The Trap- An SKZ fanfiction

Chapter 21

Lee Know looked down. He knew who the 'shady' businessman was.

After a while, Han asked, "Jagiya, are you ok." Lee Know nodded absentmindedly, and looked up when he heard gasps. Seungmin said, "What's going on here?" Felix said, "Han and Lee Know hyung are dating."

Han blushed, "We are not... yet." Bang Chan chuckled, already feeling better.

IN groaned, "Not another couple. We have two couples in this group now." Changbin smiled seeing IN annoyed and said, "Maybe I should date Felix so IN can be the only single one here."

Felix immediately looked up shouting "NO!" along with Han and Lee Know. They all stared at each other and burst out in laughter. The mood was light again. All of them were talking and having fun. Bang Chan proposed to have a movie marathon, to which everyone agreed. All of them cuddled up with lots of blankets and pillows in the living room couch and floor. They all kept bickering while watching the movie. But the Lee brothers' thoughts were somewhere else.

Meanwhile,

(TW: Mentions of abuse)

Hyunjin reached home late. Too late for his father's liking. Hyunjin already knew what was going to happen. He made sure that he didn't look like he had just spent an hour crying on his way home. His father went easier on him if he looked good enough. If he looked pretty enough to be forgiven.

He walked inside quietly, going straight to his room. He had eaten breakfast in the morning, it should be enough for him to not starve. He kept his bag at its normal spot and changed into a comfortable sweater and shorts. He laid on his stomach on his soft fluffy bed, his elbows propping him up as he scrolled through his phone and swung his legs back and forth.

He tried not to frown at the feeling that he was practically waiting for his dad to come upstairs and beat him up. He felt like he needed to be punished. He felt like a failure.

After an hour of waiting he sighed putting his phone to charge and laid on his back. He closed his eyes. Maybe his dad was too busy today. Hyunjin smiled at the thought. Even if he wanted to physically hurt to feel better, he felt relieved. He started to drift off to sleep thinking, "I will just meet Felix tomorrow at school."

Past midnight,

Lee Know had managed to get everyone to bed a while ago. Now he was laying on a mattress on the floor, near Han's bed, staring at the ceiling. Felix was on Lee Know's bed, while Felix lent his bigger bed to IN and Changbin. Seungmin and Chan slept on mattresses as well, something about little privacy.

Lee Know sighed. It was so quiet and dark. He could barely hear his thoughts. He was so tired of everything. At least he had Han with him now, Lee Know thought with a smile. He turned around to see the moonlight seeping through the window curtain.

Lee Know huffed and got up, pulling the curtains aside and sitting in the window. He looked outside. It was peaceful, quiet, and misty. It made Lee Know feel calm.

Lee Know heard a deep whisper, "Why are you awake Hyung?" Lee Know startled a little looking at Felix. Lee Know raised his eye brow, "Why are you still awake?"

Felix sighed, "I messed up with a good friend. Now I can't sleep."

Lee Know frowned. He knew a thing or two about messing up with friends.... or a best friend. Lee Know said, remembering Han's words, "Go to sleep Yongbokah. We'll figure it out tomorrow."

Even though Felix wasn't going to tell Lee Know about ghosting or even being in touch with Hyunjin, he felt comforted. Felix smiled and nodded, "I don't think you can help with this Hyung... but thank you."

Lee Know nodded as he watched Felix slowly drift off to sleep.

Lee Know looked back outside to the moon, it's light shining on Lee Know's face, and his eyes reflecting back some of that light. Lee Know thought about Hyunjin.

Meanwhile,

Hyunjin lay peacefully in bed, deep in his sleep as the moonlight lit up his face. That sleep was immdeiately interrupted when a loud knock was heard on his door. He quickly sat up as his father stumbled inside. He said to Hyunjin, "I heard you have a two day holiday. I can't go out for work either. Isn't that great baby boy?"

Hyunjin gulped. Usually in holidays, his father had to go to business trips. Hyunjin said, "But I do have school." Hyunjin's father shook his head and chuckled, "No you idiot. There's a weather warning and notice to stay at home for the next two days. Didn't you check your emails?"

Hyunjin tried not to glare at his father and looked away. Maybe he wasn't allowed to have a peaceful night after all... as always. His father sat on the bed next to Hyunjin, coming close to him and said, "Since your mother and brother died, we haven't gotten time to talk. Want to have fun."

Hyunjin suddenly yelled, "HAN IS NOT DEAD!" Hyunjin immediately regretted it though, as his father yanked Hyunjin's head back from his hair shouting "Dakchyeo!" Which meant 'shut up' in Korean. Hyunjin whimpered as his eyes watered. His heart broke knowing that his father would definitely beat him up now, if he didn't want to earlier. Maybe if he stayed quiet, his dad would have actually spent time with him.

Hyunjin's father hit him on his face and grinned seeing Hyunjin cry out in pain.

His face already hurt.

After a while,

Lee Know sighed. Getting up to go to sleep. It was probably two in the morning by now. Before Lee Know could lay down, he saw his phone flash for a moment. Lee Know's brows furrowed as he looked through his phone. Suddenly, a caller id showed, and he gasped.

Without thinking, Lee Know picked it up, listening to the soft voice whisper, "Annyeong~"

Lee Know's eyes watred as he stayed quiet. The voice whispered, "Lee Know Hyung?"

Lee Know's breath caught and he covered his mouth, "Hyunjinnie?"

Hyunjin had called in the past year before. BUt this was the first time Lee Know picked up his call. He didn't know why. He wasn't even thinking. It just felt important.

Hyunjin slurred over the phone, "Help mee~" Lee Know's eyes narrowed, "What?" Suddenly, Lee Know realized what was going on, he said, "Why are you calling me? Why now? Why at this time."

He heard Hyunjin let out a low chuckle, "Three questions, one answer. I miss you."

Lee Know's tears started to spill. 'I miss you too.' 

Hyunjin said, "If I die. Would you come to my funeral?" Lee Know's knees buckled and he slid down the wall. The moonlight no longer shing on his his face. No light. Lee Know said trying not to sob, "Can I... Is it too late to apologize?"

Hyunjin froze. Well, he was already frozen in his spot because his whole body hurt, but he wasn't even blinking anymore. He was on the floor, a little blood trailing from the middle of the room to where Hyunjin's phone was charging. Hyunjin had to crawl his way to his phone. He wanted comfort. He wanted to feel safe. Lee Know was his home. Always had been.

Hyunjin said, "I'm not mad at you. Just very hurt." And he didn't know if he was talking about the physical or mental pain.

Lee Know breathed, getting control of his tears, "Are you.. ok?"

Hyunjin whispered, "No..." Lee Know said softly, "Are you home?"

"What is home?"

"I.. I don't know."

"I do. It's Fe-"

"What?"

"Can you... Is it too late to ask for help?" Hyunjin whispered, tears covering his delicate cheeks. Lee Know immediately stood up, walking outside as he wore his jacket, took his keys and put on his shoes.