An Unexpected Bond

The sun was setting as the friends drifted into Mingyu's café, their unspoken end-of-day ritual. The café had the relaxed, comfortable hum of a place that felt like home-the scent of freshly brewed coffee, a warm glow from the lights, and the distant sound of jazz mingling with the chatter of friends finally done with work and classes. The booth was packed, laughter and friendly nudges as they settled in.

Seungkwan was the last to arrive, dropping into the booth with a confident grin. "Alright, peasants," he began, crossing his arms dramatically. "Who's ready for a real adventure?"

Everyone gave him a curious look, half-amused and half-wary.

"And what exactly do you mean by 'adventure'?" Joshua asked, a relaxed smile on his face as he took a sip of his coffee.

Seungkwan smirked, clearly loving the suspense. "The amusement park. Tomorrow. All of us. It's been too long since we had some real fun."

Seokmin's eyes lit up instantly. "Yes! Let's do it!" He practically bounced in his seat, giving Mingyu an excited shove.

"Oh, yeah," Woozi drawled, raising an eyebrow at Seungkwan. "What could go wrong with this crowd?"

"It'll be chaos," Minghao chimed in, deadpan, already picturing it. "Perfect for you, Seungkwan."

"Oh, please," Seungkwan shot back, eyes narrowed. "You're just scared I'll look better than you on the roller coasters."

Mingyu tried to look casual, but he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh...sure, sounds good... but, um...I might have a small issue with heights."

Woozi gave him a smirk that could cut steel. "A big guy like you? Afraid of heights? Seriously?"

Minghao leaned over, shaking his head with a grin. "Let's just make sure we get you a seat on the teacups, Mingyu. Real intense stuff."

Mingyu rolled his eyes, laughing despite the merciless teasing. Jeonghan and Joshua exchanged amused glances, watching the scene with entertained smiles, their coffees long forgotten as the group devolved into excited chatter.

Finally, as they gathered their things and began to leave the café, the anticipation hung in the air, buzzing with possibilities. Tomorrow promised the kind of chaotic, thrilling fun only they could make, and as they walked out into the cool evening, everyone could feel it-the kind of night they'd laugh about for years to come.

THE NEXT DAY

The day at the amusement park started off light and exciting, the kind of day where everything just felt easy and carefree. Jeonghan was eager to have some quality time with his friends, but a part of him also felt a little off-like something more significant than a day at the park was waiting to happen. It wasn't something he could pinpoint, but the feeling lingered.

"Okay, let's split up and make the most of it," Seungkwan exclaimed as the group entered the amusement park gates. He was full of energy as always, even this early in the morning.

Joshua and Seokmin exchanged knowing looks before immediately pairing up for what Jeonghan knew would be a day full of romantic couple activities. Joshua wrapped his arm around Seokmin's waist. "We'll see you guys later. We have a very important date planned," Joshua said with a wink.

"Try not to kiss too much in public, people might actually vomit," Woozi quipped, rolling his eyes, earning him a playful shove from Seokmin.

"Or worse, I might vomit," Minghao added, throwing in his usual deadpan delivery.

Mingyu, the gentle giant, hesitated for a moment before Woozi and Minghao grabbed him by the arms. "Come on, tall guy, we're doing the high rides today!" Woozi's voice was practically a threat, a grin forming on his face.

Mingyu's eyes widened, genuine fear taking over his face. "I... I'm not really a fan of heights..."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. And by fine, I mean you'll be screaming your lungs out while we enjoy the view." Minghao's savage grin didn't make things any better.

"Oh, please! Can we not torture him too much?" Jeonghan called out, trying to offer some sympathy for poor Mingyu.

"Relax, hyung. He'll survive," Woozi said with a shrug. "Mostly."

Meanwhile, Jeonghan and Seungkwan wandered off toward the more mellow, cute rides. Seungkwan, always the one for drama, excitedly dragged Jeonghan to a ride shaped like flying teacups. "Come on, mom! Let's relive my childhood!" Seungkwan cheered, clinging to Jeonghan's arm like a toddler.

"Teacups, really?" Jeonghan chuckled, shaking his head. But he couldn't deny Seungkwan anything, especially when he had that puppy-dog look in his eyes.

