Healing

LX - stay

Final chapter--finally!!! (there's still the epilogue but that'll be just cuteness)

Thank you for reading (if you're still reading). It took years but I finished it. I won't ever post another story, although I keep writing, constantly (I wrote like 3 stories while trying to finish this one lol) but posting online isn't fun anymore.

Anyhow, if you want to stay in touch, or if you want an ebook copy of these books (or any other of my stories) just email me: watsonbel@gmail.com you also find me on instagram @moniren__

That said, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you for reading Achrophilia, and thank you for finishing Healing. 

Bel, xx

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Jinyoung grabs the doorknob, twists it, and as he is so lost in his thoughts, guilt, and his argument with Jaebeom, he didn't hear the sound of anyone approaching. He didn't hear the sound of heavy steps or the cane against the hard floor. Jinyoung only realises Jaebeom's mother is awake when he opens the door and she's at the other side, the light of the hall on, allowing him to see her concerned expression.

"Adeul?" She asks gently and slowly, probably because she's just waking up or just because some days it's just harder for her to speak.

Because of Jinyoung.

"I heard voices. Is everything... okay?" Jaebeom's mother stops, finally taking in Jinyoung's state.

He looks away but it's too late, she most likely saw his bloodshot eyes, the tear-stained cheeks and the deplorable state he is in. He wants to run away, hide in a hole, anything but meet her eyes. But he hears her taking a step closer and he instinctively takes a step back, once again into Jaebeom's room.

"Are you okay, Jinyoungah?" She asks, with the warmth he's grown used to in the time he's been dating her son. She is so motherly and caring that sometimes Jinyoung thinks she just can't help being so warmhearted.

Jinyoung takes another step back, and then another. Maybe if he continues he'll find the window and fall from it. But instead of the window, his back finds Jaebeom and the older man immediately wraps his hands on Jinyoung's biceps, stabilising and grounding. The older man's hands on him work like a tether to reality, a comforting presence he shouldn't allow, but Jinyoung is falling apart, his whole soul feels so brittle that he cannot even fight that and instead leans into Jaebeom's touch.

"What happened?" Jaebeom's mother asks again, this time looking at her son.

Jinyoung uses that chance to look down, trying to become smaller, disappear.

"Do you need anything?" She adds, only making Jinyoung feel worse. She shouldn't be worrying about him, he doesn't deserve anyone's concern.

"I'm so sorry," he blurts out, a wet sound, strangled with the weight of his guilt. His body trembles and he can feel how Jaebeom's hands hold him tighter.

"Why?" She asks, clearly confused.

Jinyoung doesn't dare to look up and meet her eyes just yet; instead, he just shut his own eyes tighter, balls his fists, and continues. "I'm so sorry, I should've been more careful, but I wasn't paying attention and it was so late and I was so upset... I know it doesn't fix it but I—" he rambles, running out of air.

Jinyoung finally opens his eyes and looks at the woman in front of him, with her warm and caring gaze, with that understanding smile, holding that cane for support while she stands in front of him. He cannot take it anymore; with his stomach tied in knots, he steps forward, untangling from Jaebeom's hold and he kneels in front of her, both hands on his knees as he lowers his head, his shoulders shaking with remorse.