speaking out because even though i have the privilege to celebrate my birthday, a very sweet and beautiful girl does not.
Mina, a japanese enhypen stan, took her life from cyberbullying and harassment from engenes.
she was not a sasaeng. she was not a toxic stan. she was a normal girl who loved enhypen, especially sunoo and niki.
Mina had two bouquets of flowers : sunflowers and roses. her intention was to give the sunflowers to sunoo so that heβd pose and give the roses to niki so that heβd pose.
sunoo picked up the roses and mina told him to give them to niki, she was ALLEGEDLY rude ( which i do not believe whatsoever )
that moment should have ended right there but niki afterwards went on live and talked about how some fans want special moments for themselves.
he did not specify who he was talking about many engenes took it as the perfect excuse to go hate on Mina even though she did nothing wrong.
first because they thought she was rude to sunoo, and then because they thought niki was mad.
Mina apologized which she had no reason to but engenes kept attacking her, harassing her, slut shaming, sending death threats, doxxing her.
the hate only grew and grew. Mina went live, crying as more hate comments were posted.
Mina took her own life.
Mina had dreams. Mina had ambitions and aspirations. Mina graduated in March with hopes of studying abroad. Mina was only 26 years old.
this is such a heartbreaking and angering moment. Mina did nothing wrong, she was simply a stan who loved enhypen.
i would like to remind any engenes who contributed to her death that you do not know any of these men. nor do they know you.
as someone who left the fandom once heeseung left, i am so fucking infuriated that so many engenes took part in bullying Mina to death.
this needs to stop. this is not the first time that misogynistic hate has killed women and it will unfortunately not be the last.
anyone who bullied her or even liked posts about bullying her, you are fucking disgusting and scum on this earth. reflect on yourself and realize that you are a horrible person.
Mina, please rest in eternal peace. you will be missed, and iβm so sorry that you were not given the love and kindness you deserve.
Summary: In a turn of events you genuinely experience an uncomfortable encounter with a strange man, turning to your boyfriend for help.
Warnings/creds: Cursing, stressful situations, harassment, y/n is man hating but its VALID (TW: the m*le species), mentions of drug use (not done by y/n or any of Cortis), good ending, no y/ns where harmed in the making of this fic! lmk if i missed anything!! All photos used in the screen shots and title are from pinterest, and the gorgeous dividers are by @starrliqhtt here!!
James (1.2K)
Feeling time pass in sync with the club beat thumping around you, everything seemed to be moving too slowly. Anxiousness bubbled up inside you, your messages to James stuck in a delivered limbo. With no signs of him replying, or even reading the messages, there was no time to weigh up the options in your head. Fuck. Biting the bullet, you took a deep breath, hurriedly putting your phone away before making your way out of the drab club toilets.
You spotted James before anyone else. His jaw was clenched tight and expression tense, but not with anger. Instead, concern was most prevalent. You had known him long enough to easily notice it no matter the circumstance. Whether you were alone in your apartment and decompressing from a stressful day, or seeking each other out in a club crowded by dancing bodies and a purple haze left behind by the smoke machines and buzzing LEDs - you always noticed, and you always found one another.
As soon as James saw you, he was by your side, placing gentle hands on both of your shoulders. The contact dissolved any and all tension running through you.
Relief.
Now, the music didn't feel so loud, the next few breaths felt easier, and you almost forgot about the dark cloud that had been looming over you before James had arrived. That was until you saw a familiar figure approaching behind him. You didn't have to look too deeply to gather that the man was completely out of it. His sour face screwed up in a way that looked both taut and tired. A frankly ugly sight. Whatever concoction this guy had decided to indulge in on his night out, you had no idea. All you knew was that it was no excuse for his earlier actions, pouncing on that poor girl like a predator hunting its prey.
Whether the heat of the stuffy club was getting to you, or if your blood had genuinely begun to boil, it was as if the fear you had previously been feeling was lifted from your consciousness and replaced with a drive to snap and-
Actually, you had no idea what you wanted to do to this man. Man. As if you could even call him that. Anger didn't feel like a word strong enough to describe how you were feeling. Yet it was swallowing you whole. Before you could let it absorb you too deeply, you were pulled out of the all-consuming wave of emotion. James' voice rung carefully in your ear, just loud enough to hear over the music,
"Y/n. Don't, it's okay, you're okay." James reassuringly rubbed your shoulders with tender comfort, before glancing over his own, spotting him.
The guy blinked up at James, before glancing back at you, scoffing and lazily tilting his head. His intentions were unclear, but neither of you were taking any chances. As he got closer, James turned to face him fully, squaring his shoulders slightly.
"Back up man." he started, keeping a level head as to not escalate the situation further. Always the mediator.
You kept your distance, letting your boyfriend take over despite the disgust that maintained its persistent gnawing at your gut, urging you to just lash out at the man and warn him off of ever behaving in such a depraved way again. Breathe. You kept yourself steady, realising you could be the one facing the music rather than him if you let your instincts take over.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
The creep rolled his eyes, testing your patience further. He said something unintelligible to your ears, but you knew it was aimed at you by the way he sneered and pointed in your direction. The sheer audacity. Where do these guys find it? James simply shook his head, stepping closer to him to create more space between the two of you.
The difference in both appearance and attitude was almost laughable between the two men, James standing tall and poised despite the circumstances granted to him, whilst the rat ahead of him shrunk back slightly, hopefully understanding the gravity of his conduct. Good.
"C'mon dude, surely you're not alone, go find your friends and sort yourself out. You're a mess." James tried to level with the guy, but you could see the tension in his shoulders, his own patience beginning to falter, one step away from approaching the situation with a little less caution, and a little more reaction.
Thankfully, the guy finally stepped back. Sloppily throwing his hands up in mock surrender, he backed off, no real sincerity in his decision, just the sense to hop off his high horse and abandon his sinking ship.
You hoped he'd drown.
With the troll retreating back to whatever bridge he'd originally crawled from under, James huffed, turning back to you with a baffled expression. He lazily wrapped his arms around your waist, looking down at you with a gentle gaze before speaking softly, "You okay? I felt my phone blowing up on my way over here."
You sighed, nodding before returning the same relieved tone of voice, "Yeah, just didn't want you punching anyone is all." A small smile spread across your face at the suggestion, James matching you with a quick shake of his head, laughing at the way your mind jumped to conclusions.
"Nah, thought I'd let you be the one to throw hands if it came down to it."
Idiot. You rolled your eyes at the quip, playfully smacking him on the arm with no real force behind it, earning another laugh from your boyfriend.
"Never mind," he drew the phrase out, leaning back slightly but still holding onto you, "We'd be in real danger if that's your fighting style."
You groaned, acting disinterested in his teasing. The reality was it had swiftly calmed you down from the prior altercation.
A loveable idiot. James looked down at you, nothing but affection shining through his expression before reading your own tired one, "You wanna head home?"
You sighed simply, gratefully nodding up at him. Tilting your head towards the ladies toilets, you began to pull away, "I'm just gonna make sure that girls okay. Help her find her friends before we go."
James agreed, but before you could slip away he slung an arm around your shoulder, pulling you in and fondly pecking the top of your head. When you both pulled back, you met his gaze already looking down at you. His eyes were warm and his expression was tender, your heart grateful for the image.
"What you did for that girl was really sweet, I'm lucky to have you and I'm glad you're okay," you could have sworn you melted a bit at his words, your face heating up slightly but eyes unable to pull away from him as you continued back towards the toilet. "I'll be right here." He said as he let you go.
Even as you stepped away from him, and replayed the nights events in your mind, you didn't feel worried, you didn't feel angry. Not at all. The negativity that had previously been clouding your focus dissipated, clearing in time with the clubs continuous energy. Swiftly. Vibrantly. Rhythmically.
And in that moment, you could feel your love towards James grow. Blossoming with a grateful gravity.
