SANCTUARY

chapter 11

"Great, we'll both suffer in hell then," the smirk on Dan's face grew. He was cocky, testing Haechan's patience to the maximum.

"Who said I'll suffer? Bitch, I'm fucking Hades," Haechan growled, his sparkling eyes darkened deeply. "Leave before I land you a spot in the hospital, specifically the ICU."

Haechan patted Dan's shoulder and whispered something. Dan's brash face dropped, deadpanned in milliseconds after what Haechan had whispered. Without another word, Dan strode off as if nothing happened.

"Let's buy some necessities for Star, shall we?" Haechan suggested, his face softened unlike when he faced Dan. I stood there, absorbing everything that had happened. "Hello? Ahyoung? Are you dazzled by my looks? Perhaps, frightened by my behavior earlier?"

He hunched down to reach my eye level, his face obtaining all my attention. His head tilted ever-so-slightly as he raised an eyebrow. His hands pocketed in his pockets as he stared at me for a couple of seconds.

"Are you okay?"

A three-word question that can either make one feel loved or burst into tears. In my case, it was the first option. A question I needed to hear, but coming from the most unforeseen person in my life.

"Yeah, I am," I responded with a faint yet assuring smile.

"That's good. I like it when you're okay," Haechan muttered loud enough for me to hear. "I like it when you're happy."

"You're talking to me? About me?" I questioned out of shock.

"Does it seem like I'm talking to Star?" he parried and turned around, back facing me. "Anyways, let's get going before Taeyong has his lunch break."

"Why... Why did you help me?" I blurted out, curiosity digging my own grave. The various and non-stop questions filling my empty mind were getting out of hand.

Did he pity me? Does he feel indebted to me due to a preposterous reason? Do I seem like a pushover to him?

I knew I wasn't going to get a solid answer from him, definitely not this early. He must have a hidden reason. Until I figure it out, I won't be able to know what my next action would be.

"What could be the reason? I wonder why," he blithely sang and walked off towards the pet shop.

I sighed, looking down at Star whom I carried in my hands. She barked and her head turned to Haechan's back, barking yet again.

"Okay, okay. I'll follow him," I talked to Star as if she could understand.

⌨

"It's like you spent a whole year's worth of allowance on a single dog," I said jokingly, which Haechan obviously brushed off. "Then again, you may get money in a snap of your fingers."