Chapter Text
It was a well-known fact that Hyunjin was quite forgetful. He could always be found searching for something. Be it his air pods, his keys or the phone he was currently holding in his hands. All it takes, was just a little moment, for things to completely slip his mind. Which is why it comes in handy to have his friends looking out for him and most importantly looking out for his things. As fulfilling as being an artist was to his soul, it was doubly hard on his wallet. He couldn’t afford to miss one more thing in his life at the moment. May be after the next commissioned work, he could let his mind be as absent as it wanted to be. For a week or so, before his woes begin. But he couldn’t be happier in life, surrounded by the warmth of his loved ones.
Hyunjinnie hyung! He heard one of the dongsaengs he met recently call out to him. Turning around he saw him carrying his jacket and rushing towards him. Oh no! he had left his jacket while he mused about not missing anything else. Focus hyunjinah he told himself as he turned and walked towards his dongsaeng.
It’s getting cold out hyung, you can’t be leaving it behind now. He seemed to have skipped wearing his jacket himself in a hurry to make sure that Hyunjin didn’t face the same fate. Flattered by the care, he thanked him profusely, making him blush and brush it off.
No really Haru, what would I have done without you today. This only made him blush more.
He thanked him some more and decided to leave before his junior turned into a tomato in front of him. Also, he was eager to get going. He was having dinner with his handsome boyfriend after all.
The diner was a warm and cozy little joint they discovered on one of their late-night hunger crawls. It was quite crowded around this time. But the owner was a sucker for the pair of them and always made sure they had a cozy corner. He even successfully babied his boyfriend who didn’t look approachable to most people when they first meet him. But that was only the first impression. Once they get to know him, they ended up adoring him. Or was he just down bad. Smiling he walked into the diner, expecting Minho to be seated there in their corner with that fake exasperated look on his face. He always teased Hyunjin on being fashionably or chaotically late as a standard in his personal life. But it was empty today.
Feeling smug, he took Minho’s usual seat from where you could see the diners walking in. It was his turn today to give the same look to Minho. Oh, how the tables have turned. He could already imagine this being him, fashionably early and not chaotically late. He wondered what got Minho caught up. This was so uncharacteristic of him. May be the rain caused congestion. But he could be patient he thought to himself swallowing the restlessness that was starting to take root. After waiting some more, he checked his messages, though they were delivered, they weren’t read. He started calling then, all of it were left unanswered. He must be riding with his phone on silent, he tried to convince himself. But the anxiety just wouldn’t leave.
And that’s how his quiet night turned into a nightmare before he could grasp. As he rushed from Minho’s room which looked scaringly uninhabited, to his work place where he was told that no such person worked there, to the station where the cops told him that there is no proof of foul play yet and couldn’t start a manhunt based on a hunch and to the arms of his close friend Changbin hyung who left his gym trainees midway to rush to Hyunjin’s aid.
Hyunjinah, listen to me. We will find him. You have to keep a calm mind now.
But hyung, I am so scared. My throat is so tight that I cannot breathe, he said as he started shaking uncontrollably.
Trust me, we will find him and I will personally deliver a punch to his face for scaring you so much.
You shouldn’t, he mumbled, not even wanting the hypothetical Minho to get punched.
Alright, I will just find him and dump you at his door steps to take care of. Let him make it up to you how ever your heart desires. How about that?
Ok. Let’s find him. Hyunjin said smiling half-heartedly.
But their search turned out to be futile. They were just left with more questions. And in Changbin’s case, traces of doubt.
Why don’t you have his friend’s numbers? And what do you mean he hasn’t introduced you to his family? I thought you guys were close.
It’s just that he coordinated the meetups. He is the one inviting you guys for meetups too. And I think there is some trouble with his family. He got a little distant when he spoke about them, so I didn’t dig.
But Changbin wasn’t convinced. After two more days of no outcome, Hyunjin couldn’t justify it anymore as well.
His place of work was a lie too Hyunjinah. I don’t want it to be true, but I think you have to consider that he lied and led you on.
Hyung would never, he denied vehemently. The guy who spent every waking hour taking care of him, couldn’t have lied and betrayed him. What was there to gain from him. He was just a poor artist.
Uncharacteristically, at a loss for what to say, Changbin just informed him of the latest updates on the search.
The private investigator friend I told you about has informed his network. They have people enquiring the hospitals and other places. We will find him or your answers. You look exhausted. Go and rest now, I will come back with more information.
But the passing hours made him queasy, with concern for Minho and worry that Changbin might be right. He knew he couldn’t live with either.
He hadn’t been sleeping for long, when he woke up to loud banging.
He rushed to open it making his head pound harder.
Changbin hyung! What did you hear? he asked with dread.