Juhoon (1.1K)
Not long after you read the message, your phone screen displayed Juhoon's contact photo. The incoming call buzzed a few times in your hand, the noise startling you slightly despite not even being particularly loud. That's when you realised how quiet it was. The previous ruckus had stopped, a haunting silence left in its wake. It felt deceptive. Was the man even still here? The thought passed your mind briefly, but you soon brushed it away and swiped to answer. You lifted the phone to your ear, voice low and cautious of the unpredictable presence that could still be just a few empty isles away, "Juhoon?"
"Why are you so quiet?" His voice was a mix of confusion and amusement, expressing itself smoothly through the call. You gnawed at your lip slightly, subconsciously glancing over your shoulder, eyes sweeping nervously over the convenience store shelves, flitting across the endless rows of neatly stacked food, never settling for long, but instead searching for any kind of danger.
Exhaling quickly, you readjusted your grip on the snacks you were still holding and shifted your weight slightly from one foot to the other. "I'm still in the store." You mumbled, glancing around again as you heard a drawn out, frustrated groan from the other end of the phone. Understandable.
"Y/n, get out of there," Juhoon started, words slightly muffled as you hear him moving around, "which store is it? I'm on my way."
"The seven-eleven round the corner from the park." You replied, finally caving and clumsily putting the snacks back on the nearest shelf, silently hoping the staff wont be too pissed at the disorganised jumble of products you were leaving behind.
"Okay I'm heading out now, you do the same. I'll meet you halfway." His voice was gentle, although you could hear the subtle exhaustion with every word he spoke. Honestly, you felt bad. You'd both planned for a quiet night in, no set plans, just the two of you relaxing, maybe a few movies, or just listening to music, but the one constant in your hangouts was always plenty of snacks. You couldn't even get that right. Now, as you heard Juhoon heading out of the building, a mix of jingling keys and closing doors, you couldn't help but feel guilty, as though you were responsible for the spanner thrown into the works, like you had chucked it yourself.
Despite this, you agreed. The automatic doors slide shut behind you, sealing the bright convenience store behind a pane of glass as the cool night air greets your skin. Your phone pressed tightly against your ear, your boyfriend's voice grounding you as you made your way down the pavement.
"I'm almost there," he spoke carefully. "Just keep walking. I'll meet you halfway."
"Okay."
Your fingers tighten around the plastic carrier bag, the thin material crinkling with every step. The street was quiet, almost unnaturally so, save for the distant hum of traffic and your boyfriend's voice. You make it a few metres before something compels you to look back, your eyes flitting over the store, sitting still and bathed in a harsh fluorescent light, the cool white glow almost blue and leaving you feeling colder than you already were in the crisp night air. But upon further inspection, the icy feeling sinks into your bones, blood running cold around them.
You see him.
Standing behind the front window.
Perfectly still.
His face, stoic and harsh, is partly obscured by the glare on the glass. But his eyes weren't. They're fixed on you, unwavering, as though he'd always been watching⦠and he wouldn't stop. Your breath catches, almost choking on the air as your steps become uneven, hurriedly finding their footing and instinctively dragging you further away from the store. Further away from him.
"β¦Hey?" Juhoon's voice crackled through the speaker. "You alright?"
You don't answer straight away, and you don't look away. Your mind is a bustling mess of contradicting thoughts, buzzing like bees swarming a hive. You want to look away, the mans emotionless face imprinting itself clear and vivid in your mind, you cant imagine yourself forgetting it any time soon. It's haunting. However, you find yourself keeping your gaze locked on his shrinking figure as you continue to back away from the store, afraid that if you look away for one moment, even blink, he'll make a move.
But the man doesn't move.
He doesn't blink either.
He simply stands there, staring through the window with an unsettling calm that makes your skin crawl.
Finally finding your words, you rush them out quickly to Juhoon, "Iβ¦" your voice catches in your throat, "He's still there."
Your boyfriend goes quiet for a beat, sensing your panic and seemingly starting to feel the same way, his own voice losing it's cool and starting to border on desperate. "Don't look at him," he says, his tone immediately firmer. "Just keep walking. I'm almost with you."
You force yourself to tear your eyes away, your pulse hammering in your ears as you face the empty pavement ahead, feet picking up their pace with enough purpose that the steady thumping of your trainers on the concrete below you begins to drown out your heavy breathing and hammering heart.
But even without looking back againβ¦
You can't shake the feeling that he's still watching.
Brushing your worrisome subconscious aside, you soon enough turn a dimly lit street corner to see Juhoon making his own way down the same street. He notices you straight away, his body language relaxing, the weight of the situation visibly lifting from his shoulders. You feel it too, your heart beat slowing back down to a measured pace, but you can't help the way your feet pick up, carrying yourself towards him faster. The crisp air bites at your cheeks as you move faster, but its soon displaced by the warmth of your boyfriends chest, huddling against him as you throw your self into his embrace, his own arms wrapping around you on instinct.
You don't pull back straight away, you just let yourself relax into your boyfriend's hold, simply listening to his sweet reassuring words. One of his hands gently rubs up and down your back, soothing you, whilst the other ends the call on his phone. His efforts to comfort you eventually provide the reminder that you are safe, and not long after that, you lift your head. Meeting his gaze pulls you back down to earth. You let out an uneven breath, shaking your head in disbelief.
"I don't even know what just happened."
Juhoon leaves a chaste kiss on your forehead, letting out his own sigh into your hair before pulling back and looking down at you, a mix of worry and affection in his eyes. "Don't overthink it, you're safe now, I've got you. And I promise, you won't ever have to feel like that again."
Martin (1.8K)
You glance down at your phone as the screen suddenly lights up with Martin's name. The knot that's been sitting uncomfortably in your stomach loosens, if only a little. Ever since the driver's harmless-looking conversation had turned into lingering compliments and questions that felt far too personal, the atmosphere inside the car had become suffocating. The windows are shut tight, blocking out the evening air. As a result, the car interior felt far too warm and the air sat stale around you.
Your senses become overwhelmed. The only sounds are the steady hum of the engine, the occasional click of the indicator, and the muted rush of tyres rolling over the road. However, what would have usually just been ambience to you started to feel far too loud. Even breathing became uncomfortable, your nose clouded by the lingering scent of a sickly sweet air freshener clashing with the musty leather seats, worn down and aged after having carried countless passengers in the same car that suddenly felt like a prison to you. Has this guy made anyone else feel like this? The thought sits with you, churning in your stomach.
You don't hesitate. The simple act of hearing the ringing feels reassuring, giving you something, someone, to hold onto. You tap accept almost the instant the call comes through, lifting the phone to your ear with fingers that are just a little tenser than you realise.
"Hey," you answer, voice warm and deliberately clear, loud enough that it carries through the quiet of the vehicle. You hope the driver hears it. You hope he understands you're no longer alone. Then maybe, he'll back off.
Wrong.
Before Martin can even get a full sentence out, the driver pipes up, glancing at you through the rear view mirror with beady little eyes that feel far too observant to let you fully relax. You hate it. His eyes constantly on you, the way the mirror is angled directly in your direction, and his voice.
"That your friend?" The question irritates you instantly, especially the manner in which he says it, prying, as if he has any authority to enquire about your personal life. Martin hears the question too, you can tell by the way he cuts himself off before finishing his greeting. You can imagine him now, brows furrowed and face screwed up in confusion, the same baffled expression he usually wears when somethings not adding up in his head. The thought almost brings a smile to your face. Almost.
You're pulled back to reality when your hear a low whistle come from the man sat ahead of you, watching him shake his head, presumably at how you haven't answered his question fast enough to keep up with his childish patience.
"Don't go quiet on me now." He laughs as he says it, like he's playing with you. Who does this guy think he is? Frankly, you don't know and don't intend on exploring that any further. In the short time you've spent in the car so far, all you're sure of is that he's persistent.
You think quickly, if you admit that you're on the phone with your boyfriend, he might get aggressive. Dramatic? Maybe. But men like him are unpredictable, so you throw caution to the wind and blurt out the first thing that pops into your head.
