GLITTERS | | seongjoong

9.

      "Ouch.. no! not there! be gentle!"
       "Shit.. It's my first time!"

Sighs and sounds of rummaging were heard through the bathroom door. If we were in a movie, we could have also heard glass shattering and all the dramatic stuff, but thank god it wasn't it. Instead, the sole sound of what seemed like grunts were hearable. Anyone could have misunderstood bu—

     "For fuck sake, Yunho! Are you that dumb? I can't believe a homo like you never applied hair dye!"

      "I'm fucking trying to help your pitiful ass! You should be thanking me and buying me gifts for helping you! Do you know how damaged your noodle hair is?"

      "Then do you job! It's not that complicated! Don't have Mingi's tree arms so I can't reach the back of my head.. and you're treating me like that?"

      "And what about it?"

      "Shut up, now apply! can't risk looking like sia!"

It had been more than an hour since Yunho and Seonghwa were in front of the latter's bathroom mirror, trying to dye Seonghwa's hair back to brown. It had all started this morning, when the previous blonde had called his best friend, sobbing loudly as Yunho was rambling about how calling me to cry at 6am wasn't a civil thing to do on sunday. He then had stopped crying and explained that.. he was turning bald, full strands of hair were falling down whenever he would dare to touch his scalp. What he got in return was a told you, barbie headass!

      So they had decided to do something, and much to Seonghwa's dismay, Yunho had stormed in his room, box of hair dye in one hand and towels in the other. A look of horror had taken place on the older's face and he had tried to run away at first, only to be put in an armlock.

       "Sit down, bald homo! let my magical hands save your scalp!"

But little did he know that Yunho had never Once in his life ever touched hairdye, so now; it was a mess. Brown hair dye splattered on the floor, Seonghwa's hair partially yellow-burnt, half brown. There were boxes everywhere, brushes on the floor. Seonghwa was actually fearing for his scalp, and Yunho had cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Chaos in the room.

       "I should shave my head, it would be easier."

      "You don't mean that. Also, if you stopped wiggling your small butt it would be easier for me to apply it, you know?"

    Seonghwa tried really hard to look annoyed, but the look on Yunho's face was enough for him to stop the act and let his infamous giggles fill the room. At the end, they had finally managed to apply everything, and even had time to clean up.

      "I will never recommend you to any of my friends. Very bad customer service."

       "Let's pretend I never heard it.. You're welcome! I'm so glad I saved your soon-to-be bald head! I love you!"

—

      Heads between his arms, quiet snores escaped Hongjoong's mouth after trying to not fall asleep for several hours. Jongho looked at him, placing a blanket over his tired body as he shook his head.

He hated seeing his friend like that, exhausted to the point where he could barely utter a word and just collapse. He was always working, composing new songs and writing until the sun was rising for a new day. It's not new. The habit of overworking himself had always been in Hongjoong's personality, ever since they were kids. He had always felt like taking all responsibilities off others, so he wouldn't feel like a burden. He always was degrading himself, wanting to improve and improve, whatever was the cost. Jongho had tried to shake sense into him, telling that he would go nowhere while being always so tired, most of it went unheard.

But it had gotten worse even since his father passed away. 4 years ago. Hongjoong never accepted to talk about it, but Jongho knew. He knew all the nights he had spent sobbing, whispering small pleads for help as he was drowning deeper and deeper into the sea of his dark thoughts. He just watched, helplessly. Work had become a coping mechanism ever since. He was scared for his best friend, but he didn't know how he could help, nothing was getting him out of the water and the more fame he got, the more desperate he was getting.

The younger wanted to help him. And after days of rummaging for ways, the most obvious one popped into his mind. He recalled all the conversations he had with his hyung about this person, the way he talked about him and everything. It was so obvious Jongho felt like laughing.

Seonghwa. his fucking glitters would make his friend's heart sparkle again.

—

Seonghwa was walking down the same street. Same boots clicking, same song blasting, same lights— not working anymore. Everything felt like déjà-vu on this cold night. He was slow. time slowly ticking as well.
     He was so used to all of that, comfort wrapping his body in a tight embrace as he felt his body relax.

A hand then touched his shoulder.

At first, he didn't react. Didn't even feel the subtle touch. But when the touch felt heavier, his head snapped to the side, calm smile complimenting his pretty face.
  
      "Can I help?"

      "Hyukjae, he's the one."

      "Bring him, idiot."

Two strong arms pulled him into of the small alleys, hurrying Seonghwa into following him quicker. The latter didn't understand a single thing that was happening. Only that he was being dragged by fucking strangers into one dark ass alley. Shit. He started wiggling, trying to escape the male's grasp, only for it to tighten even more. He wanted to scream, but sounds weren't escaping his mouth, even though that's what he wanted and needed to do the most. He was thrown to the floor, in the very back of the scary place. Two dark figures were towering his small frame, looking at him with a slight wicked smile. Seonghwa felt his whole body shiver. What is happening? Where am I? Who are they? Am I going to die?

A laughter broke the silence, however not making the atmosphere any lighter. The tallest of the two crouched down to Seonghwa's level, who was trying to scurry away from the threatening gaze of the stranger.

     "Wh-what do you want f-from me..?"

     "Now now.. glitter boy, why aren't you shining and dancing like you always do? Isn't it what people in your kind are supposed to do? uh? Come on! Answer me, slut!"

A cold hand was roughly met with Seonghwa's cheek. One time. Two times. His head got swiped to the side, red mark glowing on his pale skin. He wouldn't turn his head though, too afraid to even glance again at the two harassers.

      "You can't talk, huh? Then what does that pretty mouth do? Suck me off?"

       "I would never get my mouth near that fucking shrimp full of germs, even if I had a whole knife against my throat."

Those were the rare moments when he wished his brain had worked before he talked. His mouth didn't have time to open again before he was kicked in the ribs, and stomach, and legs. Every place he knew his body had. Curling up to block the hits wasn't even near being useful, they would just kick him harder. He couldn't cry, couldn't scream. He didn't even know how much blood had dripped down his face, for his hands were now covering in it. Is this how I die?

He didn't even know what the fuck was happening, and most importantly, why? He of course had a slight idea, due to what the man had told him. But he wouldn't believe it. He had worked so hard to build all this confidence and mental strength, and in a few minutes, everything was crashing down. He felt dirty, violated, terrified.
He was gasping for air, trying to grasp a lifeline with every last bit of his self, in vain. He felt his mind get cloudy, his body feeling completely numb, as if he wasn't feeling anything anymore. Dark little spots littered his vision, lids feeling heavy as the seconds passed.

Right before he collapsed, he faintly heard something. A shout?

   "What do you think you're doing?"