Changkyun led Hyungwon to the lobby, having left their uniforms balled up in the trash. He scanned the lobby before spotting a familiar figure and walking over.
"We're ready. Let's get out of here," Changkyun whispered, and Wonho looked up from under the brim of his hat, lowering the newspaper he'd been reading. He tried to make eye contact with Hyungwon, who was having none of it, and instead sighed, looking back to Changkyun. "All right. My mom's car is in the lot."
He stood up, and Changkyun continued to tug Hyungwon on forward, holding his breath as they passed the receptionist, and then they were out the front doors.
Wonho began walking to the car, but Changkyun stopped, Hyungwon stopped just behind him.
Wonho realized that he was walking by himself and he turned, frowning. "Hey, we need to..." He trailed off as he took in the scene before him: Changkyun and Hyungwon, taking in the first natural sunlight they'd felt in months, since they'd been admitted to the program.
He waited until Changkyun seemed to startle as though remembering where he was, and then he gave a small tug on Hyungwon's hand, and the two began slowly making their way over to Wonho. He waited for them to get closer before he turned and led the others to the car he'd borrowed (basically stolen) from his mother. He double-clicked the unlock icon on the key fob, and there was a soft snick from inside as the locks popped.
He turned to face them. "Who wants shotgun?" he asked with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood, but Changkyun just looked over at Hyungwon. They said something with their eyes in a language that Wonho wasn't privy too, and then Changkyun looked at Wonho before nodding toward the backseat door.
"We'll just sit in the back," he said, and Wonho scratched his chin before nodding. Changkyun opened the door and motioned for Hyungwon to slide in, momentarily letting go of the other's hand as he turned to face Wonho once they were alone. "Where are we going to stay?" Changkyun asked, only now able to give voice to his worry. He hadn't wanted Hyungwon to see it, but he didn't know what their future held. They had no belongings, no money, nowhere to go. Changkyun could try reasoning with his mother, sure, but she'd likely make up excuses involving her boyfriend or throw him back into the program. He couldn't risk that, couldn't risk abandoning Hyungwon like everyone else had.
"Don't worry," Wonho said, but Changkyun wasn't at all reassured. "I talked to someone about it. I think you're going to like it just fine."
Changkyun's mouth twitched in doubt, but he nodded and got into the car. Wonho closed the door for him before hopping in the driver's seat.
As he pulled out of the lot and began driving, he kept an ear to the back, listening to see if they'd start talking about anything, but they were both silent. When he glanced up at the rear view mirror, he saw Hyungwon to his right, staring out the window with an unreadable expression, and Changkyun seated directly behind him, also looking out the window. And yet their hands were still attached, hanging limply in the empty middle seat as though they couldn't bear to be separated by the small distance of several feet.
There was a small ache in his heart knowing that he'd had a friendship like that with Hyungwon at some time, a friendship he had given up. But he knew now that if he would have stayed, he wouldn't have been able to help them escape, and maybe that was worth it. He didn't need Hyungwon to like him, as long as Hyungwon was safe.
***
Wonho pulled into a small parking lot adjacent to an apartment complex and put the car in park before turning around to face his passengers. "We're here. Are you guys ready?"
Hyungwon looked over at Changkyun, who nodded at Wonho. "Yeah. But where is here?"
"You'll see," Wonho said, getting out of the car and slipping his keys into his pocket. A moment later, the back door opened, and Changkyun slid out, Hyungwon following him. It kind of bothered Wonho how codependent Hyungwon seemed to be, but it wasn't the right time to say anything. Instead, he locked the car and led them up the stairs to the third floor.
"Give me a second," he muttered, pulling out a crinkled piece of paper from his pocket. "306," he read aloud before making his way down the hall to a door engraved with the number 306. He gave the two a tight smile before knocking on the door, three sharp raps.
The door swung open almost immediately. "Holy shit, Wonho. I expected you here half an hour ago. You've gotta be the slowest frickin driver in the country. And before you give me that bullshit about it being your mom's car-" The boy cut off before waving a hand dismissively. "I'll yell at you later." He turned to face the two escapees. "Damn, you two look even more pale in the sun."
"Living inside for months does that to you," Changkyun accepted, rolling his eyes. "Are you going to let us in or what?"
"Fine, fine." The boy pushed Wonho in but stopped Hyungwon. "Good to see you, Skeleton," he said, his face showing a bit of sadness as he took in Hyungwon's crumbling mental state.
Hyungwon looked up, and the worry on his face slowly melted into a smile.
