You're my treasure [ Seongjoong]

Ch 24

The next day was up and Minho has taken Seonghwa home, Hongjoong wants to object again. He wanted to fight but he didn't, he stayed silent looking at Seonghwa with his eyes full of sorrow as the latter left.
Since the accident, Yunho and Mingi haven't turned back to the cafe and Hongjoong knows better they won't come anytime soon. So he was there alone just like old times.

Eden has sent one of his bakers, a ball full of sunshine and energy to Hongjoong's cafe as a replacement of Seonghwa for the time being. The sunshine was Felix, Lee Felix, even though he was a hard working person and was very friendly and kind, no one can replace Seonghwa in Hongjoong's heart. His eyes keep on searching for the latter, he sometimes gets hallucinations of Seonghwa working and smiling at him.
Oh how much he misses that smile, how much he misses those talks, how much he misses his presence, how much he misses him.
But looking around now he doesn't have anyone to make breakfast for him, someone who cooks lunch for him and someone who waits for him to arrive so they can eat dinner together. He wishes to turn back time and make a better choice but he can't.

It has been two days since Seonghwa started living with Minho, and everyone was going to visit him except Hongjoong.
Since Wooyoung told him that they didn't like his presence he has tried to keep his distance. He didn't speak if it was not necessary and he surely didn't stop anyone from doing anything, he didn't scold them like before.
He has lost a spark in him and Jongho was really worried about him. He knows Hongjoong might be blaming himself for everything. He knows Wooyoung's words have hurted him and have teased the past he wants to forget.
Now all his insecurity and blame, the pressure he puts on himself is back. And Jongho is afraid of that, he knows Hongjoong would hurt himself and wishes he didn't.

At Minho's everyone sat in the living room, some on the couch and some on the floor. Cuddling in a blanket and watching a movie. Jisung was in Minho's arms, Yunho and Mingi on one side of the couch, Seonghwa in between the two pairs of couples. Yeosang and Wooyoung in one blanket on the floor, Leez was in Eden's lap on the side chair, Jongho and San in another blanket on the other side of the floor.

Everyone was so into the movie that they didn't notice the worry painted on the youngest face. He was lost in his own thoughts, physically he was with everyone but mentally he was lost.

" Jongho, what happened? You look lost," Seonghwa asks, catching everyone's attention.

" Nothing hyung, I'm fine. Don't worry," Jongho answered with a fake smile and Seonghwa wasn't buying it.

" No, something is wrong, you can tell us anything. Is there something that is bothering you?" Seonghwa asks, as gentle as ever.

" I'm sorry to ruin the mood, maybe I should leave," Jongho says getting up.

" No bear tells us what happened?" Seonghwa says, pulling him into the couch and into a hug.

Jongho tried to stop the tears that built as soon as the latter hugged him. He wants to cry his eyes out and shout for help, not for himself but for his brother.
" I'm just worried about Hongjoong hyung," Jongho says, his voice weak.

" What happened to him?," Jisung asked, sitting in his boyfriend's lap.

" I'm afraid he might do something stupid again because Wooyoung hyung's words have triggered some past memories," Jongho explain.

"What? A-again? What stupid?," Seonghwa ask thousand of bad thought running in his mind.

" He used to hurt himself. Haven't you noticed the scars on his wrist? Some of them were really deep. A few times he has to get stitches," Eden explained further. " His past was never easy, his father died when he was 15 then his mother was in depression and when she came out, she left a 17 years old with a responsibility of 15 years old.
He was forced to be mature before time but he never regretted it. He did it all for Jongho, he worked hard because he wanted his brother to live comfortably. But the pressure on him got the best of it, the only escape from his thought was hurting himself and he did it every time.
When we met him he was so determined to survive, not for himself but for his brother. He doesn't want to leave his brother alone. You may think his attitude is the problem or you may think he nags a lot or you might have problems because of his short temper. But don't misunderstand him, his heart is really pure. He doesn't understand his feelings because he never has time to feel anything. In His teens and early 20s when people got to know themselves and their feelings, he was busy surviving. He is dumb but he is very kind at heart. His way of loving and showing is different.
And trust me when I say that he might feel something for Seonghwa. I've seen his eyes sparkle wherever Seonghwa chuckles. And the way he gets possessive over him when I told him I'll recruit Seonghwa.
He just can't understand his feelings because everything is new to him. But please don't misunderstand him, he's really fragile. He only shows himself as strong because he wants to protect himself and his brother but he's really fragile from inside.
Please try to give him a chance, he's a human too. He can make mistakes, right? And we have made several mistakes but we all deserve a second chance."