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0.8

Lee Minhyuk

I did my best to clean up and close the café, to act like everything was fine, like everything was normal. But it wasn't, and even just the thought of Jooheon going back home was making my hands shake. Perhaps he noticed, because I slowed down massively as soon as we left the train station and began walking to our apartments.

"You okay?"

"I should be asking you that."

"I know, but like," he said. "you look overwhelmed. It's not like I told you that I can do the splits or have an extra toe or something. You're allowed to be shocked, Minhyuk."

"I would be shocked at both of those things too," I laughed. "but no, I'm just worried about you. Will you be okay going home today?"

"I can never predict what I'll arrive to; it might be hugs and kisses, it might be shouting from the moment I close the door." He kicked a pebble, eyes glued to the ground.

"You can always stay over if you want." I offered.

"It's probably best if I don't, he'll just get suspicious, which is funny, because you aren't even my type." He looked at me with a grin.

I placed my hands over my chest, feigning offence. "I'm everybody's type."

"I know, I'm joking. I'm just trying not to add to your already gigantic ego," Jooheon laughed. "but if it helps you sleep well I'll say that you are my type."

"That warms my heart." I smiled sarcastically, only causing him to laugh harder.

It didn't take very long to get back to our condo, setting up the stairs as we continued to chat. Or at least that was until I spotted a looming presence in front of my flat.

"Oh," Mrs Kang smiled. "I didn't know you two knew each other. How pleasant."

"Yeah," Jooheon replied with a bow. "good evening."

"Hi, Mrs Kang, were you looking for me?" I asked.

"Yeah, I was going to say that your rent is overdue."

"I know," I felt my eye twitch. "I get my first pay check tomorrow so I will make the payment then."

"Oh, fantastic, that was all from me in that case," she turned back to Jooheon. "come over, Woobin's already inside."

"How come?" Jooheon asked. "He never said we were going there tonight?"

"It was a sudden thing, nothing too big since you both have work tomorrow," she said, noticing the look of confusion on my face. "oh, Woobin's my son by the way, nothing strange!"

Then it clicked; the sudden change in Jooheon's behaviour, the fact that that asshole can get away with anything here. It's not like his mother can kick him out; she probably doesn't even know what is happening up there.

"I guess we should be on our way then," he announced. "I'll see you around, Minhyuk."

"Okay, have a good evening." I replied to the two of them, giving him a nod before they headed back down and I opened my door.

Changkyun was sat on the sofa with a packet of crisps in his arms, eyes squared on the TV whilst Kihyun on the floor with his laptop balanced on his knees. He smiled at me. "Daddy's home!"

"Please stop." I whined, throwing my bag and coat aside before throwing myself at the ground with an exasperated sigh. Slowly, a feeling of uneasiness settled in my chest, and it became more and more suffocating the longer I thought of Jooheon being with Woobin. How traumatised and anxious he seemed at the café, and how he had to suffer in silence for so long. It was killing me.