「 lukewarm | yang hongseok 」

[ n i n e ]

09 | hard to love

Hongseok clenched his jaw even though it hurts so much, refusing to look at the mute girl sitting in front of him. He stared out the window, keeping the ten-to-twelve year old girl - who's name was Chorin - next to him, draping his stained jacket over her shoulders. Not only was he furious and disappointed at Yeseul for being part of that world, but she also brought Juhyung! Granted that he was in the car far from the crime with an adult supervising him (whose name was Hyunggu, which he found out from his son), but still - no child should be opened to the danger of gangs.

Silence fell over the luxury car as Hongseok cradled his sleeping son on his lap, running his bruised hand through Juhyung's thick hair and attempted to comfort the frightened girl.

The seemingly never ending drive came to an end at the back of a hotel, all of the passengers in the car getting out (half of them reluctantly). They went through the cleaning supplies closet and walked up two flights of stairs before reaching an elevator, a man with an intimidating aura pressing the button. The awkward silence in the elevator was unbearable, and Hongseok wouldn't lie in saying that he was thankful that relief washed over him when the doors opened. Two men went out first with another one ushering Yeseul through the modern glass doors of a penthouse he assumed was hers, pressing the cloth against the wound on her upper arm and the other on her shoulder.

Hongseok stood in front of the opened doors expressionless, holding onto the Chorin's hand tightly as he brought his sleeping son close to his chest. One of the men came out, an unsure smile on his face as he greeted the policeman.

"Hello, I assume you are Juhyung's dad - Hongseok?", the pale boy asked, biting his inner cheek as he saw that he was getting no response from the father. After he waited a few minutes in pure, tense silence, the boy cleared his throat. "I'm Hyunggu - Yeseul's friend. She would want you to come in and rest"

"And be in the same house as a murderer and her henchmen? Not with these kids, not ever", Hongseok hissed. "We're going somewhere else where I know these two will be safe"

Hongseok turned around and pressed the down button, but he felt someone tug at his shoulder and spin him around as he heard the ding! of the elevator. He was met with another face, a man with puffy under eyes and electric blue hair, glaring at him. "We can't have you leaving like that with the possibility of you telling your police affiliates about us. We need you to stay here and get some things in order before you are released.", he said in a calm yet intimidating voice. "Be lucky we aren't going to throw you in the bunkers or silence you all together"

"I don't care,  I'm going to -", Hongseok quickly bit his tongue when he realized that the blue haired freak was pointing a gun not at him, but straight at Juhyung.

"Finish that sentence, I dare you."

The sun kissed man clenched his jaw, trying his best to not let out a curse in front of the children as he walked into the house unwillingly. Hongseok tried to keep his amazement and awe at bay as he stepped into the lavish penthouse. A modern, crystal chandelier dangled down from the ceiling, reflecting off of the grey wooden floors. A spiral staircase led to the second floor with large windows bringing in the white moonlight. From the entrance, he spotted an extravagant living room that consisted of a flat screen TV hanging above the fireplace, a white fur rug in the center of it all with soft grey couches and maroon throw pillows to add a splash of color.

Hongseok slipped off his shoes before walking into the grand abode with Chorin and Juhyung, setting the sleeping boy on the couch. He sat down next to his son, sadness floating in his eyes as he looked back at the twelve year old girl.