Ꭱꭼꮇꭼꭰꭹ [Ꮇꮖɴꮯꮋꭺɴ]

✧ Ꮍꮻꮜ'ꮩꭼ Ꮮꮻꮪꭲ Ꮇꭼ ✧

"We are talking." He brushed his fingers through Minho's hair, a smile on his face, acting like he didn't know what was coming.

"You know what I mean."

"Of course you can, you don't have to ask." Chan sighed, moving up more against the headboard so he could look into his face. "What's up?"

There were hundreds of questions that spun around in Minho's mind but he knew he'd only get an answer for one right now and maybe not even that so he chose carefully.

"Don't get mad at me, you know I don't like being yelled at."

Chan started to play with his fingers, spinning the ring around Minho's middle finger. "I wouldn't yell at you, Minho." He laughed for anxiety reasons, the tension in the small room rising. "Ask."

He made sure to give the male his full attention, keeping his facial expressions neutral so as to not scare Minho.

"After you get better...you're not- not going to keep selling are you?"

Minho was ready for an argument, in the little time he had to think on the car ride to the hospital he made different points and counter arguments on why the whole 'selling drugs' job should be dropped.

Chan stood quiet. He pulled his hands away and averted his eyes, having no extensions on answering the question.

"Just tell me what you plan on doing because this doesn't seem like it was a one time thing." Minho eyed his side that was wrapped in bandages.

He's seen the bruises on Chan's knuckles before and he remembered the black eye he'd gotten a while ago...all of this was a cause from selling but yet Chan seemed like he wasn't willing to give that up.

"I barely felt it." Chan looked away.

"Are you kidding me?!" Minho stood up on his knees, hands landing on the older's shoulders. His eyes were wide in disbelief, not exactly believing what he heard. "That's all you have to say? Just because you 'barely felt it' you'd willingly let that happen again?"

If he wasn't already in a hospital bed Minho would've done...something!

He pushed him back light enough to not disturb his wound, scoffing at the entire situation. "You could've been shot or something worse and yet you're just-just acting like it was a daily occurance."

Minho turned to sit on the edge of the bed, facing away from the other and keeping his eyes locked on the door in front of him.

Chan sighed softly, shutting his eyes to collect himself a little better.

When he looked over to the younger he could only see his back but Minho's arm had raised, moving back and forth across his face that could only lead Chan to believe that he was crying again.

"Hey...look at me. Please?" Chan reached his arm out slowly, using one hand to hold his stomach while the other hand grasped onto his arm. "Baby, c'mon I-"

"Stop it, Chan." Minho yanked his arm from his grasp, crossing the both of them out of his reach and making sure his face wasn't visible. "Just be honest with me and say whether or not you'll continue."

Minho knew the answer but he needed the confirmation.

"I'm sorry."

Of course...He wasn't expecting anything different.

"Why? Why're you doing this to yourself? Putting yourself at risk of potentially dying." Chan had this look of guilt on his face but didn't have any intentions on dropping the business. He didn't want to be the reason Minho was unhappy like this.

"I- I don't know if I could answer that."

"...Well I don't know if I can continue this then."

Chan's head lifted, feelings of confusion, uneasiness and concern quickly firing up inside of him. "What do you mean by that? Wh-what're you saying, Minho?" The younger was still facing away from him which was scaring him with every second that passed.

"What do you think I'm saying Chan? Whatever the fuck we have going on...I'm not going to put myself through unnesecesary shit like this, Chan!" Minho got off the bed, stumbling slightly on his feet. He turned on his feet, finally looking the older in his eyes and instantly regretted it.

"You'd rather die than ask for help. Do you know how stupid that sounds?!"

"Fuck you, Minho! You can't just-"

A shrill laugh rang around the room, n othing was funny but Minho was laughing out of pure anger and hurt. "Can't what? Leave you? You know how selfish you're being right now? You're in a fucking hospital bed!...I came to see you and I was so scared...scared that you died when I heard your name on the news."

Minho's head dropped forward, his breathing turned ragged to the point where it hurt deep in his chest. "All this because of that stupid side job of yours! And...you don't care...so why should I? I can't be the only person trying to keep you going."

His voice cracked towards the end of his sentence, he meant what he said and wouldn't go back on it.

Chan watched him the entire time, wanting to reach for Minho once again but couldn't find the will to move. He hated the fact that he was (metaphorically) strapped to the bed and couldn't stand or do what he wanted.

"You promised." Chan's lip quivered but he refused to cry, not right now at least. "You promised you wouldn't leave. You promised you wouldn't give up on me."

Minho bit his lip, keeping his gaze down onto the bright white sheets. "That promise goes both ways, Channie. I can't fix your broken puzzle if you're trying this hard to hide pieces from me."

Chan didn't like this, he didn't like this at all. He didn't like how this conversation had taken a strong turn from before.

He couldn't say anything to defend himself due to a knock sounding from the door. A nurse peaked her head inside. "Oh!, uh...I'm sorry to interrupt but I'm here to check up on-"

"Yeah. I'll..." Minho swiped his nose quickly, taking one look at Chan then quickly turning his head again. He couldn't bear to look at the older anymore- especially when Chan looked as if he was on the brink of breaking down. "I'll leave you to it."

"Minho-"

He ignored Chan's calls for him to come back and continued walking out the door. Minho didn't know how things would go from now on but he hoped they'd be different. 

『••✎••』

What do you like about this book? Why did you decide to keep reading up to this point?

[2221 Words]