stalker | hyunjin

玖

[nine ; the stalker]

"M-MINHO.." SHE TREMBLED at the sight of his body, the blood scared her to death and tears threatened to fall. hyunjin takes the phone from her hands, his eyes widened in distraught. she couldn't stop shaking, her breaths were rapidly increasing and her heart was beginning to ache.

he pulls her into a hug, making sure her head was completely buried in his chest for reassurance, it was the only thing he could think of. "we'll find minho, don't worry, i'm right here." they were just the words she needed to hear to calm down. taking a deep breath, she regained her composure and stood up straight,
"right." it didn't particularly end all her nerves but she knew now wasn't the time to be sulking, minho was in danger.

it wasn't hard to locate the whereabouts of minho's body. judging from the small enclosed space with mops and brooms from the sides of the photo and equipment a janitor needed evidently shown in the room, hyunjin and hei ryung managed to pinpoint his location.

shoving the door open, there minho lay hopelessly limp and pale. blood was seeping through the right side of his head, painting the floor a dark shade of red. she raised both hands to her mouth in order to prevent herself from screaming. minho was in a much worse state from the photo causing her to palpitate in fear and horror.

hyunjin wasn't any better, he was finally beginning to waver and whoever the stalker was, this was the most damage anyone has ever done to gain his attention. his breathing became irregular and he took few steps back only to trip over his own foot and fall.

she called the ambulance and before they knew it, the paramedics had hauled minho away. both the adolescent teens sat side by side, outside the emergency room with their heads down in despair and silence. there wasn't much to say as they waited on news about whether minho's state of well being was stable or not.

after a few hours of waiting, stitching up the wound and bandaging minho's head, the doctor confirmed with hei ryung and hyunjin that he was okay to head home after 3 more days of rest in the hospital. once they were allowed to enter, they were greeted with minho watching tv, an ice cream in his mouth.

he didn't once turn to look at them.
"hey, could you please give me another refill on rice, i'm so hungry." he waved the bowl at hei ryung's face mistaking her as a nurse.
"no." she simply stated and he turns to face the familiar voice. "you're finally awa-"
"could you go tell the nurse to give me a refill of rice, i feel like i haven't eaten in years." he interrupts and she grits her teeth in annoyance.

"do you know how worried we were for you? how're you acting so calmly?"
he simply stares at her while licking his ice cream, "you were knocked out and thrown in the janitors closet, i was scared to death-"
hyunjin puts his hand on her shoulder and she stops herself from shouting. he lets out a smile,
"thank goodness you're okay." hyunjin would later tell her that minho didn't particularly like sentimental moments or the fact that he'd rather keep grounded in order to lessen the guilt intensely building up within hei ryung.

he lets out a grin, moving on and nods, "of course, although-" his eyes darkened, releasing a brooding demeanour, "-i'm not gonna let them get away with this." his fist clenched, knuckles turning white.
"sorry for getting you involved." hei ryung's voice just above a whisper.
"it's fine. you didn't do anything wrong and it's not your fault for being targeted. don't worry about me."

❀

"so what now?" hyunjin asks staring at her cautiously.
"i don't even know. what if they follow me home and kill me? what if they're hiding in my house right now? i'm sure it's not hard to find the key. do you think they'll-" he silences her by putting a finger on top of her lips.
"relax. we just need to find this mystery stalker."
"how are we gonna do that?"
"i know someone who can hack phones. we can get a lead maybe."

minho speaks up after finishing his second bowl, "hyunjin, think about it, it must be someone you've rejected before. who was that chick that asked you out in front of the whole class for the 3rd time now? amy? lianne?"
"it was sarah."
"ohh yea. do you see what i mean, it could be her. i heard she was laughed out class because you refused to date her."

she could immediately feel the tension surrounding hyunjin. the male didn't enjoy the title of breaking girls hearts but it's what he did and he'd reject them with a simple, "i'm sorry i don't feel the same way," and walk off. it was the same with every girl that has asked him out.

he awkwardly laughs off minho's words, "yea, i didn't know she was."
minho continues, "but then a week before there's lianne."
hyunjin kept quiet and hei ryung spoke up, "so basically, we have no leads. what should i do now? avoid hyunjin?"
"if it's for the best." hyunjin mutters harshly.

———
i had to rush this chapter, sorry for any mistakes! i'll make sure to come fix it later.