Hell'O' Brother 🔞

Chapter 10 : Healing Hearts

"True love holds no grudges and finds light even in the darkest shadows."
-Vespera

Namjoon rushed up the stairs, the echo of his hurried footsteps pounding through the silent halls like a battle drum. His heart raced, a mix of fury and fear coiling in his chest. Every second felt like an eternity until he reached the bedroom door, which stood slightly ajar. He pushed it open with trembling hands and was met with a scene that made his heart stop.

There she was—YN. Blood trickled from a gash on her forehead, painting a stark, crimson trail down her pale skin. Her breathing was ragged, and her eyes, wide with terror, darted toward him. The moment their gazes met, hers flared with anger and mistrust.

“Don’t touch me...you bastard,” she gasped, her voice cracking as she pushed herself against the headboard, struggling to keep her vision focused. “My Namjoon will kill you when he comes.”

Namjoon’s chest tightened at her words. Pain surged in his eyes as he whispered, “YN...it’s me. It’s really me.” He stepped closer, cautiously, like approaching a wounded animal. The room seemed to shrink around them, the weight of what had transpired pressing down like a heavy shroud.

She blinked, realization dawning slowly, softening the hard line of her mouth. Tears brimmed in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks as she broke down. “Namjoon...you came,” she whimpered. Without hesitation, he rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms. The tension melted as she clung to him, shaking with silent sobs.

“I’m here, and I’ll never let anything happen to you,” he murmured against her hair, holding her tightly. The warmth of his embrace was enough to soothe the shivers wracking her body.

After a few minutes, Namjoon loosened his hold and assessed her injury. His face darkened, a mix of guilt and anger battling for dominance. “We need to get you to the hospital,” he said, carefully lifting her into his arms. The blood on her forehead glistened ominously in the dim light, a painful reminder of the violence that had unfolded.

As he carried her down the stairs, Namjoon’s eyes flickered over the broken furniture and shattered glass strewn across the floor. He could still feel the ghost of Taejoon’s twisted smile, the echoes of their fight simmering in his veins. He laid YN gently in the passenger seat of his car, securing her with trembling hands. Her eyes were already drifting shut, exhaustion pulling her under.

“I’ll be back in a moment, love,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. He shut the door and stood still for a heartbeat, collecting himself. The air was cold, biting at his skin as he turned and marched back into the house.

Taejoon was slumped against the wall, blood smeared across his face from their fight. He looked up when Namjoon appeared, eyes glistening with something between regret and defiance. “Don’t take me to the hospital, brother,” Taejoon hissed, a sinister smile curling at his swollen lips. “I’ll destroy you again.”

Namjoon’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, rage flared hotly in his eyes. But he took a deep breath, forcing calm into his voice. “Stop your drama now, Taejoon. It’s over.” He stepped forward, grabbing Taejoon by the arm and hoisting him up despite the protests and curses that followed.

Namjoon parked the car outside the emergency entrance of the hospital, the fluorescent lights casting a stark glow over the pale concrete. The rumble of the engine died, and silence settled in—a brief, suffocating pause in the chaos that had been their night. YN’s soft groan snapped Namjoon out of his frozen state. He rushed around to the passenger side and opened the door, carefully lifting her out. She was barely conscious, her head resting limply against his shoulder.