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It was what seemed to be a normal day for Stray Kids in terms of idol life. They each had their own schedules with a comeback coming up. Chan, Jisung, and Changbin were in the studio taking care of the tracks, each of the members having time to do their recordings. Minho was working on some choreography to show the other two danceracha members before the whole group learns it. Jeongin and Seungmin had vocal lessons.
Vocalracha had the shortest schedules for the day. Besides their vocal lessons at the end of their schedules, they had their recordings for comeback season and about an hour or two of dance practice.
The duo had their vocal lessons together with the same instructor, Mr. Kang.
"Good job today boys. Seungmin, you're free to go. Iyen, stay back for a bit. I have a few things to go over with you." Mr. Kang smiled.
Both boys nodded and Seungmin opened the door. Before leaving he turned back to Jeongin.
"I'll be off then. Come home soon. Don't wanna be alone. The rest of the members might not be home until past nine."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever hyung." Jeongin playfully rolled his eyes.
Seungmin just smiled as he walked out the door.
"So what did you need to go over sir?"
"Jeongin-ah. You wanna know something?"
Jeongin hummed.
Mr. Kang stood up from where he sat and walked close to Jeongin. "You are so beautiful." He brought a hand up to Jeongin's face.
"Um, thank you I guess?" Jeongin leaned away from the man's hand.
"I really mean it, you know. You truly are quite a beauty." The man pushed Jeongin against the wall.
"Mr. Kang? What are you doing?" Jeongin felt his breath getting caught in his chest as anxiety pooled in his stomach. Everything in his mind told him he should run.
"Isn't it clear honey? I need you."
Jeongin shook his head as the man's face came closer to his.
"Why? What-"
Mr. Kang put a hand over Jeongin's mouth as he used his other hand moved the collar of the latter's shirt to the side and started pressing sloppy kisses onto his collarbone before trailing his hand down his chest. Jeongin squirmed at the unwanted touch. Tears started to form in the young man's eyes.
Jeongin tried to call out for help but his mouth was being held tight. All of a sudden, the hand was removed from his mouth but was quickly replaced with a pair of lips.
His eyes widened as he tried to push the older man away to no avail. He watched as Kang's hands traveled down towards his belt. Jeongin took the chance to push the man away while he didn't have much attention to holding Jeongin down.
He successfully pushed him away before rapidly grabbing his belongings and dashing out of the room.
------------
Seungmin had just arrived back at the dorm. He felt relieved to be home. Although he didn't have a long schedule compared to the other boys, he was still fatigued nonetheless. No one typically got a break, especially during comeback season.
He immediately went to his room and gathered his things to go take a quick shower. Once he finished his shower he went out to the kitchen to find something to eat. He scoured the fridge and the pantry before he decided to settle on cup ramen.
He mindlessly scrolled on social media while he ate. A specific post made by a stay caught his attention. It was a video of him and the maknae, Seungmin looking at Jeongin with nothing but admiration in his eyes. Seungmin smiled to himself. He loved the youngest member so much. Considering he was his only maknae, Seungmin loved Jeongin to the extreme, even if he won't admit it.
Once he finished his ramen, he disposed of the container and trailed back to his room. He felt a wave of weariness hit. He decided he'd take a nap. He closed his door and put his phone on the charger before laying down on the bed.
---
Seungmin awoke to the feeling of his and Changbin’s shared bed dipping. Annoyance started to fill him as he was only asleep for no more than fifteen minutes. He barely opened his eyes. He opened them just enough to see Jeongin sitting at the edge of the bed.
"Jeongin, get off my bed with your dirty clothes." Seungmin grumbled before he shut his eyes again.
Jeongin let out a sniffle before opening his mouth. "Hyung.." He strained out.
Seungmin fully opened his eyes and took a look at the boy before him. He saw tears running down Jeongin's face, one of his hands gripping his own shirt, and he was shaking, trying to keep his breathing stable.
Seungmin sat up with urgency. "Hey, what happened?"
"Hyung.."
"What do you need Jeonginnie?" Seungmin said gently, grabbing Jeongin's hands.
"Will you hold me hyung? Please. I-, I'm scared." Jeongin felt slightly embarrassed but as he spoke he started to sob.
