Summer Detour [Book 2] | Pentagon ✔

Chapter 19

Chapter 19
Trouble In Paradise
HYUNJOO

Hongseok froze on his spot. We both kind of just froze where we were but I forced my feet to move. When I was closer to him, I realized how much more of a mess he looked like. His hair looked like it had been ran over by his two hands several times. His shirt was obviously inside-out and dark shadows around his eyes were so obvious under the summer sun light. He blinked at me without a word.

I hugged him without a word.

I swallowed as he pulled away from me, ignoring the way my insides felt like shattering. "Are you alright? How's your brother?" I asked him.

He looked at me and softened but only for a quick moment. It almost felt like I just imagined it.

I felt my little confidence go down the drain when he didn't say anything. "Y-you haven't talked to me in a while. I just want to know how you're doing..."

"How do you think I'm doing, Hyunjoo? My brother is in a coma." he said so coldly, it's like his words were ice and he splashed it on me.

"I... I was just..."

"Do you think I would have time to talk to you after what happened?"

A gasp escaped my mouth. "H-Hongseok..." My hands and lips trembled. "I-I was just worried a-about you..." My eyes started to warm up with tears. I shook my head, willing myself not to cry. "I'm soㅡ"

"I should have been by my brother's side this summer. I shouldn't have gotten so distracted with you. Iㅡ"

My head shot up. I met his eyes and see despair. "You regret it?"

His jaw dropped for a moment as if he realized what he just said but then he swallowed hard and his eyes turned cold again before saying, "Yes, I regret it so much, Hyunjoo."

My heart.
It felt like it was being strangled. I looked down at our shoes as my tears fell on them.

"Do you really have to hurt me like this?" I asked almost to myself. I couldn't be bothered to speak louder. It's like all the energy had left my body and soul. "I know you're going through a hard time. I just... want to be there for you..."

I wiped my tears but they were unstoppable. It frustrates me so much.

"Let's stop this." he said. "I'm tired of it all."

"What?" I asked, looking up.

And when the next words came out of his mouth, he was looking straight into my eyes. "I'm tired of itㅡbeing afraid to hurt you, break you. I'm tired of being careful all the time around you. Because right now, I can't afford to do anything to protect you like a fragile glass."

I can't believe his words. I can't breathe. I can'tㅡ"Okay." I said, forcing myself to speak more but I couldn't. "Okay..." I repeated and turned back around. I started to walk away when I heard him again.

"See? You're just turning away like that so easily? You can't even fight for what you wantㅡ"

I turned around to witness a punch blew against Hongseok's face. My eyes widened, and then I realized Jinho was the one who did that. "You told her those hurtful words and you expect her to stay and beg for your love? You're an asshole."

I've never seen my brother so angry. His face was so red and he looked so scary despite their height difference. I ran over to them and held Jinho. "Let'sㅡlet's just go home."

Jinho turned to me and his expression softened when he saw my face filled with tears. I looked at Hongseok and he was looking right back at me but I didn't ask him if he was alright because clearly, he wasn't; or to apologize for Jinho's actions because I couldn't bear to look at him or talk to him any longer.