I'm In Trouble

Clip 25

Minhyun pouted as he stared at his phone and no text whatsoever from Baekho the entire day. He groaned and rolled around in bed since it was already morning of the next day. He knew they weren't dating and he should already be thankful for what they still had but he couldn't help himself. His fleeting emotions had became solid for the other even though he probably should have let it go in the first place. He shouldn't have forced the deal on Baekho, shouldn't have wished for more.

'I want to see you.' He typed out and tapped the side of the screen before ultimately deleting it. Would Baekho even want to see him for nothing? He was also told not to do any investigations himself. He groaned and ruffled his hair, annoyed with all these thinking. How long has it been since he care about someone this much? Probably since that asshole that shattered him. His phone lit up and vibrated. He yelped and almost dropped it on his face but caught it.

"H-hello?"

"Minhyun, I got good news!" his manager's perky voice responded.

"Manager. You scared me... What news?"

"I got you a gig."

"Uh huh?"

"You don't sound excited even though you're the one who asked me for it. Sheesh."

Minhyun blinked. "What do you mean?"

"The Choi corporate? They're having some kind of celebration for the opening of their latest store and they'll be pleased if you had a performance there."

Minhyun immediately sat up straight. "You're joking."

"Nope. No way, no how."

"That's great. But... Would this allow me to enter their main building?"

"Huh? What kinda question is that? I thought you just wanted to do something related to them."

"Yeah and to enter the building inconspicuously."

"Well... I could arrange a meeting there for you under the pretense for the show... But Minhyun, are you sure what you're doing isn't dangerous?"

"It'll be fine. I won't get into trouble."

"Ugh. It just feels like trouble but I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, manager. You're the best."

Minhyun cut the call and beamed gleefully. He immediately texted Baekho about the gig and his chance to go into the building unsuspected. He hoped it would be helpful to the other's investigations but the response he got wasn't as he expected. In fact, he wasn't sure why he expected Baekho to be happy about it when this would get him into trouble too.

"No. Don't do it," Baekho said the moment Minhyun picked up the incoming call.

"But why? I could help you get information from inside."

"It's too risky, Minhyun. You're going right into the lion's den without knowing what you're trying to search for."

"But... How else would you go inside? There's no way they'll let you waltz in when you're not even a reporter anymore."

"I'll figure something out. No means no," Baekho hissed. Minhyun frowned and tried not to argue with Baekho but he really wanted to help. He wanted to do something. Anything.

"Can't I at least... Help you scout out the building?" he asked in a soft voice. There was a short silence followed by a long sigh.

"You're really stubborn as all hell, aren't you?"

"I... I just want to do something to help. Anything at all."

"Fine. You can but under no circumstances are you to go around investigating yourself. I won't allow it."

Minhyun let out a relieved sigh and nodded. "I understand."

"Also, I found something interesting today."

"Yeah?"

"I bumped into Choi Minki when I was snooping around the shop. He dropped a pendrive and inside it, I found a list of employee along with some data on the company's profits."

"You peeked into someone's pendrive?"

"Do I have a choice in this matter? You're going straight into the building and you have a problem with me looking into someone's pendrive?"

Minhyun squeaked. "Sorry. But does it help you?"

"Not really. The employee list helps but not the data when I have nothing to compare it to. Its dated quite back too."

"I see."

"Well, anyways. That's all I have to say. Hey, Minhyun."

"Yeah?"

"Don't forget to focus on your job too. You're still a pop star before anything else right now. We are not detectives and this is purely based on my own deductions. We could get into real trouble if we take this lightly."

"Okay..."

"I'll see you when I see you then."

"And when is that?" Minhyun squeaked, wanting to meet Baekho already just from hearing his voice alone.

"Relax. Maybe in the next two days. I won't leave you hanging for 4 years, Minhyun. Good night."

Minhyun pursed his lips and sighed as Baekho unintentionally reminded him of his ex. "Okay. Good night, Baekho."

Don't overwhelm him again. Keep your hands to yourself unless he calls you over. Hold yourself down. Stay calm.

Minhyun gripped the back of his neck with both hands and curled up. He let out shaky breaths as he fought the urge to just rush over to Baekho's home again. His impulsiveness was getting the better of him though and he looked at the time. 11pm. It was still early. He shifted off his bed and picked up his coat. He held it in his hands and found his breathing to be uneven. He shouldn't leave. If he did, there was no saying what he would do. Where he would go. Yet the thought of just sitting still didn't bode well with him. He inched to the door and stopped again. Fight it, Minhyun. Stay. Listen. Just like you once had.

Minhyun shuddered and squatted down, holding onto his arms. Somebody. Anybody. Just hold me. He looked at his phone and tightened his hold on it before giving into it. He texted Baekho again.

'I need help.'

'What's the matter?' was the response he received just a few seconds later.

'I want to hold you. Please?'

'On my way. Don't go anywhere.'

Minhyun let out a shaky relieved sigh as he curled up on the floor. Thank god. Thank Baekho. Minhyun didn't know if he could have been able to hold it in if Baekho had asked him to sleep it off or something else other than what he just sent. He won't go anywhere if Baekho was coming here. He will wait.