Chapter Six (1/2)

The next week, Minhyuk decided he would actually be okay with going on a date this week.  Jeonghan stood at the counter, looking at the different drinks the restaurant had to offer.  He wasn't really into water right now, but he's not really in the mood for coffee.  "Hey,"  Jeonghan heard Seungcheol beside him, "what are you doing over here?"  He laughed a bit as he took his usual seat. "I figured that Min will be a bit late, so I wanted to get a drink."  Jeonghan replied while scratching his neck.  "I just don't know what I want though."  He laughed as he started playing with his nails nervously.

Seungcheol nodded and looked at the drinks on the other side of the counter.  "You're still in running class then?"  Seungcheol asked with a small sigh. "It's.. kinda hard to drop out.."  Jeonghan raised his eyebrows as Seungcheol reached over and took a couple sodas from the counter.  "So did our date last week meant nothing to you?"  Seungcheol asked as he handed one of the sodas to Jeonghan. Jeonghan stopped all movement and kept his eyes on Seungcheol's tired eyes.  "Of course not.  I loved every moment of that date."  He said, forgetting about the drink and turning his whole body to Seungcheol.  "I just.. it's hard to break up over texts and.. I'm afraid that he'll come after me." Seungcheol looked Jeonghan up and down.  "I'm afraid that if I text him that I'll go missing.. and that someone will most likely find me in a ditch somewhere, Seungcheol."  Jeonghan continued with his eyes turning red and wet.  Seungcheol cupped the younger's cheek as he saw real fear in Jeonghan's eyes.  "I'll talk to him."  Seungcheol said. Jeonghan widened his eyes.  "Cheol, please.. I.."  He saw the seriousness in Seungcheol's eyes.  "Would you?"

Seungcheol nodded and stood up, getting closer to Jeonghan.  "I'll talk to him, you need to focus on other things than running.  The coach will just have to look for another athlete."  Seungcheol just whispered. Jeonghan nodded and smiled sadly.  "Please be careful..  I don't know what I would do if you got hurt.."  Jeonghan said as his lips started trembling.  Seungcheol brought the younger into a hug.  "Shh, everything will go well.  Okay?"  He tried to console.  However, he felt the younger's body start shaking and heard the light sniffles come from Jeonghan.  Seungcheol pulled back and wiped Jeonghan's eyes gently with a tissue from his pocket.  "It's fresh, don't worry."  He said as Jeonghan eyed the tissue.  "You're having water tonight."  Seungcheol said, putting the soda back and picking up the water instead. Jeonghan watched the older take out some money from his wallet and hand it to the employee who came by momentarily.  "Excuse me,"  Their moment broke when they heard Minhyuk's voice, "but I do believe that's my date."

Jeonghan gave Seungcheol a set of scared eyes.  Seungcheol looked at Minhyuk and put an arm around the older's shoulders.  "Let's have a drink, Minhyuk."  He said, walking off with the confused male. All Jeonghan could do is put his hands together and beg for the best.  He might look crazy as he was rocking back and forth with the overused tissue, but he couldn't get the horrible sight of Seungcheol's broken body out of his mind.  Seungcheol.. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have ever involved you..  His tears came out more as he sat at the counter alone.

Seungcheol walked Minhyuk to an unpopulated area.  That's when Minhyuk finally tore out of Seungcheol's light hold.  "Okay, so you brought me here so I could kill you?"  Minhyuk folded his arms.  "Jeonghan's my boyfriend you know.  Mine." Seungcheol nodded.  "I know.  I'm not trying to steal him from you."  He said, taking his jacket off and hanging it on a fence.  "I just wanna ask why you've been beating the shit out of someone you love." "I don't beat him up."  Minhyuk said, tossing his jacket off to the side as he senses a fight coming.  "Whatever he told you is total bull."

Seungcheol huffed.  "Please, he didn't say anything.  It's all over his face.  And don't tell me it was him tripping in track, he is a perfect athlete."  He pointed at Minhyuk. "So what?" "So stop hurting him!  What did he ever do to you?"  Seungcheol questioned while folding his arms. Minhyuk rolled his eyes.  "So you wanna fight?  Is that it?"  He asked with a smirk. "No, I wanna end him getting hurt.  But if I have to fight, I'm ready."  He said, looking at Minhyuk angrily.  "How could you hurt him so much?" "This is getting old."  Minhyuk sighed.  "If you don't mind, I have a date to be on right now."  Seungcheol watched Minhyuk walk past him.  "I have evidence."  He said, making Minhyuk stop in his tracks.  "The fuck you say?"  Minhyuk turned back to Seungcheol, gripping the younger by the collar.

