√ mask on | lee haechan

01

"Are you listening?" Mark nudged you with his elbow. You look at him, biting the tip of your tongue before replying. "Uh, no." Everyone looks at you. "Our Yoo Jin, is something wrong?" Jaemin looks at you worriedly.

"Nothing, just something is bothering me."

"You can tell us," Jeno said.

"Hah, she's just getting your attention," Haechan said, annoyed at the fact everyone ignored what he said and focused on you instead. You glared at him. "Now, where are the manners, Lee Haechan?" Jaemin said, making the other boy shut up instantly.

"Dad wants me to drop school."

Your answer shocked them, even Haechan. They know your dad, the famous drug dealer in town. You are used to sending drugs to his clients late at night and when you get to school, you'll be sleepy as hell. "What are you thinking of doing now?" Renjun asked. "I don't know. My grades are not going up anymore, I got lack of sleep doing things I shouldn't and I have no other friends. " You sigh.

"Are you listening?" Mark nudged you with his elbow. You looked at him, biting the tip of your tongue before replying. "Uh, sorry?" Everyone had their eyes on you. "Our Yoo Jin, is something wrong?" Jaemin asked worriedly.

"Nothing, just something is bothering me."

"You can tell us," Jeno said.

"Hah, she's just getting your attention," Haechan said, annoyed at the fact everyone ignored what he said and focused on you instead. You glared at him. "Now, where are the manners, Lee Haechan?" Jaemin said, making the other boy sunk into the couch deeper, rolling his eyes.

"Dad wants me to drop school."

Your answer shocked them, even Haechan. They know your dad, the famous drug dealer in town. You are used to sending drugs to his clients late at night and when you got to school, you'll be sleepy as hell.

"What are you thinking of doing now?" Renjun asked. "I don't know. My grades are not going up anymore, I got lack of sleep doing things I shouldn't and I basically have no other friends. " You sighed.

You got tired working for your dad, but it's the only source of income for your family. Your mother was nowhere to be seen in town after knowing dad's work years ago.

Mark patted your back. "If anything, you know where to find us," he smiles. The hideout that you guys had set up years ago is the main place for all of you to gather after school and on weekends.

You take out your phone when it vibrates, sighing when you see the ID, Dad. "I guess, I need to go," Picking up your bag swiftly, you walked away from the hideout.

Your friends are not having a nice life either. They did several harm things too, such as a fight with another gang in town.

They never make you involved with their fights as they said, "They'll protect you from any harm," But at least, their family is rich and cares about grades.

They didn't know you live the same way as them, a horrible life. They thought your father treated you nicely but honestly, you always got beaten up by him for a stress reliever or whenever you made a mistake doing a delivery.

Even though Mark always says you can tell them anything, but you insist not to, you don't want to be another burden to them.

You heard footsteps following you. You reached for a pocket knife in your pocket, ready to attack if the people who follow you do any harm to you. When you felt your shoulder being touched, you quickly put the pocket knife in front of his neck, but to your surprise,

it was just Haechan.

"Wow, chill girl," He said as he pushed your pocket knife away slowly, chuckling humorlessly. You heaved a deep breath. "What are you doing here?"

"To annoy you obviously." That's his way to say 'to protect you'.

You got used to his arrogant self. You glared at him, keeping your pocket knife back into your pocket. "I don't need it,"

"Well, it's night and you are alone,"

"I've been out at night for years,"

"And you wouldn't know when I would find you dead by the street,"

You glared at him, slapping him on the arm. "I wish I could die too,"

"Want me to kill you?" He volunteered, the corner of his lips tugged into a sly smirk.

You stopped on your track. You turned to him, "I know you would if I give you the knife. You hate me that much," You said, wearing a stone-cold hard face.

Haechan's smirk grew, he walked forward, nearing the gap between both of you, but being you who are raised with bravery and boldness, you stay rooted in your position.

He leaned closer to your ears, breath hitting your cheeks, "Glad you know it," He walked ahead of you and left you to walk home alone.

edited.