Chapter Text
“I.N get the fuck out of there. They are swarming the race”
Niki called him on the phone, and Jeongin could hear the police sirens in the distance. He rolled his eyes. That’s the 3rd time this month they had to wrap it up and go home because someone called the cops. It’s really pissing him off. How is he supposed to earn his money, when every race is busted? But what can you do? He’s not about to get arrested, so he pressed the gas pedal and started racing down the streets. Hopefully, his friends won’t get arrested as well. They were already closer to the start line, where police appeared first. Niki was right. There were police cars left and right, so he avoided the main streets. Like he just saw police arresting random people that just happened to be on the streets. They are really incompetent. Don’t they recognize racers by now? With their flashy cars and clothing?
“That’s fucking ridiculous” he muttered, pressing the brakes when someone just walked in front of his car “Hey idiot, watch where you’re going”
But the person he almost drove over ignored him and kept on walking towards the main street. So Jeongin, being the good person he is, technically, was slowly driving behind him, trying to catch his attention. It’s dangerous enough to be here after dark, not to mention with cops everywhere.
“Dude, if you’re going to the main street you’re gonna get arrested straight away,” he cut him off with his car, getting out of it and finally got his attention and then Jeongin got out of his car “Someone called the cops on us and they are arresting innocent people”
The guy was slightly taller than him and had mid length black hair. Jeongin thinks he might recognize him from somewhere but swept the thought to the back of his head. Now he had more pressing matters, like the police car that had just entered the street.
“It’s one of them” the cop alarmed his coworkers and they started running towards them “You’re under arrest”
“You’re going to thank me later for that” he grabbed the quiet boy’s hand and pulled him to the passenger seat. “Now hold tight”
He was still uneasy because his newfound companion was still silent, but there was no time to dwell. The screech of the tires filled the street as Jeongin started speeding down the street, trying to lose the tail they had. He was glancing at the other boy from time to time and he was clutching to his seatbelt like it was about to save his life. Yeah, he might be an intense driver, but that’s how you win a race.
“How long are those fuckers going to chase us?” Jeongin hissed, taking a turn to the left. Having to change lanes suddenly to avoid a car crash.
“Are you some wanted criminal?” the boy finally spoke, and he was clearly scared
“Do I look like a wanted criminal?” Jeongin laughed, parking in front of his flat when they finally lost the convoy. “You know what? Don’t answer”
He got out of the car once again and waited for the boy to exit as well. He didn’t look like he was from around here, but sadly for him, he won’t be able to get back home today. Police probably blocked all the exit roads from the district to catch every racer. They do it every time and every time they can’t catch anyone. It’s annoying, but still better than the police trying to do something more proactive.
“You’re not from around here, right?” Jeongin asked, leaning against his car as he lit his cigarette
“No, I live up north,” the boy said, tilting his head slightly because he thinks he knows Jeongin from somewhere. “But can you explain what happened?”
“Yeah, so basically today I was supposed to take a part in a street race,” he patted his car gently “But someone called the cops again and I had to evacuate and that’s when I found you”
The boy nodded his head, but he still wanted to go back home. He was supposed to meet up with his friends here, but he got lost. And then he ended up in the middle of a manhunt.
“Do you know by any chance how I’ll get to Nowon?” he asked, looking up his location on the map
“Yeah, about that.” Jeongin scratched the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “You won’t get out of here until morning. They blocked the exits. So you can spend the night at my place. I live with some of my friends and it’s not safe to walk around here at night. Especially when you’re not from here”
“I was born here” it slipped out of his mouth before he pressed them into a thin line
“Oh, so you’re from here after all,” Jeongin laughed, pushing his blonde hair out of his face “Well, still you can spend the night. I’m I.N by the way,” he extended his hand.
Okay, now the boy was sure he didn’t know I.N from anywhere. He couldn’t recall anyone with that name. Just the boy looked so familiar to this one person in his life. But it’s probably just a mere coincidence.
“I’m Hyunjin” he shook his hand and saw how fast his expression changed
Jeongin was speechless at first, but it could be just a coincidence. There were many people around Seoul named Hyunjin. But he just had to make sure.
“Sorry if I might sound rude,” he crossed his arms across his chest. “But what high school did you attend?”
Hyunjin didn’t see a reason why this question might come off as rude. This whole situation has been weird as hell, but it’s probably an attempt at small talk.
“The one in this district,” Hyunjin answered, remembering there were two schools in here, and he shook his head. “You know, the one next to the train station. But then I transferred north”
This story sounded way too familiar in Jeongin’s brain and he bit the inside of his cheek. This Hyunjin shares way too many things with his old best friend who left him.
“Are you Hwang Hyunjin by any chance?” his voice was strained, and he was looking at the boy in front of him
“Uh, yeah? But why do you ask?”
Does he know him? But then why Hyunjin couldn’t remember this boy? It seems like they were attending the same school. Maybe they bumped into one another in the hall? Or shared one class? But there was something clearly wrong with his answer because I.N seemed taken aback and sad. There was an uncomfortable silence broken by occasional drunk shouts or police sirens. It was finally broken by the Jeongin because it seemed like everything connected in his brain.
“Why did you leave me, Hyunjin?” he whispered, throwing away his burned down cigarette. “You left me in that hell. We made a promise, and you never contacted me after” he looked at Hyunjin, wiping a few stray tears with the back of his hand.
“Innie?” Hyunjin whispered, realizing from where he remembers the boy “It’s you?”