Annyeongz One-shots

86. Secrifice ( 2 )

Yujin’s phone buzzed sharply in his shaking hand.

He looked down.

Mom.

For a split second, dread filled him. He thought she was going to scold him again. Tell him he made things worse. Tell him to come back and face his father.

He answered immediately and pressed the loudspeaker.

“Hello—”

Before he could finish, a piercing cry exploded through the speaker.

“AaaaAaak! Aaaaakkk!”

Hyunwoo.

The sound was raw. Desperate. Like he was terrified.

Yujin’s heart dropped to his stomach.

“Hyunwoo?” His voice cracked.

His mother’s voice came next, breathless and worried. “Yujin… he hasn’t stopped crying since I brought him into the treatment room. He won’t let anyone near him properly.”

Another loud sob echoed through the phone.

“He keeps calling for you,” she said. “He wants his big brother.”

Yujin didn’t think.

“I’m coming.”

He ended the call and tried to walk.

The moment he pushed himself forward, his vision blurred. His legs felt hollow, like they couldn’t hold him up properly. His chest tightened again, not as violently as before, but enough to steal his balance.

He stumbled.

Wonyoung caught him instantly.

“Yujin!”

His hand slammed against the alley wall to steady himself. He bent slightly, breathing hard, trying to control the tightness creeping into his lungs again.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, though sweat was forming on his forehead.

“You’re not fine!” Wonyoung’s voice trembled. “You can barely stand!”

“I have to go,” he said stubbornly. “He needs me.”

He tried to pull away, but his knees weakened again.

Without another word, Wonyoung slipped under his arm and supported his weight.

“I’m helping you,” she said firmly.

“I can walk alone.”

“You almost fell!”

“I said I can walk.”

He hated this.

Hated looking weak.

Hated someone seeing him like this.

After a few heavy breaths, he spoke more quietly.

“…I need a favor.”

She looked at him.

“Don’t tell anyone,” he said, avoiding her eyes. “About what happened outside. The blood. The inhaler. My dad.”

The way he said it wasn’t demanding.

It was scared.

Wonyoung’s chest tightened.

“Why?” she asked softly.

“If they know I can’t even breathe properly…” He swallowed. “They won’t let me take care of him.”

Her heart hurt hearing that.