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Yeonwoo's been absent from school for two days when Minjae wakes up in cold sweat and a shout of 'No!' spilling out of his mouth. It's 3 in the morning and he just had the worst nightmare in his life. Except he knows it wasn't a nightmare, they're never just dreams, but he desperately hopes it was.
The first thing he thought to do was call Joohaeng. It doesn't matter that it's barely dawn, he knows Joohaeng'll pick up. Joohaeng always picks up.
Another reason is that as class president, he has Yeonwoo's number. And before Joohaeng can properly greet him, Minjae orders, "Call Yeonwoo."
"what?" Joohaeng asks, the confusion and incredulity are clear in his voice, "Minjae, it's... 3 in the morning."
"I had a nightmare about him."
A beat of silence and then he can hear the dial tone. Again and again and again.
It's never-ending.
"Do you know his aunt's number?" Minjae asks after their tenth attempt.
"I can look it up at school tomorrow."
"Okay, we're doing that first thing tomorrow morning."
"What was… the nightmare about?"
Minjae worries his bottom lips between his teeth. He doesn't want to say it because it's not his business to tell but also because he'd be giving it certainty by birthing it into the world with his words. And then it'd be perpetuated into life by the repetition and thoughts inside Joohaeng's head.
So, instead of answering, Minjae says, "I can't sleep."
Joohaeng knows not to question further when Minjae is like this so he offers, "Do you want me to go over? Your house's closer to school anyway so we'll get there faster tomorrow."
"Sure," Minjae replies.
It won't be the first time they go to each other's place at an obscure hour of the day. Their parents are used to it. Well, Joohaeng's parents have gotten used to it. Minjae's parents never asked in the first place. They know he has his quirks, they know he needs his space and his freedom. It's a lot of burdens to be… gifted.
-
It’s not hard to acquire the number of a friend’s guardian when you’re the class president. It’s definitely no hardship for someone as charming as Joohaeng, who also happens to be the teacher’s pet.
Minjae snatches it from him even before he can probably thank the teachers. He barely even bow before he’s out the door and dialing the number.
“Hello,” Minjae starts, suddenly uncertain, “Is this Yeonwoo’s aunt?”
“Yes, speaking. Who is this?” she demands.
Minjae is certain she’s trying to make sure he’s not Yoohan. So, he answers, “I’m Minjae, one of Yeonwoo’s friends and I’m calling to make sure that he’s okay.”
There’s long, drawn-out silence, and Minjae fears for the worst. His hands are sweating profusely now and he looks at Joohaeng anxiously.
“He’s been absent for a couple of days and we’re worried.” he prompts, “The teachers are also asking us about Yeonwoo.”
“He’s very sick right now,” Yeonwoo’s aunt replies carefully.
“Oh,” Minjae says dumbly. He’s not sure if he should be blunt. Yeonwoo’s aunt definitely won’t believe that he’s psychic and accuses him of stalking.
“I hope he gets better soon.”
“Yes, I hope so too,” she agrees, there’s a sorrow in her voice. Then she clears her throat as if she just remembers that she’s talking to her nephew’s friend, “Thank you for your concern, I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
Before he can say anything else, there’s a shuffling and groaning in the background and Yeonwoo’s aunt hangs up abruptly. Minjae is left blinking owlishly at Joohaeng.
It takes him a while to just breathe and tucks his phone into his pocket. Joohaeng rubs his back gently, his hand a warm and familiar weight against his skin. Minjae sighs and presses into Joohaeng.
“He’s not sick is he?” Joohaeng asks quietly as they walk back to school.
“No,” Minjae answers and doesn’t elaborate.
Joohaeng doesn’t ask.
-
He ends up telling Joohaeng the next day. It’s during their train ride home and the carriage is oddly quiet and devoid of people.
The sun is setting and Minjae is suddenly very scared. So, he tells Joohaeng. Not like he can hide anything from Joohaeng though, he always end up telling Joohaeng everything anyway.
"We can't tell Yoohan," Joohaeng says and Minjae nods, shuddering as he tries to think of what Yoohan’d do.
He'd suffer from heartbreak, definitely. Because how can he handle the fact that Yeonwoo tried to kill himself so he could keep Yoohan safe? But after he processes the magnitude of love that Yeonwoo has for him. Minjae knows he's gonna do something crazy, he doesn't even need harabeoji or his dreams to tell him that.
Yoohan's definitely going to go to Yeonwoo's house and knock some sense into him. If Yeonwoo's recuperating at his house that is. Or go to the hospital and make a scene like handcuffing himself to Yeonwoo then throw the away key so Yeonwoo could never leave his side.
Minjae thinks about Yoohan spiriting Yeonwoo away and keeps him in a cabin, bundles him up in blankets and bubble wrap and never letting Yeonwoo leave. He shudders at the thoughts.
