Behind the Mask - Hyunjin x reader

Later that night, as the party was starting to die down, and most of the boys were either passed out or too distracted to notice me leaving, I slipped out the front door. I needed some air, some time to think about what went down, as I had now started to sober up. 

I didn't miss the sight of Felix and Chaewon, sitting closely on the couch, giggling, before disappearing. 

I smiled to myself. 

Cute. 

The streets were quiet. I wasn't really sure where I was going, but my feet led me aimlessly down the road. It was late, later than the time I usually decide to go home after parties. But despite the Hyunjin incident, I had fun tonight, and even after what went down, the boys still managed to lighten up the mood, making fun of drunk Jisung who was sleeping like a baby on the couch, and acting like the goof balls that they are. 

I was about to turn right at the corner when I saw him.

He was slumped on the curb a few blocks away, a nearly empty bottle of liquor clutched in his hand. His hair fell messily onto his face, and he wasn't moving. 

For a moment, I stopped in my tracks, debating whether to just keep walking. That man had made his disdain for me pretty clear, so why should I care? But when I caught the way his shoulders sagged, his head hanging low like the weight of the world was pressing down on him, my heart clenched a bit. 

- Damn it, y/n I muttered under my breath, my feet already moving towards him before I could think better of it.

As I got closer, I noticed the man was just staring blankly at the ground. He didn't even notice my presence. I stood there for a few seconds, before clearing my throat. 

- Hyunjin. 

He didn't respond.

I stepped closer, crossing my arms.  

- What the hell are you doing out here? You can't just sit on the sidewalk and get wasted by yourself. 

Still, nothing.

- Hyunjin, I snapped, louder this time. 

Finally, he looked up at me, and my heart skipped a beat. 

His eyes were red. Not just from the alcohol, but from crying, judging by how puffy they looked. The usual confidence in his gaze was gone, replaced by something raw, something that made my stomach twist uncomfortably. 

He looked... 

Vulnerable. 

- Why do you care? he slurred, his words slow and heavy.

I rolled my eyes, my annoyance flaring up again, even though I was clearly taken aback by his state at that very moment. 

- I don't. But you can't stay here like this, I sighed. 

He let out a humorless laugh, leaning back against the lamppost behind him. 

- Leave me alone, he muttered, his hand gripping the bottle of tequila tighter as he looked away from me, his gaze flickering to the ground again. 

I crossed my arms, feeling a mix of frustration and something else I couldn't quite place. For all the anger and resentment I felt towards him, hearing him sound so... broken, was shocking. 

And I wasn't going to leave him like this. He was a mess, and I couldn't just walk away.

As much as I despised him. 

- Okay, you're drunk, I said, forcing myself to sound calm. Come on, get up. We need to get you home. 

He shook his head, his messy hair falling into his face again.