Seungmin immediately pulled the younger boy into a hug as the latter started to lose his breathing.
"Jeongin, I need you to breathe. Take deep breaths with me okay?"
Seungmin felt Jeongin nod slightly despite the uneven breathing pattern that continued. The former started breathing exercises for Jeongin to feel and follow.
"Hyung I can't. I can't breathe." Jeongin choked out through his fruitless attempts of breathing.
Seungmin let go of Jeongin and positioned him to sit upright. He then got out of his bed and stood in front of the latter, grabbing his hands once again.
"Listen to me, follow a breathing pattern, any pattern that works easiest for you. I need you to breathe Innie."
After a few more attempts, Jeongin finally calmed his breathing down and his tears eased up. Seungmin left the room and quickly came back with a bottle of water. He opened the bottle and gave it to Jeongin who quickly accepted and downed half the bottle.
"I'm sorry Seungmin hyung. I'm sorry. I'll go change my clothes." Jeongin started to stand but was pulled back down by Seungmin.
"No, no. It's okay. Are you okay with telling me what caused that?"
Tears started to fall down Jeongin's face again.
"Hey, look at me. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. It's up to you. But you know that this is a safe space. You are safe here. You can talk at anytime." Seungmin put a hand in Jeongin's hair. Jeongin leaned into the touch.
"I know. It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's just that I am so scared right now hyung. I-, I wish you stayed at the company and waited for me or something."
"Take your time Innie."
Jeongin sniffled as he reached his arms out for Seungmin. Seungmin sat back down on the bed and wrapped his arms around his maknae.
"After you left, Mr. Kang, he um, he said something about how I was beautiful and that he needed me and he started to push me up against the wall. He started to feel me up and started kissing me by my collar and then kissed me. He was trying to go further but I pushed him away and ran before he could. I was so scared hyung, so scared. I didn't know what to do. I'm scared of what he could've done if I didn't get away."
Jeongin started to cry harder as Seungmin processed the information.
"I'm proud that you did your best and you were able to get out of that situation. We need to report this though Innie."
"No hyung! What if he does something else because of that?"
"We need to Jeongin. Once he's reported, high chances are that he won't be welcomed back to the company and you won't have to see him again."
"Hyung please. I don't want to make this a big deal."
"Jeongin, it's already a big deal. You yourself said he was trying to go further. What he did already isn't okay. It was non consensual. Just because you didn't get the worst of it doesn't mean that you weren't harmed. You may not be physically affected but we both know that it's messing with you mentally."
Jeongin collapsed into Seungmin's arms as he sobbed hard.
"We don't have to report it now if that's what you're more comfortable with, but we will have to eventually."
Jeongin just nodded as he vigorously tried to wipe away his flowing tears.
"You wanna go take a shower? I'll grab some of Chan hyung's clothes for you."
Jeongin nodded once again into Seungmin's chest before pulling away and standing up.
Jeongin trudged to the bathroom and took off his shirt. Tears sprang into his eyes once more when he saw a dark purple spot on his collarbone. A reminder of earlier events.
Seungmin walked into the bathroom to set the clothes on the counter and noticed the mark and tears falling down the maknae's face.
"Oh Innie," Seungmin stood between the younger boy and the mirror and wiped away his tears.
All the efforts to calm his sobs were pointless. He couldn't stop sobbing. Seungmin led him to sit on the toilet as he engulfed him in another hug, burying his head in his stomach.
"Hyung, why? Why did he want me like that? What did I do for him to try to take me?" Jeongin wrapped his arms around Seungmin, pulling himself closer to his hyung.
"Shh, it's okay Jeongin. You didn't do anything. He's just a prick who has no respect for a younger person, much less an idol."
"Hyung, I'm so scared. We have vocal lessons again tomorrow. That means we're going have to see him again." Jeongin's cries got rougher as his thoughts ran.
"I know Innie, that's why we need to report him. I know you aren't too comfortable with it but it's for your safety. If anything, we can tell Chan hyung. He will do something for you. He always wants the best for all of us."
Jeongin pulled out of Seungmin's hold.
