THESE DAYS | jeongchan

huit*

There was that little bit of hesitation settling into Jeongin's bones as Chan jammed the key into the door handle—the rattling of the key ring sending shocks of nausea and apprehension to his stomach and speeds up the beating of his heart, "Where the hell did you get the keys?"

Jeongin tugs the sides of his hood further over his face for the 100th time this early morning as he looks sideways like a teacher would suddenly show up at 2am and scold them. He wasn't expecting an answer, he had given up on waiting for responses from Chan weeks ago, and he knew the answer as well as anyone else could guess. He had probably stolen them, taken them from the poor unassuming janitor weeks ago, as prepared as ever for whatever scheme he would suddenly pull out of his sleeve. Just like when Chan had told him to keep his head low and his hood up as the academic building was littered with cameras—because somehow he knew everything.

Chan had also woken him up at 2am, as promised, leading Jeongin's drowsy limbs around the dark room in his half cognizant state. However the pressure of his finger tips on his arm, dragging him from bed and slipping a black hoodie over his frame, drawing the hood up and settling him with a peck to his lips that made Jeongin split a smile—it had felt familiar. Safe.

Jeongin still didn't say much after he had woken up completely, only snickering about their "matching outfits" as he watched Chan's black hooded head lead him down the same path he had taken him all those weeks ago with their fingers intertwined. Jeongin wasn't as nervous this time, the familiarity of the trip and the hand in his told him that everything would work out—he didn't feel the need to ask as many questions. This time they passed Mr. Sung's room without a hitch, passed straight through the lobby and headed right to the side exit door—breaking into the courtyard.

Chan didn't waste time basking in the moonlight this time, even though Jeongin watched his fingers twitch and his skin itch like it was taking everything in him not to sit and star gaze. He had urged Jeongin that every second was precious tonight and that they needed as much time as possible if they wanted to get any sleep.

The walk through the academic building hallways was a lot of Jeongin staring at his Vans treading the floor as he pulled his hood farther and farther over his head and praying that Chan was leading him the right way and making sure he didn't run into any walls.

Jeongin hadn't even thought about cameras on their first night out—trusting that Chan would take care of everything, but when Chan mentioned them on the way to the lobby Jeongin almost had a mini panic attack wondering if the school knew about their transgressions. Chan had to shush him and explain that they wouldn't check the cameras unless they were specifically looking for something—and of course added that they would definitely be checking them tomorrow morning.

Jeongin's eyes hadn't left the ground since.

The click of the door finally unlocking shot a sick warmth through his belly, the nervous feeling and relief almost brought a smile to his face but instead he pushed it down with a thick swallow. He was still getting used to just how much he enjoyed this shit.

Chan presses the door handle down experimentally, pushing in slowly and leaning in to ensure the room is empty. The older turns around at the first success of their mission, smile sick with pride and beaming with excitement.

He catches his eyes to share the moment with him.

Jeongin likes that.

The Australian opens the door fully, gesturing with his free hand for the younger to go first, "After you."

Jeongin curtsies like a princess before he enters to play along with his game, grin never leaving his face, "Why thank you, kind sir."

It was weird to see the room dark and devoid of students—Jeongin wouldn't have Mrs. Noh until his senior year, but an empty classroom is an empty classroom and it will always be eerie to see the shadowy corners and empty desks.