the leader • choi seungcheol

twenty one

Two months

I arrive home after another date with Junyeong, who officially asked me out a month ago, and Seungcheol is no where to be seen.

I knock in his door and hear shuffling.

"Cheolie?" I call.

"C-Come in,"

I immediately open it and find myself looking at a half naked Seungcheol on his bed, with tear stains.

"Are you crying?"

"Um." He clears his throat and wipes at his face.

"Why are you upset?" I ask, grabbing a pair of his sweatpants and a shirt. I nod at him and he turns his head away from me as i slip out of the uncomfortable dress and slip on his clothes.

"I, uh, i got angry at the members today. And i feel like im a horrible hyung and leader." Tears brim back into his eyes.

"Hey," I coo, sitting on the bed. "Youre an awesome leader."

"No im not. I suck."

"Seungcheol. Youre great. You do everything for them. They love you. So dont say that."

He just nods and when i make eye contact i chuckle. His watery eyes meet mine with a puppy look as he opens his arms.

"Cuddle?"

I smile and lie on my back, letting him use me as a pillow.

Ive noticed that now me and him are even closer, he likes to use me as a pillow and Im fine with it.

He lays his head on my chest and ir each my hand up, petting his hair, as his hand slides under my shirt and rests on my stomach.

The first time he did that i nearly screamed and then he looked reall sad and said "Im sorry. I didnt mean to." and i felt bad. So now he does it all the time. His hands are large and span across nearly my whole stomach.

His thumbs rubs lightly. The room is darkening quickly as the only light was from the sun.

Soon, his hand slides to my waist and he grips me tightly and i realize he is having another nightmare.

"Cheolie." I whisper against his hair. "Wake up,"

His grip is starting to hurt and his breathing increases.

I push his shoulder lightly and his eyes snap open. His grip doesnt lighten.

"Cheol, youre hurting me." He immediately lets go. "Youre okay. Breathe. Breathe."

He sits up and i follow, his breathing not slowing.

I grab his face and stare at him, rubbing his cheek bones with my thumbs. "Breathe, Coups."

He takes a deep breath.

I rub his cheeks and he lays down and pats his chest.

I lay on him, ignoring the sweat and i continue to remind him to breathe as he hugs me.

Eventually, he falls back asleep.

-

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME, HYE RIN?! I TOLD YOU I DIDNT LIKE YOU LIVING WITH HIM!" I flinch as Junyeong screams at me.

Its been another 4 months since Seungcheols last night mare and today marks Junyeong and I's six months. Im seated in his living room.

"Hes my best friend."

"I dont give a fuck! Hes in love with you and you dont even see it!! Do you still sleep with him?"

"Yes. But only because he has trouble sleeping alone and-"

"Bullshit. Thats bullshit. Youre naive! I want you out of that apartment and living with me. Not him."

That makes me angry. "No,"

He turns to me and i stand. I see the pure anger in his eyes. "What did you say?"

"I said no. I wont move out. Hes my best friend and that is my home."

"You bitch! Youre having sex with him arent you?" He spits. "You fucking slut."

"No im not-"

His next move makes me fall silent.

My ear rings as the sound of the slap vibrates in the air.

"Dont talk back to me you whore."

Tears well in my eyes and i start to shake, a panic attack flooding in.

He continues to scream at me.

"ANSWER ME DAMMIT!" He slaps me again and i whimper. "DONT STAY QUIET WHEN IM TALKING TO YOU!"

"Im sor-" His next slap makes me fall, hitting my hip on the glass table.

"Leave."

I taste blood and i stand, pain shooting through my body from my hip, and i flee, trembling and sobbing.

My fingers shakily hit Seungcheols contacy and i call him.

He answers after 2 rings.

"Hello?"

"Come get me. Please." I whimper.

"Im coming right now."

I rush down the stairs and outside into the snow, in only my jeans and t-shirt.

The drive takes 15 minutes hut Seungcheol is here in 5. Before i even take a step hhe rushes to me, stripping his jacket and hurriedly shoving it around my shoulders.

"What happened?" He asks. "Why is your lip bleeding?" I let out a sob and collapse against him.

He neatly swipes me up into his arms and carries me to the car, placing me in and fastening my seatbelt before hurriedly getting in and driving away.

He grabs my hand and presses his lips to my knuckles multiple times as he speds home. I sit with my knees to my chest, sobbing.

At the apartmenr he rushes to my door and unbuckles me, lifring me out bridal style and rushing to our apartment.

Inside, he sits on the couch, setting me on his lap. I clutch his shirt tightly, trembling.

His hands rub my bacj and sides and he basically rocks me like a baby.

Finally i stop crying and i tell him what happened.

"Let me see your hip." He says. I lift my shirt up and his fingers gently touch my hip.

Its already bruising deeply.

"And your cheek?" His hand touchs my cheek and i flunch away from his touch, fear bubbling in my stomch.

"Hey, hey, hey.. i wont hurt you i promise." He cooes. "Let me look." I whimper as he turns my face. "Your cheek will bruise too," He sighs. "Are you calm?"

"I-I-"

"No, you arent. Lets go lay down." He stands, carrying me again.

In his room, he hands me some of his clothes and turns around, stripping off his dirty clothes as i change.

My body is still trembling. .

As i lay down, i flinch at my hip and whimper, causing Seungcheol to glance at me.

He climbs in as well and pats his chest. I gladly get comfortable with him.

"Youre shaking so hard, Rinnie. Calm down okay?" He whispers.

I hold onto him, breathing deeply as his hands rub mt back and sides.

His lips press to my head and i feel my body finally starting to relax.

"Break up with him." He says.

I simply nod and finally fall asleep.

(unedited)