"Sorry! It's just my um- dad." Instantly, you're cringing at yourself, Martin's puzzled noises on the other end of the phone not helping your composure, even making out a strained 'ain't no way you've said that'.
Surprisingly, the driver seems to believe you, catching a glimpse of him nodding and hearing him hum quietly in understanding.
But Martin? He's far from understanding your statement, his perplexed babbling becoming so much on the phone that you have to quickly turn the volume down before he jumped into one of his dramatic crash outs.
You'd be fooling yourself if you said you weren't entertained by Martin's ramblings, simply humming along, nodding and smiling as if in a totally casual conversation with your father.
"Y/n, I love you but you do know that you're not actually on the phone with your dad right now? Right?"
"Why couldn't I pretend to be one of those TikTok audios people make for shit like this?"
"Or just pretend you're ordering a pizza like in those 911 calls."
Despite the stressful situation, you can help but laugh slightly at your boyfriends suggestions, briefly forgetting where you are, simply happy to be talking on the phone with the one person that never failed to amuse you.
"It doesn't work like that." You reply still laughing, rolling your eyes and rubbing your forehead slightly puzzled by the absurdity of his last offer. Thankfully, your words are vague enough to not raise any suspicion, allowing you to maintain the one thing stopping you from spiralling into panic.
"It always works with cops though, and dumbass in the front seat wouldn't pick up on it."
"But you're not a cop."
There's a beat of silence before you sense something shift, the tension in the air thickening as you instinctively glance back into the rear view mirror, only to meet the drivers glare.
"What's this about cops?" You feel yourself gulp involuntarily, your face dropping and draining of colour. You assume Martin's having the same reaction, his end of the line going completely silent, so much so that you could assume the call had ended if it weren't for him suddenly mumbling your name with caution.
"Uh-" Your mouth feels dry and you can't seem to form any coherent thought that could logically explain your way out of the situation. That's when you start to sense the true danger you could be in, and after hearing the grave tone of the drivers voice, truly seeing how cold his eyes could become after your slip up, you piece together the sense to turn the threat towards him instead of setting yourself up for a possibly worse situation.
"Yeah um, my dad. He's just complaining about cops right now," you to to keep your voice steady, casually going about your excuse in an attempt to sound convincing, "you see, he just got out of prison."
Of course, your dad hadn't just gotten out of prison. And realistically, you get the feeling you could have gone without the added detail, the driver already proving himself to be a gullible numbskull. But fully understanding the severity of your predicament, you couldn't help but want to sell the lie. And what was wrong with making this guy sweat a little? Especially after making you endure his advances.
"What was he in for?" He asks, the follow up question coming quickly, and honestly? You don't blame him. It seems to be human nature to want to know the details of circumstances like this, no matter how scandalous. Having heard the question too, you hear Martin groan over the phone, his statement of 'don't say anything stupid' coming too late since you'd already made up your mind.
"Murder." You reply in a tone far too easygoing to match the gravity of what you'd just said, but your offhanded answer seems to help your case, because now you get to smugly watch the driver be the one nervously shifting around in his seat this time. His gaze quickly darts away from your reflection, focusing back on the road with a small nod before you sigh contently. This prompts Martin to keep talking, even though the tension seems to be resolved, he's still wanting to distract you for the rest of the journey. You happily accept.
Leaning back into the seat, you keep your eyes fixed on the world outside your window instead of letting them drift towards the rear-view mirror. Rows of shops slide past beneath glowing signs, pedestrians weave along the pavements, and cars drift by in the opposite direction, their headlights streaking across the glass. At every red light, the silence inside the Uber feels heavier, broken only by Martin's voice in your ear and the low rumble of the engine.
As Martin starts talking, you let yourself breathe a little easier. The tension doesn't disappear, you can still feel the driver's presence at the front of the car, still aware of every unnecessary glance and every word he might try to squeeze into the quiet. But the familiar rhythm of Martin's voice gives you something else to focus on.
You answer naturally, asking about his day, smiling despite yourself at one of his comments, and keeping the conversation flowing without leaving room for anything else. Finally, as the car begins to pull onto your street, the journey feels just a little less isolating, as if the space around you has become fractionally easier to bear.
Through the window, you immediately spot Martin on the pavement waiting further down the road, exactly where he said he'd be. His silhouette alone is enough to ease the tension in your bones, replacing it with a stronger anticipation to get out of the godforsaken car. Quickly rushing out a goodbye to your 'Dad' as to make sure he isn't on the phone when the driver pulls up, you slip your phone into your pocket just as the Uber rolls to a gentle stop at the curb. You unbuckle your seatbelt, your movements calm despite the adrenaline still humming beneath your skin.
"Thanks," you say politely, holding your tongue, as you reach for the door handle.
The cool evening air hits your face the moment you step out of the car, a welcome contrast to the cramped, muggy cabin you'd been sitting in. You pull the door shut behind you with a solid click, taking a few steps towards the pavement.
Martin meets your eyes immediately, reading the exhaustion on your face before you've even reached him. Without missing a beat, he starts walking towards you, his expression soft with concern. The Uber lingers for another moment before pulling away from the curb, its engine fading into the flow of traffic.
The second it's gone, the weight you've been carrying seems to leave with it.
Martin closes the last few steps between you, and you don't hesitate before wrapping your arms around him. He returns the embrace instantly, holding you close as one hand settles reassuringly against your back.
"You okay?" he murmurs, his voice low with concern as he studies your face closely, brows faintly drawn together, hand still resting steady against your back as if anchoring you in place.
You let out a long, shaky breath against his shoulder. "Yeah," you whisper after a moment. "I am now."
For a few seconds, neither of you say anything. The noise of passing cars, distant conversations, and the evening breeze fills the silence instead. Safe now, the tension slowly begins to drain from your body, replaced by the quiet comfort of finally being exactly where you wanted to be.
"Want to go write that guy a scathing review on the uber app?" Martin suddenly speaks up, glancing down at you with a cheeky grin that never fails to make you return the same smile.
"Nothing would make me happier right now."
Seonghyeon (1.5K)
You lock your phone and place it face down beside your coffee, your thumb lingering against the edge for a second before you pull your hand away, absentmindedly fiddling with the hem of your jacket's sleeve, trying to keep yourself occupied. You glance towards the front windows, trying not to make it obvious. Outside, people weave past each other along the pavement, some balancing takeaway coffees, others lost in conversation. Cars switch between starting and stopping through the afternoon traffic, sunlight glinting off windscreens, sparkling in the midst of the busy day.
Usually, it would be somewhere you'd happily lose an hour.
However, the balanced ambience doesn't last long. A little further away, someone laughs too loudly, and without looking you can already tell where it's coming from. The reminder frustrates you, disturbing the peace you're trying to maintain, but every now and then, your curiosity gets the better of you. Sure enough, he's looking again.
The moment your eyes meet his, he looks away with all the subtlety of someone who's trying to act nonchalant, but very clearly wants to be noticed. A second later, he's pretending to listen to one of his friends, nodding a little too enthusiastically before laughing at something that surely couldn't have been that funny.
Of course there's more of them. You almost roll your eyes.
He's exactly the type you'd described to Seonghyeon over text, overconfident in that painfully rehearsed sort of way, wearing a Clairo t-shirt of all things, which should be considered sacrilege when you're certain he couldn't name five songs if you asked him. He stands with his shoulders just a little wider than necessary, like he's convinced cockiness is the same as confidence. In reality, he's already crossed the thin line between the two, and his friends aren't helping.
One of them glances over at you before saying something under his breath. Another gives him a grin and bumps his shoulder.
You don't hear the conversation, but you don't need or want to. You've seen enough bad attempts at flirting to recognise the build up.
You quietly exhale through your nose, briefly closing your eyes before lifting your coffee for a sip, more for something to do with your hands rather than actually wanting to drink it. It's gone lukewarm now, just as you had expected. Your eyes drift back towards the windows, hoping if you stare long enough Seonghyeon will miraculously materialise.
