4

Despite the coldness the night was giving, Minho felt warm. He looked at the man beside him, driving seriously and eyes dead on the road. Chan would probably think of him as a creep by the way his eyes lingered on him far too long while he was steering the wheel, but Minho didn't care. He was very grateful to have Chan beside him that night.

But the way Chan's jaw was still clenching, how he gripped the steering wheel tightly, and how he furrowed his brows made it hard for Minho to thank the older. He didn't know what he was thinking. Was he angry at him? Upset? Was he hurt that bad? Stupid. Of course he is, there's even a mark that could tell he was hit.

He could see the little bruise, now turning to a purple hue, on his right cheek with the help of the lights  emitted from other vehicles. Minho remembered how his other cheek was cut by a dagger because of him. Now once again, Chan's face was bruised because of him. His mind was yelling at him that this was his fault. So he looked away, trying to suppress another set of tears that wanted to spill. God, he hated crying. It made him feel weak, vulnerable. It was showing how he was lacking energy and strength to take on satan's spawn of darkness.

He looked away, feeling the cozy warmth he was feeling fade into nothingness. Chan was hurt because of him, because of saving him.

The older seemed like he knew where Minho lived at the moment, since he didn't ask for directions. It wasn't surprising, now that he knows Felix is his cousin which he roomed with. So he just kept quiet, staring outside the window. He could only hear the roaring engines from other vehicles outside. He couldn't help but remember how Chan had saved him.

Minho opened his eyes, seeing someone walking towards him, but not quite able to see clearly due to his tears blurring his vision. Nevertheless, he knows who it was. He let out a choked sob when the figure finally approached him, grabbing his shoulder. "Minho, are you alright? Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?" He was talking way too fast, concern evident in his voice, which made Minho let out another strangled sob. Like he was forcing himself not to cry in front of him.

The next thing that the older did made Minho's tears come out, finally releasing that heavy load he felt. Chan was hugging him tightly, whispering comforting words while gently drawing small circles on his back. Minho clutched on his jacket, surprised how he didn't realize that he was shaking. Chan backed away a little, his eyes finding Minho's, and wiped his tear-stained cheeks, which was no use since his tears were like water coming from a damaged dam.

"Hey, hey, talk to me. Did he hurt you somewhere? You're obviously not fine. Sshh. I'm here. Everything's okay. I'm here." Chan's soothing voice was enough for Minho to pull him back into a tight hug, not minding how the blonde's shirt was soaking with salty tears. Chan just embraced him as tightly as he did.

Chan's finally here. This isn't just his drunk mind's hallucination, right? He's here right?

His mind stopped functioning for a bit when he suddenly heard Hyunho's coughing, followed by a sick laugh. His body tensed. He almost forgot that there's a faggot who wanted to use Minho again. He immediately felt the need to scrub his skin harder, until it turned red.

"Aww. Look at this, such a crybaby. You're actually crying, my angel. That's good." Hyunho was staring at them, his eyes void of human emotions, dark smile turning into a mischievous grin. "I see you have your new boyfriend here. What happened to the others, babe?"

Minho wanted to let go of Chan and just step out and choke this hideous creature until his face turns blue and his heart stops beating. But Chan raced him to it. The blonde slowly let go of Minho for him to face Hyunho, eyes calm but stern.

"Oh. What a pretty little boy we have here. Nice catch, Minnie babe." Minho could just roll over and shake his body just to let out the disgust he felt towards this guy. He was obsessed with Minho, thinking that Minho was his and his alone. But he could easily escape Hyunho's grasps by the help of his friends. And when he saw that Minho was alone earlier, he grabbed the opportunity.

Chan scoffed, keeping a good distance between him and the douchebag in front. "I could see that you're totally insane." Chan spat with his normal, serious voice, hiding Minho behind his back. "Maybe that's why you didn't let him go when he told you to let go."

Hyunho laughed. The nerve! "You think you're strong little man? You think you could take me down that easily—"

Chan squinted his eyes. "Just because you're an inch— or maybe two inches— taller than me doesn't mean you can call me small, you air-headed buffon. And fun fact, I actually did already."

Instead of answering, the taller one looked at Minho's eyes and said, "Baby, look at what he did to me..." He pointed his face where Chan had hit him. ".... it makes me want to return the favor."

The brunette wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, almost vomiting at how Hyunho called him. He clenched his fist and was glaring at his ex hardly, eyebrows almost meeting at the center. He could see in his peripheral view that Chan was... Smiling?

