See What I See (A GTOP Fanfic)

| Chapter Seventeen |

"So, you've really come up with nothing?" Seunghyun asked Chaerin when he was sitting in her office.

"Well, it's not exactly easy to plan when you're sitting on a bomb that could explode any minute," she replied after letting out a distressed sigh.

"I wish there was something I could do to help," Seunghyun said as he sat back, resting his back against the cushioned, blue fabric of the chair.

"No." Chaerin shook her head. "You've done plenty to help, Seunghyun. I mean, you took a complete stranger into your home, and that is more than anyone I know would have done."

"He's not really a stranger anymore," Seunghyun said as a smile crawled across his lips, his head lowered as he thought of the person waiting for him at home.

"I don't know what that is supposed to mean," Chaerin started, her eyes slightly narrowed in confusion, "but just keep doing whatever it is you're doing because obviously working." Seunghyun snapped out of his small trance and nodded his head, feeling slightly embarrassed. "I promise I'll come up with something soon, and then he'll be off your hands and out of your life." 

At the sound of her words, Seunghyun's head shot up. He didn't know what she meant exactly, but he did know one thing: he didn't want Jiyong out of his life.

"Look, Chaerin," he said as he leaned forward in his seat again, "I know this is hard and that there are people coming at you from every direction, but please don't take him away." Chaerin furrowed her eyebrows, not sure of what Seunghyun was getting at. "I can't explain it to you right now, but it's not a problem for me to keep him around. In fact, I-I like having him around." Seunghyun chuckled a little before continuing, turning his eyes away to the side. "He makes my life seem less empty and lonely, and I haven't felt like that in a while."

"Seunghyun," she said, leaning forward and placing her arms on her desk. "What happened with him?" Seunghyun just kind of looked at her as his eyes blinked furiously, hesitant and afraid to speak the truth. But he didn't know if he could handle the weight of one more lie.

"What happened was," he started before he swallowed, "I fell in love with him."

"What?!" Chaerin said, managing to keep her voice low despite being utterly bewildered.

"You heard me," Seunghyun said as he nodded a little, not ashamed to say it anymore. "I fell in love with him, and I don't intend on letting him go so easily."

"Seunghyun, are you crazy?" she said, still in disbelief. "Does he even know the truth?"

"No, but--"

"Jesus," Chaerin said as she tried to take deep breaths. "Okay, okay, it's okay. We can fix this, we can fix this. Look, I don't want any details, but I do know that what he does is illegal, which means he can be arrested and put in jail, even if he helps us find his pimp."

"I know, but there has to be something you can do to spare him," Seunghyun said, now beginning to plead. Chaerin let out a heavy sigh and ran her fingers through her long hair, pushing some of it back before it slid back into place. "Please, Chaerin, there has to be something. It's not like he chose to do this. It wouldn't be right to put him jail and you know that just as well as I do."

"Yeah, but this is different," she said, returning his look. "He knew the consequences, yet he still took the chance, and it's not my or your responsibility to help him correct his mistakes."

"I know that, I do," Seunghyun said, temporarily shutting his eyes. "But, isn't it our job as part of the law to give justice to those who don't have it?" Chaerin just kind of looked at him, a more soft and sympathetic look coming over her. "I know it's risky and it will be hard to get around, but I'm begging you. I already feel like shit for lying to him. I don't think...I know he won't be able to handle the truth when I tell him, but it would help him to know that he won't get thrown in jail for something he has no control over."

"Seunghyun, I don't think--"

"Chaerin, I've never asked you for much, have I?" Seunghyun said, the desperate look in his eyes becoming clearer. "I-I've always done the best job I can and did whatever you asked of me. I know this puts you in a bad position, but can you please help me this once? There has to be some kind of deal we can make with him in exchange for information. Even if it's just parole or community service o-or something, anything besides jail time."

Silence fell upon them as Chaerin dropped her head in thought and distress. Seunghyun just kept looking at her, hoping his argument would win her over. He knew that the truth would drive Jiyong away from him when it revealed itself, so he sure as hell didn't need something like legal punishment speeding that process up.

"Fine." She sighed, nodding her head a little. "I'll see what I can do, but I'm not making any promises." Seunghyun smiled a little and let his shoulders sink as he sighed, feeling relieved. "I don't know how long I can keep them off your scent, but since you've helped me, I'll do this for you."

"Thank you so much," Seunghyun said, only earning a nod from Chaerin. He waited a few more seconds and then stood up, his feet starting towards the door.

He needed to tell Jiyong the truth before the situation got anymore out of hand. At least, he figured, if the words came from him, his reaction would less severe than if cops showed up at the door telling him he was under arrest for doing what he needed to do to survive. Seunghyun had accepted the fact that he would be upset and was willing to do whatever it took to get Jiyong to trust him again, to show how much he meant it when he said he loved him. 

He just hoped Jiyong would stick around long enough once he knew.