First Breath

Chapter 23: Struggle to Breathe

As Jungkook and Youngho sit in the library together, Jungkook works on a project for a class while Youngho stares at his homework with a frown. While they are doing their homework, Eunwoo and Jaehyun enter the library. When Youngho hears Jaehyun's voice, he quickly looks up. The moment their eyes meet, Youngho looks away and clenches his jaw. Jungkook looks at his friend with worry when he sees the pain in Youngho's eyes.

"He's gone." Jungkook gently places his hand on Youngho's shoulder.

"What is it like to be loved back?" Youngho quietly asks as he tries to hold back his tears.

"It's beautiful." Jungkook softly whispers and looks at his friend with sorrow.

"I hope you treasure him." Youngho sniffles and quickly dries his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.

"I will," Jungkook mutters and looks at his design. "I love him."

"I am jealous." Youngho chuckles with teary eyes. "Being loved back sounds like a dream. And he's from a different world. He didn't even let the age difference stop him."

"Yeah, I got lucky that he looks past all of that." Jungkook hums and nods. "He looks past everything and sees me."

"I'm fucking jealous." Youngho sighs and looks up at the ceiling.

"You'll find your person. I know you will." Jungkook softly smiles and squeezes his friend's shoulder.

"I'm still jealous as fuck." Youngho bitterly smiles as he continues to stare at the ceiling.

That night, as Youngho and Jungkook work, Jaehyun and Eunwoo enter the club with a large group of friends. While Youngho sticks gems under his eye, he is told that the Crimson Suite was booked for him.

"Do I look okay?" Youngho asks Jungkook as he sticks the final gem to his face.

"Yeah." Jungkook nods and watches as Youngho leaves the room.

When Youngho enters the Crimson Suite, he feels his entire world shatter. Staring at him in shock is Jaehyun. Youngho takes a deep breath and puts on his persona, ignoring the nauseating feeling devouring him. As he performs for the group, he never once glances at Jaehyun. He knows that seeing the disgust on Jaehyun's face would break him.

"Doesn't he go to our university?" One of the guys in the group asks when he recognizes Youngho.

"Fuck no. The university wouldn't let a stripper go there." Another one laughs and eyes Youngho. "He is hot as fuck."

"Can you imagine going to class with someone with diseases?" One of them sneers and spits.

"Stop it." Jaehyun grits out and glares at the three mocking Youngho.

"It's true, though. There's no way that someone like that would be allowed on campus."

"It's not fucking illegal. They let you go to school even though you've been arrested for drunk driving." Eunwoo snarls with anger.

"What the fuck? Do you know him or something?"

"I do. I know him." Eunwoo stands up and steps between Youngho and the others. 

"Fuck. That's disgusting. Did you contract diseases from him? I knew gay people were nasty." One of the guys stands up and spits at Eunwoo.

"Shut the fuck up! You don't know anything about him!" Jaehyun shouts as he grabs the guy who is mocking Youngho. "I bet you have diseases from all of the random people you sleep with!"

"Jae, it's okay," Youngho calls out to try to calm Jaehyun down.

"No! I am fucking tired of these assholes." Jaehyun slams the man into the wall. "You don't know how people fight to survive every day! You wouldn't survive a day in his shoes." He snarls before letting go.