Stendhal • Syndrome || SeongJoong

VII

"Have we always been three?"

"No. He's new."

"Oh, thank goodness. I thought I'd ignored him until now."

Yeosang is... So beautiful.

It stuns Hongjoong that it brings him joy.

He's not more beautiful than Seonghwa, he's as beautiful as Wooyoung and it makes him smile! It makes him silly to be with them so much. However, he likes it more than being at home. He loves seeing the clouds that form around them. The trees that grow and their clothes full of frills and lace to adorn them. They are spoiled children. They are cute children.

They belong on a picnic in the middle of the forest, enjoying singing, dancing and being harassed by eyes in the shadows, mysterious figures made carelessly by worn brushes. Like dripping paint.

And when they are obvious, they are satyrs.

The ones who harass and want to abuse those lovely nymphs who are just having fun.

"He lets his mind wander even further than you do." Wooyoung jokes and Yeosang laughs, hugging Hongjoong.

"Welcome! Being here is better than anywhere! Especially when Seonghwa- No?"

Wooyoung gestures for him to shut up. Hongjoong is too wrapped up in himself to notice.

More flowers blooming. More trees surrounding them. More blush on their cheeks and more beauty in the perfect strokes to make them look like the nymphs dreamed up by the painter.

┈ ⋞ ⟨ ✷ ⟩ ⋟ ┈

Seonghwa is angry today.

Raging about who knows what.

Hongjoong might know, but he's too dumbed down to pay attention.

San finds it very fun to admire. Hongjoong is really crazy at Seonghwa's mere existence. Whether it's the state he's in or he threatens to kill him every other sentence.

"Anything to say for what your shitty family did?"

"I killed my older brother by biting his neck." Hongjoong says with a laugh.

Seonghwa frowns further. Her face is dirty, hair loose with some strands burned (just like part of his clothes). She has a small cut on his cheekbone and a purple mark below. Seonghwa looks at San, asking for confirmation of that information. She expected anything but that answer. San sighs.

"I investigated as you asked, until today I was able to confirm that... yes, he killed him. He didn't survive when he broke blood vessels, nerves and other vital parts of his neck. I was hoping he'd tell me the reason, but you know how it is." San points out and Seonghwa lets out air through her mouth, moving her jaw and turning back to Hongjoong, squeezing his face. Even one of her nails broke.

"Did you know they were going to attack me today and destroy my warehouse?" Hongjoong says no, barely comprehensible. "Did you know I was going there? Did they tell you?"

"My brothers are watching your warehouses. They want to kill you. They're so stupid. They couldn't kill you." Hongjoong says with a smile and Seonghwa lets go abruptly.

"Not kill me, but affect me... I can't afford to lose people, merchandise, places, or money," Seonghwa hisses. "If that were to happen, if any other family noticed, they'd come after me and that's what you want? Kill me? Or turn me into a slave."

"That's not going to happen. It's-"

"IT! CAN! HAPPEN!"

San steps back out of caution, Jongho wants to get out of here and Mingi stays outside. He was just coming and stops Wooyoung and Yeosang from entering. Seonghwa's hysterical scream is something they have never heard.