Chapter 52: C-50

C-50

Minho's POV

"What's with that frown?"

"Hey--"

I glare at Chan when he snatches my phone to look at whatever I'm doing. He wheezes and shows Changbin.

The shorter boy laughs in disbelief after reading what I was typing out. "What's with this rookie-ass message? Have you never texted Y/n before?"

"We don't have to, we're always together."

"And the first thing you'd send her is 'did I do something wrong'? Inexperienced as fvck."

"Really? Coming from you?" I roll my eyes at Chan. As if he knows better.

"Did you two fight again?" He sighs.

"No. It's just... never mind."

"Come on. You know your relationship won't survive without us," Changbin prods.

I almost laugh at their excited faces. Nosy butts.

"We were just talking last time and I don't know if I said something wrong, but her mood noticeably went down. I'm... I'm just confused."

The truth is, I'm really bothered. She looked a little sad and I don't like it. I don't like making her feel that way, but I always end up doing so. I'd suck as a boyfriend.

"What were you talking about?"

I had no choice but to fill them in with the gossip that they desperately need. They look at me dumbfounded, with Chan gasping for the dramatic effect.

"You told her that?"

"What?"

"You compared them, you wouldn't even assure her, then you'd go and say you miss Sunny to her face?" Changbin scoffs. "Man, at this point she should've slapped the hell out of you."

"I was just reminiscing."

"You suck, dude. It's obvious that she'd get jealous when you talk about Sunny like that."

"But it doesn't mean anything else."

"People's logic gets clouded when their feelings are involved. That goes for both of you," Chan lectures me. "You're lucky she's still putting up with your bullshit."

I mentally curse myself. I should really stop with these thoughts before we get into a fight again.

"We should settle this gang problem ASAP so you can give Y/n your whole attention," Changbin says.

"Yeah. It's just that I can't shake this weird feeling whenever Y/n and Sunny are mentioned together... They even have the same nickname."

Chan's eyes seem to light up for a second, as if he thought of something I won't like, but he's quick to hide it. I eye him suspiciously but he just shrugs.

"I'll go to Y/n now. Just inform me if there's anything else I need to know," I say as I head out of Chan's flat.

I thought I'm finally at peace but then the guys came trailing behind me.

"Leave me alone."

"Are you heading to Mochi Cafe? Let's go together."

"Don't you have something else to do?"

"We don't feel like going to the gym today. It's time for sweets." Chan grins. "Or maybe Y/n."

"She's eighteen, you're half forty-two. Say that again and it's jail for you."

"How dare you? I'm not that old!"

Changbin shakes his head as we all walk to his car, but our light banter is soon gone when we see what's in front.

My friends shift from their carefree stature to alert stances as the tension rises from the mere sight of approaching enemies. They're right, the gang's here in Seoul--in front of us.

My jaw tightens seeing their annoying faces. How dare these ugly fvckers stare back?

"It's been a long time, Minho. Did you miss us? Too bad the boss can't come, but he sends his regards." One of the thugs who keep inconveniencing Y/n waves. It seems like he still hasn't learnt his lesson even with the black-eye I gave him.

"So these are the amateur gangsters following us, huh?" Changbin mumbles. "Should we engage?"

I shrug. We're about to turn back because there's no point in exchanging unpleasantries with these thugs, but then he calls again.

"Wait! I still need to give you his invitation." He smiles tauntingly and I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

"Are you serious?" Chan laughs.

The thug keeps his smile as he proceeds to unfold a paper and reads out loud. "To Mr. Lee Minho, I'd like to invite you to a rematch. In case you already forgot about me, which I doubt, I'm just the guy who made your precious little Sunny cry. Don't you think it's a little unfair how you're enjoying your life whilst I don't?"

He throws it forward until it lands near my feet. The audacity of that dumbass is sort of admirable. What a thick face he's got.

"So you guys are Dabbin, huh? Nice try, tell that to Bambam. How would we take him seriously when the name of your gang sounds as stupid?" Chan answers for me.

The thug's smile falters for a second, but he immediately gets it back and even steps closer.

What's that smell? Oh, their filthy selves.

"What does he want from me?" I curl my fists to contain myself.

"What he wants? Your happiness. Should I be more specific? Sure then... Your pretty little good girl."

He must be very brave to even try whispering his next words to me. My friends crack their knuckles as they wait for my cue.

