Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 39

Inside Seungcheol’s office, the tension was thick enough to cut through the air. The members of Seventeen stood frozen, each feeling the weight of Jeonghan’s departure pressing heavily on them. The room was still, save for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead, but the silence was suffocating.

Jeonghan’s refusal to let them in, to allow them the chance to help, was a blow none of them had anticipated. It wasn’t just the rejection it was the fear, the understanding that Jeonghan was walking into something that could consume him. Something far bigger than he could handle alone. The weight of that realization sank deep into their hearts.

Seungcheol remained motionless, his gaze locked on the door through which Jeonghan had just left. His jaw was clenched tight, the muscles in his neck tense with frustration.

The silence in the room felt oppressive, but it was nothing compared to the knot of unease growing in Seungcheol’s chest. He had seen Jeonghan’s stubbornness before, but this... this was different. This wasn’t just about pride. There was fear in Jeonghan’s eyes, a fear Seungcheol couldn’t ignore.

“He’s making a mistake.” Seungcheol muttered under his breath, his voice low but filled with simmering frustration.

Joshua, ever the calming force, exchanged a glance with the others, his brows furrowed in concern.

His expression was a mix of understanding and frustration as he spoke, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “SCoups, we can’t change his mind. He’s made it clear. He’s not going to let us in.”

“I don’t care.” Seungcheol snapped, his voice suddenly sharp, cutting through the stillness like a blade. “We can’t just sit here and let him walk into danger. He doesn’t get to shut us out this time. We can’t just watch him do this on his own. We need to stop him before it’s too late.”

Wonwoo, normally the voice of reason, stepped forward cautiously, his brow furrowed in deep thought. His voice was calm but firm as he addressed Seungcheol.

“Boss, we can’t force him. You know that. He’s too stubborn. He’s always been like this when it comes to things like this. He’s never been good at accepting help when it’s something this personal. You know how he is.”

Seungcheol’s frustration deepened, and his fists clenched involuntarily. He could feel the anger building within him, a sense of helplessness that gnawed at him like an open wound.

“Then we’ll find another way.” he said through gritted teeth, his tone dark with determination. “He thinks he’s protecting us by pushing us away, but he’s wrong. He’s never been alone in this, no matter how much he tries to convince himself he is.”

Joshua opened his mouth to speak, but he hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “SCoups…” he began again, his voice steady but with a weight of understanding that everyone in the room could feel.

“We’ve always respected his boundaries. But now... he needs us, even if he doesn’t realize it yet. He’s carrying something far heavier than he can handle alone, and we can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed Joshua’s words. It was clear to them all that Jeonghan was slipping deeper into something darker than they could understand, and they were powerless to help him if he kept pushing them away.

Finally, Woozi, who had been quiet up until now, broke the silence. His voice was sharp and deliberate, cutting through the heavy atmosphere. “No. This time, he’s wrong.” Woozi declared, his words firm and unyielding.

“We’re not letting him handle this alone. We don’t have the luxury of waiting around. If someone’s after him, we need to know who they are, and fast.”