Chapter 118 (1/1)

Monday is a new day for everyone.  Jaemin goes back to Seoul, Hoshi and Seungcheol go back to work, and the other kids go back to school.  Seungkwan and Seonghwa calmed down and decided that they will finish the roles together, especially since Hyungwon tried to talk them into it.  The afternoon came by and Seungkwan was looking over the script once more, Hyungwon had added another scene where it's just Seungkwan.  And then there's another scene where it's just Seonghwa, just to give them a little bit more time before they die.  Hyungwon figured they needed a little more time to calm their nerves. Seungkwan's attention went from the script to the angry boy who was walking up to him.  "You think it's funny?"  Jongho asked, lightly pushing Seungkwan's shoulders. It was light to Jongho, but it was like bricks on Seungkwan's sensitive and already-bruised skin.  "What?  What do I think is funny?"  He asked, the script dropped and the boy backed up. "You think it's fucking funny to cheat on me with that clown?"  He grabbed Seungkwan's wrist.  "Am I not good enough for you that you had to go on and step so low?" "When did I-" "Don't you play dumb, I know you two have been kissing outside of practice."  Jongho said angrily.  "How could you do that to me?"  He asked. Seungkwan furrowed his eyebrows.  "I.. well.." "Admit it!"  Jongho yelled, raising his fist.  "I oughtta-"

Seungkwan screamed loudly when Jongho was punched in the face.  "Get away from him."  Seonghwa put the diva behind him and watched San come up to them. "You.."  Jongho pointed at the taller. "How could you hurt him?  How could you even lay a finger on someone you love?!"  Seonghwa asked as San kept him down. Jongho narrowed his eyes.  "It's none of your business.  I never hurt him."  He said, not fighting San's hold on his wrists behind him. "You never hurt him?  Is that why he has marks all over his body from your soft hands, Jongho?"  Seonghwa walked closer to him.  "He's been doing nothing but loving you, but you have the audacity to hurt him.  You're sick."  He clenched his fists. San sighed.  "That's enough, I'm taking him to the station."  He interrupted them. "Do I need to go too?"  Seonghwa asked. "I'm pretty sure we don't need your statement for this one,"  San smirked before walking the angry boy out of the theater.

Seonghwa then turned to the stunned diva.  "Are you okay, Seungkwan?"  He asked, looking around the boy's face. "My.. shoulders hurt a little.."  He looked up at the older, seeing his once dark eyes becoming light while looking at him.

Seonghwa cautiously lifts the boy's sleeves to his shoulders.  He saw the dark colors on the pale skin.  He furrowed his eyebrows and thumbed those shoulders ever so lightly, feeling a slight wince from Seungkwan.  "I have a first-aid kit in my car, it has bruise cream."  He said.  "Could.. I walk you there?"  He asked. Seungkwan nodded.  "Thank you.."  He walked with the boy out of the theater.

Once Seungkwan was set down in the backseat, Seonghwa sat next to him with the car door open.  He opened the box and picked up the unopened tube.  "What were you doing in the theater?  You were supposed to still be in music class."  Seungkwan brought up. "To be honest, I had a dream last night that Jongho hurt you."  Seonghwa lightly rubs the cream on Seungkwan's shoulder.  "I couldn't really pay attention in class, so Kyuhyun let me go to the theater, saying that I need to practice on my new scene anyway."  He explained. Seungkwan hummed.  "I'm really glad you were there,"  He said shakily, "I know San was there too, but.. I don't think he would have been able to stop Jongho from punching me.."  He looked down as Seonghwa moved to the other shoulder. "Usually I'm not too violent,"  Seonghwa chuckled, "but I'm glad that you're alright.  I like seeing you smile, Seungkwan."  He said as he put the boy's sleeve down. Seungkwan pursed his lips as he watched the boy.  "In class, it was always you talking about Shownu or food.  I always imagined that one day, you would be talking to me."  He chuckled. Seungkwan smiled a little.  "Don't think I never noticed you.."  He blushed.

Seonghwa smiled brightly when he saw the younger's blushed cheeks.  "Seungkwan, it's been on my mind and in my heart for some time now.. I know it might be a little too soon, but I'd like to date you."  He held the boy's hands.  "I'll make sure you smile like this and you're never hurt.  I promise."  He said. Seungkwan felt the fluttering.  However, instead of just a fluttering, he felt a wave of happiness and warmth come over him.  "It's a bit sudden, but.. Could we go slowly?"  He smiled. "I'll love you properly, Seungkwan."  Seonghwa cupped the boy's cheek.  Seungkwan let the boy kiss him lightly and hold his back.  Not one hand on him was making him feel pain.  It was like the boy's hands were healing him.  "Thank you.."  Seungkwan said, looking at the other stork with slightly pinned eyes. "Maybe.. Saturday I can cook for you?"  Seonghwa asked permission.  "I really love cooking and I think you'd enjoy the meals I would prepare for you."  He massaged the boy's knuckles as he made some space between them. Seungkwan blushed a little.  "Sure, that's Minghao's wedding.."  He said, his cheeks beet red by now.  "You can spend the night with us, if you want.."  He offered. Seonghwa looked at the male all over.  "Only if you're comfortable with it.  You tell me the moment you're unhappy, and I'll change everything for you."  He promised. Seungkwan nodded.  "Thank you.."  "We should get back to the theater.  I want to make you my zombie."  He helps Seungkwan out of the car.

