BLOSSOMED | SEOKSOO FF ✔️

PART 11

The next morning, Jihoon gathered all his courage and made his way to Seokmin’s house. The uneasiness had grown unbearable, and the image Soonyoung painted haunted him. As he approached the familiar door, his hands trembled slightly. He took a deep breath and knocked, waiting in the eerie silence.

After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open, and Jihoon stepped inside. The house smelled stale, the air thick with neglect. The living room was an absolute mess—discarded clothes, broken dishes, and empty bottles littered the floor.

“Seokmin?” Jihoon called out, his voice echoing.

A low, unhinged laugh answered from the bedroom. Jihoon’s heart sank. He rushed toward the sound and froze at the doorway.

Seokmin sat on the edge of the bed, barely recognizable. His once vibrant face was gaunt, his eyes sunken and bloodshot. His hair was a disheveled mess, and his frame looked like it had withered away. He laughed softly, but it sounded more like a sob, his fingers tangled in his hair.

“Jihoon,” Seokmin said, looking up with a twisted smile. “You finally came. Do you think I look pathetic enough now?”

Jihoon’s blood boiled at the sight of his brother, broken and deteriorating. The anger surged before he could stop it, and he lashed out.

“Are you kidding me, Lee Seokmin?” Jihoon shouted, stepping closer. “Look at you! This is what you’ve become? After everything you’ve done, this is how you live now? You’re pathetic!”

Seokmin flinched but didn’t respond. He just stared at Jihoon with a mixture of guilt and exhaustion.

“You ruined Jisoo’s life,” Jihoon continued, his voice cracking. “You broke him, and now you’re sitting here acting like you’re the victim? How dare you!”

Seokmin’s smile faltered, replaced by a shadow of pain. He lowered his gaze, tears streaming down his hollow cheeks. “I know,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I know I ruined everything.”

The sudden shift in Seokmin’s demeanor silenced Jihoon. His brother wasn’t fighting back. There was no defiance, no excuses—only raw remorse.

“Every time I close my eyes, I see him,” Seokmin said, his voice shaking. “I see his face, the way he looked at me, the fear in his eyes. I hear his cries, Jihoon. I hear them, and they don’t stop. I’m a monster, aren’t I? I am even hearing them right now. Is he still crying?”

Jihoon felt his anger dissolve into something more painful. His chest tightened as he watched Seokmin crumble before him, a man consumed by his own demons.

“No.. He is not. But you... You’ve become a shadow of yourself,” Jihoon said softly, his voice losing its edge. “But this doesn’t fix anything, Seokmin. Wallowing in self-pity won’t undo what you’ve done.”

Seokmin let out a humorless laugh, tears dripping onto his lap. “I don’t know how to fix it, hyung. I don’t even know if I can.”

Jihoon sat down beside him cautiously, the bed creaking under their weight. “You can’t undo the past, but you can start taking responsibility. You need help, Seokmin. You can’t keep living like this.”

Seokmin turned to him, his eyes filled with despair. “What’s the point? Jisoo’s gone. He’s never coming back. He’s better off without me.”

Jihoon reached out hesitantly, placing a hand on Seokmin’s trembling shoulder. “This isn’t about winning him back,” Jihoon said firmly. “It’s about fixing yourself, for you. You owe it to yourself—and to Jisoo—to become a better person. Sitting here, wasting away… that’s not going to make up for anything.” Jihoon inhaled a deep breath. "This is about fighting your demons who hurt Jisoo.."

Seokmin stared at him, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Jihoon thought he might have broken through, but then Seokmin shook his head.

“It’s too late for me,” Seokmin muttered. “I’m already lost.”

“NO” Jihoon said sharply, gripping Seokmin’s shoulder tighter. “You’re not. But if you keep going like this, you will be. You need to fight, Seokmin. For once in your life, fight for something good.”

Seokmin’s tears flowed freely now, his body wracked with silent sobs. Jihoon pulled him into an awkward hug, his own heart breaking at the sight of his brother so completely shattered.

“You’re not alone,” Jihoon said softly. “But you have to take the first step.”

Seokmin didn’t respond, but he didn’t pull away either. For now, Jihoon took that as a small victory.