13

"How is it going between you and Hannie?" Seokmin asked.

"Well, it's good and by the way, it's Jisung for you."

"I'm asking if any development is there in your relationship, you jealous ass!!"

"Well, he trust me now and is more vocal about his needs and opinions than we first met. So, yeah! Developments definitely are there."

"And did you confess?"

"Confess what?"

"Minho!!" Seokmin sternly said.

"I didn't get a perfect time, okay? It's not very simple. He doesn't even love himself. How will I prove it to him that I love him? We were talking about something a month back and he said that he has nothing to offer for somebody to love him. Min, I need to make him love himself before I confess. He should know that he deserves everything."

"And what are you doing for that?"

"I don't know, honestly. I've started being more vocal about his positive attributes. I'm sure someone has dumped those shitty thoughts in his head so I'm trying to counter them with positive thoughts. I'm trying to tell him at every moment given that the things he is insecure about are the things that I love the most about him."

"Look, Minho. While I admire what you're doing but here's a suggestion. From what I understood, he thinks that he is unlovable. Let him know that you love him WITH those insecurities. Rather than trying to make him forget his insecurities, show him things you're insecure about because our imperfections are what makes us human."

"Min, my man has a walnut sized brain in his head. If I tell him that I love him, he'll think that I'm saying that as an obligation just because we're married."

"Minho, you liked him from way before your marriage. You saw him like 2 years  ago for the first time and still fell for him!!

"Min, before Hannie, I need to confess to you." Minho said awkwardly after hearing the last sentence from him friend.

"Excuse me??? I have a wife, you bastard."

"Dafuq?? I didn't - are you crazy? I didn't mean that kind of confession. What the hell?"

"Then what?"

"Actually it's 8."

"What?"

"It has been 8 years since I first saw him."

"WHATTT???" Seokmin literally stood up from his chair violently making the chair fall.

"Sit down, you idiot. People are looking." Minho covered his face with his left hand and whispered.

"Why do I not know this?"

"Because what would I tell? I had no clue about his name or whereabouts. The first time I saw him was probably when I went to collect my certificates and other documents after completion of high school. He was a new comer probably. I briefly saw him sitting alone in the ground on the bench scribbling something on his notepad. His focused face has not changed ever since by the way. He still sticks out his tongue slightly when focused."

"Then? Judging by how you said "the first time", you saw him more than twice in last 8 years."

"I am not gonna go in the details but yes, I saw him for about 5 times before marriage, including the last time I saw him on the train and everytime I saw him was whenever I was down or hopeless. His charming face or adorable expressions would always lighten me up. "

"5 times and still you can't prove it to him that you don't love him out of obligation. Are you stupid or are you stupid?? Minho, just say you're scared."

"I'm not."

"Min!! Fine, do whatever you feel is correct. After all, you know him and your relationship better but I'll only advice that don't wait for too long. Take actions, show him your love, cherish him and let him love you. Time is no one's friend. "

Minho wanted to joke about how philosophical Seokmin sounded but he stopped seeing the seriousness on his face. They were just out tonight to have a drink together after a lot of time. They were talking about life in general like how Seokmin and his wife were planning to have a baby or how more than six months have passed since Minho married and he needs to step up. Conversation then turned about some old friends and they got nostalgic about their college memories. This is what friendship is about. You never feel distant no matter how long you meet after. You feel the need to give them update about the entire happening in their absence or vice versa.

"Oh shit!! My phone was on mute. Hannie and mom called so many times. They're gonna be mad mad!!"

Minho comes back from the washroom and see 15 missed calls from Han. He also had 6 missed calls from his mom.

Minho called his mom first but she didn't pick it up. He tried calling Han but his phone was switched off.  He opened the chat  to see the message his mom sent. Meanwhile, another call rang from an unknown number.

"Hel-"

"Minho hyung, it's Taejoon. Please reach to your place. Sungie is in danger. I'll tell the details later."

"What?"

"Hyung, this is not-"

Minho disconnected the call without a single thought and ran out of the restaurant he was in towards the parking lot. Seokmin ran after him seeing the sudden shift in emotions of his friend.

"Min, let me drive." Seokmin blocked the gate of the car

"Seokmin, move. Han is in danger. I need to go immediately."

"I'll take you. You can't drive like this. You're panicking. "

"Seokmin, why don't -"

"Min, we need to reach him immediately. Let's not waste time discussing. He needs us." Seokmin was there when the accident happened and it wouldn't be a lie to say that he was slightly afraid that Minho might overspeed and get into an accident.

Minho was well aware about the fact and he knew Seokmin wouldn't let him be. Thus, he let him drive to reach his Hannie sooner.

"Drive faster, Seokmin"

Minho felt his feet getting cold. His heart was beating like drums in his chest. All he wanted was to see Han safely sleeping on his bed now. He wanted to hear him right now. With this thought, he tried calling him but no one picked his calls.

'God, please no! Please keep him safe.'

Minho wasn't religious as per se but he had his hands joined together praying for the whole ride that Han was safe.

As the car the reached his place, Minho could hear the ambulance sirens and police car horns. All of a sudden, he didn't want to get out of the car now. He didn't want to see what was unfolding outside. He legs felt numb.

"Min?? What are you doing? Let's go." Seokmin brought Minho out of the trance he was in.

"H-he will be okay, right?"

Minho was petrified. Seokmin had never seen Minho this scared.

"Min, everything will turn okay. Let's go. "

The sound of the sirens were deafening. Minho scanned the area to find one familiar face near the ambulance, His dad. Minho's heart dropped looking at his father's expression. With stumbling feet, Minho went to him.

"Uncle, what happened?" It was Seokmin who questioned. Minho didn't have it in himself to hear the answer but he needed to see Han.

"Thieves. They trespassed and Han caught them." Minho's dad began in a dull tone.

"Dad, where is Hannie?" Minho couldn't wait any longer.

"Hyung?" A voice came from behind Minho making the elder's breath hitch.

He wasn't sure if he heard it correct or it was an illusion but he turned back.

"Han-ah" Minho breathed. His legs were giving up at this point. Nonetheless , He ran towards the younger and embraced him in a bone crushing hug. Han could feel the elder shaking hence, despite of finding it difficult to handle the elder's weight, stayed in the elder's arms until Minho himself pulled out of it.

"You're ok-ay?"

Minho might have digged his fingers with a hard force or it might have been the cut on his arm that Han hissed. Minho immediately removed his hands and examined the younger 's arms.

"Who did this?" There was an unexplainable anger in Minho's voice.

Han looked inside the ambulance at two guys getting treatment.

"These are the thugs. Sungie smashed vase on one of them. They used the broken pieces of that vase to attack Sungie. Our poor boy got so many cuts. The one on his cheeks also looks bad. "

It was only then Minho noticed the scar on Han's right cheek. Minho gently caressed his cheek making Han hiss again.

"I'm not gonna leave them. " Minho murmured and proceeded towards the ambulance.

Han immediately blocked Minho by his body. Seokmin and Mr. Lee also held Minho's arms.

"Hyung, no. I'm okay."

"I'm not gonna spare them. How dare they?" Minho was fighting to get out of the three people holding him from beating the shit out of those scoundrel.

"Hyung, it's okay.  I'm fine. Please stop." Han grabbed Minho's face to look him in the eyes and bring him back. Seeing the worried expression of Han, Minho calmed down and brought him back in his arms.

"Thank you for being okay." Minho murmured while rubbing his cheeks against Han's trying to get the maximum physical contact with the boy possible.

Thoughts?