❝𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒❞ [On Hold]

𝟐𝟓➺𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬

Chapter-25
Rain Tears

Walking down the street, Jongho's hands kept their place within his pockets as he cared less about the sun out now and calling for him to discard his padded jacket cause of the heat. Jongho knew where he had to go. For once he thinks Ken was helpful and he intends to use that help till the last moment possible. Back in Hongjoong's apartment, he wouldn't have spoken much as expected but he knew he couldn't. Not just yet.

If he's going to do it, better keep as less people around as possible. Ken's words still linger in his ears as he walks down the street with his hair playing on his forehead softly. 'End of the beginning.' Ken's voice narrated softly in his head. Once. Twice. Thrice. Then, it stopped. Right when Hongjoong's eyelid flickered to discard a salt droplet. Jongho knew Ken has something. Something more than they know, Something more than he shows, Something way more than they know he can do even if they haven't seen it; Jongho will find it but only because he believes it has something related to Seonghwa or if not that demon then something related to the situation's end.

The street seems isolated as before. Sometimes, he wonders how Wooyoung knows about all these stuff but then it hits him how that man is always up in curiousity about the most unbelievable or shady stuff. The chill air and crisp crunch of the dried leaves reminds him of the glowing being he met last night all over again as he follows down the same street towards that same alley where he met Ken. He had some answers to take and he was determined to do so. The darkness of the alley loams like a deep and bitter tasting chocolate. Its almost like a forest with its leaves all turned to dark mist as he clashes its way through it with squinted eyes.

Standing still at a point to look around, Jongho wonders how should he get his way through until he hears a voice from behind him. The hair on his neck standing up alert while he feels the winds blowing colder, however they were much softer this time. "You're here. Again." The deep husky voice of the sandy blonde head curled through the mist as Jongho turned around to see him standing like a glowing angel. His posture showed power, dominance and pride. Afterall, he was the owner of this place. Jongho closed his eyes before breathing a cold breath and looking up at Ken again. "I know you are hiding something." Jongho's gaze dripped demands of an answer rather than requests of help. He was not letting himself down even if its Ken's territory.

His friend's life is on the line and he will make sure to turn things back to normal rather than roam around pleading like a fool for life. Ken just shrugged staring at his feet as he took out his right hand from his pocket. Sharply shooting his gaze back up at Jongho he stepped forward. "You...You never fail to amaze me Jongho. You never did." Ken muttered, now just a few metre away. Jongho pursed his lips in frustration before speaking again. "Stop acting all like that. I need an answer." Ken smirked stepping further towards Jongho.

Jongho not only was trying to keep his ground by not stepping back but was unaware of Ken's plans too right now as he found himself glaring up at Ken with sharp eyes, just a few inches away now. "You think you can handle it? You think you can put yourself through it all?" Ken's hand reached up to trace his fingers towards Jongho's cheek but was stopped mid-way by Jongho's strong grip on his wrist. "Spelling my feet doesn't mean i won't use my hands either. Now, answer." Jongho glared back before shrugging Ken's hand off.

Ken's lips turned more from a smirk to a smile and then to a hearty laugh. As he threw his head back to laugh, Jongho felt like biting him. This man wasted his time. "Feisty too. Well then listen..." Ken straightened himself as his cold stare bored through Jongho's vision.

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"Hyung, you wanna go rest or something? I can try looking after San." Wooyoung suggested, his eyes staring at the floor lazily. San was out doing laundry after lunch, not really participating in any of the conversations due to it. Wooyoung couldn't help but feel a little scared of San's unusual happy replies everytime he asked something over lunch.

Hongjoong shook his head slightly. "I'm...i don't think i wanna even think of resting right now." Hongjoong gave a dead chuckle making Wooyoung furrow his eyebrows and slap himself internally. Immediately coming up with something else to change the topic, Wooyoung suggested something else. "Hyung, why don't we go out for a walk then? It should help." Wooyoung looked at Hongjoong with hopeful eyes waiting for a response. Hongjoong doesn't reply much, rather he just sighs and nods softly before getting up and mouthing a small. "I'm scared but alright."

Wooyoung's eyes lit up when he realised Hongjoong had agreed to go out as he stood up to skip through the living room with warnings thumping within his heart towards San. He was as scared as always yet he went to him trying not to worry. "Sannie, Hongjoong and i are going out on a walk. Wanna come along?" He asked while he eyed San give him a dimpled smile as he mouthed,"Of course i am coming along!" and went to change to something better.

Fifteen minutes later, they were now walking down the same maple tree garden. The dried brownish-orange leaves crunched beneath their footsteps as they walked silently. Or better, Hongjoong walked silently. San and Wooyoung were chatting happily and by now Wooyoung seemed less suspicious of San. Maybe he was just his normal happy self right now.

Hongjoong's hands rested inside his pockets and he smiled once in a while when San met gaze with his own. The sky above was a beautiful blend of tangy orange to the cottony pink and soft purple. However, the winds were chilly with moisture along, as Hongjoong guessed the weather would become dead soon from the dark grey line forming between the horizon and the beautiful evening blends of the sky.

Sighing, Hongjoong just continued walking until it was an hour and chose to sit at one of the benches. Wooyoung and San continued to play around even if Wooyoung could sense Hongjoong didn't find this walk as helpful. "Hey, Woo i need to use the washroom. I'll be back." San interrupted their tag game as Wooyoung nodded softly before he saw the other dissapear while he made his way towards the older. "Hyung, how do you feel now?" Wooyoung asked, though sadly.

"Will you stop asking me that question if i say i feel better?" Hongjoong chuckled slightly, playing with his fingers. Wooyoung sighed before biting his lip softly. "Umm no-?" They stayed silent for a second registering Wooyoung's answer before both of them burst out into laughter. Laughing felt great for once. Why? Hongjoong doesn't know. Maybe he going crazy just like Seonghwa. At this point he doesn't even know if Seonghwa is San, San is Seonghwa, Seonghwa is a demon or something else...

Wooyoung had stopped laughing already but Hongjoong's insides didn't seem to be at rest anymore, screaming over his head to not stop and just laugh, laugh and continue laughing until tears start trickling out just like the rain drop that made a small 'tup' sound on his right cheek. As if it was a green signal of a car race event, tear droplets started gushing out of Hongjoong's eyes as he laughed and laughed. The sky had darkened, not with the arrival of night but with the stage curtain of dark clouds. Hongjoong got up suddenly as his laughs and cries stopped simultaneously "Wooyoung, we should go. Lets get San." He started walking without waiting for Wooyoung to even answer as he heard Wooyoung's steps rush behind him with the soft rain droplets' music barely able to wetten anyone yet.

Finding San wasn't much difficult either as he came rushing back halfway their journey to reach him. The rain had now grown enough to slightly dampen their faces and clothes with moisture sitting in anyone's head until it turns excess to drip down the face. San didn't notice Hongjoong's tear stains. Not at all. Neither did Wooyoung say anything to make it known.

Someone had been so right. Rain is the best time to cry without having to worry about others seeing you do so.

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Hey everyone! After so long i suddenly felt motivated to write further for this book, reason why i updated it sooner this time. Also I can't believe Soulless is gonna be 1 year old in three day (":

Thanks alot for reading this weird book so far and showing it so much love.