Page 79 of Idol Moves

“What?”

“Are the restraints on your wrists very tight?”

“They’re digging into my wrists a bit, but they’re okay otherwise.”

“So you can still feel your hands?”

Tae Hyun was briefly alarmed by that. “Yes. Can’t you?”

“I’m fine.” Seong Min shuffled a bit before spitting out a pained hiss. “Are yours loose enough to turn your hands or wriggle them without hurting?”

Tae Hyun bit down on his lip as he tried turning his hands. “No. These aren’t coming off without a blade.”

“Alright. Can you run with your hands tied?”

Was Seong Min proposing that they escape? “I’m a trained dancer. Of course, I can. But what do you have planned?”

“Nothing yet, sir.” Seong Min softly wheezed. “But we might not have much notice before we need to run.”

Tae Hyun’s concern for his ailing bodyguard grew. He twitched as he tried to move his arms before remembering his hands were tied. “Damn it.” He swung his legs around to face Seong Min. “Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t sound good.”

“My head hurts where they hit me, and my arm hurts where they shot me. And I-” Seong Min paused for a labored breath. “And I may have a concussion.”

“Shit.” Tae Hyun uselessly fussed against the bindings on his wrists again. “Well, hopefully, it won’t take very long for your brother to find us.”

“Hopefully, sir.” Seong Min fell quiet again. Tae Hyun couldn’t even hear him breathing. He was about to speak up when– “About what I said earlier, sir.”

Earlier? What had he–Oh. Yun Seo. “Just for now, Seong Min, would you mind just calling me by my name?”

“Okay, si–” Seong Min chuckled. “Okay, Tae Hyun.”

“What about what you said? Did you change your mind?”

“No, it’s just–” Seong Min struggled for another breath. “If we don’t make it out of here, I want you to know that I appreciate your faith in me. I–”

“Seong Min, don’t. We’ll–”

“Please, Tae Hyun. Let me finish.” Seong Min paused long enough to ensure Tae Hyun wouldn’t interrupt him. “I don’t know your sister very well yet. But I like who she seems to be. Especially if she’s anything like you.”

Tae Hyun struggled to keep himself calm and was momentarily glad for the mask. “She likes you, too.”

“She does?”

Tae Hyun scoffed. “Of course, she does. You’re a sweet, thoughtful, handsome giant. Everyone likes you.” He chuckled at the memory, then stopped. Maybe he had a concussion, too? “But she told me she likes you.”

“Oh. Thanks for letting me know.” Seong Min’s smile was big enough that Tae Hyun could hear it in his voice. Then he snorted. “I can’t believe she likes me back.”

Was it the concussion that made Seong Min so loopy? Or was it the hood? They were thick enough to block out most of the light, which also made it hard to breathe. Tae Hyun noticed he was a little light-headed, too. “But you can’t tell her I said that when we get out of here. Or she’ll kill me.”

“Sir. Tae Hyun, I–”

“Promise me, Seong Min. Promise you won’t say anything.”

Seong Min sighed, although it was more wistful than sad. “Alright. I promise.”

“Good. Now–” Tae Hyun stopped at the echo of approaching footsteps and muffled voices. “Shh.” He sat very still and listened very hard.

“–should know that there were some complications,” Do Hyeon said.

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