"No. No, no, no. You can't tell Channie hyung. Please Min. Please. You can't tell him!" Jeongin's breathing started to get frantic.
"Okay Innie. Calm down. Breathe for a minute, then we'll talk."
Jeongin's breathing returned to normal with few hiccups here and there before he spoke again.
"Hyung, please. You can't tell him."
"Jeongin, it's either we report him to management ourselves, or we tell Channie hyung and see what he can do that'll keep you safe and comfortable. He’s your boyfriend after all Innie. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re safe. "
"I'll think about it then." Jeongin pouted as he wiped away the remainder of his tears.
Seungmin sighed as he ruffled Jeongin's hair. "Alright. I'll leave you to take a shower. Do you want anything to eat? You haven't eaten since breakfast."
"Can you make me ramen?"
"Yeah. Be quick with your shower."
Seungmin left the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He went to the kitchen and started making the ramen for his maknae.
By the time he finished making the cup, Jeongin strolled out of the bathroom and walked into the kitchen. He took a seat at the table as Seungmin put the cup of ramen in front of him.
"Thanks hyung."
Seungmin hummed in response and gave Jeongin a slight hug before going to the living room and sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone.
When Jeongin finished eating, he joined Seungmin on the couch. He leaned against the older.
"Thank you hyung." Jeongin wrapped his arms around Seungmin.
"For what?" Seungmin's attention shifted to the younger.
"For taking care of me. For understanding me. For comforting me."
"You're my maknae. Of course I'd do all that for you. Teasing aside, I love you Innie, I want to always protect you."
Tears formed in Jeongin's eyes once more. "I love you too hyung."
Seungmin wiped the tears that fell before Jeongin cuddled closer and fell asleep. Seungmin fell asleep soon after.
---------
It was about eight o' clock when the members started to come home. Felix and Minho were the first ones to arrive.
Felix walked in after unlocking the door and saw the two youngest members cuddled together on the couch.
Minho stood next to him and they both watched as Jeongin shifted and whimpered.
Seungmin slowly opened his eyes at the movement and saw his hyungs hovering over him and Jeongin. He heard the door open and close and saw Hyunjin join the other two dancers.
Jeongin shifted again, but this time with a hitched breath and some mumbling. The mumbling increasingly got louder.
“Stop..please..no..STOP!” Jeongin started to sob hysterically in his sleep.
Seungmin immediately shifted both of them to sit up and started to shake the younger to wake him up.
“Jeongin, wake up. It’s a nightmare. It’s not real.” Seungmin whispered to the younger as he jolted awake.
“Hyung,” Jeongin hiccuped. “He- He actually did it in that dream. Hyung, what if he actually-”
“Shh, it’s okay Innie. I’ve got you. You’re safe. I won’t ever let you be alone with him again, okay? I promise whatever happened in your nightmare won’t happen for real.” Seungmin pulled Jeongin close as the latter continued to sob.
Silence with the exception of Jeongin’s sobs filled the room. After about two minutes, Minho was the first to break the silence.
“Seungmin, what happened to Jeonginnie?”
Seungmin looked at Minho then at Jeongin. By the way the maknae stiffened, Seungmin figured that Jeongin realized they weren’t home alone anymore.
“Can I tell Minho hyung, Innie?” Seungmin ran a hand through Jeongin’s hair.
Jeongin didn’t move or speak besides the heaving of his sobs.
“Jeongin? Can you tell me what happened?” Minho sat down on the couch.
Jeongin’s cries started to get more frantic.
“Okay Innie. We don’t have to talk about it. Just calm down for me, okay? Can you do that for me?” Minho raked through Jeongin’s hair.
Jeongin closed his eyes as his sobs started to ease up. “Seungmin, please. I don’t wanna tell them. Please hyung. Please don’t tell the others.”
Seungmin’s heart ached for his little brother as he sighed.
“Innie, you know hyungs want to help you. I know it’s scary. I’m proud of you for telling me, but for me to be able to help you to my best ability, at least Chan hyung or Minho hyung needs to know. Hyunjin and Felix are also here if you’d prefer to talk to either of them.”
“I’m scared, hyung! Please, please. What if they see me differently?”
