Chapter 28

Han Jisung

"Ah, hyung! I can take care of myself!" I whined when he gripped my hand, guiding me up to the steps.

"I thought you're sick? And sick individuals should be taken care of." Minho reasoned out.

"I'm sick, yeah. But I'm not paralyzed!" He scowled when I put his hand away.

We climbed up the stairs in silence. We will be doing our last fan meeting for this promotion. It's held close to our company building.

"Just allow me to hold your hand at least!"

"Fine."

———

"Thank you for coming!" I waved the fans off before going back to the backstage.

"Ji, where are you going?" Felix cornered me with a silly grin on his face when I started walking towards a stall where the gifts we received earlier are placed.

"To the gifts!" I answered excitedly before slightly pushing him away for me to start walking again.

"And why?" He questioned like a reporter.

"I want to get that box that a fan gave me. She, the fan, said that I should open it once the fan meets ended. I'm so intrigued by it!" 

"Let's see it together! I'm getting curious too!" Felix chimed in beside me. After a few seconds later, we arrived at the small stall where the gifts are.

"Where could that be?" I whispered to myself. I whipped my head to the right and there I see the magnificently designed box sitting on the corner of the stall.

"There you are!" I walked towards the box before lifting it up. I was so caught up with how the box was designed that I didn't notice Minho walking behind me.

I jolted in shock when I turned around, making the box fly out of my hand.

"Woah! Are you that shock to see my handsome face?" He giggled.

"Hyung! You literally creeped the heck out of me!" My eyes went to the box that I was holding just a few seconds ago. It was opened due to the impact of it hitting the ground.

I felt like there was something wrong with the contents of the box at first glance. Also, there's this red gooey substance coming out of the box.

I was a little weirded out by it that I kinda took a step backward.

"Why?" Minho asked beside me. He followed where I'm looking at and I feel his body froze.

I took the risk and walked to the box to pick it up. I was hesitant but decided to go for it still. I slowly reached for it and lift it up gently.

"Eh, what? What the hell is this?!" As expected, the gooey substance went to my hands as I lifted the box up. Felix and Minho came beside me to inspect the box too.

"Wait, don't tell me that's..." Felix took steps back and gagged.

"What the fuck is that?!" Minho exclaimed furiously.

A contrast to the beautiful design of the box, the inside isn't really pleasing at all. Inside the box is two dead rats and the red substance seemingly is the blood of the rats.

I almost puked because the blood was all over my hand. I still inspected the inside a bit more and I saw a paper. And the paper doesn't seem like a normal paper.

There's something written on it so I took it out. I dropped the box on the ground since I couldn't handle holding it.

'Be ready, Han Jisung. I'm taking everything away from you.'

I look like it's been written using the blood from the rats. Minho snatched the paper in my hand. My mind went blank after realizing what's written on the paper.

"This is fucking messed up!" He kicked the box making the blood spread through the floor.

Felix basically ran out of the room, acting like he wants to puke. Minho grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the nearest washroom and he washed my hands.

He used so much soap and rubbed my hands hardly yet not that hard that it actually hurt me. I looked at him intently. His face is contorted with fuming anger.

"Is my baby fine?" He looks at me with concern in his eyes.

"I-I'm fine. Just s-shocked." I stuttered. I gulped hard, remembering what's inside the box. Minho finished cleaning my hand up. We went outside quietly.

I was so shocked to even speak. Why? Who would do that?

We went to the resting stall of the backstage. The others went to us instantly upon hearing our footsteps nearing the stall.

"Hyung? Are you alright?" Seungmin asked me. It looks like Felix already told them about what happened.

"I'm okay..." I mumbled quietly before sitting on a chair, contemplating on who could be the one who did that to me.

"Hey." I felt Minho sat beside me. He put his hand on my thigh, giving it a light squeeze. I turned to him and I see his face having a small smile.

"Stop thinking about that... Don't worry, I won't leave you alone from now on..." He uttered while rubbing my thigh, an action he does when he felt guilty.

"Don't feel bad! None of these is your fault." I smiled at him slightly. I cupped his face and pecked his lips.

Minho sighed before nodding. "Let's go now... I think you need to rest..." He smiled at me.

We said goodbye to the other members. We went to our manager to say that we're leaving earlier because of what happened. He agreed so we were sent back to our dorms.

Minho and I immediately walked towards Minho's room. We just dropped our bags on the ground and cuddled in his bed.

"What is happening to us? Why is it like everyone is planning something against us?" I mumbled in his chest. I looked up to him and saw him staring at me.

"I don't know, baby... Don't worry, I won't leave your side... I'll protect you, alright?" He said with a small smile plastered on his lips.

"Alright..." I whispered before snuggling close to him. He pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head.

"I love you so much... I don't know what I'll do without you..." He sighed as he hugged me tighter.

"I love you more... I just hope we're gonna be together forever..." I giggled fakely, knowing that, that wouldn't happen.

"Don't leave me, yeah?" He mumbled. My breath hitched before slowly nodding.

"I won't leave... Unless you want me to..." I whispered in his chest, having a heavy feeling in my chest.

"Why would I want you to leave? I love you so much!" He lifted my chin up to look at him.

"Is something wrong? I mean, yeah. Something is definitely wrong but... Are you hiding something from me?" He suspected. I bit my lower lip before shaking my head.

"Why would I hide something from you?  We're on this together..." I said as I felt so guilty lying to him. I just can't tell him about it. I wouldn't want him to get hurt.

He'll hate me after all...