𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟮 ✓

17

Target; 20 votes

Ho-Seok and Woo-Seok were about to leave, the early morning air still crisp as it brushed against their faces. Woo-Seok had just finished putting their luggage in the car, their journey ahead set. Ho-Seok’s mother-in-law, eyes that gleamed with love, pulled him into an embrace. Her hands caressed his face gently, like a mother would her child, the weight of her words carrying a mix of warmth and subtle sadness.

"Take care of yourself," she murmured, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "I'll soon come to live with you."

Ho-Seok smiled at her, nodding in appreciation. "Thank you, mom. Take care of yourself, and you too, dad," he replied, his voice warm. The man nodded, his face serious as always, but there was a tenderness in his eyes.

"You too, son," his father-in-law said, his voice thick but affectionate. "Now, get inside the car."

Ho-Seok nodded, turning toward the vehicle, ready to go. But just as he was about to open the door, something nudged at his memory. He froze mid-step, his hand hovering over the car handle. A small, almost embarrassed smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Woo-Seok, who was standing by the car, furrowed his brows, his gaze shifted to Ho-Seok. “What’s wrong, baby?”

"I forgot my phone," he murmured sheepishly, his words coming out softer than usual. "I’ll just grab it."

Before anyone could protest, Ho-Seok was already heading back toward the house, his steps swift. He walked quickly, the scent of fresh linens in the air, the soft creak of the floorboards beneath his feet, all the familiar sounds that had brought him comfort. But as he approached the guest room where he had stayed during his visit, something felt... off.

The door to the room stood slightly ajar, something that immediately made him uneasy. A small flutter of anxiety churned in his chest as he stepped closer. His feet, once steady, now felt heavy with each step. He didn’t know why, but his heart thumped hard.

Ho-Seok stopped just in the doorway, his breath catching in his throat. The sight before him stole the air from his lungs.

There on his side of the bed, was Yoon-Gi, the love of his life, the one Ho-Seok had thought he would grow old with. But that thought was shattered when Yoon-Gi had left him months ago. Ho-Seok had spent endless nights searching for answers, but now, here Yoon-Gi was, sitting on the edge of the bed, back turned to him, his hand gently caressing the spot where Ho-Seok had once slept.

Ho-Seok's body froze. His mind scrambled for words, but none came. His voice, when it finally broke through, trembled.

"H-Hyung..." His voice barely above a whisper, the sound of it breaking in his throat. His entire being felt as though it was disintegrating before him. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision, but he couldn't take his gaze off the man he loves, the man who's everything to him.

Yoon-Gi’s head snapped up, his eyes wide with shock. Neither of them spoke, only stared at one another. And that’s when Ho-Seok saw it, his chest tightened as he took in the sight of Yoon-Gi. Bruises marred his face, dark purple marks that seemed to tell a story Ho-Seok could not understand. Yoon-Gi’s hand was wrapped in bandages, as though he had been hurt. The man he had once known as strong, as steady, now looked fragile, vulnerable. It was almost too much to bear.

Pain. It was all over him.

Yoon-Gi’s eyes are moist, and for a brief moment, he seemed lost. His lips parted, but no words came. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, as if he too was frozen by the intensity of the situation.

Ho-Seok took a shaky step forward, his heart in his throat. "Hyung... what happened to you?" The words were raw, filled with concern and pain. He wanted to reach out, to help, but his legs wouldn’t carry him any closer. All he could do was stare, his eyes burning with unshed tears.

Without a word, Yoon-Gi stood up from the bed, his movements stiff and slow. His face was unreadable as he turned away, walking toward the stairs without looking back. It was as if he was trying to escape again, to run away from him.

"H-Hyung," Ho-Seok’s voice broke, his breath ragged. "Where are you going? Don’t leave me again. Please."

His body moved of its own accord, chasing after the man who had once promised never to leave him. But Yoon-Gi was already descending the stairs, his steps quick and decisive. Ho-Seok ran after him, but his feet betrayed him. He slipped on the stairs, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud.

A sharp, agonizing pain shot through his stomach, a scream tearing from his throat as he instinctively clutched his belly. His heart pounded in panic as he gasped for air, the pain overwhelming. His hand pressed against his pregnant belly, and his vision blurred as tears filled his eyes.

Yoon-Gi’s head snapped back toward him. His eyes widened with fear, concern and regret.

"H-Ho-Seok..." Yoon-Gi’s voice cracked as he rushed to his side. He knelt beside Ho-Seok, hands trembling as he tried to lift him, but the injury to his own hand made it difficult. “Baby...”

Ho-Seok could barely respond, his body wracked with pain. His breath came in short, ragged gasps as he clutched his belly tighter. “Our baby… hyung...” he managed to whisper through clenched teeth, his eyes clouded with fear.

In that moment, everything shifted. Yoon-Gi seemed to snap back to reality, panic flooding his face. “Mom, Dad!” he screamed, his voice hoarse, filled with desperation. “Please, help!”

Within moments, Yoon-Gi’s family was rushing into the house. Woo-Seok’s eyes locked onto his brother, a mix of shock and confusion flashing across his face. But it wasn’t the sight of Yoon-Gi that made his heart race—it was the sight of Ho-Seok, curled in pain on the floor, clutching his stomach.

"Please, let me take him to the hospital," Yoon-Gi cried, his voice broken with fear.

Woo-Seok didn’t hesitate. He swept Ho-Seok into his arms with urgency, his face tight with worry. “We’re going now. Just hang on, Ho-Seok. Please,” Woo-Seok whispered, his voice trembling.

Ho-Seok’s hand reached out instinctively, gripping Yoon-Gi’s hand with a desperate strength. He was terrified that if he let go, Yoon-Gi would disappear again, just like he had before. The fear of losing him, the man he love and lost, felt almost too much to bear.

Yoon-Gi didn’t pull away. Instead, he squeezed Ho-Seok’s hand tightly, his gaze fixed on him with a tenderness that spoke of a love that not forgotten.

As they rushed toward the car, the weight of everything that had happened—the love, the loss, the fear of losing it all—pressed down on Ho-Seok’s chest. His world had spun out of control, but in this moment, with Yoon-Gi's hand in his, he couldn’t help but hope that, somehow, everything will go well.