You regret looking at him, almost seeing the cogs turn in his otherwise empty head before he takes it as some unspoken cue. Shit. He mutters something to his friends, straightens his shirt, and pushes himself away from the counter. One of them quietly calls after him, whilst another snorts into his drink.
You bite the inside of your cheek, dreading the impending conversation you're about to have and silently cussing out your boyfriend for taking so long. He hasn't even reached your table yet, and somehow it's already awkward. You subtly shift in your seat, resisting every urge to pick your phone back up, leave your drink behind, and go find Seonghyeon yourself.
He should have only been a minute away when he last messaged, but it feels like the longest minute imaginable.
The guy slows as he approaches, trying to look casual despite the fact you've watched his entire confidence-building montage with his little hype squad from across the room.
"Uh⦠hey."
"Hi." You're not looking at him when he says it, instead staring off in the distance, focused on literally anything else before you look up politely, screaming on the inside because what could you have possibly done to warrant this interaction?
He flashes what is very clearly meant to be a charming smile, "I just thought⦠I'd come over and say hi."
"Okay."
An awkward silence immediately follows, he obviously hadn't planned for that response by the way his shoulders drop slightly. You almost feel bad, but you're hoping if you keep the conversation minimal and dry on your end, he'll take the hint quickly.
"Soβ¦" he says, rocking slightly on his heels. "You waiting for someone?"
"Yeah."
"Oh."
Another beat, one that sits for too long to be played off as a natural pause in the conversation, if you could even call it that.
"β¦Friend?" His tone is hopeful as he asks, and you can't help feeling slightly smug as you get to shoot him down.
"My boyfriend."
He nods a little too quickly.
"Right. Cool. Fair enough."
The interaction should have ended there, you should be letting out a sigh of relief at him taking the blatant signal to back off, but no.
He doesn't walk away. Instead, he shoves his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels slightly, like he's making himself comfortable, glancing briefly over his shoulder towards his friends, who are pretending not to watch very poorly.
"So⦠is he, like⦠actually coming?"
Did he seriously just ask that? Displeased with what he was suggesting, you raise an eyebrow, voice stripped of all its courtesy and coming out in a more clipped manner, "considering he texted me about a minute ago saying he was nearbyβ¦"
The second he spots you, his face breaks into the familiar smile you've been waiting to see all afternoon. Then he notices the guy standing beside your table. His smile doesn't disappear, just becomes more awkward, almost cringing as he realises how much the situation has escalated since your last conversation over text.
He makes his way over at an unhurried pace, hands shoved comfortably into the pockets of his hoodie like he's got absolutely nowhere else to be.
"Hey," he says brightly as he reaches the table, looking straight at you.
"There you are," you smile back, of course you're happy to see your boyfriend, but it doesn't fully reach your eyes. Instead you squint at him slightly, tilting your head and speaking in a tone far too chirpy to genuinely match your words, "you're five minutes late."
Seonghyeon glances towards your practically untouched coffee sitting still in the mug, absent of any warm, swirling steam. Then he looks up at the guy who had been bothering you, muttering the first thing that came to mind before he could stop it-
"Tragicβ¦"
A quiet laugh escapes you, your hand quickly raising to cover your mouth as you look between the two guys caught off guard. Clairo shirt raises both his eyebrows, shoulders tensing before folding his lips into a thin line, clearly offended as his ego takes a hit. Seonghyeon on the other hand looks just as shocked at you, mouth slightly agape before he tries to smile again, quickly shaking his head.
"No no- I uh⦠I meant her coffee! Her coffee⦠it's gone cold-" His voice gets quieter as the words dwindle off with the end of his sentence. His attempt at going back on his statement was so unconvincing, you've now got your whole hand over you face as the second-hand embarrassment from both of them becomes too much, shoulders slightly shaking from holding in your giggles.
The awkward silence beside you suddenly becomes impossible to ignore. You can practically hear the guy's confidence evaporating.
Seonghyeon looks back at you, eyes almost pleading for help as he grasps at any chance to avoid looking at this guys blatantly pissed expression.
Your boyfriend's voice comes out desperate, awkwardly fumbling his way around trying to make an excuse to get out and scramble away from the embarrassing situation. You laugh properly this time, nodding quickly before standing up and taking your boyfriend's hand in yours.
The other guy scoffs, still glaring at Seonghyeon as the two of you begin to make your way towards the door.
"Yeah sorry man, sorry we can't stay to chat," your boyfriend calls back with an uncoordinated wave, "Love the Clairo shirt by the way!"
"Oh my god, Sean. Please stop talking." You groan, practically dragging him out of the door.
Keonho (1.3K)
Your phone is still in your hand as you round the final corner towards your apartment building, the takeaway bag clutched tightly in your other hand. Keonho's last message to replays in your head.
'Okay, okay. Keep walking. You'll be fine, I promise.'
You cling to the words, keeping your head down and your feet moving.
The street is unusually quiet for the time of night, save for a few cars that drift past every so often, their headlights briefly illuminating the pavement in a wash of white before disappearing again. Most of the surrounding flats are dark now, save for the odd lit window where someone is watching television or finishing dinner. The air is cool against your face, but it does little to settle the uneasy feeling building in your chest.
You can still hear him behind you, his footsteps maintaining an uncomfortably steady pace, thudding along the concrete pavement with heavy purpose, a constant reminder that he's chosen to follow you instead of continuing on his own way.
Resisting every urge to look over your shoulder, you refuse to tare your gaze from the path in front of you. It's not like he doesn't know you're aware of him, he's made his presence clear, no stealth in his approach behind you. Still, you can't acknowledge him, not wanting to give even the smallest opportunity for him to make any move that would exceed his deliberate steps following you.
Your apartment building's entrance finally comes into view, and relief washes over you for a split second before reality catches up. You still have to unlock the front door. You still have to get inside. The distance suddenly feels much longer than it actually is, the pavement stretching out in a nauseating illusion, your head swimming with an anxious feeling.
You don't know how you can possibly find the time to open the door without the man behind you getting in your way, his intentions clear as he's practically on your heels now. However as you draw closer to the door, now only a few meters away, movement catches your eye a couple floors above you.
Your apartment window slides open.
You don't even have to look properly to know it's Keonho.
He leans out, resting one hand on the windowsill as he looks down towards the street, hair already getting scruffed up by the cold night's wind sweeping past him.
"Yo!" he calls, loud enough for you to hear without sounding panicked.
You look up and stop in your tracks instinctively, watching his attention shift immediately behind you. The warmth disappears from his expression as his eyes settle on the man who has also stopped a short distance away, the three of you now in a brief stalemate as no one moves.
For a moment, he simply watches, glaring down at the man. Thenβ¦
"Bro."
His voice projects clearly through the quiet street, echoing slightly as the night air carries it through the apartment complex.
"What are you doing?" Keonho doesn't raise his voice, he doesn't need to, his perplexed expression bordering on angry as he continues to stare the man down, allowing you to carefully make your way closer to the door undetected, now finally able to reach the handle, but still too unsure to proceed without him following you in.
"You've been behind her since the other side of the block."
Silence. Then the man speaks up,
"Get lost, kid."
His gruff voice shakes you to the core. It's mean, it's rough, and leaves no room for negotiation. That's when you finally turn to look at him, catching his attention. His face screws up, eyebrows tensing over his eyes so much that the shadow cast from the light above shrouds them in darkness. You don't need to read him though, his next movements coming quick as he goes to lunge at you, about to close the space.
During the commotion, your focus had drifted away from Keonho and you didn't even realise he had disappeared back into the apartment, but before you know it, the unpredictable happens.
Just before the stranger makes contact, a harsh shattering sound pierces through the quiet air, the ear-splitting crack causing him to flinch and take an instinctive step back, stopping his pursuit. You stand to the left of the man, and to his right, broken pieces of ceramic scatter across the pavement.
