Painful Secrets

Chapter 32

Jeongin fell on the ground, unconscious.

"Jeongin!" Felix exclaimed, sending a glare to Hyunjin.

He knelt down beside the younger, moving him onto his back which was better than how awkwardly Jeongin was lying on his side. "Jeongin, please, get up. Don't just lay down like that."

But Jeongin didn't stir and remained on the floor with his eyes closed, not moving a limb.

Felix felt a hand grab him by his wrists and pulled him away. It was Chan.

"Give it a rest, Felix." Chan said. "Some people have forgotten that I'm the leader."

The room went silent and everyone waited for Chan to speak.

"We're not killing the boy. I want to know what everyone thinks. We'll have a team meeting tomorrow. Till then, let's just put him in the holding room."

As the others started to leave, Minho dropped on his knees beside Jeongin's frail figure and wrapped one arm around his waist and one under his knees, lifting him up.

He carried him all the way to the holding room, opening the door with one hand while trying to keep Jeongin stable before walking into the dark stoney room where the only source of light was the moonlight coming from the small windows.

Minho placed Jeongin down on the floor. Jeongin's eyes were still watery and cheeks were stained with dried tears, a red bruise from Minho's previous slap was still evident.

"I'm so sorry, Jeongin-ah." Minho murmured, standing up as he walked out of the room, locking the door shut.

He sighed heavily as he made his way back into the living room. The only people who were there were Felix and Jisung.

"Are you okay, hyung?" Jisung asked.

Minho shook his head. "No, I'm not."

"Hey, guys, I'm home." The jolly voice of Seungmin broke the silence of the living room.

He walked in, setting aside multiple bags of what looked like new clothes. "Why do you all look so miserable?"

Seungmin examined all of their faces, his expression turning serious. "Where is Jeongin?"

"He's ...." Jisung said, pausing to look at Minho who was looking at the floor. "In the holding room."

"Why? What did he do?" Seungmin asked.

"We just found out he is the son of Yang Haneul. Chan has decided to hold him hostage till tomorrow's team meeting where we can decide what is to be done with him." Felix explained.

Seungmin bit his lower lip. Something about it made a bulb light up in Jisung's mind.

"You knew, didn't you?" Jisung asked.

Seungmin sighed. "Yeah, I knew. He told me that he was the only son of Yang Haneul. He also showed me his body scars that his father gave him by whipping him with the buckle of his belt."

In the next second, Minho was storming out of the living room probably trying to hide his tears.

"Hyung!" Jisung called as he ran after him.

----------------

Jeongin opened his eyes, cold taking over his body as he curled into a ball.

The room was dark and it was scary since he was alone inside it, weak and helpless.

"Hyung?" Jeongin whimpered and felt tears spring in his eyes once he got no reply.

He heard the sound of the door opening and he was sure that it was Hyunjin who came here to beat him to his death.

"Sweetheart?"

Jeongin felt a pair of arms wrap around his ribcage and make him sit upright on the figure's lap.

"You poor thing." Seungmin said as Jeongin looked at him. "You poor poor thing.What have they done to you?"

"Hyung." Jeongin sobbed as tears rolled down his cheeks. "He hates me."

"Jeongin-"

"Minho hyung hates me. I ruined everything."

"Ssssh, sweetie." Seungmin wiped Jeongin's tears away. "You did not ruin anything. Everything will be okay. I'm here with you."

"I don't deserve your kindness. Just leave me here, hyung, and let me die."

"Jeongin," Seungmin caressed Jeongin's cheek. "You are such a beautiful and nice person. You're purer than anyone I have ever met and you deserve the world, baby."

Jeongin cried harder. Seungmin, still caressing the younger's cheek, leaned in linked foreheads with Jeongin, tears welling up in his own eyes.

"Don't you know how precious you are to me?" Seungmin's own voice stuttered as tears rolled down his own face.

"Oh hyung." Jeongin said as he cupped Seungmin's face in his hands.

"I would rather have my back whipped to the point it bleeds with a metal whip and have a leash around my neck than let you die. You are something that has to be valued and you are so much more unique than you think."

"Hyung, please, don't cry." Jeongin wiped away Seungmin's tears like the older one always wiped away his. This was probably the first time Jeongin had seen Seungmin cry.

Seungmin took Jeongin's hand in his. "Don't think you ruin things for people because you, my sweet baby, only make things better just with your presence."

Jeongin nodded as he hugged Seungmin. "Thank you so much, hyung."

"Your welcome, sweetheart." Seungmin then picked Jeongin up. "This place is kinda lonely, isn't it? Let's take you back to my room."