JISUNG NEVER INTENDED to call Jaemin for help. He didn't want his help. But in that moment, his shaky hands gravitated towards his contact, well, practically the only contact in his phone other than his parents, who were the ones he needed to get away from, and he didn't even realize what he had done until he heard the soft words fall from his mouth.

"Jaemin . . ."

He quickly shut his mouth and ended the call, immediately regretting his decision.

How could he be so stupid? He's been trying to keep his life a secret since he dropped out of school—the abuse, the horrid thoughts, the fear . . .

Suddenly, loud bangs coming from his bedroom door distract him from his thoughts. His father's voice is laced in anger as he yells, "Open this door, you failure!" His pounding becomes even more incessant.

Jisung nearly whimpered. His father was extremely upset after checking his grades for the semester. Although he's home-schooled by his mother now, his father still expects straight A's. Clearly, the blonde boy failed that expectation—with one B and an A-. He continued to try to cover his ears, not wanting to hear his father's insults and threats from outside the door.

"Honey, calm yourself," His mother's voice is interrupted by a loud slap.

Jisung winces for his mother. His father's abuse begins with her trying to defend her son, but once she realizes it's no use, she turns on Jisung and joins his father to protect herself.

The boy forces himself the stand up and open the door, facing his father who might as well have steam coming out from the top of his head.

"About time, boy."

Jisung's eyes widen and his lip quivers as his father's hand comes in contact with his soft cheek, it's paleness turning into a light pink from the harsh impact. The blonde's fight or flight instincts kick in and he pushes his father away, and avoids his mother who tries coming closer to him—he doesn't know whether she wants to hit or comfort him—and races down the stairs.

Goodness, you've really done it now, Jisung. He thinks as he hears footsteps chasing after him, and can't help but hope that Jaemin is on his way.

There's no way he'll be able to get out of this beating alone.

It's been two weeks.

Two weeks since Jaemin has seen Jisung after the 'incident' in his house.

Jaemin has been trying to keep that kid out of his head — to not think about the fact that he hasn't even bothered to try to contact the elder since that day. And to think, I thought I could help that delinquent. Jaemin thinks, but then sighs out loud. He shouldn't be thinking about Jisung. He should be having fun with his dance team at the ice cream parlor, who are there celebrating their big win from the competition this week. They invited Jaemin, but he denied, claiming he felt sick.

He just couldn't get Jisung out of his head.

Jaemin didn't really understand why he seemed so fascinated with the younger. It creeped him out a little. A part of him thinks, what about him? He's just some weird kid who killed a cat, yet another part of him wants to know him - wants to know why the kid did what he did. He wants to understand him, maybe help him.

He wouldn't be able to if the kid keeps going MIA.

Plus, he does feel pity towards him. He did just learn that the boy gets abused at home. Kind of. Maybe it was just a one time thing. Jaemin tried to convince himself.

Jaemin groans and shakes his head. He quickly gets up from his bed and goes outside to take a walk, in attempt to get the younger out of his head.

The boy walks with his hands behind his back, constantly being alert. Jaemin doesn't live on the nicest side of town, to say it in a gentle way. There's always some kids fighting, or maybe you'll get to see the cops chase down and handcuff some person - a free show!  As he continues to walk, he finds himself admiring the few cherry blossom trees. There aren't many of them in his neighborhood. It's mainly filled with palm trees.

Suddenly interrupting Jaemin's admiration, his phone vibrates. He nearly chucks it across the street when he reads the text.

You got to be kidding me. He thinks. He checks it for a second time. A third time. Then a fourth time before huffing and shoving his phone back into his pocket.

Jaemin begins walking again, but this time he turns around and heads back in the direction of his home. He raises his eyebrows in thought. "I shouldn't text him back. He doesn't deserve it. Stupid kid, who does he think he is? Doesn't contact me for weeks and then decides that it's time? No, no. Na Jaemin doesn't work that way." He crosses his arm and purses his lips in triumph, knowing he won the imaginary argument in his head.

"Hey, crazy pants! Keep your trap shut; ain't nobody wanna hear your drama!" A woman calls from behind the wall that Jaemin was walking by.