"Since we're older, he'd make her cry in a different way--"

He's not able to finish what he was saying because my fist automatically comes in contact with his rough face.

"Ouch! You fvck!"

"What? You were asking for it."

Chan and Changbin laugh, turning their heads to the other foes.

I punch the stomach of the annoying boy in front of me to keep him from getting up as his dumbass sidekick appears. I immediately kick his crotch causing him to double over. I might as well end the fvckery with him than have it passed to future generations.

"Aaaah!"

I look over to my friends and see them having a feast. Chan just took down two in one go. Those playful smiles of his actually hide something quite brutal if you look closely. The usually nice guy is nowhere, his glaring eyes causing shivers.

"Oh, shit! Oh, shi--"

Frequenting the gym makes Changbin as scary. He doesn't appear to be the youngest with how he throws his punches like the rivals are the punching bags, and with how he lifts one and throws that person to the ground like how he works with weights.

I'm so hot with rage that I can't even feel the pain when my lower lip starts bleeding. My rationality is nowhere as I let wrath take control. Soon enough, the enemies decrease and the victory is clearly ours, but that doesn't stop me and I still go on.

I put the annoying boy in a chokehold. "Where is he?"

"I won't snitch!" He manages to laugh even with a bloodied mouth as if I was joking. Too bad he doesn't know that it's not the time to kid around. I tighten my grip on his neck. He wheezes for air as he tries hard to get out of my grasp.

"I won't ask again."

"I would never tell you-- urgh-- ack!"

My hands start to shake in impatience. I throw him on the ground and kneel to his level, punching his face without a stop.

"I'll break your fvcking mouth if you won't use it then."

"Hyung, you're gonna kill him," Changbin points out.

"Stop it, Minho," the eldest orders.

I don't listen. Instead, I stand up to have a go at kicking his stomach. Thrice for picking on Y/n, then another two for being annoying.

"I said stop!" Chan's voice booms.

It takes both of my friends to pull me away. I'm glad they did because I might've really killed him. His accomplices immediately take the knocked out boy.

Chan pulls the sidekick by his collar and makes him kneel in front of me. I scoff at his scared look.

"Tell this to whoever sent you. Don't you even dare to look at her. You saw what happened to your friend. If you ever lay a single finger on her... I will find you, and I will break you."

After that, they all run away. I avert my eyes as Chan looks at me sternly. Tiredness starts to seep into my body and I can already feel the sting on my bruised lips.

"Imagine the trouble if you actually killed someone earlier. Do you think Y/n would like a criminal?" He scoffs. "Let's go back to my place. We need to fix ourselves."

"Y/n is--"

"--not going to kiss you with that busted lip. She'd be so worried and she'd feel bad because you almost murdered someone because of her," Changbin butts in.

"Let's just go. We need to treat ourselves first. Don't worry, I'll tell her we dragged you to the gym or some alibi." They both pull me back to Chan's flat.

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I groan as the last piece of iced cube melts against my mouth. There's only a few minutes left before school starts and I haven't managed to hide the bruise on my lip yet. It would normally fade overnight but that blow must've been quite hard.

I gave up and went to our classroom, spotting Y/n just about to sit down. I sit beside her and she immediately frowns upon seeing me.

"Are you alright?" she asks.

"Of course." I look away.

"What happened to your lip?" she asks again, starting to sound really concerned.

"It's just dry."

Y/n eyes me suspiciously, but I lift her hand and kiss the back of it. She looks away, her cute face turning red. I can't help but smile even if it stings a little. I watch as she takes out a small tube of rosy balm and shows it to me.

"You should always hydrate so your lips won't break. That must've hurt a lot." She winces as she examines my face.

"It's not like you'll kiss me anytime soon."

Her eyes open so wide and I find myself amused once again.

"Y-You should drink water and put lip balm to heal that," she stutters as she moves her face away.

"Does that even work?"

"Of course! Hydration is the key to clear skin. Look..." she puckers her lips to show me, "...it doesn't look unhealthy!"

A small smile grows on my face as I stare at her adorable gesture. I nod and let her apply the lip balm on my lips even if it's not really dry.

"Do this," she instructs and pouts.

"Like this?" I copy her and purse my lips animatedly. She giggles and caresses her finger across my mouth.

How can I ever say no to that face?

When lunch came, we went to the rooftop. She takes out our food that she prepared and I open the drinks that I bought earlier. She's such a great cook. I'd miss this if she ever decides to stop.

