!" Heejun yelled.

"What crap are you talking about?" Minhyuk replied as he rolled his eyes.

"Youjin hyung is dead...," Heejun cried. "...all because of The Cure! You said it could cure anything! But it took Youjin hyung's life!"

There was a short pause. Except for Minhyuk, everyone was stunned to hear the news. Shownu appeared from a different chamber from the cave. After he heard Heejun's scream, he had to go out to see what was going on. Shownu approached them. A bead of tear rolled down his cheek and it dropped onto the ground.

"Wh-what?" Shownu spoke - his voice was raspy. "Youjin is...dead?"

Heejun shifted his sharp gaze to Minhyuk. Minhyuk began to smirk and crossed his arms in front of him. He began to chuckle and ended up laughing hysterically. They stared at him as he laughed his guts out. Heejun clenched his jaw. His fingers turned white. Shownu was annoyed at how Minhyuk reacted to the news. Youjin and Shownu were good friends when they were little. Somehow, they drifted apart and ended up being enemies until now. Even so, Shownu cared about Youjin a lot.

Shownu shoved Minhyuk onto the ground but he kept on laughing. Kihyun took a step back. He was hesitating whether to drop his gun or not. Changkyun mustered up enough courage and went to Heejun's side. He patted Heejun's shoulder and tried to talk him. He wanted to take Heejun away from Minhyuk so he could calm down. Heejun rejected his offer.

"Heejun-ah. Let's go," Changkyun persuaded.

"Get lost. You took part in Youjin hyung's death too, you bastard!" Heejun said firmly as he pushed Changkyun away.

Minhyuk got up from the ground - still a trail of chuckle coming out of his mouth.

"You think it's funny?!" Shownu asked Minhyuk angrily. "I said do you think it's funny?!"

"Yes. The situation is hillarious," MInhyuk answered with a giggle.

"What, you crazy bastard?!" Shownu grabbed Minhyuk's shirt.

"I wasn't the one who put The Cure into Youjin hyung's body. Heejun did but here he is - blaming me...blaming us. I found it hillarious," Minhyuk added. "Ahh...my stomach hurts,"

Shownu let him go.

"You told me The Cure could heal anything! It's the remedy to all, right?!"

"Oh dear, Heejun...," Minhyuk sighed happily. "It is...but if it's been out of your system for...I don't know...a couple years? It does the opposite,"

"Wait...what?" Heejun asked.

"Oh, you didn't know? Youjin was one of us when it all started," Minhyuk laughed. "He helped us run away and find our way to this glorious cave," he added as he made a big gesture to present the cave. "He planned the whole rebellion thing but he chickened out before it even started - all because of you and your weak friends,"

"I don't believe you...," Heejun protested.

"Yeah, Minhyuk...what are you on about?" Shownu asked.

"Gosh! All of you had no idea, huh?" Minhyuk groaned. "That Youjin guy...he's not as innocent as you thought he was. He's worst than me, you know? He deserves the way he died," Minhyuk chuckled.

Heejun shouted and he threw a punch across Minhyuk's face. That was when Kihyun pointed his gun at Heejun.

"Kihyun hyung! Don't!" Changkyun shouted.

"Yes! Hit me, Heejun! Hit me, you stupid coward!" Minhyuk cheered.

Minhyuk got on to his feet. He stood so close in front of Heejun that both of them could feel their breath against each other.

"Hit me," Minhyuk whispered firmly and grabbed Heejun's fist. "HIT ME!"

As much as Heejun wanted to beat Minhyuk into a pulp, he knew it meant he's obeying - kneeling down - to Minhyuk. Heejun freed his fist.

"I trusted you, Minhyuk hyung," Heejun replied in a soft, upset whisper. "You broke my heart,"

Minhyuk's face softened. Heejun hit him hard without landing his fist on his body. The only thing that Minhyuk hated was losing people. He hated being abandoned. When he heard Heejun's words, he knew he was losing one person in his circle. Minhyuk blinked and tears fell from his eyes.

"Heejun...," Minhyuk began. "Where are you going?" he asked - beginning to panic.

Heejun let out a sigh and slightly shook his head.

"Heejun-ah...," Minhyuk begged. "Please don't go anywhere. Stay with us, okay?"

Heejun took a few steps back. This made Minhyuk worried. Minhyuk glanced at Shownu then to Kihyun. Then, he turned to Changkyun.

"Tell him to stay with us. Guys?" Minhyuk pleaded. "Heejun-ah!"

Minhyuk grabbed Heejun's hand but Heejun pushed him away.

"Let him go, Minhyuk," Shownu said calmly.

"No. I can't let that happen. Heejun-ah! I can change...I can change if you want me to,"

Without turning back, Heejun walked away from The Clan to re-join his group. He was done with The Clan. Minhyuk's tears kept falling. He wanted to stop Heejun but his legs felt heavy.

"Heejun!" Minhyuk called out - his voice cracked. "I don't want to be alone," he groaned to himself.

Minhyuk was beginning to break.