Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 34

The mansion was quiet, the silence punctuated only by Haneul's small footsteps as he padded down the hallway. The boy's eyes scanned the rooms, looking for the figure of Seungcheol.

He peeked into the bathroom, then the living room, but there was no sign of Seungcheol. Haneul's small hands reached up to push aside the ajar door of the last room. The bedroom.

Haneul pushed the door open, the room almost entirely dark except for a sliver of light coming from the bedside lamp. He looked around, his eyes adjusting to the dim light, until he caught sight of the man sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

Haneul padded into the room, his tiny footsteps barely making a sound against the carpet. He approached the bed, his eyes fixed on the man sitting on the edge.

"Cheol uncle." he called out in a soft voice, the name almost like a whisper in the still room.

Seungcheol's head jerked up at the sound of Haneul's voice, surprise and confusion etched in his face. He stared at Haneul, his eyes taking in the boy's small form in the darkness of the room.

"Haneul?" he said, his voice a mix of surprise. "What are you doing in here?"

Haneul climbed up onto the bed, his small form bouncing on the mattress. He sat next to Seungcheol, his small body seeming even smaller next to the man's tired frame.

"Cheol uncle." he said again, his voice quieter this time, "Can I ask you something?"

Seungcheol's expression softened a bit at Haneul's question. He nodded tiredly, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Sure, bud." he said, his voice a little raspy. "What is it?"

Haneul's small face was serious as he looked up at Seungcheol. He fidgeted with his small hands in his lap, as if gathering his courage.

"Cheol uncle." he said, his voice trembling just a little, "Are you...are you still mad at daddy?"

Seungcheol's body tensed at Haneul's question, his jaw clenching involuntarily. He looked at the boy, the innocence in his eyes and voice in stark contrast to the complicated emotions swirling in Seungcheol's chest.

"Why do you ask, bud?" he said, his voice neutral but strained.

Haneul fidgeted again, his small fingers picking at a loose thread on his pyjamas. "Daddy said you're mad at him." he said quietly, his voice quavering a little. "He...he said you won't forgive him. Is...is that true?"

Seungcheol inhaled deeply, his chest tightening at Haneul's words. He ran a hand through his hair again, his fingers clenching around the strands. "It's...it's complicated, Haneul." he said, his voice tight. "It's not that simple."

Haneul's small face scrunched up in confusion, his innocent mind trying to make sense of the complexity of Seungcheol's answer. "But...but why can't you forgive him?" he pressed, his voice laced with a hint of pleading. "Daddy is sorry. He...he loves you."

Seungcheol's heart clenched at Haneul's words. The boy's naive belief in the thought that it could be that simple...it was almost too much.

"Haneul." he said softly, his voice strained. "It's...it's not about forgiveness. It's about...about trust. And...and sometimes, trust can't be regained no matter how sorry someone is."

Haneul looked up at Seungcheol again, his eyes wide and earnest. "But...but daddy loves you," he said, as if that should solve everything.

"It's...it's not just about love, buddy," Seungcheol said quietly, his voice strained yet gentle. "Sometimes... sometimes love isn't enough to fix things."