GATEWAY 🝔 LEE JENO

🝔 1.37

Flashes of lightning and thundering drills of rain pouring down on their shelter radiated out into the quiet night skies. Jeno peered through the window holding up the sheen layer of blinds to see if she had returned yet or not. However, all he was able to spot was number of people running down the streets by the heavy gust of wind in hopes to reach their homes safely.

"Damn the rain really came out without a warning today" Jeno muttered out. "What do you expect the Zeus to send a messenger hawk to you saying that he will be sending out a flurry of lightning?" Jisung joked out but instantly shut up after receiving a glare. It's strange. Really strange. 

When they both met, Jisung always talked back to Jeno and shut him up easily. However as they got to know one another the roles took a turn. Even though, Jisung is talented swordsman who can send any human to shiver in fear. In front of Jeno he became more respectful towards him compared to their first encounter. Why? because he is older. But Jeno had noticed that the younger boys behaviour took a drastic change after he found out about Jia's little secret. 

Blowing on his hot chocolate, Jisung sitting on the sofa. "Hyung yours if here" he pointed to the cup on the table. Sending an eye crescent smile, the older boy gripped onto his cup before sipping the warm content that soothed his insides as it trailed down his throat. "Is she home yet?" a concerned voice suddenly spoke out catching both of the boys attention. 

Spanning their head around they spotted Jia making way over to the sofa before placing the plate of cookies down. Leaning over, Jeno captured one in his hand before devouring the chocolate chip cookie.  Suddenly he noticed the tensed up posture of Jisungs, a dark aura radiating out of him. 

Glancing over he realised how he completely ignored his mothers gaze. However, compared to the times before his attitude was worse today. Harshly slapping the cup on the table he stood up about to leave. Unfortunately for him, Jeno's reflexes were on point. Latching onto his arm he harshly pulled the boy back down.  "Don't you think it's time for you to forgive her?"

"Not until she tells noona. She deserves to know" he repeated for the nth time. Jisung wasn't ever actually mad at his mother. He was just disappointed. Taking a deep inhale, Jia ran her hand over her face out of desperation "Jisung please. I don't know how to tell her the truth" scoffing the younger boy slammed his hand down on the table resonating a thud to infiltrate the air mixing with the heavy precipitation outside. "Tell her just like you told hyung"

Unable to speak a word she gripped her hair tightly shutting her eyes while facing down to the ground. Though Jisung was not happy with her keeping it as a secret he couldn't help but feel terrible by the sight of his mother being mentally tormented. 

Gulping he moved closer pulling her hands off from torturing her hair. Slowly he pulled his mother into a warm embrace patting her back comfortingly. "Mum I'm sorry for treating you horribly but you also have to see it from my side as well. She deserved to find out the truth. You always said that you don't know where her father is. And that was a lie." he quietly spoke out in a calmer tone. "And what's even more shocking is how he is someone that Jeno knows personally."

Tears forming on the edge of her eyes she sniffed lightly attempting to hold them back in. "I didn't want her to get hurt. All her life she was brought up to believe that she is from Narva. If I suddenly tell her that she is originally from Seoul and that her farther is there. D-don't you understand how h-hard it will be on her" she cried out, chocking on some tears that cacaded down her cheek. 

Jisung couldn't say a word. He knew that she was right but he still didn't want to accept it. Though his mother said that she is keeping it a secret for Ga-eun's sake he was well aware that it's also her way of escaping the nightmare that she went through. The torture and pain she was put through at Seoul. Gritting his teeth, he tilted his head up to the ceiling in hopes to refrain his beads of sorrow from falling out by the agony cries that his mother was letting out. 

Jeno sat still gazing down at his fingers with his eyes closed. He didn't want to interject and remained quiet letting the mother and son have a moment to themselves. Tranquility lapsed the living room. 

The only sound was the booming thunder striking out blaring shines of lighting. Taking deep breathes he licked his lips before letting out a gust of air. 

Out of nowhere, a loud thud rang around the room instinctively making all three avert their attention to the distraction. It was something they hoped to not see. Drenching with rainwater top to bottom with petrified orbs staring right back at them, small trickles of tears fell from her eyes. Instantly, Jia stood up on her two feet gazing at her daughter mortified. "Ga-eun-"

"I-is it true?" the girl's wavering breathe whispered out finding everything unbelievable. "Ga-eun-" her mother cried out taking a step closer but instantly stopped when the girl raised her hand up to indicate her mother to not take a step closer. "J-just tell me that y-you're lying . . . please" she pleaded. 

Unable to give the answer she was seeking, Jia stayed silent not having the confidence to reveal the untold hidden secret that haunted her day by day. She still couldn't say it. Since Ga-eun was a baby she chose to expose the truth once she's old enough to take it. But as she grew it became progressively difficult to come clean. Gradually tainting the truth to be nothing but poison for the girl if she were to find out.

As realisation took upon her that everything her ears feasted on was the naked truth, she stepped back grabbing onto the door frame for support. Her legs weakened loosing energy, limbs shaking in fear. 

She was devastated

Stunned that they all hide this shocking news from her. Her mother, her brother and . . . Jeno. It astonished her how he knew yet he wasn't even part of her family. An array of detrimental pain arose in her heart. Her chest clenched hard unable to take proper breathe. She felt a spit of anger and frustration accumulating in her stomach making her physically sick.

She wanted to get out of there. Run away. Everything was overwhelming and she felt claustrophobic standing in front of them with all their eyes trained on her vulnerable looking state. "Ga-eun-"

"STAY AWAY" she screamed out, hands clasped over her ears not wanting to hear another word. Tears tremendously falling past her shielded eyes trailing down her cheek like the nigari falls. "Please just . . " gulping down her clogged up throat she glanced at each of them before rapidly running out of the house in hopes to get away from everything.

"Ga-eun" her mother cried out about to chase her but Jisung held her back shaking his head. Looking up to her son's grieving features she lost energy. Jia collapsed onto the ground hopelessly. Luckily Jisung grabbing onto his mother in his arms embracing her as she let out agony cries. 

Glancing up, Jisung spotted Jeno already leaving the living room, heading over to the front door. "Hyung-" he called out. Halting on his footsteps he turned around and looked at the younger boys sullen orbs. He didn't need to speak a word to let Jeno know what he was trying to say. 

Giving a reassuring smile he nodded lightly before heading out into the pouring rain after the girl.

Let me just take a moment to thank everyone who has made it this far into the story. I wanted to stop mid-way seeing that it wasn't appealing to many however I hanged on. And I am glad I did because I am enjoying writing this book. I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I am while writing it <33 🤗