*** Minghao stroked his brush on the canvas in front of him.  He watched the girl in front of him, making sure to make her hair flow exactly how she had on her shoulders.  He blushed a little when they made eye contact.  He saw her eyes go to something behind him. He nonchalantly looked over his shoulder to see his teacher. "I see you two are wearing matching bracelets,"  He comments, looking from Minghao's wrist to the girl's wrist, "what's all that about?"  He asked. "Oh," Minghao saw that the other students had interest in his answer, "Tzuyu and I are engaged."  He said a little confidently. The teacher raised his eyebrows.  "Oh really?"  He stood up straight and looked at the girl.  "So suddenly?  I wasn't even aware you two were dating."  He commented. Minghabo blushed a touch.  "We're not too big with public displays."  He said with a small chuckle. The teacher smiled.  "Well then, congratulations.  Do you have an idea when you want the wedding?"  He asked, looking at another student's canvas. "We're getting married this Saturday."  Tzuyu answered for them. "Can you believe it's already been a month since Woozi and Yeosang's wedding?"  Minghao asked as he continued painting.  "Time is flying so quickly.."  He looked at the girl once more. The teacher hummed.  "Pretty soon you all will graduate.. You all are really good students and I'll miss you all."  He said, helping a student by tapping on a color that would be good to blend with a color the student had already. "Ayy, we won't be going that far."  Another student said with a chuckle. "Especially if Minghao's family keeps having weddings." He chuckled. Minghao smirked and shook his head.  "Who says you guys are invited?"  He asked as he picked up the next color. "If you don't, we'll graffiti your house."  A girl student said. Minghao shook his head. "And get on Jeonghan's bad side?  That's definitely something you want to avoid."  Minghao chuckled.  "Trust me, you don't want hot cCoco down your shirts."  He teased. Tzuyu laughed a little.  "No, but you guys are invited.  Jeonghan already has things ready for the class to be there."  She informed, trying not to move too much for her artist. The teacher smiled and stood up straight.  "Thank you,"  He patted Minghao's shoulder.

***

Sungyeol looked at his son who walked into the station with another person.  He sat upright in his chair and held his chin. "Who you got?"  He asked, looking at the boy who looks furious. "Choi Jongho, twenty, a student at Yong-gi community college."  San recited, sitting the student down at the desk.  "Lives alone, no connection to his family, and is studying music."  He continued, looking at the man writing down the information.

Sungyeol nodded.  "What's he here for?"  He asked. "Domestic abuse in the third degree."  San answered. Sungyeol hummed and looked at the student.  "What happened?"  He asked.  "Why didn't you bring the victim?"  He looked up at San. "Seungkwan wasn't in the right condition to answer questions."  San answered.  "But I witnessed what happened and will call on them when they're ready to talk."  He continued seriously. Sungyeol looked at Jongho.  "Okay, what happened?"  He put his hands together. "That little ass Seonghwa.  He kissed Seungkwan."  Jongho asked. The sheriff raises one eyebrow.  "Isn't Seungkwan an actor?  It kinda comes with the job sometimes, doesn't it?"  He asked. "Yeah, but because that idiot is some stupid bird, Seungkwan likes him more than me."  Jongho held his chest.  "He's supposed to love me, not him."  He said in his defense. Sungyeol looked puzzled.  "Bird?"  He asked. "Seonghwa is a stork kid."  San answered. Sungyeol sat back in his chair.  "You ought not talk bad about stork kids, Jongho.  Seungkwan is a stork and he might feel very hurt if he knew you called another stork a bad name."  He said seriously, looking into the boy's eyes. "I don't care what they are, I just don't think it's fair that Seungkwan is cheating on me!"  Jongho yelled at him. The sheriff looked at his deputy.  "Explain to me in your unbiased opinion of what happened."  He tasked San. San put his hands behind his back.  "Jongho suddenly walked up to Seungkwan, questioned him without giving him an opportunity to answer, and raised his fist."  San stated the scene.  "Then Seonghwa came from behind stage and punched Jongho before Seungkwan could get hurt."  He continued. Sungyeol tossed a hand in the air.  "Okay, so where's Seonghwa?  San, I thought I told you it's protocol to bring everyone to the station."  He held his forehead. San put his head lower.  "I'm sorry, Seungkwan looked like he needed a hug more than justice.. personal emotions got in the way, Sir."  He bowed.  "I will return to school to retrieve them."  He turned around. Sungyeol sighed.  "Wait,"  He put his hand up, "Jongho, is all of this true?"  He asked. Jongho would have folded his arms if his wrists weren't behind his back.  "Yes, that idiot punched me.  I wasn't even going to punch Seungkwan though."  He pouted his lip. Sungyeol hummed.  "Do you want to press charges on Seonghwa?"  He asked. "Could you throw him in jail for like fifty years?"  Jongho asked with a raised eyebrow. The sheriff chuckled.  "No, he'd be in a cell for like three days and then do eight hours of community service."  He said. Jongho huffed.  "No, let's just forget about it."  He looked away. Sungyeol nodded.  "See?  Was that so hard, Jongho?"  He said.  "Now settle things like adults, you're twenty for Goten's sake."  He continued. Jongho just narrowed his eyes at the man.  "San, take his cuffs off."  Sungyeol commanded. San bowed and took his key out.  "Stay home the rest of the day.  I don't want anything else happening between you and Seungkwan."  San requested. "I'll do what I want."  Jongho said, walking past San.

San breathed shakily, seeing the boy's angry glare.  If it's one thing that San is completely afraid of, it's the gaze of an angry abuser.  Whether they are a drug abuser or a physical abuser, the mad eyes always burn through his entire being and make him feel less than a person. "Go back to your post, San."  Sungyeol commanded. San looked back at his father and bowed.  "Yes, Sir."  He left the station.

<3