Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 29

The days that passed were a strange mix of tension and uneasy peace. Seungcheol continued to avoid Jeonghan, his anger still a simmering presence beneath his stoic exterior. Jeonghan, on the other hand, was a mixture of remorse and a strange sort of quiet determination.

He continued to stay with Seungcheol, seemingly content to take whatever cold treatment came his way. Haneul, blissfully unaware of the tension, continued to be a bright spot in the house.

The atmosphere in the house was heavy, the silence punctuated only by the occasional sound of Seungcheol moving around or Haneul's laughter. Jeonghan kept his distance, respecting Seungcheol's silent wish to be left alone, but his eyes always followed Seungcheol's movements, a mixture of guilt and hope in his gaze.

Seungcheol continued to maintain his cold demeanor, his interactions with Jeonghan limited to terse responses or ignoring him altogether. Haneul, oblivious to the tension, continued to enjoy the presence of both Jeonghan and Seungcheol, his sweet laughter and endless energy brightening the otherwise heavy atmosphere.

The other members noticed the ongoing tension between Jeonghan and Seungcheol, their observant eyes picking up on the cold glances, the terse responses, and the avoidance. They were all aware of the situation, having been told the gist of it, but they chose to stay out of it, giving the two space to sort out their issues.

However, there were times when it was clear that the other members were concerned, their gazes lingering on Jeonghan as he hovered silently in the background, their eyes flickering to Seungcheol as he tried to maintain his cold veneer. They couldn't help but feel sorry for Jeonghan, but they also knew that Seungcheol's anger was justified.

Occasionally, they would try to engage Jeonghan in conversation, to include him in their banter, trying to lighten the atmosphere a bit. But Jeonghan would often smile politely and retreat, his eyes always flickering to Seungcheol. The members, noticing this, would shoot Seungcheol a disapproving glance, but he would just huff and look away.

Haneul, being the innocent child he was, didn't fully grasp the tension among the adults around him. But he could sense that something was off, his usual carefree laughter replaced by a hint of worry and uncertainty. He gravitated between Jeonghan and Seungcheol, trying to figure out why they were acting so strange, but his young mind could only grasp so much.

It was one day Haneul, waddled over to Seungcheol, who was sitting on the couch in the living room, reading a book. His tiny hands reached up, tugging at Seungcheol's shirt, a silent demand for his attention.

Seungcheol looked up from his book, his expression softening slightly at the sight of Haneul. Despite his anger and frustration with Jeonghan, he couldn't bring himself to ignore the boy. "Yes, Haneul?" He asked, his voice not unkind.

Haneul's face lit up at the attention, his tiny hand reaching up to pat Seungcheol's cheek. Despite his young age, he seemed to recognize the storm of emotions brewing in the household and sought out Seungcheol for comfort. "Up?" he asked, his tiny hand still resting on Seungcheol's cheek.

Seungcheol couldn't resist the unspoken plea in Haneul's eyes. Setting his book aside, he scooped the little boy into his lap, his large hands easily supporting the small frame. Haneul immediately snuggled against his chest, his head resting under Seungcheol's chin.

Seungcheol instinctively wrapped his arms around Haneul, holding him close. He gently stroked Haneul's hair, the soft strands slipping between his fingers. The weight of the little boy on his lap was comforting, and for the first time in days, some of the tension left Seungcheol's body.

Haneul looked up at Seungcheol with large, innocent eyes, his tiny face filled with childish curiosity. His soft voice broke the silence, asking a question Seungcheol had been dreading.