After introductions had been made, Changbin and Han moved to sit at the table in the kitchen. They both had a sheet of paper between them and were trying to think of ways to test the theory of Bang Chan's invincibility without killing him just in case they were wrong. Felix and I.N continued sitting on the couch, trying to let everything sink in.

"This is heavy," said Felix finally as he broke the awkward silence that had descended upon the apartment. "I'd ask why you didn't tell me all this before, but I understand it's probably because we barely know each other."

"I still...I need a minute," said I.N as he moved to stand up from the couch. "Is there somewhere where I can...take a moment to breathe?"

A sympathetic smile broke out onto Bonita's facea as she pointed towards her bedroom. Nodding his head quickly, I.N moved to step into the room. She could barely make out his semi-shallow breathing as he entered, completely on the verge of falling apart again. Felix was about to get off the couch to follow after him, but Bang Chan held up a hand.

"Let me talk to him," said Bang Chan to Felix. "He's like this right now because of me."

Felix nodded, sinking back down onto the couch as Bang Chan moved to enter Bonita's bedroom, shutting the door behind him to give them privacy. I.N was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to the door, his shoulders heaving up and down as he took deep breaths to catch his breath. It still came out in stuttered gasps though as if he was on the verge of a full-on breakdown.

The first time that Bang Chan had been in his bunker shelter after fully realizing that all those he loved were dead, he had a similar breakdown. He thought for sure that the breath was being sucked from his lungs and that he would die gasping for air like some fish out of water. Walking slowly over to I.N, Bang Chan moved to sit down beside him. The other didn't turn to face him, still trying to breathe properly. Bang Chan moved to grab one of I.N's hands in his, squeezing it.

"Close your eyes and take one deep breath in then out," instructed Bang Chan as memories of doing the same once upon a time himself came to him.

I.N just nodded, squeezing Bang Chan's hand in return as he closed his eyes. He took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly, repeating the action several times before his breathing seemed to return to normal.

"S-sorry..." mumbled I.N as he still kept his eyes closed.

"It's okay," said Bang Chan. "It's a lot. I get it."

I.N just nodded his head before slowly opening his eyes. Bang Chan could see the tears dancing there. I.N seemed to be refusing to let them fall though, as if there was a dam there that he was desperately trying to keep in place to stay in one piece.

"Can you tell me about Chris?" asked Bang Chan softly. "All I know is that I'm based on him, look like him, and sound like him.

"How much are you wanting to know?"

"As much as you're willing to tell me."

Taking one more deep breath to steady his nerves, I.N began to tell his tale as he kept a hold of Bang Chan's hand.

"Before I was known as writer I.N, I was nothing more than a poor boy named Yang Jeongin..."

- - -

Six-year-old Jeongin held tightly to his mother's hand as they walked into the park. It was one of the very few days she had off and she had promised to bring him to the park to play on the equipment. Jeongin's eyes were filled with childish wonder as he drank in the sights before him. Even though the chill of winter hung in the air, there were still puffball children running about and playing. Jeongin waited until he was in the wood shavings before letting go of his mother's mittened hand to run towards the swing set, puffs of his breath coming out in the air as he ran, making him look like a fluffy little steam train. His mother chuckled, coming up behind him to help make sure he was situated safely on the swing before beginning to push him.

As Jeongin swung back and forth, kicking his legs to go higher, he noticed a boy about his age smiling widely as an older boy played with him. The older boy was allowing the younger to ride on the handlebars of his bike as he rode down the sidewalk with him.

"So, Jeongin, have you decided what you're going to ask Santa for yet?"

"That," said Jeongin as his mother brought his swinging to a stop when he took one hand off the chain to point at the younger and older boy as they rode about on the bike.

"What's that?" she asked, trying to figure out where her young son was pointing. "A bike?"

"No. An older brother," said Jeongin. "I want an older brother for Christmas."

- - -

"Looking back now, I know what a stupid request that was," said I.N as he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, letting out a small scoff, "but my younger self didn't. I kept up asking for it every year, just thinking that maybe my gift was delayed."

- - -

"You're such an idiot!"