"So now you admit it."  Seungcheol got Minhyuk off of him.  "Now stop hurting him." "I'll do whatever I want.  He's my boyfriend."  Minhyuk said, raising his fist. Seungcheol scowled at him.  "So how could you hurt him so much?"  He asked angrily.  "Don't you love him?!" Minhyuk growled.  "I deal with enough shit at the office, I don't need some goody two shoes to tell me how to act."   He said, throwing a punch Seungcheol's way. Seungcheol dodged the punch and swung his leg so that he kicked Minhyuk's ankle.  Minhyuk fell on the pavement.  He got back up and rubbed the dirt off of his cheek before going back to Seungcheol.  After a few more blocks, Seungcheol was punched straight in the face. "You know?  You and Jeonghan have one thing in common."  Minhyuk smirked when Seungcheol fell onto the ground.  "You both look like little bitches when you get punched in the face."Very amusing.."  Minhyuk commented.  "This ends now."

Seungcheol chuckled and stood himself back up without lifting a hand.  As Minhyuk was shocked, Seungcheol reversed their position and Minhyuk was the one on the ground.  "You're lucky I'm not gonna hurt you anymore than I did."  Seungcheol whispered.  "If it wasn't against the law, I would fucking kill you for even thinking about letting your stress go to Jeonghan."I would make you suffer for making him cry and be cold every night."  He said angrily through gritted teeth.  "So why don't you?"  Minhyuk asked back. Seungcheol smirked and stood up straight.  Only a few seconds passed before a couple police officers came by.  "Because that's against the law and my morality."  Seungcheol said.  "See you in court, Buddy."  He winked. Minhyuk looked at the officers before Seungcheol with disbelief.  "You little.." "That's enough Mr. Lee."  One officer said as he started listing the rights Minhyuk has as the other officer puts him in cuffs.

Seungcheol takes his jacket from the fence and puts it on as he heads back to the restaurant.  He sees Jeonghan sitting at the counter drinking the water as his brother has his arm around Jeonghan.

"Everything will be okay, Jeonghan."  His brother said, patting the younger's shoulder.  "My brother wouldn't let anything bad happen."  He assured. "Why isn't he back yet?"  Jeonghan asked as his tears started back up again. Seungcheol sighed and walked up to them.  "Hey,"  He announced his presence. Jeonghan almost broke the stool as he hurriedly got off of it.  "Seungcheol!"  He put his arms around the man.  "Your lip!  Are you okay?"  He asked worriedly.  "I'm fine.."  Seungcheol said, holding Jeonghan's hand that was on his cheek.  "He hit you.. I'm so sorry."  Jeonghan whispered while studying that busted lip.  "I have some cream, hold on."

Seungcheol watched the younger dig through his jacket to get out a small tube.  Jeonghan looked around as he forgot to bring a tissue with him.  "Is it alright if I use my finger?"  He asked Seungcheol. The older nodded while watching the other's frantic eyes.  Jeonghan put a small amount of cream on his finger and looked at Seungcheol.  "It's going to sting,"  He warned, getting another nod.  Seungcheol fought reacting to the pain of the cream going on his lip.  "There.."  Jeonghan said as he finished gently rubbing it in.  "Remember to wash it out when you can.  I don't want you getting an infection."  He whispered. Seungcheol looked into Jeonghan's eyes.  "It's not completely over, Jeonghan."  He held the younger's shoulders.  "There's one step left, and I'll be here with you through it all." Jeonghan nodded.  "Thank you,"  He attached himself to Seungcheol automatically.  "Thank you so much!"  He started crying again. "Shh, don't cry.."  Seungcheol said, furrowing his eyebrows. "They're tears of joy, Seungcheol.."  Jeonghan admitted.  "You don't know how happy I am to have you still." Seungcheol looked at his brother.   The older male nodded with a proud smile.  He got up silently and waved.  Seungcheol smiled back.  He watched his brother walk away as he hugged the younger tighter.  "Make time on Saturday and meet me at the cafe in your best clothes."  Seungcheol pulled back a bit to look into Jeonghan's eyes.  "I'll drive you to the court house, and this will all be finished." "Seungcheol.."  Jeonghan smiled.  "Thank you..  Really.." Seungcheol nodded as he saw the younger's eyes red and puffy.  "You need to get home, okay?  Go to sleep and we'll talk more through texts until Saturday." Jeonghan nodded and leaned closer, putting their lips together.  Seungcheol accepted the kiss and brought the younger closer.  He felt Jeonghan’s smile in the kiss and breathed softly and rubbed up and down Jeonghan’s back until the younger pulled away slowly.  "You're truly making me happy, Seungcheol.  I hope you know that."  He whispered.  "I promise to make you happy for the rest of our lives, if you'll let me."  Seungcheol whispered back.

The younger's smile grew.  "Please?" "Absolutely."