Daddy I Found Mama[Hyunlix FF]

Chapter 36: Worst Part

Asher’s eyelids fluttered open, and he found himself in a strange, unfamiliar room. A suffocating darkness clung to the air, cold and oppressive, as if the very walls were swallowing any trace of light that dared to enter. His heart pounded in his chest, the silence around him unbearable.

“Papa! Papa!” His voice broke through the stillness, filled with desperation and fear. His words echoed in the void, but there was no reply, only the crushing weight of isolation. The poor boy's eyes, wide with terror, scanned the room, but the darkness offered no answers—no sign of life, no glimpse of hope.

A wave of panic washed over him. His tiny body trembled, and his mind raced with frantic thoughts of escape. But his every attempt to move was futile. He was bound, the rough ropes digging painfully into his skin, restricting every inch of his movement. Helpless, vulnerable, and alone, Asher’s tears welled up as the cold reality of his situation settled in.

“Papa! Papa! Hyunjin! Shi-jin! Taemin! Where are you? Please, help me… I’m scared,” Asher called out, his voice quivering with fear, his sniffles choking his words as he clung to the fragile hope of hearing a response.

^_________^

Felix's tears streamed down his face as he realized his beloved son was still not home. The grim confirmation that Asher was still at school only deepened his sense of hopelessness. His body trembled, and a torrent of dark thoughts plagued his mind: What if Asher is in trouble? I’m a terrible father. How could I have trusted Hyunjin to drop Asher off at school?

The tears flowed relentlessly, the only sounds in the quiet hall were Felix's muffled sobs and sniffles.

Unable to bear seeing his friend in such anguish, Han gently tapped Felix on the shoulder. "Felix, Felix, what’s wrong? What did the teacher say about Asher?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Felix looked at him with eyes filled with sorrow, his heart heavy with heartbreak. Without a word, he embraced Han, who, momentarily taken aback by the suddenness of the gesture, hesitated before wrapping his arms around Felix in return.

"It's okay, Felix, it's okay," Han whispered softly, his voice gentle as he stroked his back in a comforting rhythm. "Calm down, calm down." He couldn’t stand to see someone in such deep anguish.

After a few moments, Felix gradually regained his composure and began speaking. As he did, Han immediately interjected with a suggestion.

"Felix, we should involve the police," Han proposed, but Lee swiftly countered.

"Are you truly serious? Even if we report it to the authorities, it will likely be a fruitless endeavor. By the time we manage to locate Asher, it may already be far too late."

Felix recognized that Lee Know was speaking the truth—reporting to the authorities would only complicate matters further. "So, what course of action do you suggest, Lee Know hyung?" he inquired.

Lee Know paused, deep in thought, his gaze shifting between them. "Hyunjin... Hyunjin is our best option. He has the ability to restore Felix."

However, Felix immediately dismissed the suggestion. "No, I've already made a huge mistake. I don’t want him involved anymore, Lee Know-hyung," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

"Please, Felix," Lee Know urged, standing up and moving toward him. He placed a hand gently on Felix's shoulder, his tone soft but firm. "Think about your son, for just a moment. He could be in serious danger. Set aside your feelings for Hyunjin and focus on what's truly important now"

Felix gave a reluctant nod. He knew deep down that Lee Know was right—there was no other choice. With a heavy sigh, he nodded again, and Lee Know quickly dialed Hyunjin to update him on the situation.

To his surprise, Lee Know learned that Hyunjin had already been searching for Asher for quite some time.

Phone conversation:

Lee Know: "Really, Hyunjin? That’s impressive. Well, if you need anything from me, just say the word."

Hyunjin: "I wish I could ask for your help, Lee Know-hyung, but you need to rest. And... please tell Felix not to worry. I don’t want him to stress over this. I... I’m the one who messed up, and it’s my responsibility to fix it."

Lee Know shot a quick glance at Han and Felix, his lips curling into a teasing smirk before replying to Hyunjin.

Lee Know: "Alright, I’ll let him know, Hyunjin."

As the call ended, Lee Know turned back toward Felix and Han, a mixture of determination and light amusement in his expression.

^_________^

After ending the call, Hyunjin slammed his hand down on the desk, frustration boiling over. He stared at the screen, his mind racing, but still no trace of Asher. "Damn it!" he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with desperation.

The stress was evident in his every movement—his shoulders tense, his fists clenched. This wasn’t like him. Hyunjin had always been calm and collected, but now, the weight of the situation was crushing him. It was as if the tension from his past with Felix had been nothing compared to the pressure he was feeling now.

He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, his eyes narrowing. The only sliver of hope left was an unlikely one: Yu-jin. His wife, long dead, but in his mind, perhaps the key to finding Asher.

"Secretary," he snapped, his voice cold and sharp, laced with frustration. "Call Yu-jin. Tell her to drop everything and meet me. Now."

His words were as harsh as his mood—distant, annoyed, yet filled with an underlying urgency.

..........

^_________^

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