ATEEZ social experiment

Part 30

Don't Let Me Know

We pull into a side street and he parks the car on the curb. I climb out of the car as Yunho graciously opens the door for me.

"Thank you," I genuinely smile to him as he closes it behind me.

"You're welcome," his child like grin fills me with warmth, it's cute how happy and sweet he is. Once the world finds out it'll destroy him.

Shortly after walking into the corner restaurant we are seated by the front window. Internally I thank the gods I feel less trapped now.

After we order things begin to relax. My nerves finally calm and for once I feel normal, well as normal as I can be.

"We got any plans for the rest of the day?" Yunho asks to u from across the table. I just look to Mingi.

"Uhhhh I don't know why are you looking at me?" He looks back to me confused.

"I don't know," I shrug my shoulders, " You've always been the plan maker."

"Is there anything you wanted to do today?" he looks back over to Yunho.

"Nothing I wanted to do but we could find something fun and relaxing like go to the park or aquarium-"

"No!" I quickly blurt out. The thought of being surrounded by water and Seonghwa knocking on the doors of death over take me.

"Okay no aquarium," the two scared males back down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap." I look down and fiddle with my shirts hem.

"Hey don't apologize to us we understand you went through a lot we won't make you do anything you don't want to." I relax back into my seat with Mingi's comforting words. He was never like this before he's really grown.

"We could still go for a walk or to the park if you'd like, you know to get out of the house and all," Yunho adds in trying to help.

"That would be nice."

"There's also this new gallery and museum in gwabjin if you'd want to go sometime," shyly the puppy boy says and I can't help but lightly laugh.

"I'd love to just tell me when, I got a lot of free time on my hands now," I chuckle.

Quickly all of our attention is drawn to the people bringing out all of or delicious food. We begin to feast but something doesn't feel right.

I look around and see a couple girl workers pointing towards us and whispering. Another couple across the restaurant are turned in their seats to stare.

"Is it just me or is everyone staring at us," quickly I say to the two men as they look around.

"Not us, it's just you," Yunho points to the tv hanging in the corner behind Mingi and I.

My face is plastered on the screen. Flashes of San and Seonghwa too.

"The three college students who mysteriously disappeared at King Jinx night club and oddly show up in Paris over a year later..." the sound from the news cast echoes across the whole place, dozens of eyes bouncing from me to the TV.

I see old women looking to me in pity, others whispering to their neighbor and giggling, and people shaking their heads at me.

"Can we hurry and finish please," I look back to our food as my appetite vanishes.

"Miss can we get a couple to-go boxes and the check!" Mingi waves his arm towards the gossiping worker girls.

      I help Mingi pack up all of the uneaten food as Yunho goes to the counter to pay. Once we finish we meet him at the door.

     "We aren't far from the river do you two want to go?" Yunho asks as we walk to the car.

     "I'm up for it," i answer.

     "I'm going to sit in the car and eat you two have fun," Mingi waves a hand at us taking the bag of food into the car.

     "Save some for me please you know i love tteobakki," i tease him.

     "Fine," he grumbles as the two of us head back to the main street.

     Together Yunho and I make our way down the lightly crowded streets. I stay behind him as his tall frame burns a clear path for me to follow. Thankfully we make it past the busiest area and can finally relax.

     We small talk down the street occasionally laughing and exchanging light smiles. Once again life feels a bit normal.

     It's always been hard for me with friends. Talking to people isn't the problem it's just the beginning the first time really talking and hanging out. But this is easy, under the circumstances of being Mingi's friend and having really no other choice.

      "All the years i've been here i think I only came here once with Mingi," i take in the full view of the Han River.

     "Really? I think i come here at least once a week," he says in disbelief. We walk down closer to the railing and begin to walk down the side.

      "It's pretty, especially with the turning leaves," i put my hands in my pockets as the autumn breeze pours across the water giving me chills.

      "It's beautiful, it's completely different here at night."

      "How so?" I look up to him.

     "Everything in this city is different at night, the mood changes and there's crazy lights across the bridge."

     "You'll have to show me sometime," i feel his eyes on me and i turn to see his slightly red cheeks and just laugh.

     "I'll definitely take you up on that," he shifts his eyes and quickens his pace as his face reddens more in embarrassment.

      "Slow down my legs are short!" I lightly jog with my hands still in my pocket to keep up.

      "Hey look we made it to the park!" he points out the obvious in front of us.

      We find an empty bench and casually talk as we watch the people going about their business. I learn about him and his personal life.
      An older lady walks over to us from the opposite side of the track and we oddly stare as she stands directly in front of us.

     "Can we help you?" Yunho breaks the awkward silence and the lady covers her mouth and looks to me.

     "You're the girl that got taken right?" She speaks up causing me to freeze. "I'm so sorry sweetie." she puts her hand on me and i swag it away.

     "Don't be." I snap at her causing her to back away and others to stare.

     People begin to look, and whisper, some point at me. The voices of them 'it's that girl' 'she was drugged' 'how is she alive'

     Before i knew it a crowd began to form. People asking questions, trying to comfort me, i feel suffocated.

      "Min Hana what can you tell us about your abduction?" Out of no where a news anchor appears.

     "Please leave her alone," Yunho calmly tries to get them away as my breathing escalates.

     There's so many. My anxiety spikes as everything begins to happen all at once overwhelming me beyond my limit.

     I tightly grip onto Yunhos hand as mine begins to tremble.

     I don't wanna hear them anymore. Even if I close my ears. It's no use, their staring eyes are blocking my way. I can't escape.

     "Make it stop," i say to Yunho as I squeeze my eyes shut.

      Quickly he stands pulling me up with him. He begins to push through the crowd as they begin to yell louder to me.

     I keep hearing disturbing noises, why does this hurt so much? Maybe it hurts more because i thought this would be easy.

Never again will anything in my life be easy.