protect → hwang hyunjin [황 현진]

S I X

"I'm sure that after this, things will change. I didn't think it would end this way either, but it was a fight that I couldn't win."

__________________________

The cafe's door opened with a ding and you bowed a little when the part-timer behind the counter greeted you, scanning the shop for the person who had called you here.

Your eyes fell on Chan and Jeongin sitting at one of the tables in the corner, the younger wearing a frusturated expression on his face while he crosses his arms.

"Hey." You greeted the boys as you walked up to them, slipping into the empty chair between the two. "How's it going?"

Jeongin just huffed in response as he shuffled in his school uniform, avoiding eye contact with the two. "How's Hyunjin?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Chan spoke before you could answer, looking behind you as he watched the said boy enter the coffee shop, making both you and Jeongin spin to him with wide eyes.

"Why did you get him here?" The two of you hissed, knowing well that Hyunjin wasn't supposed to be a part of their conversation about his death.

"It's been so long since we've all met up together like this." Hyunjin walked up to your table, grabbing a chair and pushing it between you and Jeongin so he can sit next to you.

"Hey, Hyunjin!" Chan sat up, looking at the said boy as he gestured to the other two sitting with them. "Tell them about what you told me."

Scanning Hyunjin's face, you could see by the way he pressed his plump lips together into a thin line that he didn't like that idea.

"Tell us what?"

"He's been suddenly having chest pains a couple of times a day." Chan spoke without the boy's permission, making Hyunjin whip to him as he glared.

You could see Hyunjin fuming from the corner of your eyes, realising that this was probably a big deal considering how Hyunjin doesn't get mad often.

That or there's something else bothering him and he's letting his anger out on little things.

"How was the first round of the auditions, JinJin?"

Hyunjin tore his eyes away from the older boy as he turned to you, eyes softening at the nickname that he liked so much, before he exhaled and looked away.

"It's fine." He mumbled as he fiddled with the fabric of his sweater, the way he does when he's nervous or uncomfortable. "I got accepted into the second round."

"Is something wrong?" You looked at him and Hyunjin turned to you, lifting his hand and brushing the strands of your hair as he smiled weakly and shook his head.

Jeongin sighed as he leaned back in his seat before grabbing his things and looking at the three of you. "I should get going. I have to get to the academy before it gets dark. Let's talk later I don't have time now."

"Let me drive you there." Chan got up, the two boys bidding you good bye before turning around and leaving.

"I have to practice for the second round." Hyunjin exhaled in frusturation as he sat back and covered his face with his hands.

"You're really busy these days, aren't you?" You spoke in a low voice and Hyunjin sighed in response. "I got an internship at a broadcasting company."

"Really?" Hyunjin sat up and brushed the strands of your hair with his hands. "That's great. Is it hard there?"

You shook your head and Hyunjin gave you a small smile before he looked around the shop and opened his mouth to speak. "I've been feeling really strange latel-"

"Hold up." You held your hand up to stop him, your other hand clutching your stomach in pain. "I think I really need to go to the bathroom."

Hyunjin nodded and watched as you got up and left the shop because whoever built it thought it would be a good idea to build the bathroom behind the coffee shop.

Hyunjin sat in silence and looked out the big glass windows, taking in the sight of the the busy streets and honking cars as he begin to fall in thought.

He was cut off by a ringing sound and he turned to your bag laying innocently on your chair.

After much consideration, Hyunjin decided to fish out the phone in worry that it might be an emergency call.

As soon as he managed to pull it out while dropping what seemed to be an envelope with a paper in the process, the phone stopped ringing making Hyunjin sigh.

He picked up the paper that fell out of the envelope, about to put them back in your bag if it wasn't for his eyes that fell on some of the words.

Without thinking his eyes scanned the paper and eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the words in front of him.

The door to the coffee shop rang as you entered, not noticing when Hyunjin quickly stuffed the paper in his shirt so you wouldn't see.

"An accident happened outside." You huffed as you rubbed your stomach that was still in pain, watching as Hyunjin stood up from his seat.

"I should get going." He nodded at you before smiling a little, giving you a half hearted hug and rushing out of there.

You stood there confused before you picked up your phone, eyes falling on the missed call message.

A call from someone you thought was long gone.

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bad chapter bcs :)
also i'm still working on the suicide letter
gonna go into detail about the accident that happened in the next chapter bcs it's actually important :)))