He's smiling? At a situation like this?

"Then be my guest." Chan said, his smile turning into something that Minho himself couldn't decipher. His voice was still calm and collected, but his face was saying otherwise. Wait—

Is he challenging Hyunho? Oh no. Minho knows Chan is skilled in fighting, but Hyunho is different. He could kill anyone if he wants to. He wasn't afraid of being in jail, trusting in his parents' wealth and power. Although Minho already experienced beating Hyunho's ass before, that was entirely because Hyunho was as drunk as dead.

That last line provoked something in Hyunho, his face contorted from what Chan just said. He immediately lunged at Chan, aiming at his face with his closed fist. Chan avoided it in a split second before it landed on his face. The taller attacked again, trying to hit Chan's right temple.

All Minho could see was that Hyunho was giving attacks while Chan was just dodging him, not having enough time to formulate a counterattack. They moved in a fleeting way, like both were trained to fight. He wanted to help, but how? He was still shaking, his mind blown away by the alcohol, and his vision was starting to spin.

They just exchanged blows. He could hear the sounds their empty attacks were making. Minho leaned against a wall, gulping when he saw Hyunho finally landing a punch on Chan's face. It did something in his stomach. His heart was beating faster and his breath hitched when he saw the blonde looking away. Fuck. He heard Chan curse and Hyunho was laughing maniacally.

Chan stilled for a moment. "That all you got, brat? Not as strong as we think we are, are we?" Hyunho was circling him while he placed his hand on one of his knees to support himself. Minho wanted to cry out loud and wished that he didn't go here in the first place.

What they didn't know was that the blonde male was just waiting for a timing so he could target his opponent's legs. And it came. Chan swiftly tackled Hyunho, making the taller one lose his balance. He grabbed that opportunity to be the one making the shots. "Never underestimate your enemy and never lose focus." Was he teaching him how to fight? "I just allowed you to hit me because we've been dancing for too long." This the arrogant Chan alright.

He delivered several punches and kicks, Hyunho being able to dodge some, but fully taking more than what he dodged. Chan grabbed a hold of his shirt and faced Hyunho with a blank, yet deadly stare. He muttered a few words that Minho couldn't hear, before sending one last strike, the back of his hand meeting the taller's face— hard.

Of course this was no time to be acting like a cheerleader, but Minho's heart swelled with pride and joy when he saw how Chan knocked him on the ground. Would he always be like this every time Chan wins in a fight? But what did he say? What was that all about? He was breathing heavily while watching with a spinning head. What did he even drink?

They were all panting, but the loud music muffled their breathing. It was evident that Chan was tired and Hyunho was still on the ground, clutching on his stomach where a kick was served earlier. Chan's languid movements towards Minho made the brunette's heart stop for a moment. "Min, let's go." Min?

"Minho, come on, before this ass gets back on his feet." Minho was still staring, shock that Chan was acting like he wasn't stroked a few times. "Hey, hey. You brought a car?" Minho nodded, eyes glued on Hyunho, afraid that he'll rise back up again. "Then let's go." He still wasn't moving.

"Minho, come on."

Chan grabbed his hand and that was enough to make Minho come back. The older's hand was soft but also had a mixture of roughness, like it's been through a lot for a long time. It felt warm, cozy. It felt right. He internally squashed down the urge to intertwine them, moving along as Chan dragged him to the parking lot.

Minho absentmindedly gave the key to Chan. The older opened the shotgun seat for Minho while he was staring at his now empty hand before climbing in. He missed the warmth already. Chan then climbed on the driver's seat, not trusting Minho with his situation. He looked over at the younger, his eyes full of worry. Minho looked up and met his gaze. They were just... staring. Waiting for someone to break the ice and talk.

But Chan was the one who pulled away first, sighing loudly before turning the engine on and started driving out of the place.

Now ten minutes into the drive and it was still quiet, both physically tired. Minho was also mentally drained, his head aching but didn't show it. He just shut his eyes and focused on clearing up his mind and fighting the urge to sleep on Chan. You didn't even say thank you yet!

Well he looked pissed at the moment! I'm not getting on his nerves!

But he should really thank Chan before he drifted to dreamland. Minho inhaled loudly and turned to look at Chan again. "Hyung," The word just rolled off of his tongue and it felt weird. Should he just call him Chan? But his friends call him hyung and he is in fact older than Minho. But they haven't established that kind of friendship yet. His mind kept on contemplating whether to address him as hyung or just Chan but Chan responded. His features seemed to soften at Minho's voice.

