Bound by Shadows .jc

CHAPTER 7

A Glimmer of Hope

Time Off day 

The night had been long and brutal for Dino. Sitting alone in his darkened room, the first rays of sunlight slipping through the curtains went unnoticed as he curled into himself, his mind racing with the same toxic thoughts that had plagued him all night. He hadn't slept, too caught up in the loop of negative thinking. They don't need me.

That thought replayed like a broken record. His brothers — they were strong, skilled, and cool. Each of them was irreplaceable in their roles, and yet here he was, constantly feeling like a burden. He was nothing more than the youngest, not their real brother, and certainly not someone they couldn't live without. Another hacker could easily take his place. Maybe someone more competent, someone who didn't mess up.

He had failed to protect the family on more than one occasion. The guilt ate at him. He wasn't special. He wasn't irreplaceable. Why would they care? He hadn't eaten, hadn't slept, and now, the sun had risen on a new day that didn't feel like it belonged to him.

A knock on his door snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. Dino froze, his heart hammering in his chest. It was Wonwoo calling him down for breakfast. His voice was as casual as ever, as if Dino's entire world wasn't crashing down around him.

"Coming," Dino murmured.

He forced himself to get up, freshen up quickly, and make his way downstairs. The dining room was quiet, but his brothers were all seated, the table already filled with food. Dino slipped into his seat, directly opposite Hansol, who seemed more interested in his fork than the actual food, occasionally taking bites without much thought.

Jun spoke first, updating everyone on his plans for the day. "I'll be heading to the movies and doing some shopping at the mall later," he said, his voice light. It sounded like any other day for him.

Hansol, in his usual detached tone, mentioned he'd be at a nearby club, and Wonwoo immediately offered to go with him for safety, not that Hansol seemed to mind.

Seungcheol, as always, kept things business-focused. "Hoshi and I will be attending a meeting and taking care of some other things," he said.

There was a pause, and all eyes turned to Dino. He had barely touched his food, absently pushing it around his plate.

Hoshi broke the silence. "What about you, Dino? Where are you headed today?"

Dino looked up, meeting Hoshi's gaze for a second before quickly looking away. He felt small under their eyes. He didn't want to go anywhere. He didn't want to exist, not in their world or his.

"I don't want to go out," he said quietly, almost as if he were asking for permission.

Seungcheol's sharp gaze landed on him, piercing and cold. His voice was as firm as ever. "Don't come back until seven in the evening."

Dino's heart sank. Don't come back. The words echoed in his head. It felt like confirmation of his worst fear — they didn't want him around. He was being abandoned. He swallowed his fear, too terrified to argue or ask for an explanation. He simply nodded and muttered, "I'll go for a walk."

He excused himself from the table as quickly as possible, practically fleeing the suffocating atmosphere of the dining room. Tears stung his eyes, but he blinked them away before they could spill over. The last thing he wanted was to cry in front of them. Stepping outside, he felt a tear slip down his face as he started walking aimlessly through the streets. The mansion was far behind him now, and he didn't care where he ended up. He just wanted to disappear.

Meanwhile, back in the mansion, the room fell into an awkward silence after Dino left. Jun and Hansol left soon after, followed by Wonwoo.

The maid came in to clear the plates, and Seungcheol and Hoshi were left at the table. Hoshi's gaze drifted to Dino's untouched plate, his brow furrowing in concern. "He didn't eat," he muttered.