With tears in his eyes, twelve-year-old Jeongin let out a wince as his back came into contact with a metal locker. Laughter surrounded him as the middle school boys' hyena like laughter filled his ears. Festive decorations were strung throughout the hallway as the school was on the brink of being let out for Christmas, but this recent attack made him not feel in the holiday spirit at all. Jeongin blinked back tears as he watched one of his classmates - a rich snot named Kwangsun - sneer at him.

"I just thought you were writing over there like the nerd you are, but you're not a nerd. You're just a baby. A baby boy that still believes in Santa."

The mocking laughter stabbed at Jeongin's already broken heart as he tried in vain to reach the letter and tear it out of their hands. They just laughed, holding it just out of his reach.

"Dear Santa," began Kwangsun as he started to read Jeongin's letter out loud. "I know you probably already know by now what I want, but I'm going to ask again this year just in case. Can you please send me the older brother I've been waiting for?"

"GIVE IT BACK!" screamed a distraught Jeongin.

His shout caught the attention of a teacher as they stepped out of their classroom. The woman frowned as she yanked the paper out of the Kwangsan's hand, handing it back to Jeongin before scolding those that had been mocking him.

Grabbing his backpack, Jeongin raced out of the school and down the street. He knew it was a long walk back to the apartment he shared with his mother, but he needed time to think. Snow was falling from the sky in slow lazy twirls as he walked, everything aching by the time he got to the narrow alleys that lined the path to his home.

Jeongin climbed the steps and entered the claustrophobic, one room apartment. He slipped inside and brushed up against the side of the stove to avoid running into his mother who was currently standing on a chair in the center of the room with a bucket above her head. Their ceiling was leaking yet again.

"Oh Jeongin! There you are! I was starting to worry!" she said as she turned to him, immediately frowning when she saw how sad he looked. Moving to put the bucket down in a spot on the chair where it could continue catching the water, she walked over to Jeongin, crouching down in front of him. "What happened?"

"I'm an idiot. That's what happened," he said, his lower lip quivering a bit.

"No you're not! You're far from that. Why would you say that?"

"Some boys at school found out what I wanted for Christmas."

Frowning, she moved to wrap Jeongin in a hug as his tears finally ran unbidden down his cheeks.

"There's nothing wrong with what you want," said his mother. "Don't let anyone make you feel differently...okay?"

Nodding his mother fixed him with a smile as she reached out to wipe the tears from his cheeks.

"Come on. I have to bake some cookies for an upcoming catering event. How's about you help me?"

Nodding enthusiastically, he moved to put his backpack in the corner of the room where they slept before running off to help her, the crumpled desire of a twelve-year-old child left behind for the moment.

- - -

"Catering was the way that my mother made ends meet, so I tried to help with income any way that I could when I was old enough. I got my first job when I was sixteen at a small convenient store at the edge of my neighborhood. It was here that I unknowingly first met the man that would ultimately make my wish come true."

- - -

Sixteen-year-old Jeongin stood behind the counter in the unnaturally bright convenient store. The florescent lights above him acted like they were trying to outshine what limited stars were outside tonight as he wrote in his notebook. He didn't mind having the closing shifts as there were hardly any customers. It gave him time to think and write. Over the years, writing had become his refuge. It provided him with a protective bubble from the world and let him imagine a world where he and his mother could be happy and loved. It temporarily brought him away from the cold harsh reality of how his father had abandoned his mother when she was pregnant with him.

Looking at the clock on the wall as he lifted his head from his notebook, Jeongin saw that he only had another fifteen minutes until closing. Just as he was about to start writing again, a bell rang out above the door. Jeongin turned to look towards the door to greet the customers.

"Good even-"

The pleasant greeting died out on Jeongin's tongue as he looked at the three boys that stood in front of him. These were the same boys that kept tormenting him in school with none other than Kwangsun as the ring leader. They were all well dressed in expensive clothes from their parents unlike Jeongin who was wearing a well-worn black t-shirt and jeans that were slightly short at the ankle under his green work apron.

"Hey baby boy," said Kwangsun with a smirk, coming over to the counter. Jeongin gritted his teeth, hating the nickname given to him.

"Can I help you?" he managed to get out, barely able to crack even a quarter of a grin as he swallowed the irritation broiling inside him.