"Yeah?" His voice was barely above a whisper, eyes still on the road. Say thank you, idiot! What? Cat got your tongue? Was he seeing things? Or was there really a tinge of pink currently masking the older's cheeks? Maybe his mind is playing tricks with him, his head still hurts. And it was actually pretty cold outside now that he wasn't in shock anymore. Maybe Chan just felt cold.

"Uhm..." Minho, what the hell? Two words. "Uh... T-thank you. For earlier... I— it's yeah. Thank you." This is so embarrassing. "I... I don't know what would've happened if you weren't there. So, thank you. I'm really grateful." That wasn't so hard now, was it? "And I'm... I'm sorry for causing trouble. Because of me, I—you... you had to deal with that stupid ass. I'm worried that he'll come for you. And again I'm sorry." Minho breathed in and out after that.

Chan smiled at him, his dimple showing. It's a genuine one this time. "No problem at all. You're a friend, Minho, even though we're practically avoiding each other. You seem pretty tense when you're with me. And don't worry, he won't be coming for me. I'm just glad that you're alright now. Felix would surely beat the crap out of me if he learns that I didn't help you."

He went back to the same Chan he saw in the university with other people. His goofy and warm personality. This was the thing with Chan. He was so easy to talk to, and Minho noticed that while they were having conversations with the others. He was free-spirited, approachable, lenient. Nobody would suspect him of fighting. No one would suspect him of having that kind of side. He was just adorable and cute and hands— stop.

Minho just smiled at him. A question was bugging him the first time he saw Chan earlier. But he was scared that the older wouldn't answer him and the atmosphere would again be awkward. But he was Lee Minho, and he just couldn't keep his mouth shut. So he fired in anyway.

"Why were you there by the way?"

"What's with you and that guy?"

To both their surprises, they asked at almost the same time. They looked at each other and quickly muttered out a "sorry" at the same time for the second time. Minho looked down and just played with his hands, remembering the warmth that Chan's hand gave earlier.

Chan was the one to answer. "I was seeing a long time friend. We just caught up with each other, asking how the other has been and some... random stuff." Chan's eyes glinted for a second then returned back to it's normal warm ones, as if a thought just came in and he dismissed it. Minho didn't ask about it. "And then he drank with his other friends and I really don't like being drunk, so I just told him I have to go. And when I got out, I heard someone screaming. It's disturbing how people didn't mind your shout. They could've helped you earlier." He said the last one with his brows furrowed.

Maybe the people there knew Hyunho was the one causing trouble, so they just backed out. That's why he was so confident in attacking Minho. The younger gulped. So maybe now's his turn to answer Chan's question. He wouldn't want to share with people that he had an ex boyfriend like Hyunho, but Chan was an exception.

"Hyunho was my ex and fate just seemed to mess around with me these past few days. I don't even know why I decided to go clubbing there out of all the bars in Seoul. It's pretty far from my apartment. He saw me and wanted to get back together and of course I rejected. And you saw the results." It's a good thing that he wasn't stuttering anymore. But he felt sick just remembering what Hyunho did to him. Minho visibly shuddered and the other noticed it.

"I'm sorry for asking." Chan said quietly and Minho could only shake his head vigorously at the older male. "Hey it's not your fault. You were actually the one who saved my ass out there. So really, thank you. I don't know how to repay you."

So Minho shifted from judging and avoiding Chan to being talky and grateful to him. Fate really is one heck of a plot twister. He thought that he'll just distance himself from Chan, not be drowned by his alluring personality, and just watch him until he gets answers. But look at where they're at now. Chan had a good side, well, everyone does. And the same with everyone, Chan also had another side which Minho saw two times already.

He thought that Chan wouldn't say anything about payment, but he was wrong. "Well... You could start by..." Chan acted like he was thinking. Great. Just at the moment when Minho was thinking Chan being nice and all. But what Chan added made Minho's heart beating loudly once again. "...not avoiding me anymore? It's hard when we're together with the group and you pretend like I've done something wrong... Hey, don't look at me like that! Okay, fine. Stop glaring. I did kiss you, and I'm sorry. I had to do that." Chan was panicking and Minho resisted the urge to laugh at this young man in front of him. When he noticed that Chan was giving him side glances, he said "Eyes on the road!"

