The Legacy (Underworld 1) JC

25: Seungcheol Loves You

Jeonghan stood frozen in the doorway, his heart sinking as he overheard the conversation unfolding between Seungcheol and Chan. His mind raced with disbelief, unable to comprehend the gravity of their words.

Seungcheol's voice carried a weight of concern as he urged Chan to reconsider his involvement in the dangerous world of the mafia. "You're still young, Chan. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don't throw it away for this... this lifestyle," Seungcheol pleaded, his tone laced with desperation.

Chan's expression remained resolute, his jaw set in determination as he shook his head defiantly. "I can't just walk away, Hyung. This is who I am," he insisted, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.

Seungcheol's eyes bore into Chan's with a mixture of frustration and sorrow. "But look at what it's cost me, Chan. I've lost everything—my family, my love, my innocence. I wouldn't wish this life on my worst enemy. You have a chance to choose differently, to make a better life for yourself," he implored, his voice cracking with emotion.

Chan remained unmoved, his gaze unwavering as he squared his shoulders defiantly. "I appreciate your concern, Hyung, but I can't turn my back on my family. Y'all need me," he insisted, his voice tinged with sadness.

Seungcheol's gaze lingered on the portrait of Jeonghan hanging on the wall, his expression pained as he traced the contours of his former lover's face with a heavy heart. "Look at him, Chan," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "He was everything to me... but because of the choices I've made, I can never have him back."

Chan followed Seungcheol's gaze, his heart aching at the sight of the love and longing etched in his brother's eyes. "But why can't you two be together again?" he asked softly, searching for answers in Seungcheol's haunted expression.

Seungcheol let out a bitter laugh, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Because of a misunderstanding, a foolish mistake that tore us apart," he confessed, his voice trembling with regret. "Jeonghan believes I betrayed him, and no matter how much I try to explain, he won't listen. He hates me now, Chan. And I... I have to pretend to hate him too, to protect him from the dangers of my world."

Chan's heart constricted with sympathy for his friend, his mind reeling with the weight of Seungcheol's sacrifice. "But what about your own happiness, Hyung? Don't you deserve a chance to make things right with Jeonghan?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Seungcheol's shoulders slumped in defeat, his resolve crumbling under the weight of his unspoken desires. "I wish it were that simple, Chan. But in my world, there are no second chances. I made my choice the moment I joined this gang, and now I have to live with the consequences," he admitted, his voice hollow with resignation.

As the weight of their conversation hung heavy in the air, Chan couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness wash over him. He longed to see his brother find happiness and redemption, but he knew that in a world consumed by darkness, the path to salvation was fraught with peril and sacrifice.

Seungcheol's shoulders slumped in defeat, the weight of his past bearing down on him like a heavy burden. "Just promise me one thing, Chan," he whispered, his voice barely above a hoarse whisper. "Promise me you won't end up like me. Promise me you won't lose yourself to this life."

Chan hesitated for a moment, his resolve faltering as he met Seungcheol's gaze. "I promise," he replied softly, his voice filled with solemn determination.

As Seungcheol's words echoed in the room, Jeonghan's heart shattered into a million pieces. The weight of their shared history and the realization of what could never be bore down on him like a suffocating weight. Unable to bear the pain any longer, Jeonghan turned on his heel and slipped out of the room, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty hallway.