Almost blind | Haobin

28| optic nerve |28

"I didn't want to, okay? I apologized! I said I was sorry!" Hanbin's voice cracked, his hands shooting up in a desperate attempt to prove his sincerity. But Gyuvin's face was carved from stone, his eyes cold, unreadable. He stood there, rigid, unmoved, as if Hanbin's words were nothing but a gust of wind passing by, irrelevant and fleeting.

"Oh, so now you're sorry?" Gyuvin's voice dripped with venom, the bitterness seeping into every syllable. "That's amazing. Most of the time, you're not even sorry!" His voice shot through the air like a whip, loud and sharp enough to make heads turn. People were watching now, their curiosity a thick fog settling around them, but Gyuvin didn't care. He wanted Hanbin to feel this, to feel every ounce of his disappointment, his rage.

Tension curled around them like a snake, tightening, suffocating.

Hanbin had called Gyuvin minutes ago, his voice shaking, stammering as he explained what had happened with Zhanghao. And now here they were-Ricky barely containing his fury, the kind of anger that burned hotter than fire. The teacher had shrunk under his gaze, swallowing hard as Ricky's words cut through him like a blade. But Ricky wasn't focused on the teacher for long. No, the moment he saw Zhanghao, his battered form, his shaking hands-nothing else existed.

Ricky didn't spare Hanbin a glance. Not even a single look. It was as if Hanbin was nothing but a shadow in the corner of his vision, insignificant and unworthy of acknowledgment. Instead, he rushed Hao into the car without a word, without an explanation, leaving Hanbin behind with only his father.

And Gyuvin... Gyuvin didn't hold back.

"Calm down!" Hanbin's voice was frantic, pleading. "I didn't.. I really didn't mean to!"

The words were empty. Hollow. Even he could hear it.

The truth was, he had planned it. He had wanted to hit Hao. He had wanted to throw that ball at him, wanted to see the irritation in his eyes, to push his buttons. But not like this. Not like this. Did that make him innocent? Did intent matter when the damage had already been done?

Gyuvin let out a humorless chuckle, raking a hand through his hair. "You really don't get it, do you?" His voice dropped, quieter now, but no less cutting. "Your stupid, reckless behavior could make Hao's vision even worse than it already is." He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "Ricky... god, Ricky is losing his mind right now. Do you even realize that?"

"What?" Hanbin's breath caught in his throat, his stomach twisting. His pulse pounded in his ears, drowning out the world.

Gyuvin's patience snapped. "Don't act so surprised!" His voice thundered, making Hanbin flinch. He hadn't seen his father this furious in years. It was different this time. This wasn't just frustration-this was something raw, something broken.

"You think the world revolves around you? That you're the only one allowed to be upset?" Gyuvin's hands sliced through the air as he spoke, his emotions spilling over. "I'm sick of this. Sick of you acting like a stubborn little brat. I get it-you don't like Hao. You don't like Ricky because of me. I get it!" His voice wavered, and for the first time, the anger in his eyes flickered with something else-disappointment, sadness, exhaustion.

"But I thought..." He shook his head. "I thought you'd grow up. I thought you'd learn to deal with it like an adult."

Hanbin felt his throat tighten, guilt wrapping around him like chains. His father's words sank deep, twisting like a knife in his gut. He wanted to say something, to argue, to defend himself, but no words came. They had all disappeared, evaporated into the cold air between them.

Maybe this was what he had needed all along-someone to throw the truth right in his face.

"Hao's vision has been bad since what happened in that treehouse." Gyuvin's voice was quieter now, but the weight of it was crushing. "Every fall, every injury can make it worse. And this? A hit straight to the head? Do you understand what that could do? He could go blind, Hanbin. Completely blind." His voice broke slightly, but he caught himself, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't just some stupid game. 'Sorry' won't fix it if something happens. And if it does-" Gyuvin took a slow, deliberate step forward, his gaze pinning Hanbin in place. "-it will be all. your. fault. Because you only ever think about yourself."