"All those gallons of milk and you barely grew ever since the first time I saw you."

"I don't care." She accepts the banana milk with a pout. "It's still my favourite."

I frown at what she says. For some reason, this whole thing feels like deja vu. I shake my head before my mind starts wandering again. I should only focus on Y/n.

"So what happened with your past friends?"

"We already talked. I did what you said and gave them a chance so we could get to know each other again. They went to our house last time and we hung out."

"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah! Yuta ended up cleaning the whole mess we created." She laughs.

My frown deepens as I hear that. "Yuta? I thought your cousin was named Jeongin?"

"That's the baby one! Have you been thinking about him all this time?" She laughs. "I told you, he's a Japanese trainee."

This scene looks really... familiar. No, it can't be. Major coincidences happen. There's so many cousins named Yuta out there.

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The guys broke into my place again. I just found them feeling at home on my sofa with the contents of my fridge scattered on the table.

"How did you get in?"

"We encoded Soonie's birthday and the door magically opened. It's Chan-hyung's idea, stop glaring at me." Changbin throws up a peace sign.

I groan as I join them. Can't they leave me in peace for once? I had to leave Y/n to Felix at lunchtime because they said they have some really important information that they could only share in person.

"What is it? Let's do this quickly. I still need to go back for our final PE performance."

Chan hands me an envelope. As I open it, I see pictures of the stickass loser and information about his whereabouts.

"It turns out he got expelled, after being caught for illegal possession of weapons at school property and driving without licence." Changbin shakes his head. "Bro is dedicated to gang life."

"He's just mental."

"Now that we know where he is, you have to stop yourself from breaking his neck unless you want to go to jail." The shorter boy raises his brow at me.

"Tsk."

"Apparently, he got his hands on the graduation invites the school sent, that's why Dabbin made their move last time to fight aka invite us for a rematch."

I squint at him accusingly. "All that tuition we pay and your school can't even protect its students' privacy."

"How is that my fault?" Changbin glares back, huffing. "I'll tell Dad to up the security then. Can we talk about something else? This shit's too depressing."

"What else is there to talk about?" I ask.

"I don't know. Graduation plan? Which universities?"

"I'm not sure. The admission test results aren't out yet so I can't decide."

"You know my parents will decide for me on that." Changbin sighs. "How about Y/n? Aren't you going with her?"

"Maybe? She has the top universities as choices so why not."

"Cringe," he teases. "If I'm allowed to choose, I'd go with Chan-hyung's school. The music program is really good."

"Huh? Did someone call me?"

I frown as Chan turns to us, looking really distracted. Come to think of it, he hasn't talked ever since I arrived. Changbin and I look at each other, him nudging the eldest.

"You look constipated. Spill it out."

"About Y/n..."

I groan.

"No, it's not a joke this time!" He shakes his head, sceptically taking out an envelope and giving me a sheepish look. "I got her investigated."

"What?!"

"Hey, hey! Hear me out first!" He hides behind Changbin. "You know we all like her so much for you. It's just... you said you find them similar and it's also bugging me. Especially with that suspiciously similar nickname."

I eye him suspiciously. Changbin shrugs and takes the envelope to scan the details. I watch as his usually squinting eyes open so widely.

How am I friends with such dramatic people?

"It's just the basics, the more in depth info will come later." Chan smiles guiltily.

"You're both from Gimpo," Changbin starts reading.

"I already know that."

"You went to the same school there."

"That too."

"She had three childhood friends..."

"She told me--"

"No, it was four and she forgot them all." Chan cuts me off and hands me a photo. "That picture is Y/n's, right? She might've left it here when she came over. Don't they look a little too familiar?"

I stare at it. They're not just familiar... they're the same people.

"It... It must've been mine."

"You're not there and it says 8th grade summer break at the back! Yours was taken during winter break so how can this picture be yours?" Changbin points at them almost furiously. "There's only one explanation why Y/n have this."

Suddenly, I cannot breathe.

Four years of desperation comes crawling back as I stare at the side by side childhood photos.

"Everything's so coincidental-- hey! Where are you going?"

"I need to go."

I slam the door shut and drive the car past the speed limit. My hands shake as I grip hard on the steering wheel.

I had my suspicions... but these are all too much. Are all of these still coincidences? I need to confirm it. I need to hear it from her.

Moon Y/n... are you really Sunny?