"You sure can," Kwangsun said as he leaned against the counter. Turning briefly to look at his two companions with a Chesire cat grin, he remarked to them, "Guess we're getting our high tonight after all."

Turning back to face Jeongin, Kwangsun pointed past his shoulder to where the cigarette boxes were all lined up for sale.

"You're going to give us one of those. For free," said Kwangsun.

"And why should I?" asked Jeongin. "There are multiple reasons why I shouldn't."

"You're such a baby..."

Cursing at him, Kwangsun grabbed Jeongin's notebook off the counter. Jeongin tried to stretch across the counter to grab it, but like with his letter to Santa all those years ago, Kwangsun managed to keep it just out of his reach.

"Are you still writing to Santa for an older brother? Are you still waiting for someone to save you and your mother from your pathetic life?"

"GIVE THAT BACK!" said Jeongin as he saw red.

Just as Jeongin strained to reach out in vain for his notebook again, Kwangsun passed the notebook to one of his friends before turning to punch Jeongin right in the face. The power of the punch sent Jeongin stumbling backwards onto his feet until his back hit the cigarette rack. Kwangsun sneered, jumping over the counter with ease as he gripped Jeongin tightly by the collar of his shirt.

"Time to shut your baby face up once and for all it seems," said Kwangsun. "You fu-"

The swear died out on his lips as the bell chimed over the door again followed by someone tsking. Looking past the Kwangsun's shoulder, Jeongin saw that another male had entered the shop. He was wearing a crisp white dress shirt under a black leather jacket. His raven black hair caught the light above and made it shine down on him like a spotlight as he continued tsking, looking at the scene before him.

"What do you three think you're doing?"

The three boys he questioned still remained frozen. Jeongin had never seen this young man before in his life, which made sense given the slight Australian accent underlying his voice. He was obviously new in town. Jeongin watched in awe as the newcomer walked around the counter. He grabbed Kwangsun by the shoulder, pulling him off Jeongin.

"I suggest you leave before I call the police."

Anger surged through Kwangsun as he brought up a fist in an attempt to strike the newcomer. The newcomer was faster though, capturing the fist Kwangsun swung his way in his hand with a small smirk. He immediately shoved the fisted hand down and away as he stood like a wall between Jeongin and him.

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

Kwangsun spat right at the newcomer's converse sneakers before turning to leave the store with his cronies. The newcomer turned to watch him go with a shake of his head.

"Very classy," he remarked with another tsk before turning to look at Jeongin. "Are you alright?"

"I...yes..."

Bowing his head and shuffling away from the newcomer in embarrassment, Jeongin walked around the counter to see that his notebook had been torn and discarded on the ground before they left. Tears filled his eyes as he bent down to pick up the pieces, lying them gingerly on the counter. The newcomer saw Jeongin's actions as he walked over to him.

"Do you have any tape?" asked the young man. "We could tape it back together."

"THAT WON'T FIX THIS!" shouted Jeongin as he slammed his hands down on the counter. "NOTHING WILL!"

The young man didn't flinch at Jeongin's angry outburst. Instead, he wordlessly walked off down one of the aisles. Jeongin figured that he must have scared the young man off with his outburst, flooding with shame as the tears trailed down his cheeks. He felt like the encounter with his lifelong bullies had reduced him to a scared child. Jeongin stood there internally wishing for things to be different someday.

Jeongin's desperate wishes for someday were interrupted as the young man soon reappeared carrying a mini emergency first-aid kit and two bottles of cola. He put them on the counter before digging his wallet out of his pocket. Trying to swallow his emotions like always, Jeongin walked around the counter to do his job. Once the young man had paid for his purchases, Jeongin watched as the young man moved to flip the 'open' sign to 'closed'.

"What are you doing?"

"Fixing this," replied the young man as he beckoned for him to come around the counter again.

Hesitant for a moment, Jeongin eventually rounded the counter to where the young man stood. He watched as he opened the mini first-aid kit to tend to his bleeding cheek. When that was done and a band-aid was across it, the young man extended a cola out to him.

"Tell me what's going on."

"Why should I?" asked Jeongin as he looked the young man up and down. He looked as rich as the kids that beat him up, and Jeongin knew that people like that never treated people like him kindly. "I don't even know who you are."

