hurts like hell | minsung ✓

eleven

~Lee Minho~

Jisung slept in the back seat of the car, with tears still streaming down his face. I hurt him, I almost got him killed. I knew I couldn't leave him there, so we left together. To where? I had no clue. All I know is my parents would find out my dad's spare car was gone eventually. I didn't care anymore, all I wanted was Jisung to be safe.

The car was silent and quite frankly I hardly driven before. I tried to keep my eyes on the road, but I couldn't help glancing at my sleeping boy in the back seat. The way his cheek pressed against the window, making him him look so soft and at peace. As long as I was around, he'd always be at peace. Nothing would hurt him.

"M-Minho?" His groggy voice was almost a whisper from the back, and he sat up slowly. "Where are we going?"

"Hey sleepy, how was your nap?" I pulled over onto the side of the highway, turning my hazard lights on. I turned around in my seat to face Jisung, and he looked utterly confused.

"But where are we going?"

"We're going away for a little bit. I'm going to keep you safe, just think of it as a break from school and from home. Just us, okay?"

He brought his small hands to my face and tried to form a smile. "He will find us, Minho."

"I won't let him hurt you. Never ever."

Jisung sighed, shaking his head. He brought his lips up to mine, tasting a bit salty from his stray tears. He pulled away, looking straight into my eyes. "Let's get going then."

I smiled, helping him climb into the front seat. We got this. We have each other.

~Han Jisung~

"Baby, your mom is calling again." I showed Minho the phone screen, and he sighed. I watched as he sunk even farther into the bed of our newly rented hotel room, paid with cash only of course...wouldn't want our parents tracking our credit card usage.

"Ignore it. Block her number. I don't care."

I knew he was upset. He wanted to talk to his parents, tell them everything was okay and we'd be back soon. My family was the problem, not his. Minho's parents loved him with every bone in their bodies. He loved them just as much. It just didn't work like that for me, and I felt bad about it.

I intertwined my hand with Minho's, looking down at his glossy eyes. "Go back home. I'll pay for the room somehow, and I'll stay here for a bit. My family should not affect you. Your family loves you so much, Minho. I don't want to ruin that."

"You're my family now." He blinked repeatedly, trying to stop his tears. He didn't need my crazy life right now. As much as he tried to convince me that he wanted to be here, I know he didn't. Who'd want to leave their great life for a broken cause?

"Minho, no. You aren't staying."

He closed his eyes firmly this time, small tears dropping down the sides of his face. His hand removed from mine, and it was almost as if steam was rising from his face. "Now you tell me what to do, huh? I'm not leaving you with absolutely nothing. Do you really think I'm that terrible?"

I flinched at his word, his tone. But I understood him, I knew what he was trying to get at. When the person you love is in danger, you'd expect to be closer than ever, yet we've only been distancing ourselves. We are so young, and we can't live on our owns. What was he thinking?

No, what was I thinking? Falling in love was the last thing I needed to do. Look at me now. Mission failed.

"Jisung, you're easily my favorite person on the face of the planet. And I'm sorry I'm being angry right now. But I am never leaving you, not like this. We need each other, especially now."

"What happens when he finds us?"

He sat up, taking my hands in his. "What happens if we're never found?"

I smiled for a second, even laughed...really hard. We both laughed, imagining some perfect life of just us. There we were, like idiots, rolling around of laughter on an all white bed spread. I could hardly catch my breath, and every word I attempted to say was a mess.

"D-Don't be so silly. You r-remember what my father s-said." And then my mood changed drastically. "Minho, he said your death would cause war. You're obviously important, they'll be looking for us any minute now-"

His eyes were empty, and it was as if his life flashed before his eyes. "Ji, I think we're both important..."

"Why do you say it like that?"

"My dad said if you stepped foot in our estate again that he could have you killed, but my mother stopped him from saying anymore."

My eyes widened and I felt my face heat up. "When was this?"

"The day you came over after school. The day we met."

Although only meeting me for a mere five minutes, they already knew me. And it made me think, maybe our families are a lot more powerful than they seem. All the days my father and I had researched the Lee Company, I thought it was fun and games...but what was it actually?

"Minho, my father spent weeks, even months, researching your family before your father's company moved to our city. Yet he seemed to know so much already. I met your parents for about five minutes the day we met, but they already knew they might have to kill me? Something is going on here."

"These aren't just companies are they? Jisung we can't stay here, not for long."

"I don't think so either. But I can't just leave Changbin, Hyunjin, my real friends. We can't just leave. I promised I wouldn't disappear again."

"Call them. Tell them you need to leave for a bit. They'll understand, especially if they know your father."

He was right, Changbin would want me to be safe. So I picked up the phone and dialed his number. He picked up within seconds, and was clearly out of breath.

"Hey, Changbin. It's me, Jisung. I'm okay and I'm going to need to-"

"I'm sorry, Jisung."

"Binnie, what are you saying?"

The call ended, and suddenly there was a loud slam following the door of our room swinging open violently. Minho rushed in front of me, but I couldn't take my eyes off my father holding a gun to Changbin's head.

***

hi everyone :)
the book is going to get a little interesting now and soon follow into the prologue, so you might want to reread that if you want to.
also i'm seeing stray kids tomorrow!!!! i missed them a lot wow i'm so excited :)))))