Chapter Forty-six (1/1)

Just as a forewarning, everyone.  These next few chapters are going to be pretty deep but important for the future.

Seungcheol hesitated opening the bedroom door again.  He looked at Jeonghan who was still on his bed.  This time, Seungcheol notices the smell of the freshly washed blanket.  He got closer to Jeonghan and attempted to hold his cheek.  However, Jeonghan pushed Seungcheol's hand away.  "Jeonghan,"  He whispered, "look at me."  He commanded. Jeonghan turned his eyes to look at Seungcheol.  "Who came here today?"  He asked. "The heater repairman."  Jeonghan replied. "What were you doing with him?"  He asked, sitting next to the boy who made his body smaller.  Jeonghan furrowed his eyebrows.  "Nothing, I was just in here cooling off."  He replied.  "What was his name?"  He asked, putting his hand out for Jeonghan to hold.

Jeonghan stared at the hand for a moment.  He hesitantly put their hands together and that's when Seungcheol saw a tear go down the boy's cheek.  "Taeyong.."  He said.  "Lee Taeyong with Express Air.."  He confirmed. Seungcheol nodded.  "Get some rest, I'm going to sleep with Jun tonight, okay?"  He said. Jeonghan nodded, watching the male stand up.  Seungcheol slowly leaned in to kiss him; however, Jeonghan backed away.  Jeonghan watched the male exit the room once again. The older went down the hallway and knocked on Mingyu's door.  Once he got clearance, he walked into the room.  The two make eye contact.  "When did you install a camera in our bedroom?"  He raised an eyebrow. "When I did the others.  I put them more discreetly so that the intruders can't see them and block them out."  Mingyu replied.  Seungcheol nodded and held his hips.  "Lee Taeyong.  Find his address, contact his parents, and do the legal things we need to do.  We can go to court for it, we have all the video evidence we need."  Seungcheol instructed, moving a hand to his forehead.

Mingyu typed some things on his computer.  "Woah, his parents are doctors?"  He looked at the information.  "Wait.. is Taeyong.. Jaemin's friend?"  He scratched his chin. Seungcheol sighed.  "Great, Jaemin's definitely not going to have a chance now."  He shook his head and went down the stairs. He returned to the oven and looked inside.  "Is Jeong-dad doing okay?"  Jun asked. "He'll be okay soon.. Can I stay the night in your room, Juni?"  He asked. The Chinese male pursed his lips and nodded with a concerned look in his eyes.

***

Jaemin held his forehead in frustration.  "You have to be fucking kidding me, Tae.."  He shoved the other male's phone back in his hands. "What?  It's just some random house.  My dad can pay and then boom, I'm out free."  Taeyong shrugged it off. The younger looked at him with angry eyes.  "Lee Tae-Yong!"  Jaemin shouted.  "I don't care if you have flat screens; many bedrooms in your house; or even a swimming pool!  Do you know who this 'random house' belongs to?!"  Jaemin asked, clenching his fists. Taeyong huffed.  "Some guy who doesn't mind showing a stranger his body while his husband's gone?"  He said, walking to his bedroom. "Some guy, named Yoon Jeonghan."  Jaemin replied.  "Oh, lemme further that, Joshua Hong's father.  You know Joshua, my boyfriend, who’s parents already hate me."  He said, closing the door behind him. Taeyong plopped back on his bed and took a cookie from his nightstand.  "Hey, that's not my problem, Man."  He said. "Tae.."  Jaemin furrowed his eyebrows.  "I really love Josh.. how could you do this to him?  To anyone for that matter?"  He asked. "Look,"  Taeyong sat up, "I didn't know that was Josh's dad, and I didn't know they had cameras."  He said.

