Behind the Mask - Hyunjin x reader

Chapter 11

- I told you to leave me alone, he repeated, his voice cracking as he tried to sit up straighter, but failed.

- Hyunjin, I said firmly, stepping closer. Even though I really wish I could, I'm not gonna just leave you out here. So either you get up, or I'll drag your sorry ass back myself, or call Chan and the rest to deal with you. 

That is when he looked at me. And for the first time, he really looked at me. There was no disdain in his eyes, no resentment. Just pure...

Sadness. 

- Please don't, he whispered in a broken voice. Don't bring the others here.

I blinked, taken aback. I was expecting resistance, maybe more anger, but not this.

He swallowed hard, his eyes shifting away from mine for a moment before he spoke again.

- I don't want them to see me like this... he trailed off, his voice shaking. I can't... I can't show them this. Not after everything...

I was certainly taken aback by this shift in behavior, and wasn't exactly sure what he meant by that. 

'After everything?' Did he mean my arrival in the dance crew? I mean yeah, it could have been an adjustment, but I was just replacing their friend for a bit, I doubted that was what he truly meant by that. 

There was something more. Something I did not know. 

I stood there for a moment, trying to think about what that could possibly be, but he didn't give me a chance to probe further. His eyes drifted away from mine again, and his shoulders slumped as though the weight of whatever was troubling him was too much to carry.

- Come on, Hyunjin, I said softly, my frustration now mixed with concern. Let's get you home, okay?

But he was too drunk to even acknowledge me properly anymore, his body limp against the lamppost, his hand still gripping the bottle firmly, as if it was the only thing holding him together.

I was about to try pulling him up when the sound of a car engine broke through, and I turned my head just as headlights flashed across us. 

The vehicle stopped right beside us, and the window rolled down.

- What the hell...?

Changbin. His expression was a mix of confusion and disbelief as he stared at the scene in front of him. His eyes flicked between me and Hyunjin, clearly processing what he was seeing.

- He's drunk, I muttered, feeling oddly defensive. He doesn't want the others to know, so I was trying to handle it.

-  Yeah, I can see that, Changbin said, his tone flat. 

He had been the only one to stay away from the liquor that night, and I was infinitely grateful to have a Sam able to take the wrecks that the boys had become home safely. 

He sighed, leaning over to unlock the passenger side of the car. Inside, Jisung was deeply asleep, leaning on a visibly very tired Seungmin. 

- Get in. I'll take him home and drop you off. 

- But Chaewon...

- She left with Felix already, he replied, crouching down to lift Hyunjin's almost limped body over his shoulder. 

My eyes widened at that new information, but Changbin quickly cleared the confusion. 

- They had their own plans after the party. Felix's been keeping an eye on her, you know. They'll probably end up grabbing some food or something.

I nodded. Not that I was imagining anything else, really. I knew Felix, he wasn't the type to just rush things. 

I stepped aside as Changbin handled the drunk boy. He carefully maneuvered Hyunjin into the car, as I climbed into the backseat. 

Seungmin looked over at me and gave a small, tired smile.

- Tough night, eh? he asked, his voice hoarse as if he'd been awake for much longer than he should have been.

- Tell me about it...

The man studied me for a moment, his eyes softening. 

- Thank you. For staying with Hyunjin. You had every right in the world to leave him after everything he's been putting you through. But you didn't so... thank you. Really. 

I glanced at the passed out boy, whose head now rested on my lap. Despite his puffy eyes, his breathing was steady. He looked... peaceful, and that was probably the most calm I had ever seen him. 

- I wasn't just going to leave him like that, I muttered. Yeah he's a pain in the ass, but he's still a human being. 

Seungmin nodded, his eyes now focusing on the road ahead.

- Yeah, well, you're a good person for that, even if Hyunjin doesn't realizes it yet. 

I didn't respond to that, unsure of what to say. I wasn't doing this because I wanted praise or recognition. I was just trying to do what felt right in the situation. 

And as the car hummed slowly down the road, I looked outside the window. 

Well. 

That was not what I had pictured when I decided to go on a walk by myself.