MANIAC | SEOKSOO FF ✔️

PART 25

It was a rare day when Jihoon, Soonyoung, and little Dino came by for a visit.

Their laughter filled the house with a warmth that Jisoo hadn’t felt in a long time.

Even as he sat beside Seokmin, whose hand gripped his tightly, he could feel his heart pounding with a mix of desperation and hope.

Maybe, just maybe, this was a chance to escape the prison that Seokmin had constructed around him.

Dino, was particularly excited to see him. The boy raced over to Jisoo as soon as he entered, his face lighting up with joy.

"SOO NIMMMMM! I missed you!" Dino exclaimed, throwing his small arms around Jisoo’s waist. Jisoo bent down to embrace him, managing a genuine smile as he ruffled Dino’s hair.

“I missed you too, Dino,” he whispered, feeling a spark of the joy he’d once felt in his life. “How’s school?”

Jihoon and Soonyoung watched the reunion, smiling at the way Dino clung to Jisoo. For a brief moment, Jisoo felt as though everything was normal. But then Seokmin’s arm slipped around his shoulders, pulling him back, subtly but possessively. The smile on Seokmin's face was calm and charming, but Jisoo felt the silent reminder in the way his fingers dug slightly into his shoulder.

"Jisoo has been helping me around the house a lot," Seokmin said casually. "He doesn’t really have time for teaching anymore, you know?"

Jihoon gave Jisoo a slightly concerned look, noticing the tension that flashed across his face. “Well, I can imagine you’d want a break from all those kids, huh, Jisoo?” Jihoon joked, but his eyes lingered on Jisoo a bit longer, as though he sensed something was off.

Desperately, Jisoo tried to convey his silent plea, his eyes meeting Jihoon’s with a faint but unmistakable expression of urgency. He parted his lips, about to speak, when Seokmin’s hand squeezed his shoulder even tighter.

“I’ve been trying to convince Jisoo to help me set up my little greenhouse in the back,” Seokmin continued, smoothly redirecting the conversation. “Maybe one day, Dino, you can come by and help too. I know you’d love the bluebells, wouldn’t you?”

Dino nodded eagerly, and just like that, Seokmin’s grip loosened ever so slightly as he shifted his attention back to the little boy. But as soon as Seokmin glanced away, Jisoo dared to speak again.

“Soonyoung, how’s work? You were telling me before that you’re always around the area…” he trailed off, hoping Soonyoung would take the hint that he wanted to talk. But Seokmin quickly interjected, laughing as he reached over to clap Soonyoung on the shoulder.

“Oh, Soonyoung’s always working,” Seokmin said smoothly, steering the conversation away once more. "You know him—always running around and barely staying in one place."

Frustrated but unwilling to risk further, Jisoo let it go, though his mind was racing with the possibilities of what he might say next. He was aware that every time he glanced at Jihoon, Seokmin’s eyes would flicker with an edge of warning.

But Dino wasn’t as easily redirected. Tugging at Jisoo’s hand, he asked with an innocent curiosity, “Soo Nim, why don’t you come see us anymore?”

Jisoo looked down at the child’s wide eyes, his heart twisting. Before he could respond, Seokmin laughed softly, reaching out to ruffle Dino’s hair. “Jisoo’s really busy with me, Dino. He’s helping me with so much here. Isn’t that right, Jisoo?”

Seokmin’s gaze met his, and there was a quiet intensity in his eyes that sent a chill down Jisoo’s spine. He knew that any misstep, any sign of resistance, would come with consequences later. Forcing himself to smile, he nodded.

“That’s right, Dino,” Jisoo said softly, his voice faltering just a little. “I… I just don’t have as much free time these days.”

Jihoon’s expression had turned contemplative, his brows furrowing as he looked between Jisoo and Seokmin. “Well, maybe we should all get together more often,” Jihoon suggested, his voice carrying a subtle note of insistence. “You know, just to catch up. Right, Jisoo?”

Jisoo’s gaze flicked to Jihoon, hoping he’d finally caught on. But Seokmin’s hand shifted from his shoulder to wrap around his waist, pulling him closer.

“That sounds nice,” Seokmin replied before Jisoo could answer, his smile unwavering. “But we’ll see. Jisoo’s been feeling a little under the weather lately. Isn’t that right, love?”

The way Seokmin said it made Jisoo’s stomach twist, but he nodded, lowering his gaze. “Yeah… maybe… another time.”

As the visit wore on, Jisoo grew more desperate, his hints becoming slightly bolder. But each time, Seokmin expertly redirected the conversation, his grip on Jisoo never loosening.