Hello! I'm sorry I took so long at such a critical time too, but a) I had 1000 words written already for this chapter but I deleted it all because I didn't like it b) I'm in my final weeks of school and although it's the final stretch I'm quickly wearing out so I need to focus all my energy on school so I can hopefully get into the uni I want :)
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I don't wanna grow up lmao Also let me say a fat disclaimer: I am not completely familiar with how restraining orders work (I saw so much information and so many different approaches) so I kind of winged it here. I am also not a lawyer, just a really big fan of How To Get Away With Murder so this court scene is heavily based off the court scenes I have seen on the show. I apologise if any aspect of this is wrong - I'm a medicine student not law uwu
Lee Minhyuk
"He looks nervous."
"I know."
Kihyun and I sat towards the back of the court room, only a handful of other people filling the seats. I couldn't get close enough to Jooheon to wish him good luck, and perhaps any of my involvement would have ruined our case. All I could do was offer him a smile before he went inside, which he returned rather sheepishly.
Woobin, on the other hand, looked far too comfortable for someone who is about to get a restraining order and a potential charge of battery thrown at his head. Both him and his lawyer entered with bright smiles and frankly I was glad I had something to lose, because that stopped me from punching the smirk off his face.
"So," the judge suddenly said, after moments of silence as she looked over the evidence presented by Jooheon's lawyer. "it's all pretty concrete. Mr Lee has been a victim of abuse over the past years, and had finally gained the courage to come forward in regards to the person he's been sharing a house with and seeing. Someone who looks anything but remorseful," she glanced in their direction. "you may try to sell your case now, if you'd like."
"Yes we would, your Honour," his lawyer stood up. "I'd like to call Lee Jooheon to the stand."
I blinked, several murmurs of confusion rising as he walked to the stand, and after he was sworn in, I could visibly see the nerves getting the best of him. He was jittery and avoiding contact, and the sight of it made me want to scream and take him away from here; ideally back to the beach, where he was all smiles and looked like he genuinely didn't have a care in the world.
"Mr Lee," the lawyer offered his hand for him to shake, which he reluctantly did. "I have a couple questions to ask you. Who helped take these photos of you?"
As if planned, every photo of every scar, every bruise and every cut came onto the screen on the far left of the room, causing some people to gasp. Jooheon shifted in his seat.
