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Time skip
Jeongin was getting ready for going to Seungmin with his stuff
Suddenly his phone buzzed
Message
"Dad wants to talk with you. For the job I gave you. He seems mad at me. Don't take any words seriously whatever he says. He doesn't even know what he says when he's angry but keep blabber." -seungmin

Jeongin forrowed his eyes with confusion
"Okay. But you didn't have to say harsh about your father"

As Jeongin arrived at Seungmin's house, the sounds of an argument drifted out from one of the rooms. Jeongin could pick up snippets of the conversation, Seungmin's voice raised in protest, and the commanding tone of another man probably Seungmin's father, Jeongin guessed.
Jeongin slowly approached but was feeling afraid to call Seungmin at this moment.
The voices continued to rise and fall, the argument intensifying. it sounded like Seungmin's father was scolding him over something. Jeongin could only make out something about Seungmin's future.

The argument inside the house seemed to reach a peak, Seungmin's father's voice practically shaking the walls. His heart clenched in his chest, torn between leaving and doing something to comfort Seungmin.

Through the slightly open door, he saw a flash of movement, Seungmin's father raising his hand on him . The sound of the slap echoed in the air.
Jeongin's mouth opened in shock
He heard another, much softer sound, Seungmin's father's voice, lower now, but still filled with anger.
"Totally disappointment.. you're not my son"

Jeongin was frozen in place, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. The argument inside the house simmered down after a few more minutes. Jeongin could hear the sound of a door closing, then a stifling silence.
"S-seungmin"
Jeongin called him softly didn't know how to comfort him now.
He didn't even have a chance to speak ,before Seungmin was yanking him out of the house and into the fresh air. his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and hurt.
Without a word, Seungmin led Jeongin further away from the house, his breathing ragged. Jeongin didn't know what to say, so he stayed silent, letting Seungmin take the lead.
Seungmin finally released Jeongin's hand. He didn't look back at Jeongin. he just continued walking, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his jaw set stubbornly.
Jeongin called out, his voice hesitant and soft. He saw Seungmin's shoulders tensed, Jeongin quickened his pace, catching up to Seungmin and grabbing his wrist.

"Seungmin, wait," Jeongin said firmly, spinning Seungmin around to face him.
"Just stop for a minute, please," Jeongin pleaded. But Seungmin tugged at his arm, He turned his face away, refusing to look at Jeongin.

"Leave me alone. I don't need you" Seungmin repeated, his voice cracking on the last word, betraying the pain he was trying to hide.
Jeongin's heart clenching at the pain in Seungmin's voice.
"I'm not going anywhere," Jeongin said softly, his grip on Seungmin's wrist unyielding.

"You might not know but I hate people's presence when I'm not in good mood" Seungmin spoke harshly with cold cracky voice.

Jeongin flinched at the harshness in Seungmin's tone, but he didn’t back down. "I don't care" he said stubbornly. "I'm not leaving you alone like this."

Jeongin led Seungmin to a nearby bench, ignoring his attempts to pull away. They sat down, Jeongin keeping a firm grip on Seungmin's hand.

Jeongin looked at Seungmin, studying his face. Seungmin's eyes were downcast, his mouth set in a tight line. The red mark on his cheek from his father's slap was a brutal.
Jeongin swallowed, gathering his courage. "Did?? Does he always do, i mean?" Jeongin couldn't find the words to finish the question.
Seungmin's jaw ticked but he nodded silently. Jeongin's gaze softened seeing his hurt expression yet trying to look hard.
Jeongin's hand was still holding tightly onto Seungmin's "can you talk to me? We might handle together" He could feel Seungmin's hand trembling slightly, and he gave it a gentle squeeze to reassure him.

Seungmin's head was still bowed, but he gave a nearly imperceptible nod. "You know what" he mumbled quietly.
"nobody knows how lonely I actually feel in this world.. I've a lot friends but I never found them when I needed. it's not their fault I could never opened myself to them."
Seungmin clenched his jaw to hold his crack voice "i wanted them right by my side like this. But I couldn't just show them my weakness. But in deep I needed them to talk like this, to share how I feel when my heart is broken. If I said leave me they always left which I didn't want"

Jeongin's eyes were with concern and felt a surge to protect, stay by the older's side.
" but you did to me, right! don't worry I'm listening"

Jeongin's hand was still holding tightly onto Seungmin's, and he shifted his grip so that their fingers threaded together.

Seungmin's head was still bowed, but he gave a slight nod. "What do you want to know?" he mumbled quietly.
Jeongin took a deep breath. There were so many questions he wanted to ask
"How long has this been going on?" he asked quietly.

"Since my childhood"

Jeongin's breath hitched at that revelation, his grip on Seungmin's hand tightening.

"Why?" Jeongin choked out. "Why didn't you tell anyone? At least your mother or minho?"

Seungmin shook his head "I tried to tell I tried to open myself but they never understood my inner feelings"
Jeongin's heart ached for Seungmin. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to suffer in silence
"I'm so sorry, Seungmin," Jeongin whispered "You shouldn't have had to go through this alone."
Jeongin's frustration building up inside him. he said fiercely. "Parents are supposed to love and support you, not treat you like this."
Seungmin lift his head to directly looking at Jeongin with amusing eyes but soft
"Why are you listening my pain, my feelings, why are you caring to hear me?"
the weight of Seungmin's words hanging heavy in the air.  the deep yearning for someone to care for him, really see him and understand him.

"You deserve that" Jeongin said quietly, his finger tracing gentle circles on the back of Seungmin's hand.
Seungmin turned to look at Jeongin, their eyes meeting. Jeongin was taken aback by the  pain he saw in Seungmin's gaze.

"Everyone backed away. Why you didn't?" Seungmin's voice was like craving to hear the answer.

Jeongin's heart fluttered at Seungmin's words. He squeezed Seungmin's hand again. "Because I know you, Seungmin," he said softly. "I can see past all the layers you put up. I see the scared, hurting boy underneath."
"Jeongin,"
"Hmm" jeongin brushing his hand slightly with his thump.

"Can I hug you?"

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