"You love it," Seungkwan said with a smirk, hopping into the ride.

Jeonghan's POV

The day was filled with laughter and teasing as everyone went their separate ways. Seungkwan and I enjoyed some relaxing rides, snapping selfies and treating ourselves to ice cream. By late afternoon, though, I was completely drained. I could feel my energy slipping away, and all I wanted was to sit down and let the others continue their fun without me.

"You guys go ahead into the haunted house," I told them, waving them off. "I'll stay outside and rest. I've had enough excitement for the day."

Seungkwan raised an eyebrow, giving me one of his signature looks. "Are you sure? It's going to be so much fun scaring the pants off of Woozi. You know he screams like a little girl, right?"

Woozi shot him a glare. "I'm right here, you know."

"That's exactly why I said it, darling," Seungkwan replied with a mischievous grin. "But okay, grandma Jeonghan, enjoy your nap."

I laughed and shook my head as they all entered the haunted house. With no particular plan in mind, I wandered around the park, watching families and couples enjoy their day. Eventually, I found a quiet bench where I could just sit and breathe, letting the cool evening air hit my face.

That's when I noticed him.

A boy was crouched on the ground, his body shaking as he struggled to breathe. It was like something clicked in me, like my instincts to help took over before I even realized what I was doing. I got up and rushed over to him without hesitation.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked softly, crouching down beside him. He looked up at me, and my heart nearly broke. His face was pale, his eyes wide with fear, and tears were brimming at the corners of his eyes. He was panicking.

"I... I don't..." he stammered, his voice weak as he struggled to get the words out.

I crouched down beside him, offering what I hoped was a reassuring smile. His eyes, wide and filled with fear, met mine, and I could see just how vulnerable he was. "Do you need help getting out of here?" I asked gently.

He hesitated, but then nodded weakly. "Please, just... take me away from here."

That simple plea hit me harder than I expected. There was something about the way he said it, something desperate, that made me want to do whatever I could to help him. So, I helped him to his feet, feeling how shaky he was, and guided him to a nearby park, away from the chaos of the amusement park.

We found a bench, and as soon as we sat down, I pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to him. He took it gratefully, sipping slowly, trying to calm himself. I watched him closely, worried.

"Thank you," he whispered after a moment, his voice barely audible.

His quiet gratitude made my heart ache. Whoever this boy was, he was clearly going through something. I sat beside him, trying to read his expression, his body language, anything that would give me a clue as to what had happened. "What's your name? How old are you?" I asked softly, hoping to get him to open up.

"Dino," he replied, still so quiet. "I'm eighteen."

Eighteen. He looked younger than that, maybe because of the way he was sitting there, so lost and fragile. I smiled again, hoping to make him feel more comfortable. "I'm Yoon Jeonghan. Nice to meet you, Dino. But why are you here alone? Did you come with friends?"

That's when I noticed the shift in his demeanor. He shook his head, his voice dropping even lower. "No, I came alone."

My smile faded a little as I sensed something deeper. Why would someone come to an amusement park alone, looking as miserable as he did? "Why?" I asked, trying to keep my voice gentle, not wanting to push too hard.

There was a long pause before he spoke again, and when he did, his voice was so small it almost broke my heart. "I... I got kicked out of my house. They told me not to come back until seven. I didn't know where to go, so I ended up here."

My chest tightened at his words. Kicked out? Told not to come back? The thought of anyone being treated like that, let alone a boy like Dino, made my protective instincts flare up. He looked so worn down, so defeated. I wanted to help him, but I wasn't sure how.

Without thinking, I opened my arms slightly. "Do you... want a hug?"

For a moment, he just stared at me, like he couldn't believe what I'd offered. But then, slowly, he leaned into me, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. He felt so small, so fragile, and I could feel the slight tremors running through his body. His face buried itself into my chest, and I could feel the wetness of his tears soaking into my shirt.

I didn't say anything for a moment. I just held him, one hand gently patting his back, the other running through his hair. "Don't be scared. Everything will be okay," I whispered softly, though I wasn't sure if he believed me. Hell, I wasn't sure if I believed it either. But right then, it felt like the only thing I could say to comfort him.

