Bound by Shadows .jc

CHAPTER 50

The weight of goodbye 

Jeonghan stood frozen in place, the words Seungcheol had spoken still echoing in his mind. His body felt heavy, his tears falling freely as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. The weight of Seungcheol's rejection bore down on him like a crushing tide, but amidst the storm in his heart, one thought stood out: 

He never said he didn't feel the same. He just said I don't belong here.

A spark of hope flickered within the overwhelming despair. Wiping his tears with trembling hands, Jeonghan straightened himself and whispered to the empty hallway, "He's just scared. I can convince him. We can make this work." The resolve in his voice surprised even himself. Turning on his heels, he bolted toward Seungcheol's room, his steps hurried and uneven as desperation clung to him like a shadow.

As he reached the door, his heart pounded loudly in his chest. He knocked firmly, his knuckles rapping against the wood as he called out, "Seungcheol! Please, open the door. Let me talk to you." His voice cracked, betraying the tears that threatened to spill once again. "We can figure this out. You don't have to push me away!"

There was no response.

"Seungcheol!" His voice grew louder, more frantic. The silence on the other side only fueled his desperation. His hand began pounding against the door, harder and harder, his pleas growing weaker as sobs began to overtake him. "Don't shut me out. Please! I know you care. I know you do... We can find a way through this, together!"

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open.

Jeonghan's breath hitched as he took in Seungcheol's disheveled appearance. His hair was a mess, his shirt partially unbuttoned, and his face looked as though he had been waging a war with himself. The usual calm and collected aura that Seungcheol carried was nowhere to be found; instead, his eyes held a storm of turmoil and pain.

"What do you want, Jeonghan?" His voice was cold, clipped, devoid of the warmth that usually wrapped around Jeonghan like a safety net.

Jeonghan stepped closer, his hands clutching the fabric of his shirt to stop them from trembling. "I want to talk to you. Please, Seungcheol. Don't do this. I know you're trying to protect me, but we can figure this out—together."

Seungcheol's jaw tightened, and he looked away, unable to meet Jeonghan's gaze. "There's nothing to figure out. This isn't up for discussion."

"But it is!" Jeonghan's voice cracked, tears streaming down his face. "You're scared, I get that. But you don't have to face this alone. Whatever you're dealing with, we can work through it. You said I didn't belong here, but... but don't you see? I belong wherever you are, Seungcheol."

Seungcheol's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Jeonghan, stop."

"No, I won't stop!" Jeonghan stepped closer, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination. "I know you care about me. I can see it in your eyes, in the way you look at me, the way you've taken care of me. So why are you doing this? Why are you pushing me away?"

Seungcheol's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with frustration and anguish. "Because I have to!" he roared, his voice echoing through the hall. "Don't you get it? This isn't about what I want. It's about what's best for you. And staying here, staying with me, isn't what's best for you."

Jeonghan took a step back, momentarily stunned by the force of his words. But he shook his head, his voice quieter but no less firm. "You don't get to decide what's best for me, Seungcheol. That's my choice to make."

Seungcheol let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "You're so naive, Jeonghan. You think love is enough? That it can fix everything? It can't. Loving me... being with me... it'll only bring you pain."