The young man nodded, putting the cola down before offering a hand Jeongin's way instead.

"Let's change that then. My name is Chris," he said, "It's nice to meet you,...?"

"Jeongin," he replied as he hesitantly grabbed Chris' hand.

"Well, Jeongin, now that we have introduced ourselves, lets talk about how to fix things."

- - -

"That was the first time I met Chris. I didn't realize then that he was my wish come true. When I turned seventeen, my mom had a big catering event to work. It was there that she met a businessman. He was so smitten by her that he would eventually ask her out to dinner and then to marry him a few months later. I was worried though, wondering if this rich man knew just how poor we really were."

- - -

"Chris, I don't know what to do."

"Well apparently that's not true," he said with a smirk as he watched Jeongin closely. "You haven't stopped pacing since I showed up. You're going to wear a rut into the ground at this rate."

Smirking, seventeen-year-old Jeongin looked at a twenty-year-old Chris as they stood outside the convenient store Jeongin worked at. Jeongin was on break and Chris as per usual the last year or so, had showed up to talk with him during it. They had become best friends that could confide in each other about anything.

"You know what I mean," Jeongin said as he sank down to sit at one of the picnic tables, Chris moving to sit down across from him. "My Mom is getting married to this rich guy that I've never even met and who I doubt knows what slums we live in...It's a fairytale, but fairytales don't exist in the real world."

"Just give it all a chance," said Chris. "You haven't met the man yet as you said, so it might all work out. Besides, he'd be lucky to have a stepson like you."

Jeongin fought off the blush forming on his cheeks as he looked over at Chris. Jeongin could see that he was staring at a spot on the picnic table as he seemed to get lost in his thoughts, something that was uncharacteristic of him.

"Are you okay?" asked Jeongin.

"Yeah, I just...I wasn't sure how to tell you, but I might be moving again."

"You might...what? Why?"

"My father is getting remarried," said Chris. "He won't tell me much aside from that."

"But...but you don't have to go!" spluttered Jeongin. "You're an adult."

Chris gave Jeongin a faint smile, reaching a hand across the table to grab one of his.

"We'll stay in touch whatever happens. I promise. We have each other's number. I'm not just going to disappear on you, Jeongin."

"You promise?"

"I do," said Chris as he squeezed his hand.

- - -

"I met my mother's husband-to-be two days after talking to Chris about it. The man that was soon to be my stepfather was invited over to our cramped apartment, my mom wanting him to see right off where we came from."

- - -

"Jeongin! Put the notebook down! I think I hear someone on the stairs!"

Obeying his mother, Jeongin put his notebook down as he rose from where he had been sitting on one of their sleeping mats. There was only so much that could be done to clean up their small place. Jeongin anxiously eyed the yellow patterning that water damage had done to the tiles above them. As he bit the corner of his lip anxiously, his eyes turned towards the door as the footsteps his mother heard grew louder. Soon enough a knock came at the door that stopped his breath short.

Jeongin watched as his mother opened the door partway. He could sort of make out the man in the baby blue button-down shirt that stood in the doorway. His mother let out a gasp as she looked at him.

"Oh...is this your son that you were talking about? I didn't realize he'd be coming too."

Thinking how he was about to have a stepbrother as well made Jeongin feel a hundred times more anxious than he had before as he stood there, waiting.

"I'm sorry. He wanted to come too."

"It's perfectly okay," said Jeongin's mother as she opened the door wider. "Come in the two of you."

Looking towards the door as his soon-to-be stepfather stepped in, Jeongin's breath caught in his throat when he saw the son that followed behind him.

Both his mother and soon-to-be stepfather watched in shock as Jeongin raced across the small expanse of room to give his new stepbrother a hug that was just as enthusiastically returned.

His new stepbrother was none other than Chris.

- - -

"After all this time, I couldn't believe that I finally was going to get my lifelong wish. I thought that it was going to be the beginning of a bright future, but what it was...it was nothing more than the beginning of the end..."

- - -

AN: I never expected the backstory to be this long. 😂

The backstory will continue into the next chapter where more will be revealed about I.N and Chris' relationship. What do we think so far?

Thank you all for supporting me as I write this book! You're all the absolute best! 💜