Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 42

Jeonghan and Seungcheol sat in the living room, the dim light from the lamps casting long shadows across the furniture. Jeonghan’s coat was discarded on the couch, but his posture was tense, his hands clasped tightly in his lap.

He had not said a word since their moment in the hallway, when they had finally reached an unspoken understanding. But the silence between them now was different heavy, thick with unsaid things.

Seungcheol watched him quietly from across the room, his gaze flickering from Jeonghan to the door, still open, as though there was a sense of urgency, of something inevitable coming their way.

He could feel the weight of the last few hours pressing in on them, the storm Jeonghan had been running from still hanging in the air, ready to crash down.

Finally, Seungcheol broke the silence. His voice was steady but laced with concern, tinged with the unshakable feeling that Jeonghan wasn’t telling him everything. “Where were you going, Jeonghan?”

Jeonghan’s gaze flickered briefly to Seungcheol before he stared down at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists, his fingers twitching as if to release the tension coiled in his chest. “I told you already. I’m handling it.”

Seungcheol’s patience was wearing thin, but he kept his voice even, measured. “Handling it? You think you can handle this alone? You think I’m just going to sit here while you walk straight into danger? Tell me where you're going, Jeonghan. Please.”

Jeonghan’s head snapped up at the plea in Seungcheol’s voice, but instead of the anger that had marked their previous conversation, there was something softer in his eyes now. Something vulnerable. The rawness of the moment settled in his chest, and he let out a breath, steadying himself before he spoke.

“I called someone.” Jeonghan finally muttered, his voice low, barely audible. “Someone from my past. A women to be clear.”

Seungcheol’s brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued. “A woman? Who is she? Why would you-”

Jeonghan looked away, his fingers digging into his palms.

“Her name’s anonymous. I don't know who is she but she has helped me a few times. She’s not someone I can trust fully, but she’s the only one who might have answers. She’s the one who can help me get some information. She’s got connections, people in places I don’t.”

Seungcheol’s mind raced, trying to piece together the implications of Jeonghan’s words. “So you’re going to meet her? Just like that? You don’t even know what kind of game she’s playing, Jeonghan. What if she’s working for whoever’s after you?”

Jeonghan’s lips pressed together, his gaze dark and unwavering. “I have no choice. She’s my only lead, Seungcheol. If I don’t go, I won’t get any answers. And if I don’t get answers-"

“Then you’ll keep running.” Seungcheol finished for him, his voice tight with frustration.

Jeonghan hesitated, eyes flickering with a mix of guilt and resignation. He didn’t want to admit it, but the truth was there. He had been running from the consequences of his past for so long, from the people he had hurt and the mistakes he couldn’t undo. And now, the storm was catching up with him.

“I can do this alone, Seungcheol.” Jeonghan finally admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m trying to protect everyone. Hanuel… I can’t let him get dragged into this mess. But I need information. And I need to know what I’m dealing with.”

Seungcheol’s expression softened, his frustration shifting to something deeper concern, worry for his friend, his brother. He could see the weight of Jeonghan’s burden, the heavy cost of the decisions he had made, the desperate need to protect those he loved.