Chapter Thirty: Broken relationships

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Jeonghan speeds through the streets, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turn white. His vision blurs with the tears he’s struggling to keep at bay. He can’t break down, not yet—not until he sees Seungcheol and has a chance to explain. Wonwoo is beside him, quiet but supportive, his presence grounding Jeonghan through the panic.

When they finally reach Seungcheol's house, Jeonghan jumps out of the car and rushes to the door. His breaths come in quick, shallow bursts, his hands trembling as he reaches for the handle—only to find a heavy lock hanging on the door. The sight of it hits him like a punch to the gut. Seungcheol isn’t home. Panic surges through him, his phone trembling in his hand as he tries to call Seungcheol, but the line rings endlessly with no answer.

Wonwoo places a hand on Jeonghan's shoulder, trying his best to comfort him. “Maybe he just needs space. We’ll find him,” Wonwoo says softly, though even he looks unsure.

But Jeonghan isn’t listening. Desperate, he spins on his heel and dashes across the street. His fist pounds on the door of the neighboring house, frantic and wild. When the door finally swings open, Mingyu stands there, his expression immediately hardening the moment he sees Jeonghan.

"Mingyu, right? Where’s Seungcheol?!" Jeonghan’s voice cracks, panic and desperation bleeding into every word.

Mingyu's eyes narrow, and his gaze flickers to Wonwoo beside him, a hint of betrayal flashing in his eyes. "Jeonghan," he mutters, spitting the name out like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

Jeonghan's heart races as he waits for an answer, but Mingyu’s expression remains cold and unreadable.

"Leave," Mingyu says, his voice low and dangerous. "Before I report you for trespassing."

The icy finality in Mingyu's tone sends a chill down Jeonghan's spine, and he feels the weight of his mistake crashing down on him.

Jeonghan's tears spill over, tracing hot paths down his cheeks as he shakes his head in disbelief. “Where is he?” he pleads, his voice trembling with desperation.

Mingyu crosses his arms, his expression unwavering. “I’m not going to help you, Jeonghan. You need to leave,” he insists, his tone firm.

“Please,” Jeonghan begs, taking a step closer, his heart pounding in his chest. “I need to talk to him. I made a mistake, and I can’t let him think—”

Mingyu interrupts, his voice steely. “You think this is easy for him? You think he’s just going to forgive you after everything?”

Jeonghan’s breath hitches as Mingyu’s words cut deep. “I know I messed up, but I can’t lose him. Not like this.”

“Then maybe you should have thought about that before making him a bet,” Mingyu snaps, the hurt evident in his eyes.

Jeonghan feels his heart sink further at Mingyu's words. “I didn’t mean for it to be like that! It was never supposed to be a bet. It’s more than that for me. It’s always been more than that.”

“Then prove it,” Mingyu challenges, his gaze hardening. “Show him you actually care instead of just saying it.”

As the reality of Mingyu's words sinks in, Jeonghan realizes that he needs to do just that. With a deep breath, he wipes his tears and straightens up, determination flooding through him. “I will. Just tell me where he is.”

Mingyu sighs, his resolve firm. “I can’t do that.” He glances at Wonwoo, a silent plea in his eyes. “Wonwoo... hyung, get him away from here.”

Wonwoo steps forward, a concerned look crossing his face. “Jeonghan hyung, maybe it’s best if you just give him some space right now.”

“No!” Jeonghan exclaims, his frustration bubbling over. “I can’t just leave! I need to find him and make things right.”

Mingyu shakes his head. “You’re not helping him by forcing your way in. You need to understand how he feels right now. He’s hurting.”

Jeonghan clenches his fists, feeling helpless. “But I’m hurting too! He’s everything to me. I can’t let this go without trying.”

Wonwoo places a hand on Jeonghan’s shoulder, trying to offer comfort. “We understand, but you can’t fix this all at once. Give him time. Just let him process everything.”

“I won’t let him think I don’t care,” Jeonghan insists, his voice breaking. “I need him to know how much he means to me.”

Mingyu’s gaze softens slightly, but he still stands his ground. “If you truly care, then show him that you can respect his space. Trust that he’ll reach out when he’s ready.”

With a heavy heart, Jeonghan nods, though every fiber of his being screams to fight against it. “Okay... I’ll back off for now, but I won’t give up.”

Mingyu watches him carefully, and Wonwoo gives a small nod of approval. “Just remember, Jeonghan, actions speak louder than words. Make sure he knows you’re serious about this when he comes back.”

As Jeonghan steps back, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him, he glances back one last time before turning to leave, determined to find a way to make things right.

Wonwoo looks at Mingyu, conflicted emotions swirling within him. He wants to support his friend but also feels the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. Jeonghan is already walking away, his shoulders slumped and head low, leaving behind an air of desperation.

“Are you sure about this?” Wonwoo asks quietly, glancing back at Jeonghan’s retreating figure. “He really cares for Seungcheol hyung. Maybe you should let him talk to him.”

Mingyu crosses his arms, his expression firm but thoughtful. “And what happens if he breaks Seungcheol hyung even more? He needs time to process everything. Jeonghan can’t just barge in like this.”

Wonwoo looks at Mingyu, confusion and concern etched on his face. “What are you talking about? Jeonghan hyung really cares for Seungcheol hyung. He needs to see him!”

Mingyu’s expression hardens, betrayal evident in his eyes. “You knew about this, didn’t you?” he snaps, pointing a finger at Wonwoo. “You knew about the bet and didn’t say anything?”

Wonwoo’s eyes widen, taken aback. “What? No! I didn’t know it was that serious—”

“Serious?” Mingyu cuts him off, his voice rising. “You think this is just some joke? Seungcheol hyung isn’t a game! He’s my friend, and Jeonghan made him a bet. How could you not tell me?”

Wonwoo’s heart sinks as the weight of Mingyu's words hits him. “I didn’t know it was this serious! I thought it was just harmless fun. You know how Jeonghan hyung is—”

“Harmless?” Mingyu retorts, his voice shaking with anger and hurt. “You think what they did to him was harmless? You let this happen, and now Seungcheol hyung is suffering because of it.”

Jeonghan’s retreating figure is lost to them, and Wonwoo feels a pang of guilt. “I didn’t know, Mingyu. I promise I would have said something if I had any idea it was this serious.”

Mingyu shakes his head, disappointment flooding his features. “You’re involved in this, and you didn’t even think to warn me. I thought we were in this together.”

Wonwoo steps back, realizing the rift forming between them. “I didn’t mean to betray you. I care about you and Seungcheol hyung. I just... didn’t see the bigger picture.”

Mingyu’s expression softens for a moment, but the hurt is still there. “You should have trusted me enough to tell me the truth. Now I don’t know if I can.”

As Wonwoo watches Mingyu grapple with his emotions, he feels helpless, knowing that the distance between them has widened. “Mingyu, please,” he pleads. “I want to fix this. I want to help Seungcheol hyung. Can’t we just—”

“No,” Mingyu interrupts, his voice firm. “I need some time to think about this. You should go check on Jeonghan if you care about him so much. Just... don’t come back here until you figure out where your loyalties lie.”

With that, Mingyu turns away, leaving Wonwoo standing there, the weight of their unspoken words heavy in the air.

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