Your head whips around, craning your neck up at the window about to question Keonho on whatever the fuck that just was, but your questions are already answered when you see him, leaning out the window again, hand reeled backwards and armed with one of your candles.
"There."
He nods towards the shattered pieces.
"That one was a warning."
You stare up at him in disbelief, jaw on the floor, contemplating whether that had actually just happened or if your boyfriend had officially lost his mind.
The man lingers, clearly weighing up whether to continue.
Keonho beats him to it.
"I've got plenty more things on that windowsill."
You know that's a complete lie.
That windowsill holds exactly one plant, one coaster, and what used to be a delicate twin set of scented candles. Keonho seems completely unfazed by the lack of ammunition.
The man glances between you, the building, and Keonho leaning confidently several floors above. Whatever calculation he's making doesn't end in his favour, and with an irritated shake of his head, he turns around and walks back the way he'd come.
Keonho doesn't say another word until the man disappears around the corner, only then does he look back at you. You're still looking up at him, expression horrified before morphing into something more fiery.
"Are you crazy!?" You practically screech up at him, no real anger in your words, just simply gobsmacked by the events having taken place in the past few minutes. The commotion doesn't go ignored either, noticing that a few more windows on the apartment building have now become illuminated by lights turning on, a couple dogs now barking, a few curtains being drawn open.
"Just get inside before he comes back." Keonho calls back, glancing around hurriedly and also taking note of the audience that the outburst has garnered, retreating back from the window before anyone spots him.
Typical.
You hurry the last few steps, slotting your key into the lock and slipping inside the entrance before pulling the heavy door shut behind you with a secure thud.
By the time you reach your floor, your pulse has finally begun to settle.
The apartment door is already open.
Keonho is standing there in his socks, joggers, and an old hoodie, one hand still resting on the handle. The second he sees you, all of the confidence he'd been flaunting from the window seems to disappear.
"You alright?"
You nod, though it takes you a second.
"Yeah."
He searches your face for another moment before stepping aside to let you in.
For a moment, neither of you says anything.
Then you set the takeaway on the kitchen counter and turn back towards him. "You actually threw a candle." You squint your eyes at him, leaning against the counter with your arms crossed and head tilted, still bewildered by his thought process.
He winces, scratching the back of his head before sighing, "I did."
"That was the nice one. My favourite one."
"I know."
"The expensive one."
"I'll buy you a new one?"
You shake your head, laughing quietly as you walk over to him.
He opens his arms without saying anything, and you step into the hug almost automatically. One arm wraps around your shoulders while the other rests gently against your back, holding you just tightly enough to make everything outside the flat suddenly feel very far away.
After a few moments, he speaks, his voice quieter now.
"You're gonna get so many noise complaints."
"Mhm," you sigh and he pulls back just enough to look at you. "thanks."
He gives you a small smile.
"I wasn't about to let some weirdo follow my girlfriend into the building."
You smile back. His full grin returns.
Authors note!! YUHHHHHH, part 2 done! Sorry it took so long, writing that much low kicked my ass but I had so much fun with it I'm so happy I can finally post it, hope you all enjoyed!
new fav song im obsessed this shit got me in my feels and in my summer mindset, get me to the club, get her to the grammys stat. need this injected into my bloodstream and into my bone marrow NOWπ€ππ
ITβS JUST A SHAME, THATβS ALL β THROUGH THE LENS FROM OUTSIDE
βͺ pairing : ot5 cortis x 6th member reader
βͺ summary : a continuation to part one , part two , and part three. life's been different without you but what a loss is to a family, it's a new job for someone else.
βͺ other notes : if the last part drove me insane, this one demolished me. i hope you guys like it because i really did try my best. creds to @/norvixa6 on tiktok for the analog horror imagery. also this is barely edited it's like 4 am but i tried my very best to check any typos.
βhow has it been two months already and still the same information since the first week ?!β your mother screams, hands slamming down on the table. βmaβam please calm down,β officer park tries to deescalate the situation. βno, my daughter went missing two months ago and all any of you do is twiddlΖe with your thumbs instead of looking for her !β your mom cries. βwe are doing everything in our power to find y/n, not a day goes by when we arenβt.β
tears start running down your momβs face, there hasnβt been a single day where sheβs had a moment in peace. her whole life halted by your disappearance. βi promise you, we will find y/n,β officer park gently pats your mom on the back, handing her a box of tissues. βwe have a new detective working on the case, we are not giving up.β from a few feet away, your brother watches in silence. heβs grown used to how your mom constantly cries.
the car ride home is uncomfortably silent, your brotherβs become the chauffeur of the family. your mom hasnβt been able to drive since you disappeared. home isnβt any louder. your shoes are still by the door, slowly collecting dust. your jacket still hangs over a chair, one your mom forgot to move when you forgot it after your last visit. now no one moves anything, how can they ? βmom go lie down for a bit, dinner is on me,β he says, mimicking the same soft tone she used on both of you as children.
βhow about we get thai takeout instead ?β she suggests, a lump forms in your brotherβs throat. ββ¦yeah of course, whatever you want, iβll let you know when it gets here,β he forces a smile, nodding. your mom makes her way upstairs before calling out, βoh and chul, if thereβs anything new, let me know please.β chul nods, βyeah i will.β but he knows deep inside that there wonβt be any updates, itβs just a waiting game with no prize to win.
chul spends most of his days like he did before everything. he attends his classes at his university, works as a cashier afterwards, and goes home to sleep. nothing about his routine has changed yet it feels 10 times more tiring. he can distract himself from thoughts about you during the day but as soon as night falls, everything hits him like a truck. he doesnβt cry, but heβs lucky if he gets three hours of sleep. he hates himself for just thinking of this but a part of him has grown to resent you.
not because you ran away, no that would have been easier because at least you would have told someone. but what is he supposed to think when you suddenly disappear ? he knows what the company said, but he doesnβt care. he knows you, he knows his sister, you wouldβve never left. though he knows that making a claim against a multimillionaire company with no proof would only result in loss, financial and emotional.
and with the way finances are going, heβd rather not start anything. almost immediately after you disappeared, the company cut off any source of income, claiming that you had breached the contract. royalties you had been receiving for years even before debut were all cut off. with a mix of momβs medicine, her medical bills, mortgage, groceries, and miscellaneous bills, chul tried his best to pick up as many shifts as possible.
not because theyβre about to go completely broke, but because life was starting to become less comfortable. itβs weird to think that the youngest person in the family was the one responsible for most finances. when mom stopped working after her chronic pain became worse, you told her not to worry about it, that youβd take care of it. now instead of just worrying about his tuition payments, he has to make sure expenses donβt fall through the roof.
one night, chul stares at your bedroom door before opening it. he winces at the creak, remembering how youβd complain that he never oiled the hinges. he walks in, closing the door behind him. he doesnβt bother turning on the light, just sits on the floor next to your bed, letting his back feel the plushness against your mattress. even though you hadnβt lived at home in a long time, your room still looks the same as it did years ago.
the only difference now is that youβre not coming home at all. his hands dig into his hoodie pocket, revealing three things. nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and cigarettes. before you even debuted, chul had the habit of smoking cigarettes on a weekly basis. it helped with his stress as much as he didnβt want to admit he was addicted to it. youβd immediately cover your nose when he walked by, harshly scolding him. βyouβre so disgusting chul,β heβd just roll his eyes, βwell itβs a good thing youβre not the one doing it huh ?β
it would always end in an argument, until one day when he stopped altogether. βyou know, second hand smoking is also bad, how am i supposed to sing if iβm breathing in your smoke ?β chul raised his eyebrows in confusion. βi smoke with the window open, what the hell are you talking about ?β βthat doesnβt matter, that shit penetrates the walls !β you stomped your foot in frustration. βyou wonβt even live here in a month, youβre moving to the dorms.β
βokay then if itβs only a few weeks until i leave, quit for now and then you can continue ruining your lungs,β you crossed your arms. βare you worried about your lungs or mine ? make up your mind.β βiβm worried about all of us ! you know mommy canβt be breathing it in either,β you stated, flailing your arms. chul hummed, you made a good argument. so he finally made the decision to go cold turkey.
