Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 38

Jeonghan’s heart raced as he walked down the familiar hallways of the headquarters, the tall glass walls reflecting his image in a distorted blur. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of Seungcheol’s urgent message pressing on him with every inch of movement.

He hadn’t expected this whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good. And the chill in the air, a mix of dread and anticipation, only made him feel more unsettled.

As Jeonghan approached Seungcheol’s office, he couldn’t shake the thought that everything was about to change. His fingers clenched into fists at his sides, trying to force out the thoughts that were clouding his mind. The past had been a distant shadow, but now, that shadow had taken on a new form, and he could feel it closing in on him from every direction.

He paused at the door, unsure of what to expect. His pulse quickened. With a deep breath, he reached out, knocking softly before turning the handle. The door swung open with a creak, revealing Seungcheol’s office normally a space of calm, meticulously organized chaos. But tonight, something was different.

The dim lighting cast long shadows across the room, the faces of several figures visible as they stood around the room, all familiar to Jeonghan. The members of Seventeen. His only family.

But tonight, there was a certain tension in the air, an unspoken unease that hung over them like a storm cloud waiting to burst. Jeonghan's gaze immediately found Seungcheol, who was standing by the desk, arms crossed and his jaw set.

His face was calm, but there was a flicker of worry in his eyes as he looked toward Jeonghan, an unspoken message passing between them. It wasn’t just about them anymore. This was bigger. They weren’t alone in this.

“Jeonghan..” Joshua greeted, his voice soft, yet carrying a weight of concern. He was standing near the window, his arms resting on the sill as he stared out into the night, his expression distant.

“Jeonghan.” Seungcheol said, his voice steady, though the tightness around his mouth was unmistakable.

“We need to talk. It’s about what we’ve been avoiding.” Jeonghan felt a tight knot in his stomach. He couldn’t afford to hesitate now.

He walked further into the room, glancing around at the members Mingyu, Wonwoo, DK, and the others. They were standing in clusters, all talking in hushed voices, the weight of the situation pressing down on them.

“What’s going on?” Jeonghan asked, trying to sound more composed than he felt. His eyes scanned the room for answers, but all he saw were the familiar faces, their expressions unreadable. Seungcheol stepped toward him, his gaze hardening slightly, and Jeonghan could tell he was about to drop a bombshell.

“I got a message tonight. From someone who knows everything. It’s about the past, Jeonghan. About you.” His voice was low, but it carried the unmistakable sting of truth. “Someone’s digging. And they’re getting too close.”

The words hit Jeonghan like a punch to the gut. He knew the past was never truly buried, but hearing it spoken out loud made it real again. That gnawing fear he had tried to ignore all these years, the fear that one day it would catch up to him, suddenly had a face. He could feel the walls around him beginning to close in.

“Who?” Jeonghan managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper. Seungcheol’s gaze flickered to the others, and then he turned back to Jeonghan. “I don’t know. But whoever it is, they’re not messing around.”

Jeonghan swallowed hard, his throat dry. His mind raced through the possibilities. Was it someone from his past? Someone he had wronged? Or worse was it someone who had been waiting for this moment?