“Are you sure that you’re alright now?” Junhui asked for the umpteen time, his hand resting on the doorknob of the apartment’s door. He turned back to stare at Minghao, whose eyes were still red, who nodded his head.

“I’m okay now.” Minghao quickly answered, his gaze dropping to the wet spots on Junhui’s shirt. He didn’t know how many tears he had shed but the shirt was still wet even after their journey back home.

To be honest, Minghao was utterly mortified by everything that had happened. Junhui had already thought of him as a child, a kid and he just had to go and prove that point was valid by sobbing like a child in front of him.

Junhui studied Minghao with such intensity that the younger had to look away. Without thinking, Minghao punched Junhui in the shoulder as he fiercely insisted. “I’m not lying. I really am okay now.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Junhui finally gave in and twisted the doorknob, pushing the door open. Almost immediately, a light brown haired boy popped up into their view with a wide grin.

“Guess who’s in trouble?” The boy asked in a singsong voice. “Not me, but Junhui hyung.”

Oh, no. Minghao thought as he glanced worriedly at Junhui who didn’t seem any disturbed. I got Junhui ge into trouble.

“Shut up, rascal.” Junhui growled without any real malice as he swatted at the boy who danced out of harm’s way. “Where’s Seungcheol hyung?” He asked in general and Minghao noticed that there were two other boys in the living room.

“With Jeonghan hyung and Jisoo hyung.” A boy with auburn hair piped out from the sofa. With the last boy, they were both staring at Minghao with identical expressions of curiosity.

Junhui sighed before asking. “And, pray tell, where are they?”

“In your bedroom.” The last boy, with blond hair and green highlights, answered. Satisfied, Junhui began to make his way to his bedroom, Minghao trailing behind him timidly, when the same boy called out, “aren’t you going to introduce us to the new recruit?”

What is it with everyone and recruits? Minghao wondered in mild frustration as Junhui slowed down.

“Fine. This is Minghao, a 97 liner.”Junhui barked out and Minghao waved awkwardly at the trio.

“Hey, friend!” The brown haired boy, the rascal, yelled out as he swung an arm over Minghao’s shoulders and flashed a bright grin. “I’m Seokmin, a fellow 97 liner.”

“Hey.” Minghao managed a weak smile.

“And I’m Soonyoung but you’ll be calling me Soonyoung hyung.” The blond boy informed Minghao with another smile that dissipated the coldness of his words.

“And I’m calling you hyung.” The auburn haired boy glumly added but then smiled before introducing himself, “my name is Boo Seungkwan. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Same.” Minghao responded, still smiling weakly even though he did found the three boys nice. He was still tired and drained from the day’s events, not to mention the farewell to his parents which was mentally exhausting.

Junhui glanced at Minghao’s weary expression and then plucked Seokmin’s arm off his shoulders as he declared loudly. “Alright, introductions’ done and we have to go see Seungcheol hyung now.”

“I hope you come back alive,” Soonyoung called out mischievously before bursting into laughter with Seokmin.

Minghao stared at them with wide eyes before hurrying to catch up with Junhui who was already out of the living room and in the hallway. Breathing heavily, the Chinese boy hastily asked, “will you be alright? Seungcheol hyung won’t really kill you, right?”

“He won’t.” Junhui replied, brushing off the younger boy’s concern, even though Minghao could see a worried look on his face. “Just walk faster, okay?”

The pair came to a stop in front of the bedroom that Minghao vaguely recalled spending the night in and after some slight hesitation, Junhui raised his hand and knocked on it.

“Come in,” Seungcheol’s voice rang out from inside and Junhui opened the door with Minghao meekly standing behind him.

“Alright, I admit that it’s all my —” Junhui began when there was a blur of movement flying past him, interrupting him.

Jisoo hugged a stunned Minghao tightly as he expressed happily. “I’m so glad that you’re back, Minghao.”

His arms were hanging awkwardly by his sides but after a second, Minghao raised them to hug Jisoo back. He was, after all, the most affectionate and caring hyung Minghao has in this place and if truth be told, Minghao really did like him.

Before Minghao could answer, there was a new voice chuckling from behind Jisoo. “See, I told you he’ll come back.”

The Chinese boy turned to the voice and took a double take at the beautiful entity in front of him. Judging from his voice, the person was a boy but his soft features and long hair could nearly pass him for a girl. The most striking aspect of him was probably the colour of his hair — there were multiple shades of blue, lavender and silver.

“Oh, shut up.” Jisoo shot back over his shoulder before smiling warmly at Minghao. “I’m really relieved that you came back. We were so worried for you when we couldn’t find you earlier.”

“I’m sorry.” Minghao apologized sincerely, bowing slightly to Jisoo and then to Seungcheol who was seated on the bed, his face a blank canvas. “Seungcheol hyung, I’m really sorry for disappearing just now.”

Seungcheol opened his mouth to speak but Junhui jumped forward, physically shielding Minghao from the leader, as he hastily interjected, “don’t scold him, Seungcheol hyung. I was the one who brought him out. He had no part in it.”

The leader fixed Junhui with a stern look before asking. “You mean he didn’t agree to follow you and call his parents? Even though I had pointedly and specifically said that he couldn’t?”

Oh, no. Minghao thought, giving Junhui a worried look and his hand instinctively tugged at the older boy’s shirt. Stop acting like a hero.

“To be technical, you said that Minghao couldn’t use his handphone to call his parents.” Junhui began with a righteous air, his hand batting Minghao’s away. “And he didn’t. He used a payphone to.”

There was a pause before the long haired boy started to guffaw, his eyes turning into crescent moons. He turned to Seungcheol who was dumbfounded and pointed out, “Junhui’s right, you know. Minghao didn’t disobey you then.”

“What —” Seungcheol sputtered incredulously, his ears turning red at his own slipup. “That’s not the point, Junhui, and you know it!”

Junhui just shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, just as Jisoo finally stepped in with a laugh. “Oh, quit it, Seungcheol. Junhui’s right, Minghao didn’t disobey you.” He grabbed Minghao’s hand tightly, pulling the younger forward. “What’s important is that, Minghao’s back and safe.”

Minghao visibly gulped as Seungcheol laid his eyes on him, his heart beating at a rapid pace as he waited for the reprimand he was certain was going to come. Then, to his surprise, Seungcheol’s eyes softened and he quietly asked, “do you feel better now that you have said your goodbyes, Minghao?”

Slowly, Minghao nodded his head and he whispered, “yes, I do.”

Satisfied by his answer, Seungcheol nodded. “Alright then.” He stood up from the bed and walked towards Minghao. “I really hope that nothing like this ever happens again. As corny as it sounds, we’re your family now so please, just forget about your old one.”

I’m trying. I really am. Minghao swallowed but voiced out, “I understand.”

“Good,” Seungcheol smiled at the younger boy, patting him once on the shoulder before leaving the bedroom. At the threshold, the leader paused and turned around. “And Junhui?”

“Yeah?” Junhui glanced at the older boy, who was smiling sweetly, with wariness.

“You’re in charge of washing the dishes tonight.” Seungcheol informed him and disappeared before the Chinese boy could protest.

Jisoo smiled to himself. “It was his turn tonight, wasn’t it?”

“Seungcheol was never one to pass up on such an opportunity.” The long haired boy remarked, shaking his head slightly. Then, he smiled brightly at Minghao and introduced himself, “I’m Jeonghan. It’s nice to meet you, Minghao.” He extended a hand and Minghao quickly shook it.

“Hello, Jeonghan hyung.” Minghao smiled back, relieved that he wasn’t in trouble. He squeezed Jisoo’s hand in gratitude and received another smile.

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