Beyond the Camera

Chapter 26

Seungmin P.O.V

I walked into the familiar house that I'd lived in during my childhood. I smiled. It hadn't changed even a little bit. It was hard to get home these days. Our schedule had been so jam-packed that it was almost impossible to get home. Elias kept his mouth shut and followed closely behind me. We found my mom sitting in the kitchen with a book in hand. She was squinting at the pages. She'd needed glasses for a long time but refused to admit it. I smiled.

"Mom?" She dropped her book at the sudden noise.

"Christ, honey. You scared the crap out of me." I smiled and walked over to her.

"I'm sorry." She shook her head.

"You should have told me you were coming. I would have made some food for you." I shrugged. She raised a brow. "I've been reading the articles. Why did you disappear like that?" I sighed.

"It's a long story." She raised a brow again and looked around me.

"Who is that?" Elias moved to my side and bowed politely.

"Hello, I'm Elias." My mom stood up and smiled.

"Hello, I'm Seungmin's mother. It's nice to meet you." Elias glimpsed at me. Her eyes widened. "Oh goodness tell me you didn't break up with Chan and this your new boyfriend?"

"No, Mom. I could never. Elias is... well... you should sit down." My mom backed up and sat back down. "I had an older brother, right?" She looked away and thought for a long time before nodding. "Elias is... my brother." She shook her head.

"That's not possible. Your brother was kidnapped a long time before you were born." I shook my head.

"Elias is my brother. I'm completely sure. Elias was kidnapped and illegally adopted. Like I said, it's a long story but it's true." She laughed.

"This is where you tell me that your father faked his own death right?" I looked away and hid behind Elias. She was angry. Her facial expressions were calm but her voice gave it away. Elias wrapped his hand around my wrist and squeezed. Elias hadn't known he'd been kidnapped but he flew right past it and went into action for me. That was just the kind of person he was. Chan had told me that Elias was a shitty person. But was he really or did he just need someone to love like Chan did? Judging by his protectiveness, the second option was correct.

"Dad is alive. He's in hiding somewhere. Don't ask me where I don't know. I only know that Jaejun didn't actually kill him." A tear slid down her cheek.

"How could you be sure?" Elias sighed.

"Trust me, ma'am. He's sure. Jaejun had no reason to lie." She raised a brow.

"You saw Jaejun?" I hummed before sitting down. Elias sat beside me. Mom did the same. We were in the living room now. "Where is Chan?"

"He's here. He's sitting in the car with my manager. I wanted to do this alone. I didn't want him to see you break." She laughed.

"I don't break."

"You shredded a tear. To you, that's breaking. There's something else too."

"What is it?"

"I know about Dad. I know who he was or is." She looked away and closed her eyes.

"How'd you find out?" I shrugged.

"I've learned a lot in the last week, Mom. It put everything into place. I understand why I am the way I am now." She turned back and grabbed my hand.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Seungmin." I caught Elias smirk beside me. I elbowed him in the side causing him to wince.

"Thanks, Mom." She nodded.

"I'm sorry you had to figure out all of these things on your own." She turned to Elias. "Elias, I'm sorry to you too. We should have protected you." Elias smiled and shook his head.

"It wasn't exactly the best way to grow up but I learned a lot of important lessons. I also met some incredible people who I consider to be a second family to me." He turned to me. "I never thought I'd get the chance to have a brother but I'm glad to have one now and I won't ever leave him again." I smiled, unable to help myself. Something in Elias had changed from the guy I'd met a week ago. I wanted to cherish that forever. We ended up talking for a while before we decided to leave. Chan and the manager had been sitting in the car for a long time and I knew they were just as tired as us. We didn't even make it to the door before we heard it open. Elias automatically stepped in front of me, not knowing what to expect. I wasn't even able to react because everything went dark. When I woke up again, I was back in the car and lying in Chan's arms.

"You alright baby?" I nodded and sat up. Elias and my manager were having a hushed conversation in the front. I glimpsed at Chan and motioned toward them. He only shook his head.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure. I only saw Elias carrying you out of the house and putting you beside me. He didn't tell me anything." It seemed that Elias realized I was awake at that moment and snapped out of his trance with my manager.

"Seungmin?" I shook my head.

"I'm okay. Did I really see Dad or was I hallucinating?" Elias frowned.

"It was Dad. He told me to take you. He didn't answer any of my questions." I frowned.

"He just told you to leave?" He nodded.

"Something about needing to talk to Mom. I don't know anything else." I felt myself getting angry.

"He fakes his own murder. Disappears for my entire childhood. Then reappears and tells us to leave. What kind of bullshit is that?" Chan grabbed my hand.

"Don't worry about that right now Minnie." My anger deflated immediately. I hated that nickname but I loved it because it was Chan. I nodded and leaned back against him. It was silent for a few moments before my manager spoke.

"Seungmin-ah?" I hummed. "Where am I taking Elias?" I glimpsed at Chan. Chan shrugged.

"I guess he can stay with us," Chan said. Elias hummed. I raised a brow at the quiet look our manager gave him.

"Or he could stay with me. You guys are a couple and I highly doubt Elias wants to hear the things you do behind closed doors. I'm single and I have space. It won't be a problem for me." I raised a brow. Our manager was very private about his life. I don't think any of us actually knew where he lived and he'd been our manager for years. I found it interesting that he was willing to take in a complete stranger.

"I don't know if that's a good idea Hyung. Elias is a stranger to you and you're a stranger to him." I paid attention to their reactions as Chan spoke. To my surprise, Elias shrugged.

"Honestly, I agree with your manager. I don't really want to hear you guys nor do I want to watch you be lovey dovey. I watched that crap for a week. No more. My brother and best friend are not something I want to think about." Chan seemed as surprised as I did at Elias's response.

"Um, if that's what you want. Just don't cause him any problems." I said to Elias. He nodded with a hum.

"Don't worry. I won't bite him. Maybe." My manager's face went red causing me to laugh till the point that I laughed. Chan was clueless but Elias wasn't. Elias had done it on purpose and he liked the reaction he got too. Something told me that was a disaster waiting to happen and I was living for it.

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That was fun. Bye, lovelies.

-Thea