Burnout ⊗ Jeongchan

①⑦ Secrets

Jeongin bounced his heel.

He was perched on the hood of Chan's car, one fidgety leg pressed firmly to his chest while the other laid still on the neat curvature of the metal. Back again. To the Hub. After he said he wouldn't be for the millionth time but no one cares to listen to him. Instead they drag him along to be here. Surrounded by the unfamiliar faces and music that blocked most eavesdropping, that nauseating smell of gasoline and burning tires, the dim lights that blinded the outsider to estranged deals and bets on their lives; he found himself at the edge of it all with the crew in their "paradise".

The owner of the car wasn't too far away from him either. He was relaxing next to Minho and Hyunjin on the concrete floors, the three of them prattling on quietly about topics that never concerned Jeongin. As if he could hear what they were saying. Even if he wanted to listen in, it was probably something boring like what they are for lunch. What do street racers chat about anyway? The economy?

Over the music, someone threw a question, "Jisung, Minho, did you want to go to that billiards place with me tomorrow night?"

The aforementioned pair gave their quick responses of confirmation to the waiting Changbin, whom of which was leaning against his own car nearby, a phone in his hands and the general disregard for the world he normally carried on his shoulders. Upon receiving their answers, he nodded and thumbed something in to his phone. From across the way, a pronounced pout that gradually spread across Hyunjin's lips with each second the older didn't look up from his phone. Eventually Changbin caught it and frowned, "What's that face for?"

"You never invite me to play billiards."

"You said you didn't like billiards?"

"Yeah, but the invitation would be nice."

"Alright," Changbin sighed, "Do you want to go play billiards with us?"

"No," Hyunjin gaffawed as if the suggestion was completely heinous, skipping out on the 'thank you' or any sign of gratitude as he suddenly shifted to face his back to the older. He missed the sharp scowl and less than friendly gestures Changbin threw at his back in those few moments of exasperation.

They watched him throw the silent creative curses at Hyunjin for a while longer before their attention refocused to what they had been doing before. Changbin back to his phone, the trio back to their conversation of what Jeongin decided must have been cookie recipes. All, besides the ever-present Jisung. He on the other hand was slinking over to the youngest, taking a firm spot by his side before he stated him dead in the eye and questioned, "And you? How're things with the parents?"

Jeongin thought about it for a few beats before shrugging, "Stagnant."

"Can your mom blame you though?" Jisung, despite the situation not affecting him, looked more offended then Jeongin ever had in the past few days. Under his breath, he muttered a very baffled, "It's a miracle you haven't strangled her yet."

"Jisung, that's murder," Changbin cringed.

"Oh, whatever. Like I'm not already a 'criminal, sinning, bastard child who's going to hell'."

"Says who?"

"Most people. And that one crazy drunk man Changbin tried to run over."

"I didn't try to run him over," If Changbin's face could grown any more disapproving, it did in that moment.

"Normally when someone jumps in front of a car, they stop. Not gun it."

Minho cleverly interjected, "You clearly haven't played Mario Kart then."