the leader • choi seungcheol

twenty two

In the morning, a loud banging wakes us up.

I snuggle closer to Seungcheol and he turns to me, pulling me as well.

The bedroom door slams open and i jump.

"Hoshi... ill get up later.." Seungcheol grumbles.

And then, as i cover my face, someone grabs my hair and drags me out of bed

I yelp and grab at the hand.

"Youre even wearing his clothes!" The voice snaps a nerve in me.

"Junyeong..." I whisper.

He lets go and i scramble away on the floor.

"Dude," Seungcheol stands.

"AND HES IN JUST HIS UNDERWEAR! I fucking knew it you fucking slut." Junyeong grows and he kicks my ribs.

I curl into a ball, expecting another hit, byt instead i hear a different hit

When i look, Seungcheol is punching Junyeong.

After 3, he stops and lets go. "Dont hit a woman."

Junyeong spits at him and then bends down and harshly grabs my wish.

"I can do whatever i want to my girlfriend."

"Youre hurting me." I whimper, grabbing his hand, trying to pry it off.

He squeezes harder and i yelp.

I see anger flare in Seungcheols eyes. "You will never touch her again. Or youll have 13 very fit guys on your ass in a heartbeat, not just mine. I suggest you get your lazy ass out of our apartment before i snap."

Junyeong scoffs. "Whatre you gonna do? Lets go, Hye Rin."

He starts to pull me away and i accept it.

Until he stops and lets go.

Seungcheol snapped.

His bare chdst heaves as he looks at Junyeong who he just punched again.

"Hye Rin." He growls. "Leave. This is going to scare you."

I scurry to fhe hallway and listen.

"You will never," punch. "touch the woman," punch. "that i love again." punch. "and if you do," punch. "youll be dead next time."

The woman i love.

Shock settles in my stomach as i listen.

"LEAVE!" Seungcheol roars and i hear shuffling as i sink to the floor, a panic attack hitting me fast.

The door flings ooen and i catch a glance of Junyeong running, bloody and beaten.

I hold my head in my hands and rock back and forth, sobbing.

Seungcheol comes out and kneels next to me. "Hye Rin."

"J-Josh. Call h-him." I stutter and Seungcheol has hia phone to his ear in less thaj a second.

"Come now. Its Hye Rin." Thats all he saus and he hangs up.

"D-Dont touch me y-yet," I sob, my whole body shaking.

He obliges and stays kneeling next to me.

I notice his bloody knuckles and cry harder.

He protected me. No one has ever protected me.

The door flings open and in a flash I am in Joshuas arms and he rushes to fhe bedroom. He sits and i immediately curl into a ball on his lap and clutch him tightly, sobbing.

"Did you hit her?" Joshua yells.

"No. Junyeong did. Last night. I got her and this morning he barged in and did it again so i beat him up." Seungcheol whispers.

"Oh my god. Did you hit him in front of her?"

I know Seungcheol nods.

"You dumbass." Joshua snarls.

My sobs are loud and ugly as i rubs my face repeatedly on Joshuas shirt.

"Calm down, im here. Youre safe. Youre safe. Breathe, Rin. Breathe."

Finally, i calm down more and i crawl off of his lap, laying down on the bed, staring blankly at the wall.

"Let he go until she calls you," Josh says quietly.

I feel them both leave.

-

Hours pass and i dont move, my whole body stiff.

Finally, my shaky voice calls his name. "Cheolie."

He opens the door. "Im here."

"Come here." He steps in front of me and stands. "Lay."

He lies next to me, still in what he wore to bed.

I shift my body, laying my whole body on him, letting my body relax and curve against his.

He shakily puts his arms around me and holds me.

I like him. A lot.

(unedited)