Jaemin breathed in and out.  "That's not the point, Tae.. You waltzed upstairs, opened his door, and violated another human being.  What's wrong with you?"  He asked. "I'm not some sentimental ass kisser like you are, Jaemin."  Taeyong said.  "I'm not going to wish upon a star and hope that my true love comes by.  I'll do whatever I want with whoever I want."  Jaemin turned around.  "Thanks for appointing me as your attorney, even though I don't have a fricken license yet, Tae."  He opened the door.  "I'm putting you in jail, I promise you." Taeyong stuck out his tongue.  "Whatever.  My dad will bail me out anyway." "That's always your go-to, isn't it?"  Jaemin turned around to look at the other male once more.  "You do these stupid things in the hopes that your dad will pay for it all."  The other nodded.  "Cuz why not?  My parents are surgeons who barely ever talk to me.  Why should I care that they have to fix my mistakes?"  He asked, standing up and walking toward Jaemin. "How could you.."  Jaemin grumbled.  "I barely see my family.  The time that I do see my family, I wouldn't want it to be because I committed a crime that they have to put down everything and fix for me.  Because I didn't control myself."  He said, pushing the other male when Taeyong got a little too close. Taeyong grabbed the boy's neck and pushed him against the wall.  "Aren't you Mr. Special?"  He asked angrily.  "All you wanted me for was my money, so don't you tell me you're any better."  He let the boy drop. Jaemin coughed and held his neck.  "You idiot,"  He stood up weakly, "don't you remember when we became friends, I didn't even know you were rich?  Didn't you know that we were in the same boat, cleaning up the classroom together?"  He asked in disbelief. "Ten years ago.  We've changed, Jaemin."  Taeyong said angrily.  "Now get out."  He pointed. Jaemin nodded and opened the door once more.  "See you on court day, Buddy."  He said. "Fuck you."  Taeyong slammed the door closed.

***

Woozi stepped out of class and saw a familiar face.  His eyes were pinned on him and his expression scared anyone who walked by him.  Woozi wasn't scared.  In fact, Woozi smiled.  He looked around before walking up to the taller male.  He put his face in the younger's neck and his arms around the taller's body. "What are you doing here, Yeosang?  I missed you so much."  Woozi said, feeling Yeosang's hands going up and down his back.  "You're graduating this next semester, right?  I can't wait to see you more."  He said with excitement. Yeosang's expression softened as they locked eyes.  "Woozi.."  His smile quickly went down.  The older saw the tears in Yeosang's eyes.  He hitched his breath and looked around.  He took Yeosang by the wrist and dragged him away from everyone else.  They went outside and Woozi spotted Yeosang's red car.  He walked toward it and looked around the male. "You have your license already?" He asked. Yeosang nodded and handed his keys to the shorter.  Woozi unlocked the car and sat Yeosang in the back.  He closed the door and put the keys down.  "Yeosang,"  He started, "what's wrong?  Please talk to me."  He begged, holding the younger's hand. The tears finally come down.  "Mom.. she.."  Yeosang felt the younger's lips on his cheek.  "She and my other mom, they got into a fight."   He held Woozi close to him, tightening his hold on Woozi's small body. "She slapped my mom and said mean things, Woozi.  She made my mother's nose bleed."  He breathed heavily while Woozi was trying to comfort him.  "She took my sister and drove off with her."  Yeosang continued. Yeosang held the boy closer.  "She was drunk, and-and-and the police c-callled sa-saying th-tha-that-" "Yeosang,"  Woozi stroked the boy's hair, "I'm so sorry.."  Woozi started crying. The grip was definitely painful, but to hear the crow under him crying was devastating.  "They died, Woozi."  He broke the hug to look into Woozi's eyes.  "She purposely drove them off of the bridge."  He said.

