Sunrise at Midnight | Iljae

Chapter 16 - A Stranger

Warning: Mentions of alcohol abuse.

...

A missed call from Jisu.

...

Ilhoon's eyes widen at the notification, clear confusion gracing his features as he stares down at his phone.

"What's wrong?" Sungjae asks worriedly as he turns to the suddenly silent boy, observing the slight frown forming on the elder's face.

"J-Jisu. She tried to call me."

The taller boy tilts his head to the side, "Jisu? But didn't she go back home just a few days ago?"

"Yeah, that's the thing. She never calls. Even if she needs me to pick her up she'll just text me. Calling is too risky."

"Do you think something bad happened? Could it have been an accident?"

"No, this definitely wasn't an accident. There's no way. She really must be in trouble."

Amongst the thumping music and the rowdy bodies of people screaming and carrying on, it all seems silent between the two boys as they both stare down at the notification. A mere 3 minutes that he missed the call by.

"Ilhoon, what are you going to do?" Sungjae whispers, his eyes wide and unblinking, still staring intently at the phone as if the notification will magically disappear if he turns his head away.

"I'm going to have to go there." The boy replies in a low drawn out breath as a shaky hand takes refuge on his temple, a tight frown engraved on his face.

Ilhoon then swiftly proceeds to put on his jacket as he wastes no time pushing his way through the crowds of people, not taking notice of the taller boy trying to follow right behind him.

"No- wait- Ilhoon!" Sungjae shouts as he catches up to the distressed boy, urging to gain his attention before he exits the house.

The boy in question halts in his footsteps, turning back to the taller male giving him an exasperated look, fidgeting with his fingers as he wants nothing more than to leave right away.

"If her father is as bad as you say he is; why the hell are you going to put yourself through that risk? You don't even know whether she's actually in trouble or not."

"She's my best friend, I have to. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing the fact that something happened to her and I didn't go over there. I must help her if she is in trouble, there's no other reason for her to call. Send my apologies to Changsub hyung for leaving early, but I have to go."

Not waiting for a reply, Ilhoon promptly continues weaving through the mounds of people trying to find his way back to the entrance as quickly as he can. With Sungjae's car keys tightly grasped in his sweaty clutches, he runs to the car that's parked down the road.

Sungjae's a measly few seconds behind the other, but with his bigger frame, agility seems to not be his strong point as he tries his hardest to wedge himself between the partygoers. Nearly tripping over himself and others as he attempts to make it to Ilhoon before he bounds off in his car.

The tall boy sprints down the driveway and along the path as he watches the door to his car slam shut. The sound like a bullet straight through his heart. Pushing himself further, his breath hitches as he feels his legs start to give out underneath all of his weight. He can't stop now, he's nearly there.

Sungjae skids to a halt as his burning body crashes against the window; sending a searing stinging sensation down his arms and torso. By the time the pain of the impact registers in his brain, however, the car is already speeding around the intersection until it's out of sight from his fallen numb figure on the ground.