The Work of Love (Hajeongwoo)

23

"Yah, Park Jeongwoo!" Yuki's voice echoed in the hallway that made Jeongwoo gasped in annoyance. This is the first time Yuki approaced the guy after he dumped her two years ago, setting aside her pride and ego.

Jeongwoo stood still waiting for what Yuki is about to say. She pulled Jeongwoo's arm to make him face her as she gave him a 'i'm not scared of you' look.

"What?" annoyed voice, Jeongwoo asked. He is more pissed with the thought that Haruto is friends with this girl making him feel irritated with the fact that she touched his skin.

"How rude can you be, huh? Do you really need to do that to Haruto?"

"That's not your business." that made Yuki furrowed her brows.

"Tell me Jeongwoo, do you like Haruto?" Jeongwoo was taken away with the question that it made him secretly gulped in the back of his mind but maintained to show a blank expression as he said "It's like asking me if it's possible for a kitten to swallow a tiger."

'Deny it more, you coward.' Yuki whispered to herself. There's no way he don't like Haruto she also thought. They locked gazes when Jeongwoo lean forward and their faces are just two inches away from each other. Yuki felt the voltage as she averted face away from the awkwardness.

"Don't go near me again, I told you, right?"

"If you think I still like you, you can choke now because I don't, anymore. I better keep a man like Haruto than to keep a man like you who only knows to ignore people who show love and affection onto you. You're not worth it, Jeongwoo, I hope you can realize that." Yuki left Jeongwoo dumbfounded as he can feel the reality slapping him hard.

"Yah, Haruto! What happened to your face? Who bullied you?!" Junkyu shouted when he suddenly noticed the bruised in Haruto's face. The students at the cafiteria looked at him but he ignored it focusing on Haruto waiting for him to answer his question.

"Hyung, this is nothing." Haruto tried avoiding the question when Jihoon spanked him hard as he felt pissed that Haruto is trying to fool around with them.

"Who did that?" Jihoon asked with firm voice trying to threaten the giant baby when he gulped feeling nervous. He can't lie, not with the hyungs.

"Jeongwoo accidentally did this... but he didn't mean it, really." faking a laugh and trying to smile are two failed ways to deny he is hurting.

Jihoon and Yoonbin stared at each other feeling suspicious with Jeongwoo.

"He did that on purpose." Jihoon said as he gritted his teeth feeling pissed off. Junkyu awkwardly took a bite in his burger.

Haruto avoided Jihoon's gaze because he knows the hyung will just see the glimpse of loneliness in his eyes.

"We are playing blind Haruto because this is what you want and because we want you to prove yourself to him, you love him right? Yes, we all know that." Haruto just bowed down his head.

Jeongwoo happily went to the group's table bringing his own food as the others just stared at him with a blank expression. Haruto couldn't even look at him directly to his eyes.

"Here comes the arrogant genius kid." Jihoon uttered with the coldest tone. Yoonbin nudge Jihoon trying to calm it's mouth from running without manners.

"Why?! Will we continue sugarcoating our words to make him feel better even though he did something wrong?" Jihoon shouted. Jeongwoo felt like crying, yes he might be hard with Haruto but hearing the oldest shouting at him felt so heavy to handle.

"Yah Park Jeongwoo, how long will you treat Haruto badly?" Jihoon asked, Yoonbin is now nervous with the way he is talking with the kid but he knows he can't stop Jihoon.

"Are you that angry with him that you can physically hit him?"

Jeongwoo was invaded with his anger meanwhile Haruto held Jihoon's hand to stop him from saying worse.

Jihoon stared at him as he pleaded the older. "Hyung please." Jihoon heaved a sigh glaring at Jeongwoo.

"He chose that situation, he can just stay away from me but he keeps insisting himself. Is that my fault?"

'I keep insisting myself, yeah Jeongwoo, that's right.' Haruto felt so down with what the younger said.

"Yah Park Jeongwoo!"

"You guys don't deserve to call me by my name, you aren't my friends anymore. You just chose him over me and that shows." Jeongwoo left the tray at the other table as he left the cafiteria with a heavy heart.

Tears started streaming down. He just said he is not friends with them and that's such a foolish thing he have said.

"He is so childish! I just can't!" Jihoon blurted out of anger. Haruto, Yoonbin and Junkyu left hanging, feeling tensed with the situation.

Jeongwoo is sitting at the pool side staring at the stars in the sky. He sighed again not knowing how many times he did already.

'I've been doing so fine without you, Haruto. Why do you need to ruin everything again?' he asked himself. He did not notice that tears are now streaming down his face. The pain inside his chest is now unbearable, he's still hurt and for three years he fooled himself that he's fine and he already moved on. But now, facing Haruto is the hardest thing to do for him. The anger and disappointment will always be evident.

"You look like you're in a deep thoughts." Junkyu approached his brother bringing him a milk to drink, his favorite beverage. He sit beside him as Jeongwoo looked at him and show him a sad smile.

"Woo, I don't know what you feel deep down." Junkyu said. He laughed when he added "You used to tell me everything before, no secrets and perfectly transparent." Jeongwoo auddenly felt bad hearing his brother said those things.

"But now, I'm completely lost. You don't want to tell me how you feel, if you're hurting or you're unhappy."

Jeongwoo bowed down his head. 'I also don't want to be like this. But pain made me grow to be the person I never thought I could be.'

"Why do you need to carry it all alone? You have me. But why do you need to make me feel you don't need me, Woo?" Junkyu's voice cracked. This is one of the most unusual conversation they can possibly have as brothers.

"Hyung... it's not like that." Jeongwoo held Junkyu's hand. Junkyu felt like he is seeing the soft Jeongwoo right now who's crying with him.

"Carrying the pain makes people stronger." Jeongwoo said.

"You might never know what kind of pain it is, or why am I even in pain, I hope you'll be there if ever I can't carry it anymore." Jeongwoo said. He's afraid to open up, he just can't tell anyone how weak he is deep inside because right now, people see him strong and independent.

"You don't need to ask me that, Woo. I'm your brother, if you think you can carry it alone, I will always love to at least help you carry them."

Jeongwoo nodded his head. But still, he's still convinced with the thought that everything will be fine without bringing up the past back anymore.

🍓I'm sorry if this story is taking a lot of your time guys, I just don't know how to do shortcuts and yes the hajeongwoo moments will happen way sooner! We're on the way there so thank you for those who are reading this. ILY ALL!🍓