You Are Loved ◦ JungHope

Part 5

"Jungkook...?" Namjoon's voice was testing. Snapping the younger out of his daze when he whipped around. The elder seemed concerned. Something stressing his brows. "Did you hear everything?"

Jungkook only nodded, unsure of how to respond. But Namjoon was sighing, offering a small smile with dimples, yet not strong enough to reach is eyes. "He'll be okay. Trust in your hyung, alright? He's stronger than you think. Let him work this out with Sangchul. Come on." Namjoon wrapped an arm around Jungkook's shoulders and lead him back to the living room.

But Jungkook couldn't help the sickening feeling from soaking his chest. Of course he knew that Hoseok was strong. He was the strongest hyung he'd known. But what began to seep into Jungkook's thoughts, was the horrifying question of how long he had been strong for. Which bread the terrifying question of, what's the breaking point?

When the rest asked about Hoseok's absence, Namjoon simply waved it off, saying Sangchul needed him for something. Everyone seemed to be giving looks of understanding.

And Jungkook couldn't help but to wonder, not without a tsunami of frustration. If he was the last one to find out about the way Hoseok was being treated by his boyfriend.

Hoseok made it home in record time. He was able to collect himself enough by the time he reached the door. The moment with Jungkook, however, refused to stop replaying in his mind. Should he have said something? How much had Jungkook heard? Had he taken pity on Hoseok like the rest of them seemed to? Did Jungkook finally realize how pathetic of a hyung he was? How unloveable? How-

"There you are." Sangchul opened the door before Hoseok even got a hand on the knob. The boy grabbing ahold of Hoseok's shirt harshly and dragging him into the apartment. "You want to explain yourself Jung? Apologize?!"

Hoseok stepped back, away from Sangchul quickly. "Hey, why are you so angry? Sangchul...calm down. Please I don't know what I did to warrant all this..."

"That's rich coming from you." Sangchul took heated steps towards Hoseok, effectively backing the boy into the wall and crowding in his space.

"Sangchul, please can we talk about this? You never listen to my side of the story and I just want-" Hoseok pleaded but his cries were cut short.

"Don't you dare push this on me! Are you trying to fucking manipulate me?! Bitch. You fucking bitch!" Sangchul screamed, taking a step back from Hoseok. And Hoseok was about to reply, to defend himself, to apologize, anything, but Sangchul's hand was faster. Hoseok didn't even realize when the other had raised his arm and the only thing he registered was the sharp pain in his cheek, the force enough to have him bent over from the impact, and the deafening slap that echoed off the hollow walls.

"You bitch! You fucking bitch!" Sangchul heaved. "I'm trying to help you and it's just too damn much on me. You don't even see it! You're selfish Jung Hoseok. So fucking selfish you disgusting little...oh," His voice took on a moking tone as Hoseok remainded where he was. Unmoving from where the slap had sent him. Sangchul agressivly grabbed a fist full of Hoseok's dark brown hair, yanking his head up so that their eyes met. "Are you hurt? Need help fixing that?" The sugarcoated venom in his voice sent daggers through Hoseok's chest, distracting him from the feeling of blood falling in beads from his cheek. Tears of red.

Sangchul dragged hoseok by the hair to the bathroom, Hoseok latched onto Sangchul's hand in his hair, desperately trying to free himself of the hold without hurting the other. He tried to yell, to scream, to reason, but nothing made it past the overwhelming lump in his throat. Hastily, Sangchul reached with his free hand for the rubbing alcohol. Drowning a cleaning pad before turning back to Hoseok.