𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 • 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

18; spring

after junhui left, minghao quickly turned to wonwoo.

"i reckon that you knew about this, wonwoo hyung. why didn't you tell me?" minghao asked, trying to be as rational as possible. "i wouldn't have been mad if you told this before i started believing seungcheol hyung."

"all i knew was that seungcheol met you in the war. he said that you were the reason why he resigned from the military right after the war finished." wonwoo replied. "i never knew about this bounty thing."

minghao dramatically falls to the floor, as all his nice memories come crashing in his mind.

all his nice memories were a product of a lie.

if seungcheol truly wanted to make sure that minghao breaks his contract, all he needed to do was to let minghao roam around zuivet, and bring him back to miyuni to die so seungcheol and junhui can get their goddamn money. what was the reason for letting minghao become an artist? for being the 'hope' in minghao's godforsaken life?!

why?! why would seungcheol do that to minghao?! why would he act like he was minghao's guardian or something, and even say hypocritical things about caring for minghao?!

all the friends he made. all the happiness he felt. all the lessons he learned. everything, was all because of a dirty, disgusting, money-hungry commander general. it felt like everything minghao had was all an illusion too, since he was going to get killed anyway.

"minghao....." seokmin trailed off, worriedly approaching him. "i know you need space, but i just... i-if you need anyone to talk to, i'm here. and if you also need me to break the windows so we can escape, i'm here."

minghao nodded at seokmin, before the discouraged artist moved away and let minghao have his space.

minghao was never destined to hold a paintbrush. he was never destined to have a nice future. he was never allowed to change his life around. he was never allowed to have someone to shelter him and give him a job he enjoyed; minghao was destined to be a miserable war machine who had to die at the age of 19 for two generals to get their money.

minghao was never allowed to be colorful and lively. minghao could never be like mingyu.

he bets mingyu is disgusted by him, or even by just seeing him. mingyu probably felt compelled to hug minghao when he was sad, and that internally, mingyu hated minghao.

the world hates minghao, and his 'friends' were probably a part of that.

"minghao."

"ah—yes, wonwoo hyung?"

"if what that damned general said was true," wonwoo paused. "i'll leave seungcheol's company and take you under my wing instead."

"i'll join you two!" seokmin chirped, raising his stolen rifle. "and then maybe wonwoo hyung can play the violin for us. or we can create another company. anything! just away from seungcheol hyung!"

minghao nodded at the both of them, and he was slightly thankful that he was still able to feel warmth in his heart after an unbelievable betrayal.

sadly, no warmth can defeat the anger growing in minghao.

once again, minghao was soaked in the blood of spring.