Woozi saw the boy's face: red, swollen, and wet.  Woozi stroked the boy's hair.  "I'm here, Yeosang.  I'll skip school today.  Let's get closer."  He insisted. Yeosang obeyed, keeping Woozi as close as he could.  He kissed the boy's neck up and down, holding his small frame, and crying.  "I loved my sister so much, Woozi."  His talking was distorted from his snot.  "She was my dove and I didn't protect her like I should have." "No, Yeosang, you didn't know this would happen."  Woozi started crying too.  "Please stay safe at home, please call me when you feel hurt."  Woozi requested. "I don't know your pain, Yeosang.  But I know guilt."  Woozi said, not minding his shirt being soaked by the crow's tears.  "I'll take care of you, I promise.  I'm yours." The younger's eyes widen.  As if the phrase activated something in him, Yeosang took his face out of Woozi's chest.  "You're mine?"  He asked, making eye contact. "Forever, you're my crow forever."  Woozi said in a monotone voice. "You're mine."  Yeosang repeated, moving his lips to Woozi's neck. Woozi felt a kiss before a bite.  He held the boy's shoulders, gasping at the sudden penetration of teeth.  His eyes widen and his breathing stops.  "Y-yeo-ss-ang.."  He uttered weakly. Yeosang pulled back and wiped a tear away.  He saw the big, bright mark he made on the older's neck.  He snapped out of his daze.  "Shit, I'm so sorry, Woozi."  He said in shock. "It's okay, I'm sure I could get some makeup from the girls..."  Woozi said, feeling his neck. He is a biting crow.. When he pulled his hand away, he saw the blood that was there.  He gasped and took out his phone to look at his neck through the camera.  "Holy.." "Mom told me to always have a first-aid kit in my car,"  He opened the floor of the car, "I'll patch it up for you." Woozi saw the blood on Yeosang's lips.  He swallowed harshly while watching the younger get disinfectant on a cloth.  He closed his eyes and felt the burning on his neck.  Hissing, Woozi then felt the pressure there.  "Hold this, please."  Yeosang requested. Woozi held the compress on his neck while watching Yeosang ready a bandage.  "I'm really sorry."  He apologized again as he put the bandage on the older's neck. "It's.. okay, Yeosang.."  Woozi replied.  "I'm glad it was you and not someone else."  He smiled. Yeosang smiled back, holding Woozi's hand.  "Thank you.. I feel much better now."  He said.  "I'm still sad, but I think I can manage for a little while."   "Call me every night.  Come by every day.  I want you to feel better every day."  Woozi said, leaning in to kiss Yeosang. Yeosang kissed back, thumbing the other's shoulders.  "We need to get to our classes before we get into too much trouble."  Yeosang laughed.  "I love you." "I love you too."  Woozi said, not wanting to let go of Yeosang's hand. They reluctantly separate.  Woozi let's a tear fall when he watched the red car leave the campus.

***

Wonwoo walks into the study room and smiles when he sees the girl sitting there.  He silently sat down across the table and they made eye contact. "Look at the stone smiling,"  She put her pencil down, "what?  Did someone paint it on or did you turn into shiny porcelain instead?"  She teased. Wonwoo chuckled a bit.  "I made a perfect score on the midterm."  He said. She gave a small smile.  "That's good.. I made a 98."  She said, taking her exam out.  "Ironically, it was the kind of problem you were having trouble with." He looked at the problem and nodded.  "That one was tricky for me too, but you did great for everything else."  He said.  "Thank you for helping me."  He bowed in his seat. She put her exam away and breathed in before out.  "I want some coffee to celebrate."  She folded her arms.  "Oh, there's a cafe across the street.  Would you like to continue working there?"  He asked.  "My treat."  She smirked and stood up.  "Sure, lead the way."  She followed him out of the study room. The walk to the cafe was silent.  Once they walked in, Wonwoo saw Joshua looking up from serving someone at the counter.  He looked from Wonwoo to Nana. "Hey Josh."  Wonwoo walked up to the counter.  "The back is much quieter, right?"  He asked. "Yeah, it's pretty quiet normally.  You two studying?"  Joshua noticed the books in Nana's arms. Wonwoo nodded.  "Plain coffee and some blueberry muffins please."  He requested. Joshua nodded.  "Sure thing,"  He looked at the girl, "I'm Joshua, Wonwoo's brother."  He bowed. She bowed back.  "Nana.. his.. study partner."  She poked the taller's shoulder. Joshua smiled.  "I'll ask Jaemin to deliver your drinks and muffins when they're finished."  He informed.  "Have fun studying."  Wonwoo looked the older in the eyes, getting a small nod from Joshua.  They walk to the back and Wonwoo puts his bag on one of the chairs. "This table is plenty big for our books."  He said, sitting down. She pulled a chair open and sat down.  "Hey.. so.."  She started.  "No one's really asked to study with me before."  She started playing with her jacket. Wonwoo gave her concerned eyes.  "I've never really asked someone to study with me."  He said.  "And I still never asked you formally."  He chuckled a bit. She nodded and sighed.  "I guess I'm just not good enough to ask.."  She said. Wonwoo leaned on the table.  "You kinda make it seem like you don't want to be spoken to."  He said honestly.  "When I was in stork school, all I wanted to do was study.  I didn't want to socialize, I didn't want to get into cliques, and I barely spoke to the teachers. "I isolated myself because I just didn't want to meet people."  Wonwoo said.  "And every class I attended, the students knew that because I didn't get up and smile at them like the others did.  When they spoke to me, I gave them short answers while looking at my books.  Similar to what you do in our class."  Wonwoo explained. She nodded.  "I guess I'm just not a social person.."  She sighed.  "My sister is such a butterfly, I could never be like that again." Wonwoo pushed her book aside so that they made eye contact.  "You're social in a different way, but I'm curious.  What made you stop fluttering like your sister?"  He asked. She furrowed her eyebrows.  "I suppose I can tell you a secret since you told me about being a.. you know.."  She looked around. "Only if you're comfortable telling me."  Wonwoo put his hand up.  "But we are going to be study partners for awhile."