βokay, just until you leave, iβll stop smoking and i promise that any future smoking will be done outside, how does that sound ?β chul smooshes his cigarette into his ash tray. you blink at him before smiling brightly, βreally ?!β chul rolled his eyes, βyes really.β you immediately wrapped your arms around him, squeezing him tightly. βi knew you loved me !β your voice muffled against his shirt. βdonβt get ahead of yourself,β he awkwardly patted your back.
itβs been almost three years since that conversation and since then, chul hadnβt smoked. the first two weeks without smoking were absolute hell, just the aspect of not having anything to wind down after a hard long day sent cold shivers down his spine. yet, he kept his promise, doing everything to fill that void. his oral fixation was satisfied when he shoved a chapstick between his lips, a little gross but it sufficed.
after you left, he challenged himself to try one more month of not smoking, just to prove to himself and to you that he wasnβt addicted. eventually that challenge became his lifestyle, clean lungs and no lingering smoke smell on his clothes. but now chul looks down at the floor in front of him. βfuck,β he curses to himself, biting his cheek hard enough to make it bleed. he just needs something real, anything to make that ache go away.
he picks up the gum packet, reading the instructions on the back, effective in 10-15 minutes. βwho the hell waits that long ?β he drops them on the floor again before grabbing the patches, turning it over, effective in 2-4 hours. βare these fuckers trying to kill me or something ?β he scoffs, throwing them on the floor, this time with more force. he sighs, turning his gaze to the pack of cigarettes. he canβt, he canβt just give it all up right nowβ¦but he needs it.
βjust one,β a wobbly smile forms on his face, shaky hands ripping off the plastic wrapping. then- BUZZZZ. βshit,β chul jolts, dropping the pack. he reaches again into his pocket, now pulling out his phone. itβs an unknown number listed under the police department. he immediately answers, βhello ?β an unfamiliar voice speaks, βgood evening, is this chul l/n ?β chul sits up straight, reaching for the nicotine gum. βyes, this is him.β
βmy name is detective kang hyeok-jin, i was assigned to your sisterβs case about a week ago,β detective kang introduces himself. βi know it can be very frustrating and repetitive to answer the same questions but iβd like to get some details about y/n so i can understand her disappearance as best as i can.β chul shoves three nicotine gums into his mouth, face contorting in disgust. βyeah of course, iβll answer anything if it helps you guys find my sister.β
across town, a sleep deprived hyeok-jin asks chul several questions. he writes them down in messy handwriting, just enough for him to understand. βthank you mr. l/n, this was very helpful. iβll dedicate myself to finding your sister,β hyeok-jin grips the phone tighter. βyouβre not the first one to say thatβ¦but i hope that youβll actually help,β chul sighs into the phone, obviously tired out by these two past months.
βiβm sorry to hear that, i know it hasnβt been easy for your family, iβll do everything i can to get her back,β hyeok-jin sets his pen down. a small pause comes from the other line βyeahβ¦thank you for calling anyway.β even though they arenβt face to face, hyeok-jin can sense the hesitation and defeat in chulβs voice. βiβll let you rest then, iβll keep you updated on anything and everything, please save my number into your phone, and have a goodnight.β
βalright, thank you, goodnight,β without another beat, the line is cut. hyeok-jin lays his phone face flat onto his desk, rubbing his hands over his face. heβs been looking over this case for only a week and heβs beyond confused. everything that should be there is there but your case file is small to say the least. the longest document is the companyβs statement and proof that you breached your contract and could even be sued.
everything else is justβ¦there. βhey boy, you should head home, youβve been here two hours overtime,β lieutenant baek sun-woo calls out to him. βiβll go home soon ! i was just reviewing the case you gave me,β hyeok-jin gives his supervisor a tired smile. βdonβt you have a wife and a kid to get home to ?β the lieutenant asks. βi actually donβt have a girlfriend sir,β that statement is immediately welcomed with an up and down stare, βwell that explains a lot.β
hyeok-jin tilts his head in confusion, but doesnβt have enough time to reply before lieutenant baek bids his goodbye. βgo home before any chance of having a girlfriend disappears completely.β hyeok-jin forces out a laugh, βyes sir !β a few minutes later, the office falls completely silent, the only sound coming from the light over his head. hyeok-jin looks back down at your case, furrowing his eyebrows. missing person report. photos of the cctv footage. company statement. lack of witness statements.
the more he thinks, the more heβs confused. he flips through the interviews of different people you were close with, your family, your members, even workers from your favorite stores. they all said the same thing : you would have never left out of your own will. except for one person. when asked by the police if it seems likely that youβd run away, edwards martin stated βi would like to say no but y/n has always been a complicated person, so iβm unsure.β
hyeok-jin leans back in his chair, it wouldβve made sense if everyone or most people had the same idea of you but to only have one person, specifically the last person that saw you ? βhey youβre not heading out yet ?β a familiar voice grabs his attention, itβs officer kim. βiβm about to leave, was just looking over some things,β he smiles at her. βgood, donβt overwork yourself,β she nods, walking closer to him. βactually since youβre here, were you at the scene during the investigation with that one idol ?β he asks, pushing the case file to his friend.
βno, i was off that day but i did hear some things about it, why ?β she flips through it. βit just seems weird, almost like it wasnβtβ¦thoroughly investigated, everything is so short,β he hesitates on his words, not wanting to overstep a line. βi canβt say much about it honestly, missing person cases are always weird to handle especially when her company is contradicting it as a whole,β officer kim frowns. βyeahβ¦iβll look more into that, thanks though,β hyeok-jin sighs, grabbing the file from her.
βalso, shouldnβt you also be going home too ?β he asks officer kim. βnormally yes but they changed me to night shift, just until one of the guys gets back from paternity leave,β she shakes her head. βoh i see, well make sure to stock up on energy drinks and coffee,β he cracks a joke making officer kim snort. βwill do, thanks, now go home and sleep before your brain gives out,β she clears her throat, giving him a small wave. βthanks, have a good shift !β once left alone again, hyeok-jin exhales. heβs tired and confused but he does know something, tomorrowβs a new day.
when chul wakes up, he groans in pain. how did you even sleep on your bed every night when you were little if itβs harder than a rock ?! your unicorn plushie is directly under his neck, your lion plushie is tucked between his armpit. he sits up, rubbing his eyes. on your nightstand is his nicotine products, unopened patches, opened gums, and half unwrapped cigarettes. he looks around your room now that the sun is peeking beyond the curtains. it almost makes him sick, he hates being here during the day where he can see the remnants of your memory as a child.
almost immediately, he fixes your bed before grabbing his things and leaving the room. he thinks heβll die if he stays in there for another minute. when he goes downstairs, he sees mom, buttoning up her bright pink vest. βmom youβre already leaving ?β he asks, grabbing her purse. βearly bird gets the worm honey,β she smiles, looking at him. βseeing you go out like this every day worries me,β chul expresses his discomfort.
βnot knowing where your sister is worries me,β she ends his argument. βplease be safe then, and donβt stand or walk for too long,β hyeok-jin gives the older woman a tight hug. βwalking is good for me, you know that,β she shrugs him off, walking to the front door. momβs been avoidant lately, less affectionate and more sad, not on purpose but because her mind is clouded by worrying about you. he wishes everything could be normal again.
when lieutenant baek invites hyeok-jin out for lunch, he almost refused. it was weird, not in a suspicious way but he had never had a supervisor buy him lunch. yet here he is, stuffing his mouth with meat. βso hyeok-jin, you came from jeju island right ?β lieutenant baek asks him. hyeok-jin nods, swallowing his food. βhow come you came to seoul ? iβd die to live on jeju,β the lieutenant chuckles, sipping a bit of his soup.
