Left Out Friend

38

"Jungwon..."

Jay's eyes widened, his gaze instantly drawn to the figure in the doorway. The shock deepened as he saw Jungwon's face—swollen, red-rimmed eyes, stark testament to a night spent weeping.

Jungwon entered, his legs unsteady, unseen tears snaking a path down his cheeks. He lifted his hands, as if reaching for something, his movements jerky and uncontrolled.

Jay, instantly alert, narrowed his eyes, a mixture of confusion and apprehension clouding his expression. He saw Jungwon heading straight for Sunoo, who was visibly shaken by the unexpected appearance. Fear, cold and sharp, pierced Jay. He had to act.

"Stop!" Jay barked, the sharp command echoing through the room, making Sunoo jump.

Jungwon halted, his swollen eyes blazing with a dangerous intensity. Tears streamed down his face, yet his glare was unwavering, locked onto Jay, who met his gaze with equal intensity. His chest heaved, his breath ragged, his fists clenched, jaw tight. He was trembling, but it wasn't from fear. It was raw, barely contained rage.

"Fucking move," Jungwon growled, the words low and dangerous, a threat simmering beneath the surface. One wrong move, and all hell would break loose.

Jay refused to yield. He stood his ground, eyes narrowed to slits, a furious glare that promised retaliation. His own eyes darkened, mirroring the storm brewing within him. He'd never seen Jungwon like this—this volatile, this terrifying. The sight was deeply unsettling. Jungwon seemed capable of anything. He wouldn't let him hurt Sunoo. Not again.

"What do you want?" Jay hissed, his voice a venomous whisper, each word dripping with barely controlled fury.

His question only fueled Jungwon's fury. His brow furrowed deeper, his teeth grinding together.

Sunoo, watching the escalating tension, felt a tremor of fear run through him. Jungwon's behavior was terrifyingly familiar, a horrifying echo of past threats. But this was different. This was a rage he'd never witnessed before, directed solely at him.

Is he going to hurt me? The chilling question echoed in his mind.

"I'm going to kill this fucking slut," Jungwon spat, his voice dangerously quiet, a prelude to the storm about to break. "So move, or I'll fucking kill you first, you traitorous piece of shit." He took a step closer.

Jay reacted instantly, taking a step towards Jungwon, his eyes never leaving his. He knew Jungwon's intention: revenge, aimed directly at Sunoo. He would stop him, no matter the cost.

Sunoo couldn't contain his tears any longer. Flashbacks, what-ifs, the crushing weight of the past, overwhelmed him. He lay there, sobbing silently, watching the brewing storm.

The pain was visceral, tearing through the scabs of old wounds, reopening the raw gashes of the present. The nightmares returned, the unforgivable words echoing in his mind. He blamed himself. His desperate need for acceptance had unleashed this chaos.