Timeless Love || Jinx (Manhwa)

Chapter 26: The aftermath

Gyeonggi Province, late 1729

A week after the departure

Jaekyung didn't ate for days after Dan disappeared from his life in the same speed he came in. He abstained from sleeping, afraid of what he could do to himself once he opened his eyes and realized it wasn't a nightmare he could just forget the following morning.

He couldn't feel anything that wasn't the deep hole in his chest and an uneasy feeling in his stomach; the irritation in his eyes and soreness in his throat after screaming into a pillow for hours stopped bothering him a while ago. The bags under his eyes, long gone after the arrival of the sun in the shape of a man, were back stronger than ever; his arms were technically useless if they weren't used to hug him, comfort him after a nightmare and ensure him everything would be alright. All of him was useless ever since Dan left his side.

Before he left, he had told him he'd be back soon; that they'd be together forever and raise a child; they'd watch their town grow and help his people in times of hardship. They were supposed to grow old together, enjoy life, do new things, be happy, and now that prospect was nothing but a scene from his head, condemning him to repeat it over and over; all of those were now empty promises that burned his mind and pierced his heart with guilt.

Had he known he wouldn't have left his side that night, he would've showed him his love harder and louder; they would've eloped as fast as possible never to be seen again... But there was no way he could've known the love of his life would be ripped from his side in such a violent manner.

The memories of their last days together were killing him alive.

[.]

Things didn't got any better when Lee Hak-Kun showed up to his house two weeks later, smiling from ear to ear. He asked to see his cousin, surprised over the negative from the servants to do so, arguing the lord wasn't doing well and that he should return later. But he couldn't do that, not when he had such good news to share! He shrugged off the servants as they tried to stop him, and even had to push some guards away under the threat of a sword, but he eventually reached out to the door, opening it widely with joy.

―Jaekyung! ―he crooned as he jumped into the room with joy. ―Your favorite cousin is ba...-! Good heavens!

When they told him his cousin wasn't in the right conditions to receive any visitors, Hak-Kun had thought he was just evading him like usual, but not this. In the darkest corner of the room, clinging hard to a hideous piece of grey clothing, his cousin was curled up like a prisoner before an execution; he resembled more of an exiled than the proud noble he saw just three weeks ago. He looked filthy, weak, and his hair was a mess, as if it hadn't been brushed in days. He looked more like a shell of his former self.

―Go now! ―Jaekyung screamed from his spot, throwing a small jar of oil at the intruder.

Hak-Kun evaded the jar with ease, looking at the dried stains of blood on the floor as the liquid expanded all over the place. 'What the hell happened here?' He got close to his cousin, worried due to his state, and kneeled at a prudent distance.

―Jaekyung, it's me, Hak-Kun. What happened to you? Why are you in such a state?

―I told you to leave!

The cousin frowned. There was no way on earth he would leave him here in this state. He got up, walking all over the room opening the windows to let some light in, much to the lord's dislike. Hak-Kun wasn't an expert cleaner so he wouldn't even get near the dry blood, the oil or the rest of liquids whose origins he wasn't planning on investigating anytime soon, but he cleared out the tea table leaving there the scroll he's been taking care of since he left Hanyang.