βi heard seoul is a good place for detectives to grow,β he replies, awkwardly smiling. βreally ? i heard there was a lot of crime there,β he shakes his head at his superiorβs words. βno, we just have a lot of tourists and most of them are respectful but thereβs a handful that just ruin it for everyone. and even then a lot of the crimes are straight forward, a little burglary here, a little fight there, itβs all very simple,β he sighs.
βno wonder youβre going all in for this missing girl case,β the older man chuckles. hyeok-jin places his chopsticks down, wiping his mouth with a napkin βactually i wanted to talk to you about that.β the lieutenant looks at him, eyebrow raised. βwhyβ¦did you put me on y/n l/nβs case ? i appreciate it of course, itβs an honor but itβs a big case for a newcomer no ?β he asks, looking off to the side. lieutenant baek hesitates to answer before exhaling.
βitβs a big case but itβs also a dead end.β hyeok-jinβs puzzled by his answer. βwhat do you mean ?β βyou know how you had simple cases in jeju ? itβs similar to this oneβ¦whether her family and friends want to admit it or not, the girl probably ran away. thereβs no proof otherwise and itβd be hard for her company to fake something like that so boldly.β lieutenant baek explains his thinking, itβs clear by now that heβs set on this idea.
hyeok-jin shifts uncomfortably in his seat, unsure of what to say. βwhen you have your children, youβll understand that this is the type of things teenagers do when theyβre pent up,β his superior attempts to reassure him. βit doesnβt make sense though-β βplease donβt think too much about it kid, digging into it will only waste your time.β hyeok-jin shuts his mouth, beginning to become irritated.
βbesides letβs say worst case scenario, the company was involved since apparently thatβs folks favorite theory, sheβs probably living a good life down low. i mean, think about it, people do a lot for money, money talks and money runs the world.β the older man waves off the situation. instead of arguing and possibly losing his job, hyeok-jin calms himself down βif you say soβ¦β
chulβs day was uneventful to say the least, the same long and boring routine. school and work, nothing to celebrate but nothing to complain about. that is until he had to pick up momβs medicine. he walked in and out of the pharmacy three separate times, waiting for his check for that week to hit his bank account. when it finally does, heβs only left with a few thousand won afterwards, even with the coupon the pharmacist offered.
as fucked up as it sounds, heβs glad that only a few people know that heβs your brother. he canβt imagine the looks of pity and people whispering under their breath βpoor guy, it must suck being himβ or even βwow heβs an idolβs brother but he could barely afford medicine.β heβd probably die out of the embarrassment. when he reaches home, the sunβs already gone down.
heβs about to reach for his keys, but having the habit of checking if the door is unlocked gets to him first. surprisingly, itβs open. chul furrows his eyebrows, did mom forget to lock it ? he quietly steps inside, just in case somethingβs happening. βi wouldnβt possibly be able to accept that,β chul hears mom talking in the kitchen. βitβs really okay donβt worry, youβre basically my second mom,β oh itβs martin.
chul stands outside of the kitchen, listening quietly to the conversation. βy/n isnβt here but i know she would have wanted me to help,β martin tries to persuade mom on something. βbut itβs so much moneyβ¦β mom sighs. βexactly, and iβm guessing chulβs been paying for your medicine, so think about it like this : iβm not only helping you, iβm also helping him,β so thatβs what this is about, momβs medicine.
chul remembers the first time you met martin. it was during a hot summer day in august, both of you were sweaty in boiling heat. martin had approached you, offering to push you on the swing after seeing you fail to get momentum which later led into a game of tag. it was cute and wholesome. what chul didnβt expect was for this to blossom into a friendship, the kind every kid desires to have.
as years passed and both of you grew, martin still chased after you, almost like a person running alongside a butterfly. wherever you went, martin soon followed. he liked martin for the most part, especially because you also never had a bad thing to say about him. when chul found out youβd be in the same group, he was relieved youβd have a best friend beside you and also someone he trusts fully.
chul steps back when he hears footsteps approach the doorway. martin is startled back when he sees chul, βyou scared me sorry,β he laughs, a smile forming on his face. βnice to see you too,β chul nods, leading him to the front door. βoh by the way,β chul stops martin just as heβs about to leave. βthe police assigned a new detective to y/nβs case.β martin doesnβt turn around, he pauses for a second.
βis that so ?β he asks in a low voice. βyeah,β βthatβs good,β martin nods, βlet me know if they say anything new.β chul hums, βi will donβt worry, goodnight martin,β with nothing more to say, martin opens the front door and leaves. chul doesnβt blame martin for acting weird, everyone handles bad situations differently. he knows itβs been hard on martin, he can only hope the members are all united on this.
itβs been a month since lieutenant baek took hyeok-jin for lunch. over three months since youβve been gone. hyeok-jin knows that his lieutenant told him not to dig around but can he just stay still ? unfortunately however, hybe and bighit have not cooperated whatsoever. not outright refusing, rather just not responding at all. phone calls to higher ups in the company lead to an hour wait only for the call to suddenly hang up.
he doesnβt have any luck getting paperwork from them either despite the multiple attempts of contact. public records were extremely shortened and difficult to find. itβs just been a full month of frustration and lack of response. he crumbles up a piece of paper, throwing it into the trash can next to his desk. βwhy even have a phone number if no one fucking answers,β he grumbles to himself. he leans his head against his hands, letting out an exasperated sigh.
hyeok-jin thinks of the lunch with his lieutenant, trying to remember every word from that conversation. he doesnβt think lieutenant baek meant any harm, but the conversation still bothered him. he thinks of something the lieutenant said at the end of their conversation. βmoney talks.β he doesnβt have anything else to go off of, just hopes and dreams. his fingers tap against his desk, eyes landing on his computer.
he remembers something his professor said years ago βif you canβt follow people, follow the money.β so he leans forward, clicking through different government sites. βif no one wants to talk to me or answer my questions, i guess iβll ask the numbers.β itβs his very last hunch, otherwise heβd be just like the past detectives that were handed this case. he canβt give up this easily without checking every end of a clue, he promised your brother that heβd try his best.
chulβs morning started off extremely rough. he was already late for his class, one which he had a test for. mom screamed at him for no reason other than the fact that itβs officially been three months since you went missing. he doesnβt blame her or argue back, he just wishes that she could see heβs also struggling just as much as she is. βiβm sorry mom,β he apologizes even though he has no reason to.
mom cries, βjust go to school, i want to be alone,β she sniffles. βokay, i love you,β he leaves before she can say anything else. he runs the fastest he can to his university, missing the first half of his class. he apologizes to the professor, earning a harsh scolding. βiβm so sorry, can i still do the exam please ?β βitβs your time, not mine,β she rolls her eyes, handing him a copy of the test and a scantron. he exhales in relief, sitting down at his seat. he takes a deep breath, putting his pencil to the paper.
grades are put into the system almost as soon as class ends. chul fails the test horribly. not barely, horribly. he got a 15 on it, the worst heβs ever done on anything. itβs so bad he even agrees to have lunch with his friends, anything to try and cheer himself up. but all his friends seem to ask him about is how his family is doing. before you debuted, he had commented to his friends that his little sister was going to be in a kpop group, a mistake he now realizes.
βweβre fine,β chul bites into his sandwich, one his friend had bought him a few minutes ago. βbro if you ever need our help, weβre here for you,β his friend with glasses says as the others nod. βhave you, you know, been online lately ?β his other friend with dyed hair asks, earning a shove from chulβs favorite gym bro. βi donβt like reading any of that shit, just jobless nobodies saying shit about my sister,β chul shakes his head.