She nodded and felt someone behind her.  She turned around to see Jaemin coming their way. "Here you are: plain coffee and some blueberry muffins."  He bowed to the two before leaving. She picked the cup up and took a sip.  "When I was ten and my sister was six, we three girls would go to the park together every Saturday while dad was busy with work.  He's always busy with work.."  She started.  "I can understand that.  My older father sometimes can't come home until we're deep in sleep."  Wonwoo sympathised.

"On our way home, it was raining.  There were several reckless drivers."  She held her coffee tighter.  "She kept her mouth shut instead of cursing at the other drivers.  She kept telling us everything was okay while my little sister was playing with her pony in her carseat."  She closed her eyes. "A car hit her side.  My sister doesn't remember any of it, but I remember watching my lifeless mother being put on the stretcher."  She said, opening her eyes and looking at Wonwoo.  "I can't ever forget the last words she said to me."

Wonwoo wiped the tear that was forming.  "What was that?"  He asked. "Be a good girl, Nana."  She whispered, looking down at the muffins.  "I guess being distant isn't really being good, is it?"  She asked. Wonwoo shrugged.  "Have you gotten into any trouble?"  He asked, receiving a shaking of Nana's head.  "Then you're doing well, Nana."  He said softly. "You think so?"  She asked. Wonwoo nodded and smiled.  "You're taking good care of your little sister.  I know she's being sheltered, but you've been making her happy all of this time.  She looks up to you for motherly support."  He said.  "To me, that sounds like you've been doing well these past eight or so years." She nodded and looked at the table.  "Thank you.."  She wiped a tear. "It's almost the anniversary of it happening, so I'll see her soon." Nana continued. Wonwoo smiled. "Tell her everything you need to." He said. "Let's not cry anymore,"  He held her hand, "for now, let's talk about what we want to do in the future."  He said. "Like what?"  "I want to write and teach literature to people like myself.  Feeding growing minds what they crave."  He said in a dreamy tone.  She smirked and took her hand back to open her book.  "We have to start with the basics before thinking too far."  She chuckled. "And I'd like to continue through the basics to the harder things with you, Nana."  He smiled.  "Promise to take the same classes and be my study partner."  He requested. She nodded and put their pinkies together.  "Promise." 

Jaemin's not happy about it, lemme just tell you that.

Yeosang is now mourning over his little dove.  Let's hope he takes care of himself.

And then we have emo lady and Wonwoo promising to be study partners.  Hm~

<3