I Hate The Way You Love

14 - The Pain

SLAP.

That was the first thing Seungkwan received as soon as he opened the hotel room door to the persistent knocking. His cheek stung, heat rising to his skin as he felt it redden. A tear slipped from the corner of his eye, involuntarily escaping in the shock of the moment as Jeonghan stood before him.

"Scum..." Jeonghan slurred. From his alcohol-laden breath and unsteady stance, it was clear to Seungkwan that he was drunk. "Slut!" he spat harshly.

"Jeonghan!" Mingyu rushed forward, pulling him away from Seungkwan the moment he saw what had happened. His face still showed traces of sleep, having just woken up.  "Are you crazy?" he hissed, gripping Jeonghan tightly as the blond swayed unsteadily, still trying to lunge at Seungkwan.

Jeonghan's drunken movements were clumsy, but his anger burned brightly. "I should've known you weren't as innocent as you look. You planned all of this, didn't you? Just to steal Mingyu from me!" he shouted, his voice trembling with emotion.

Thankfully, they were on a private floor with no other rooms nearby. There was no one around to hear or be disturbed by the commotion.

Seungkwan remained silent, still reeling from Jeonghan's outburst. His gaze stayed fixed on the floor, his unsteady breaths trembling in the tense air. Mingyu's jaw clenched as his eyes landed on Seungkwan's cheek, now a deep, angry red. The slap's force was painfully clear.

"Enough!" Mingyu snapped in a low whisper, pulling his ex-husband away. "Come on, let's get you back to your room—"

"Our room!" Jeonghan burst out, his voice trembling with emotion. "That's our room, in case you forgot!" He glared at Mingyu, his fury sharp and cutting. "And you just left me—for that whore—"

"I said enough, Jeonghan!" Mingyu growled, gripping Jeonghan's shoulders tightly, his eyes blazing with anger. The intensity in his voice finally silenced Jeonghan, who froze under Mingyu's glare. But then, tears began welling up in Jeonghan's eyes, spilling down his cheeks in a sudden rush of vulnerability.

Mingyu's expression softened immediately, guilt flickering across his face. "I'm sorry..." he murmured, his tone gentler now as he reached up to wipe away Jeonghan's tears and pressed a soft kiss to his head. "I'm sorry. Let's go... let's get back to our room, okay? I won't leave you again," he said quietly, guiding Jeonghan away from Seungkwan.

Jeonghan buried his face in Mingyu's chest, clinging to him as they walked away. Mingyu didn't spare Seungkwan a glance or a single word before heading toward the elevator and disappearing from view.

***

After that hurtful morning, Mingyu didn't return to Seungkwan's room—not even to grab his belongings. Seungkwan figured it was either because Jeonghan had completely forbidden him or because Mingyu had decided there was no reason to see him anymore. Either way, it wasn't Mingyu's fault. He had only tried to help, though it had been foolish of him to rush to Seungkwan's side when he broke down crying in front of Tokyo Tower.

Besides, Seungkwan had already wished for Mingyu's happiness. He truly meant it. If giving Mingyu the freedom to spend days with Jeonghan—leaving Seungkwan alone in a foreign country—was what it took for Mingyu to be happy, then so be it.