“Oh Jeongin, did I see you differently?” Seungmin wiped Jeongin’s face.
Jeongin shook his head.
“Exactly. So what makes you think the others are going to see you differently hm? The only person we’d see differently is the asshole.”
Jeongin stayed silent for a moment before opening his mouth hesitantly. “You’re right hyung. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. You’re overwhelmed right now and aren’t thinking clearly. It’s okay. Now, are you okay with telling hyung here what happened?”
Jeongin slowly nodded as he started to hesitantly spill the events that happened earlier.
Felix bursted into tears after hearing the story and immediately hugged Jeongin.
“Oh my, Innie. I’m so sorry. That must have been so scary. I’m so glad you were able to escape it.” Felix worked on wiping away his own tears before they spilled onto the maknae’s head.
Hyunjin and Minho joined the hug. In the presence and embrace of his hyungs, Jeongin felt comforted and his tears started to stop.
The door creaked open once more as 3racha walked into the dorm.
“Hey are you guys doing a group hug without me?” Jisung playfully shouted and walked over to the couch.
“Jisung, sweetheart, you're a little loud honey.” Minho said, pushing Jisung back a bit.
Jisung pouted as he moved forward and joined the hug.
“Biggest question, why's it look like Seungmin and Jeongin are the ones who started this group hug?” Changbin asked as he toed off his shoes.
“Because they are. Jeongin, do you mind sharing again, or would you prefer one of us tell them?” Hyunjin pulled himself off of Jeongin to give him a little space.
“Um, I- uh. I wanna talk with Channie hyung on my own. You can tell the other two.” Jeongin said shyly and hesitantly.
“What happened baby?” Chan asked as the others retreated from the group hug and Jeongin stood up.
Jeongin just grabbed his hand and dragged him to their room. Once in their room, he closed the door and hugged Chan as tears started to spill once more.
“What's wrong Innie?” Chan returned the hug and wiped some of Jeongin's tears away.
Jeongin took a deep breath before speaking. “Hyung, could you report someone for me?”
“Yeah, who and what did they do?”
“Mr. Kang.” Jeongin said, voice barely above a whisper.
“Your vocal instructor? What did he do? He didn't do anything to you and Seungmin, did he?”
“He uh, he didn't do anything to Minnie hyung but he uh,” Jeongin paused and hesitated on his words. “He touched me inappropriately and he um, he kissed me by my collar and kissed me and he was going to try to do other things but I pushed him and ran before he could.”
As Chan listened to his boyfriend's statement, he felt anger and fury building in him. He was borderline livid but kept his composure.
“Thank you for telling me sweetheart. I'm sorry you had to go through that. I will make a report first thing in the morning when we go to the company tomorrow okay? If it makes you feel safer, I'll try to stay with you and Seungmin when you guys have your vocal lessons.”
“Thank you hyung.” Jeongin cried more. “Thank you for being so understanding. I was so scared to tell you but Seungmin was right, you'd do what it takes to keep me safe.”
“Of course I would. You are my baby after all.” Chan smiled and placed a peck on the top of Jeongin's head.
“Are you ready for dinner? Minho's cooking tonight.”
Jeongin's eyes lit up. “Yeah! Let's go!” He pulled Chan by the hand out the door, back to the living room.
“Wasn't that bad now, was it Innie?” Seungmin teased as Jeongin sat down next to him on the couch.
“You were right, hyung, now shut up.” Jeongin giggled.
All the members either waited in the living room or showered while Minho cooked dinner, Chan occasionally going into the kitchen to help him out.
The group had a calm and peaceful dinner, chattering excitedly about their comeback. When they all finished eating, they spent some time in the living room to have some quality time. Eventually, some of them started to head to bed. Soon, there was only Changbin and Chan left in the living room.
“So, hyung, what are you gonna do about the whole situation?” Changbin asked as he shifted on the couch.
“I'll report it as soon as we go in tomorrow. I'll try to stay with them when they have their vocal lessons until he's gone. Is Seungmin okay by the way? He seemed a little off during dinner.”
Changbin merely sighed. “I didn't get to talk to him about it yet. He seems like he's trying to avoid talking. You know he doesn't like to talk about his feelings.