-
It's a small blessing that Yoohan couldn't make it to school for the next few days due to his schedule.
-
A week later, a couple of days after Yoohan finally comes back to school, he cracks and demands, "Where is Yeonwoo, I can't reach him at all.”
Joohaeng shrugs and looks at Minjae for help. Minjae just smiles and turns another page in his book. Macbeth is coming to an end, maybe he’ll pick up Romeo and Juliet next.
“And no one was home yesterday," Yoohan continues, “Yeonwoo-yah is always home, he’d tell me if he went somewhere.”
No one’s home because Yeonwoo attempted suicide and he’s being hospitalized for it, Minjae wants to tell him but he stops himself. He looks up from his book and just stares at Yoohan for a while, thoughtful.
“You know something,” Yoohan states, squinting at Minjae.
Minjae snorts and gets up. He shakes his book lightly and announces, “I’m gonna go to the library.”
Yoohan gets up to follow Minjae but he’s stopped by Joohaeng who slaps his arm lightly, “Leave him in peace.”
Yoohan turns his skepticism toward Joohaeng and accuses, “You know something.”
Joohaeng rolls his eyes, “I’m not the Seer between the three of us.”
-
On the ninth day, the homeroom teacher tells them that Yeonwoo’s transferring school, and Yoohan comes to him with hell nipping at his heels. His eyes are fire and his words are colder than ice. However, it'll be Minjae's revelation that will cut him like glass.
"How dare you keep such an important thing from me," Yoohan demands, fingers bunched tightly around Minjae's collar.
Joohaeng is instantly beside him, trying to calm Yoohan down. Instead of quelling his anger, Yoohan turns to him and growls, “You too! You knew but you kept quiet!”
“He left school and you all kept your fucking mouth shut,” Yoohan growls, “I can’t believe you, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Yoohan, calm down!” Joohaeng chides, tugging at Yoohan’s arm, “We also only knew today as well!”
“Minjae’s a god damn Seer, I’m sure he saw it and that’s why he’s been weird for the last fucking week.”
“You’re a fucking bastard,” Yoohan sneers, “you could’ve told me before they left. I’d at least be able to convince him to stay.”
“You won’t,” Minjae grits out, his head spinning from all the shaking that Yoohan subjected him to. Joohaeng’s eyes widen in disbelief and Yoohan shakes him harder.
“He’d listen!” Yoohan insists, bearing his teeth.
“He won’t be able to listen because he’s hospitalized,” Minjae elaborates and Joohaeng sighs, letting go of Yoohan’s limb as he takes a step back.
“Is he okay?” Yoohan questions anxiously with a concerned frown, “What’s he there for?”
“He attempted suicide.”
Yoohan’s frown deepens and then he denies vehemently, “Liar.”
“I Saw it,” Minjae replies, “That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
Yoohan’s fingers have gone lax and he’s not chocking Minjae with his own shirt anymore.
“Why?” Yoohan croaks out.
Minjae knows the answer but he won’t say. Yoohan’s so vulnerable, so fragile. He loves Yeonwoo so much and Minjae doesn’t want to hurt him even more.
"I don't know," he answers instead.
“Do you know where he’s staying?” Yoohan asks and when Minjae shakes his head, he looks at him for a moment, eyes searching, then demands, "Tell me when you know."
"I don't See things like that," Minjae replies, and Yoohan huffs. So, he gestures at Joohaeng and offers, "We have his aunt's phone number though."
Yoohan inhales deeply before he finally lets go of Minjae's shirt, "Fine, give me her number."
-
"He's gonna kidnap Yeonwoo," Minjae says randomly on their way to the train station that day.
He’s not sure what’s with him and train-related places lately. It keeps getting him to See and Speak.
Joohaeng pauses and frowns and Minjae waits for him to catch on. However, he can't wait for long though. The vision is flooding him and he needs to say it before it escapes him.
Yeonwoo letting Yoohan peels his hospital gown off, Yoohan dragging Yeonwoo into a small, cozy room filled with warm orange light. There's sand beneath their feet and they're running, "Well, more like eloping since he's running away from home and Yeonwoo agrees to run away with him."
"Wait, wait, wait,” Joohaeng chants, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"Like Romeo and Juliet," he continues then shakes his head, "No, no, that’s not right. They’re not like Romeo and Juliet at all, no. They're gonna be fine."
Minjae sees them with their mouths stretch into twin pairs of grins before they open up. He can't hear them but he knows they were laughing, "They're gonna live and they’re gonna be happy."
"Is that harabeoji talking or Minjae talking?" Joohaeng asks when Minjae finally quiets down. He bumps his shoulder with Minjae's softly.
"Both." he hums. The line between him and harabeoji are getting blurrier by the day.
-
Two weeks after Yeonwoo's absence, Joohaeng's phone rings.
It's Yoohan's mom.
-