𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 // Jihan

twenty-five

Seungkwan rushed to his brother's side as Jeonghan collapsed in tears. He tried to comfort Jeonghan during this heart-wrenching moment.

Meanwhile, Joshua attempted to suppress his emotions, but they overcame him. After a few minutes, he found himself crying uncontrollably. Passersby gave him strange looks, but he no longer cared. He was consumed by regret and guilt for the harsh words he had said to Jeonghan.

Why had he done that? Jeonghan would undoubtedly suffer because of his actions. Joshua berated himself for his rashness.

Driven by stress and sorrow, Joshua sprinted to Seungcheol's house, where he knocked on the door as though it were a matter of life and death.

Seungcheol opened the door, fully aware of what had transpired.

Joshua rushed into Seungcheol's arms, tears streaming down his face as he cried even harder. He couldn't comprehend why he was so devastated after what he had said to Jeonghan. They had only known each other for a month or two, yet it felt like they had known each other for years.

"I told you, Joshua." Seungcheol said, embracing him.

Unbeknownst to Joshua, his friend was smirking, but he didn't see that through his tears.

"He kissed me, then he said he has no feelings for me! Why?!" Joshua sobbed.

"Perhaps he wanted to manipulate you or use you in some way. Who knows?" Seungcheol offered as a possible explanation.

Joshua could hardly believe that all of this had happened. He had been on an emotional rollercoaster, and he felt lost.

"Sit down and calm down a bit. I hate seeing you like this." Seungcheol urged, leading Joshua inside and closing the door.

***

Meanwhile, Jeonghan and Seungkwan sat on the hill for twenty minutes, both lost in silence. Jeonghan had no desire to return home to his dysfunctional family, but he knew he couldn't stay out all night.

"It was just a phase, Jeonghan. Friends aren't always there for you, but I am, and you know that!" Seungkwan reassured him, patting his back.

"I really trusted him. I thought he understood my problems and was helping me through them. But now... he probably wishes for me to go home and face the worst..." Jeonghan lamented.

"Don't think about him anymore! I want to strangle him right now. You were his crush, for crying out loud! Why did he act like that after everything?" Seungkwan exclaimed in frustration.

"I don't know. I don't care about him anymore." Jeonghan lied, his heart heavy. He couldn't help but care about Joshua now, although there was no logical reason for it. Was this karma coming back around? But what had he done to deserve this?

"Jeonghan, I don't want to ruin your mood—" Seungkwan began cautiously.

"It's already ruined, but go on." Jeonghan replied, resigned to the fact that his evening had taken a devastating turn.

"I think we should go home. I promise to protect you." Seungkwan suggested.

"Sure, it's probably for the best. If I stayed with Joshua any longer, the situation would only get worse." Jeonghan agreed, getting up from the hill and staring up at the night sky.

"The sky is beautiful tonight!" echoed Joshua's words in his mind.

***

"Where were you, Seungkwan ass boy?" their mom shouted drunkenly.

"Mom, Jeonghan is here..." Seungkwan yelled back, a mixture of worry and anger in his voice.

"What? Darling, come here! My older son... you can finally meet him!" she slurred.

"Jeonghan, that shit boy? I've always wanted to meet him! I need to teach him a lesson!" a deep voice chimed in.

Jeonghan trembled as he heard that voice. His stepdad was a towering, muscular man who could easily overpower him. He had made a grave mistake by coming home.

His dad laughed cruelly. "I thought Seungkwan was thin, but now this boy looks like a complete pushover. I bet he'd drop dead if I so much as touched him. But look at him! He's got the appearance of a natural girl. Is he gay? Well, that means double trouble. Speak up, you little bitch! Let me hear your voice!"

"Oh, yes! He looks just like a girl!" his mom agreed, joining in the mockery.

Why? Why did they have to say such hurtful things? Jeonghan thought, feeling exposed and vulnerable.

"Hello." Jeonghan said quietly.

"Louder." his stepdad demanded.

"HELLO!" Jeonghan shouted, wide-eyed, trying to comply.

"Shit, you're in for it now..." Seungkwan whispered to Jeonghan.

His stepdad grabbed Jeonghan's arm forcefully. "Does shouting at me come naturally to you now? Have you forgotten who I am? Oh, you miss your old dad? How touching. But he was such a pathetic wimp."

Jeonghan missed his old dad more than he could express, but he couldn't say that out loud. "I miss him." he muttered.

"Excuse me? Speak up!" his stepdad barked.

"I said I miss him!" Jeonghan replied, looking at his stepdad with fear in his eyes.

"Damn it, you little bitch! Where did you go? I never told you that you could go out without telling me!" his stepdad shouted at Seungkwan.

"I'm sorry. I just needed some fresh air because I wasn't feeling well." Seungkwan stammered, trying to explain.

"Fine, you're forgiven this time because you brought your older brother here. But from now on, I'll pay more attention to him because he's decided to be a vagabond. This useless man!" his stepdad sneered.

Seungkwan glanced at Jeonghan with wide eyes, bewildered by his brother's sudden decision to leave him alone with their abusive parents.

Jeonghan, on the other hand, was led away by his stepdad, who held his arm in a painful grip. The situation had taken a terrifying turn, and Jeonghan's heart raced with fear and anxiety.

***