“Maybe you should go check on him. He might be waiting to have some privacy.” Chan patted Changbin’s shoulder as he raised himself off the couch.
Changbin followed and they both went down the hallway and left to their respective rooms.
Upon walking into his and Seungmin’s room, Changbin saw the younger in their bed under the blanket in one of Changbin’s hoodies. Something he did when he wanted comfort without verbalizing it.
“Hey baby, you feeling okay?” Changbin asked as he sat down on the bed, caressing Seungmin’s head.
“Yeah.” Seungmin mumbled.
“What’s wrong Seungminnie? What’s going on in your head?”
“I feel guilty. I know I shouldn’t. I know there wasn’t anything I could do but if I did stay at the company and waited for Innie, this wouldn’t have happened at all.” Seungmin spewed out as a few tears left his eyes.
“Oh my baby. I’m glad you know it’s not your fault. I know it’s hard to overcome the thoughts of the ‘what ifs.’ You have the right to feel guilty because you felt like you could have saved him, but don’t let those feelings consume you. It’s not going to do you any good.”
“I know but I just wished I did wait for him. It really could have been avoided. I’m glad he was able to escape. He’s my only maknae, I was so worried, hyung. I just want to protect him and I feel like I failed at that.”
“But you didn’t fail Minnie. When he came home, who was the one who helped him and comforted him? You baby. Even though you feel like you could have prevented this, and maybe you could have, that doesn’t make you any less than a great hyung.”
“Yeah but-”
“Sweetheart, I know it’s hard to convince yourself that there wasn’t much more you could have done to protect him. What's done is done. All you can do now is just be there for him and help him when he needs it. Clearly, this might bring mental scars to him but with all of us by his side, he'll be okay and he'll be safe.”
“Binnie, what if he went through worse?”
“But he didn't, right? Let's not focus on the what ifs. Let's focus on now so that we can help. Channie hyung said that he'll stay with you two while you have your vocal lessons by the way.”
“Okay hyung.”
Seungmin started to drift off to sleep as Changbin settled himself on the bed.
“Sleep well baby. Don't let your thoughts consume you.” Changbin whispered and pressed a kiss to the top of Seungmin's head.
—------
The next morning, the members awoke periodically, may have fought over the bathroom a few times, and had a very talkative breakfast.
After their also very talkative drive to the company, Chan went straight to the higher ups to report Kang while the rest of the members started their schedules.
When it came time for Seungmin and Jeongin's vocal lessons, the two walked into the room and were met with Kang as usual. Kang’s quick smirk didn’t go unnoticed by Seungmin as he looked at Jeongin.
Jeongin, though, looked carefree, like nothing happened the previous day. A few minutes into the schedule, Chan came into the room and stood to the side.
“Hello, Chan. What brings you here?” Kang smiled towards the leader.
“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to see how much Jeongin and Seungmin have improved.” Chan smiled back.
“Ah, I see.” Kang turned away from Chan and focused back on the vocalracha members. “ Attached much ?” He muttered under his breath.
The vocal lessons went on until Kang declared Seungmin’s time to be up.
“Great job again today boys. Seungmin, you’re free to leave. Jeongin, please stay back again. I know it’s two days in a row but I do believe there’s more room to improve.”
Both boys nodded and Seungmin walked out after sending a look to Chan who remained planted in the spot he’s been the whole time.
“Chan, feel free to leave as well.” Kang said, stifling a fake chuckle.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll wait for Jeongin, we were planning on going out today after schedule.”
“Chan, please, you are a bit of a distraction.” Kang’s expression started to differ.
“I beg to differ. I’ve sat here the whole time in silence. If you have a problem with me taking care of my team, then that’s a you problem. I’m staying here until Iyen is done here.” Chan said with much authority.
Kang sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine. Iyen, you’re free to go.”
“Thank you Mr. Kang.” Jeongin smiled before opening the door to leave.
As Chan was about to follow, he spoke once more. “Just a reminder, if you want to fuck with my members, there’s high chance you won’t find a job anywhere else.” He spat as he walked away, leaving a salty Kang behind in the room.