He didn't want him to look at his burning cheeks. Now he remembered the kiss again. But it wasn't making him nauseated, like what he felt with Hyunho. It was much more like giving him butterflies. And he won't admit that, ever.

"So, about that, yeah. I'm really, truly sorry for causing you trouble that night."

Minho didn't know what to say anymore. How could he reject the man who saved his ass earlier? "It's all in the past now. It's fine." But it wasn't. That kiss was remarkable and amazing and he shouldn't be thinking about having another one right now. Sometimes he just hates how his gayness is always on the loose. But the throbbing pain in his head was still there, so he had control.

"So, you won't avoid me anymore? Jisung and Changbin always questioned me why you won't say something to me. And the others would give us  weird looks. I already ran out of excuses, Minho." He's getting suffocated. How did Chan manage to say his name in a wonderful way? This is total injustice.

"Minho?" Stop saying my name!

"Fine. I'm sorry for acting like that, Channie."

"What happened to hyung?" Chan snickered and Minho just realized he already called him by his nickname. Idiot. 

"I forgot." He replied shortly, eyes now trailed outside, stifling a yawn.

"Maybe you should take a rest. I know you're tired. Just sleep and I'll wake you up when we get there. With this kind of traffic, we won't reach the apartment in a short period."

Minho shook his head. "No, it's fine. I can—" He was betrayed by his own yawn. "Alright, maybe I'm tired."

Chan let out a low chuckle. "Just rest. You look like you need it."

Minho just hummed in agreement, feeling the heaviness with his eyes and his body. Chan's voice was cool and soothing. He let out a small night before darkness consumed him.

Minho woke up, not in a car, but on a soft cushion against his back. He opened his eyes slowly and saw that it was still dark. With the moon's light illuminating the room through the window, he realized that he was now in his room. What happened? He was quick to recall what exactly happened and he immediately felt for his clothes.

Shit! I haven't washed my body yet! Sure enough, he quickly sat up, but was also quick to regret doing it as his head felt like being trampled down with several punches. His vision went black for a second. Minho layed down, angry that he couldn't cleanse his body from that bastard's sweat and saliva.

He moved his hand towards the bedside table in search for his phone, only to remember that it was still on his dashboard. Instead, he felt for something else. A glass of water. Now that he thought about it, his throat was becoming sore.

That was the worst night ever.

He remembered that Chan drove him, a little upset about the fact that Chan didn't wake him up so he could thank him once again and bid goodbye.

So that meant... he was carried all the way to his room? But who would carry him? Certainly not Felix and Hyunjin. Those two wouldn't do it even if their life depended on it. And the guard downstairs wouldn't do it. He wasn't paid to carry drunk people into their bedrooms. So that means Chan had carried him all the way there?

He suddenly felt his ears go hot. He was terribly stress-eating for the past few days and he thinks that he gained weight over time. What if he was too heavy for Chan and it caused the older to have issues bringing him up here?

Silence.

It was reassuring now that he's back to his bed, far away from Hyunho, and clearing up things with Chan. Well, not totally. The older has lots of secrets. Minho doesn't want to find those out, he just wanted to know more about Chan. He piqued Minho's interest just by his mere existence.

He let his mind wander off to how Chan looked earlier in the night. He was just wearing a jacket, a simple cargo shorts, despite the cold weather, and sneakers, but he managed to look cute and intimidating at the same time. His bruise looked more of an asset, rather than a bruise itself. He still felt bad though. But the cut on his left cheek was gone after two days, since he hadn't seen it when they came back to the uni. So he hoped that the bullet bruise would also go away over this weekend.

And now that he thought about it, nobody actually asked Chan about the cut on his cheek. He was roommates with Changbin and Jisung, right? But why didn't they bother on telling the others that they saw Chan's cheek? Especially Jisung who couldn't control his mouth.

It's still too dark to be thinking about it. Minho was just sleepy.

He looked at the digital clock with sleepy eyes. It's still 4 in the morning. So might as well rest and get some sleep. He better prepare himself for the criminal-like interrogation he was going to face in the morning. He's sure that Felix and Hyunjin wouldn't shut up if Minho wouldn't spill the beans— all of it.

But what if Chan already told them? No, he wouldn't. Weird that he was now giving his trust (just a small part) to the senior. He smiled. Everything's going to be just fine.

He hoped.

His thoughts were all about Chan, and that made him fall asleep.

Feel free to leave a comment :> Thank you for reading and again, I'm sorry for mistakes and errors.

Cutie Banginho