Jaemin jumps, and blushes when he realizes that he had spoken his thoughts out loud . . . right outside someone's house. He facepalms and internally pounds himself in the head for causing such embarrassment, but lucky enough for him, his little house is right around the corner.

Opening the door, Jaemin enters his house. It's empty — Ms. Na still isn't home. He figures that she must've taken an extra shift, as usual.

Jaemin decides to skip the dinner and slip right into his bedsheets. He's too lazy to cook any food, and he'd rather get some much needed sleep. The boy has been keeping himself busy with extra hours of dance practice and with his studies.

After pulling out his phone (and blatantly ignoring Jisung's text) to put on some relaxing music, Jaemin closes his eyes and falls into the blissful oblivion of sleep.

Jaemin . . .

Jaeminie . . .

Na Jaemin!

The mentioned boy groans, and covers his eyes as the bright sunlight takes over his room. He tosses himself over and pulls his blanket over his head in order to block the obnoxious light, but it is rudely stolen away from him and he comes face to face with someone he very much hates at this moment.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" He asks with spite, his eyebrows scrunching up and lips curling in annoyance.

Jeno chuckles. "Well, hello to you too, sleeping beauty." He teases, but then continues to grab Jaemin and pulls him up to a sitting position. "Did you forget about my game today?"

Jaemin immediately face palms, and feels a pang of guilt. "Jeno-ah, of course not!" The boy quickly gets up and walks over to his closet, pulling out a hoodie with his best friend's soccer team name printed on it, and quickly puts it on. "See? I got my gear ready to go!" He says cheerfully, with his usual big, bright smile.

His best friend rolls his eyes and walks to the door, gesturing for Jaemin to follow.

When they get into the car, Jaemin squeals in delight when he sees two iced coffees in the cup holders, and grabs his to take a sip. Throughout the whole ride he continues to bounce happily while enjoying his delicious drink, and the two sing to their favorite songs.

After a short, fifteen minute ride, Jeno and Jaemin arrive to the field where Jeno's team is playing. The two nod at each other before separating.

Jaemin makes his way to the bleachers, and watches as the teams get ready and begins to play. For the first half, the boy acts as his best friends personal cheerleader — cheering and screaming his name while jumping up and down, making a complete and utter fool out of himself. He doesn't care, though, because he knows it gives Jeno the energy he needs. After a while, it begins to get cold, and Jaemin sits down and wraps himself in a blanket (everyone sighs in relief, and Jaemin gives them the stink eye).

Getting a little bored of the game, Jaemin decides to pull his phone out and feels a rush of anxiety flow through his veins when he sees that he still hasn't responded to Jisung's text.

How is Jaemin supposed to reply to that? The kid doesn't contact him for two weeks and that's all he says. The boy bites his lip as he thinks of a way to reply, before shrugging and thinking, fuck it.

Jaemin cringes. He doesn't really know how to act when it comes to Jisung. The boy is so closed off, and confusing. He's tried countless times to be friendly and get to know him, and each time, the younger pushes him away. Jaemin is about to put his phone back in his pocket and pay attention to his friend's game again, but suddenly it vibrates. He raises a brow after realizing it was Jisung.

Jaemin lips quirk up into a smile, but he quickly fights it off. He waits a few minutes, thinking about the younger boy's offer.

The brunette looks up, and his eyes light up when he sees his best friend kicking the soccer ball into the net. He immediately stands up and waves his hands in the air ecstatically. That was the winning kick. When he sits back down and waits for Jeno to clean, he sees that Jisung has responded.

Jaemin had forgotten that he had invited the younger into his home a while ago, and felt his heart beat faster in suspicion, until he remembered that fact. He smiled, before sending a thumbs up emoji to Jisung, and then standing up and jumping down to the field where his best friend was.

When the two greet each other, Jaemin supportingly pat Jeno on his back.

"Did you see that kick, Nana? I didn't even know I was capable of that!" Jeno exclaims, his voice filled of excitement and confidence.

Jaemin giggles and clings onto his best friends arm as they head back to his car. "It was pretty epic." He encourages.

"You don't have to tell me twice." Jeno brags, a smirk adorning his face as they both get into his car. He starts the engine and starts taking the route to take the brunette home.

Jeno continues gloating the whole way home, but Jaemin can't focus.

He's too busy thinking about a stupid kid named Park Jisung. Again.