The Legacy (Underworld 1) JC

22: Jealousy Is A Disease

Seungcheol's heavy footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridors of the Moon Palace, the headquarters of Midnight's Daegu farmhouse, a notorious gang in the region. With a solemn expression etched on his face, he approached Jeonghan's room, the weight of his actions weighing heavily on his shoulders.

As he pushed open the creaky door, he found Jeonghan sitting on the edge of his bed, his face buried in his hands. Without a word, Seungcheol extended his hand, revealing the gruesome trophy he held—a severed head, the lifeless eyes of Jeonghan's father staring back at them.

Jeonghan's breath caught in his throat as he looked up, his eyes widening in horror and disbelief. "No... it can't be," he whispered, his voice barely audible amidst the chaos of emotions swirling within him.

Tears welled up in Jeonghan's eyes as he shook his head, his voice trembling with anger and grief. "You murdered him... How could you? He was my father!" he cried out, his fists clenched in anguish.

Seungcheol's laughter cut through the tense atmosphere, the sound devoid of any warmth or humor. "Your father was a fucking pedophile, Jeonghan. He left me no choice," he said, his tone cold and detached, a stark contrast to the warmth he once exuded.

Jeonghan's shoulders shook with sobs as he struggled to comprehend the betrayal before him. "You... you broke your vow," he accused, his voice barely above a whisper, the realization sinking in like a knife to the heart.

Seungcheol's laughter grew louder, a manic edge creeping into his voice. "Vows mean nothing in this world, Jeonghan. Survival is all that matters," he declared, his words dripping with bitterness and resignation.

Seungcheol knelt before Jeonghan, his expression grave as he reached out to gently grasp his friend's trembling hands. "Jeonghan, I know this is hard to hear, but your father... he wasn't who you thought he was," he began, his voice laced with a solemnity that belied the weight of his words.

Jeonghan's tear-streaked face turned towards Seungcheol, his eyes pleading for answers amidst the turmoil of emotions raging within him. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, as if afraid of what he might uncover.

Taking a deep breath, Seungcheol continued, his gaze unwavering as he spoke. "Your father, Junghoon... he wasn't the honorable man everyone believed him to be. He... he had a dark side," he explained, his voice tinged with sadness and regret.

Jeonghan's brows furrowed in confusion, his mind struggling to reconcile the image of his father with the revelations being laid before him. "What do you mean by 'dark side'?" he pressed, his voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and fear.

With a heavy sigh, Seungcheol recounted the horrors he had witnessed, the atrocities committed by Junghoon under the guise of influence and power. "Your father... he was a pedophile and harassed countless children, Jeonghan. But no one dared to speak out against him because of his influence," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion.

A sense of disbelief washed over Jeonghan as he absorbed the shocking revelation, his mind reeling at the implications of his father's actions. "No... it can't be true," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of denial and horror.

Jeonghan's eyes blazed with fury as he listened to Seungcheol's words, his mind refusing to accept the damning accusations against his father. "Stop lying!" he spat, his voice dripping with venom.

Before Seungcheol could respond, Jeonghan's hand shot out, delivering a resounding slap across his face. The sound echoed through the room, a sharp crack that shattered the fragile semblance of camaraderie between them.

Seungcheol's eyes narrowed in rage as he staggered backward, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch the stinging imprint left by Jeonghan's slap. "You dare strike me?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous, a warning of the tempest brewing within him.