We stayed like that for a long time, the noise of the amusement park fading into the background. It was peaceful, almost, sitting there with him in my arms, feeling his breathing slow as he calmed down. I wasn't sure how much time had passed when I finally pulled away slightly, using my sleeve to gently wipe away his tears.

"Feel better?" I asked with a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood just a bit.

He nodded, sniffling as he tried to get himself together. There was still so much sadness in his eyes, but at least he wasn't crying anymore.

"Good," I said, my smile widening. "Now, how about we grab some food? I bet you haven't eaten anything today."

Just as I said that, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw several missed calls from Seungkwan. Oh no. I knew he was going to chew me out for disappearing like this. "Oh no, they've been looking for me," I muttered under my breath, already imagining the scene I was about to walk into.

I stood up and ruffled Dino's hair gently, hoping he'd be okay on his own. "I have to go now, but you'll be alright, okay? Go home safely. Remember to eat something."

I gave him one last reassuring smile before I jogged off toward the entrance of the park, where I could already see Seungkwan waving frantically. But even as I left Dino behind, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to see him again, that there was more to his story than I had seen today. And somehow, I wanted to be there for him, even if I didn't fully understand why.

"You better not have been napping somewhere!" Seungkwan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I reached him. His face was a mix of relief and frustration. "We've been looking for you everywhere! Joshua was ready to lecture you for hours, you know!"

I laughed, throwing an arm around his shoulders, trying to ease the tension. "Relax, I'm fine. Sorry for making you worry," I said, though my mind was still elsewhere-on Dino, on that fragile boy who had needed me earlier.

Joshua was standing there, giving me a pointed look. "Do we need to talk about this? You vanished for way too long." There was concern behind his words, like always.

Woozi crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, Jeonghan. Did you fall asleep on a bench somewhere?"

"Honestly, probably," Minghao chimed in, smirking. "He's like a cat. Just finds random spots to nap."

I waved them off, not wanting to get into the details. "I'm sorry, okay? I got a little... distracted." That was an understatement, but I wasn't ready to explain what had happened. It felt too personal, too raw, and I wasn't sure how to put it into words just yet.

Woozi rolled his eyes, muttering sarcastically, "Well, at least you're alive. Can we leave now?"

"Yeah, grandma Jeonghan needs her rest," Seungkwan teased, and I gave him a playful smack on the shoulder, though my mind was far from playful.

The ride back home was filled with the usual laughter, everyone recounting the day's funniest moments. Mingyu's near tears on the high rides became the running joke, with Minghao especially getting a kick out of it.

"You should've seen his face!" Minghao laughed. "I thought he was going to pass out mid-ride."

"I almost did!" Mingyu shot back, dramatically, which only made the rest of us laugh harder.

But even through all the banter, I wasn't fully present. My thoughts kept drifting back to Dino-the way he looked so lost, the way he clung to me in that hug as if it was the first bit of warmth he'd felt in ages. I couldn't shake the image of him from my mind.

By the time we got home and settled for dinner, the chatter had quieted, and eventually, everyone went their separate ways. I returned to my apartment, switching on the lights and kicking off my shoes. I changed into something more comfortable, but even in the silence of my home, my mind wouldn't settle.

As I lay down in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts still lingered on Dino. Something about him had struck a chord deep inside me. It was more than just sympathy-it was a pull, an inexplicable connection, like I had to see him again. Like I had to do more.

I hadn't felt this way since Seungkwan. Back then, I had sensed the same thing-someone in need of help, of care. And I had done everything I could to make sure Seungkwan was safe, that he had a home, that he knew he was loved. Now, I was feeling that same instinct about Dino.

The pain in his eyes, the way he had leaned into that hug... It broke my heart. He seemed so fragile, like he had been holding everything together with nothing but sheer willpower, and it was starting to crumble. I couldn't just walk away from that.

"I hope I see you again, Dino," I whispered into the darkness. The thought of him alone out there, struggling with whatever he was going through, made my chest ache. He needed more than just a comforting word from a stranger. He needed safety. He needed someone to care.

With a soft sigh, I finally closed my eyes, but even in sleep, the thoughts persisted. The silent wish lingered in my heart-to make Dino smile, to offer him a place where he didn't have to be afraid, and to watch him grow into the happiness he so desperately deserved.

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