✧┊ petty theft ❣
the person you love nearly dying really puts life in perspective. since spencer’s time in the hospital, jihoon couldn’t help but re-evaluate his life, and think of how pointless all of his resentment and priorities were. instead of holding a grudge against bomin for leaving, he messaged him, because no one was guaranteed survival, and if something happened to him, he would never be able to forgive himself. life is too fragile, especially in a place like myeongcho, to fight against the people important to you, and to intentionally hurt them, or to manipulate.
it’s all so ingrained in jihoon, and it’ll take more than a month to grow into a version of himself he’ll be able to accept. he knows instinctively he’ll fall into the same pattern of deception and selfishness, but for the first time, he’s trying to be better. he’s trying to be a better son, and a better brother, and as spencer recovers, some of the joy he lacked for months fills him again. he can flash his old smiles again and work his cute looks for extra tips and stellar customer service skills, but it doesn’t feel quite so faked anymore, and he steals a little less than he would’ve once before.
he still isn’t sure whether he wants to drop out of school or not, but the year is almost over, so he’ll at least finish it and decide over the break. he’s been so busy making sure spencer is safe and working overtime at the crow’s nest to make up for his absence that classwork has fallen to the bottom of his list of things to do, but he’ll make it through. he made it to class today, and when his final one of the day ends, he gets up to leave. a familiar figure gives him pause, though.
he and seungmin have a history: namely, family history, warring restaurants once upon a time, parents with a friendly rivalry and children...less so, immaturity leaving to resentment that festered even as they aged. they share this class together, and avoid each other by all means necessary, usually ignoring one another’s existence, jihoon stealing seungmin’s pens as revenge when he gets the chance, just to inflict a little damage. his conscience pulls at him now, and he still isn’t humble enough to apologize, but he fishes one of the stolen pens out of his school bag and approaches seungmin.
“hey. is this yours?” he asks, and extends it toward him as a peace offering. there’s so much more he could say, but it all stops in his throat. he opens his mouth so speak, then closes it again, and in the end, says, “i hope you’ve been well.”
✧┊ @miseungmin