βthatβs good man, i seen a lot of shit a-and i donβt think your sister was like that but like i donβt know people be talking,β dyed hair rambles on. chul ignores him, not wanting to continue talking about you. βdo you think talking about her will do you some good ?β glasses asks in a softer tone. βif he doesnβt want to talk about her then letβs not force him,β gym bro comes to chulβs defense. chul gives him a small smile before looking back at his sandwich.
quiet fills the table until dyed hair breaks it with a scoff. βiβm sorry but i have to talk about it, your momβs out there protesting that nothing is being done for your missing sister but you donβt want to talk about it ? instead of defending her ? do you know what people are saying about her ? that she ran away, not to mention theyβre also saying she was the yoko ono of the group-β chul stands up, chair scraping against the floor.
βshut your fucking mouth.β chul warns his friend, the others shocked by his sudden demeanor. βjust because your girlfriend goes out and fucks a new guy every weekend doesnβt mean my sister was like that. what do you want me to say huh ? oh i think my sister got kidnapped ! oh i think my sister might have been trafficked ! oh i think my sister might be dead ! itβs been three fucking months and i know nothing, sheβs all i think about !β chulβs voice breaks at the end.
βand from what it seems, you donβt know anything about me, let alone my sister so the next time you say anything about her, iβll beat you to a pulp,β chul warned dyed hair before grabbing his backpack and leaving the cafeteria. no one calls out for him or chases to stop him, not that he was expecting that to begin with. he soon leaves campus, jittery and overwhelmed. chul can feel tears brim his eyes, vision becoming blurry.
as soon as heβs off school grounds, he dumps his backpack out. pencils, notebooks, folders, even his laptop falling onto concrete ground. he frantically reaches his hand into his bag, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and his lighter. heβs hyperventilating at this point, on the brink of having a panic attack. fuck being sober, fuck anything and everything. he puts the cigarette between his lips, lighter shaking in his hand as he lights it.
the first drag burns his lungs, almost like the first time he smoked. in 10 seconds, his heart rate and breathing slow down. but even when chul releases the smoke from his mouth, the ache in his soul and tears in his eyes donβt disappear, it only makes things worse. he thinks of you and how angry you would be at him right now. he reaches for his phone, trembling fingers scrolling through his contacts, pressing to call.
βmartin,β chulβs voice is wobbly as the younger boy answers the phone almost immediately. βhey whatβs wrong ?β martin asks, hearing quiet sniffling on the other hand. βi know that you might be busy but i really need to talk to you,β chul cries into the phone. βiβm on break, i have to go back soon but what happened ?β βtodayβs y/nβs three months since she went missing and everyoneβs just talking about her like sheβs gone forever and i donβt know what to do anymore, i just fucking smoked after quitting for three years,β he sobs, cigarette burning between his fingers.
βand you of all people know y/n wouldnβt have ran away,β he continues tethering between anger and heartbreak. when chul allows martin to talk, martin is silent to the point where chul think the call ended. βhello ?β βiβm sorry chul, iβ¦i canβt say much, iβ¦β chul doesnβt know why martin is responding so weirdly. βwhat are you saying ?β βi-iβm saying that i donβt know, everythingβs just soβ¦confusing- iβm sorry i have to go, i need to get back to practice,β martin cuts the conversation short.
βwhat ?β chul asks, softly hiccuping. βi put in the money for your momβs medication, iβm sorry i canβt say anymore, bye,β before chul can respond, martin hangs up. chul looks down at his phone, βthanks anyway,β he mumbles to himself, tears running down his face. this isnβt the boy you talked so positively about. this isnβt the boy heβs known since martin was 12. chul canβt recognize martin anymore, the real martin would have fought for you.
that night, hyeok-jin stares at the papers in front of him, heart thumping against his ribs. the numbers didnβt add up. mixing or falsified tax records. training expenses that never existed or seemed exaggerated. payments to shell companies. contracts rewritten after signatures had been made. he was right, there was more than what meets the eyes, thereβs years of fraud. how has no one noticed this ? β¦did they ever notice this ? his discovery is soon cut short when he hears running footsteps down the hall.
he snaps his head to the side, seeing multiple officers dashing. βdetective kang !β officer kim sprints into the room. βyou need to come with us right now,β she looks completely out of breath. βwhat happened, whatβs going on ?!β his stomach drops as he gets up from his seat. βone of the cortis membersβ¦he had an accident,β she struggles to catch her breath. hyeok-jinβs confused, what does that have to do with him ?
βi mean is he okay ? but iβm not a cop so why do i-β βthatβs not the reason why you have to come along,β she interrupts him. βwe found y/n.β hyeok-jin freezes, eyes widening, βfound ?β his friend nods. so many thoughts cross his mind yet he can only ask one question. βis she alive ?β his voice comes out quieter than intended. officer kim looks at him, her parted lips let out an exhale before pressing into a thin line.
GUYS im sorry part 2 for βA MANβ is taking so long, ive been very busy prepping for uniπ, but i PROMISE (pinky and everythingπ€) that it will be done by this weekend!!!
lowkirkenuinely scared its gonna flop or not live up to expectations, like i wasnt expecting to get so much support on my first fic but i am forever grateful for how it went down and i couldnt be more happyππ
at the moment, james, juhoon, and martins POVs are DONE (each written part over 1k wordsπ₯) i just gotta turn the maknae lineβs story boards into fully written fics and then it will be DONE
but honestly im so excited to post it, theres a mix of fluff, angst, and spooky scenes so far (i guess you could say thriller/mystery, though i might definitely be reaching) so i hope you all enjoy reading it as much as i have been writing it!!
loved ur "a man" fic i was deadass CACKLING the whole time π but how about a 'serious' version though i mean ITβS JS ME ITβS JS ME but yk what if π€·ββοΈ still harmless but serious
AAAA, thank you so much!!!π Saw this ask when you first sent it and I'm officially in the flow state to Hopefully do your request justice, it should be posted within the next couple daysπ
Thank you again for the support and request, here's a few little sneak peaksπ:
Ignore the chopped screenshot quality, it will be nice and Pristine in the real fic xoxo
(Also if anyone wants to be tagged, feel free to lmkπ)
Summary: The members reactions to allegedly strange men βintrudingβ into your daily lifeβ¦ (completely harmless!!)
Warnings/creds: Cursing, seemingly stressful situations, slight martin slander from other members (x2), crack fic, y/n is a bit of a man/bf hater but that's okay xoxo, lmk if i missed anything!! All photos used in the screen shots and title are from pinterest, and the gorgeous dividers are by @starrliqhtt here!!
James:
Juhoon:
Martin:
Seonghyeon:
Keonho:
Authors note!! AAAAA first time uploading a fic on here kinda scaredπ, honestly dont know where this came from but i hope you all enjoyed reading!
π±α―β A MAN!! - The members reactions to allegedly strange men βintrudingβ into your daily lifeβ¦ (completely harmless!!)
π±π° α―β Wait, thereβs ACTUALLY a man?? - In a turn of events you genuinely experience an uncomfortable encounter with a strange man, turning to your boyfriend for help.
Summary: The members reactions to allegedly strange men βintrudingβ into your daily lifeβ¦ (completely harmless!!)
Warnings/creds: Cursing, seemingly stressful situations, slight martin slander from other members (x2), crack fic, y/n is a bit of a man/bf hater but that's okay xoxo, lmk if i missed anything!! All photos used in the screen shots and title are from pinterest, and the gorgeous dividers are by @starrliqhtt here!!
James:
Juhoon:
Martin:
Seonghyeon:
Keonho:
Authors note!! AAAAA first time uploading a fic on here kinda scaredπ, honestly dont know where this came from but i hope you all enjoyed reading!
SYNOPSIS you knew not to buy from just any reseller, but you never imagined youβd get scammed by someone who goes to school with you!
scammer martin x reader β enemies to lovers(ish), lots of cursing, martin isβ¦, crack fic, small drabble, bad humour
β yo itβs been a VERY VERY LONG TIME!! but IK BACKK AND BETTER THAN EVER, iβm in summer break finally but i needa prep for senior year FUHHπ‘π‘ this is just smth small i made tdy, idk if id make this a whole series but weβll see. im just ready to make more content this summer while i have more time, did u guys miss me?π₯Ίπ₯Ί
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