Eclipsed Hearts

5

Authors pov

Hoseok woke up to the feeling of light hitting his eyes. He grunted and turned to the other side, but regretted it instantly as a sharp pain shot through his body, especially his back and privates. He whimpered, tears falling as he remembered what had happened to him last night.

Breathing heavily, he stood up from the bed with difficulty. Leaning on the wall, he held his stomach and bit his bottom lip, trying to suppress his cries of pain. He walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind him, leaning against it for support. He didn’t look at the mirror, not wanting to see the broken shell he had become.

With a trembling hand, Hoseok undressed and stepped into the shower. The hot water hit his battered body, causing him to flinch badly. He knelt down, resting his head against the wall as memories of the horrible things that had happened to him since marrying Jaeho flooded his mind. He missed his family so much, especially his brother who now hated him for not attending his wedding. Hoseok had wanted to go so badly, but Jaeho hadn’t allowed it. When he tried to sneak his way there, Jaeho had caught him, and the consequences had been too horrific to remember.

This wasn’t the first time Jaeho had taken advantage of him; it had happened countless times before. Hoseok sighed shakily and stepped out of the shower, drying his body with a towel. He dressed in comfortable clothing that wouldn’t irritate his bruises: a loose gray sweatshirt and soft, black sweatpants. With a weary heart, he opened the bathroom door and made his way downstairs, climbing the stairs with great difficulty, wincing with every step.

Relief washed over him when he finally reached the bottom. He stood there for a minute, trying to regain his strength, feeling weak and drained. Limping to the kitchen, he knew he wouldn’t be able to go to work today. He was thankful that Jaeho wasn’t around so he could have some peace to himself.

By noon, Hoseok had finished cooking. He knew Jaeho would come home soon, and he dreaded it with all his heart. The food was neatly arranged on the table: steamed rice, grilled mackerel, kimchi, and a side of soybean paste stew. Hoseok was walking to his room to rest a little when he stopped and whimpered upon hearing the sound of the front door lock turning.

He stood still, composing himself. He heard his husband talking to someone and guessed Jaeho had brought a friend over. He was thankful that he had cooked enough.

"Hoseok!" Jaeho called from the hallway.

Hoseok turned slowly, his heart sinking when he noticed the familiar figure standing next to his husband. His eyes widened and he whispered, "Yoongi," under his breath, making sure Jaeho wouldn't hear.

Yoongi also looked shocked, clearly not expecting Hoseok to be his neighbor.

Jaeho, oblivious to the silent exchange, introduced them. "Hoseok, this is Min Yoongi. He’s our new neighbor."

Hoseok forced a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Min.”

Yoongi nodded, his eyes never leaving Hoseok's face. “Nice to meet you too, Hoseok.”

“Why don’t you join us for lunch?” Jaeho suggested, leading Yoongi to the dining table.

Yoongi hesitated but followed Jaeho, casting a concerned glance at Hoseok.

As they sat down to eat, the tension in the room was palpable. Jaeho’s demeanor was surprisingly pleasant, but Hoseok knew it was a façade. He couldn’t shake the fear that lingered in his heart.

“So, Yoongi,” Jaeho began, “what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a music producer,” Yoongi replied, his gaze flickering to Hoseok every now and then. “I recently moved here for a change of pace.”

“That’s great,” Jaeho said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe you can give Hoseok some music tips. He loves music.”

Hoseok remained silent, focusing on his food. He could feel Yoongi’s eyes on him, searching for answers.

“I’d love to,” Yoongi said, his voice gentle. “What kind of music do you like, Hoseok?”

Hoseok looked up briefly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I like all kinds of music.”

Jaeho’s smile widened. “See? You two will get along just fine.”

The rest of the meal passed in strained silence. Hoseok’s mind was racing, wondering how much Yoongi had figured out and what would happen next.

After lunch, Jaeho and Yoongi moved to the living room, discussing various topics. Hoseok quietly cleared the table, his heart heavy with fear and uncertainty.

“Hoseok, why don’t you join us?” Jaeho called out.

Hoseok flinched but complied, sitting on the edge of the couch. Yoongi watched him carefully, concern etched on his face.

“Hoseok, Yoongi was just telling me about his music studio,” Jaeho said. “You should visit it sometime.”

Hoseok nodded, not trusting himself to speak. The thought of being alone with Yoongi was both comforting and terrifying.

Yoongi, sensing Hoseok’s discomfort, changed the subject. “Actually, I have to get going soon. Thank you for the meal, Hoseok.”

Jaeho stood up, escorting Yoongi to the door. “It was our pleasure. Feel free to drop by anytime.”

Yoongi smiled politely, but his eyes lingered on Hoseok. “I’ll take you up on that. Goodbye, Hoseok.”

“Goodbye,” Hoseok whispered, his heart aching as he watched Yoongi leave.

The door closed, and the oppressive silence returned. Jaeho turned to Hoseok, his expression darkening. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how you looked at him.”

Hoseok’s blood ran cold. “I-I didn’t—”

“Shut up,” Jaeho snarled, advancing on him. “You’re mine, Hoseok. Don’t forget that.”

Hoseok nodded frantically, backing away. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Jaeho grabbed his arm, his grip like iron. “You better be. Now go to our room and wait for me.”

Tears streaming down his face, Hoseok obeyed, retreating to the bedroom. He sat on the bed, his heart pounding with fear and despair. The encounter with Yoongi had given him a fleeting glimpse of hope, but now that hope was shattered.

As the hours passed and Jaeho’s footsteps approached, Hoseok braced himself for the inevitable. His only solace was the memory of Yoongi’s kind eyes, a small beacon of light in the endless darkness of his life.