The lives of five different men take a dark turn when they're each approached by Choi San, the enigmatic owner of 'The Garden'. A twisted playground where free will is an illusion and desires of the flesh is encouraged.
"I want to go to the ball Lee...
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XIV. Trauma • Choi Jongho
"Really you don't need to..." Jongho said with a pout as Yunho dropped next to him on his bed. He had caught up to him outside his bedroom insisting on helping him clean his split knuckles. Jongho had hit Mingi pretty hard and while it made Yunho feel horrible he was grateful for the younger's help. He still didn't know what to make of his ex's presence here or why he acted so crazy. Plus, being with Jongho gave him a good distraction from his troubled thoughts.
"I want to, there's a difference." Yunho sighed before he rolled his eyes. The younger continued to protest but Yunho did what he wanted to anyways. He dabbed at the cuts with a swab and hydrogen peroxide he'd found in the en suite. This elicited a pained hiss from the other boy. Yunho looked up at him worriedly only to see a huge grimace on his face. "You big baby." The older chided as he gently blew against his hand. Jongho watched his lips, a slight blush gracing his cheeks.
"Just who the hell was that guy?" Jongho huffed as he studied the older's face. Yunho had a look of concentration as he began to unwrap a roll of gauze. He tried to keep his voice as neutral as he could when he answered. "He's my ex boyfriend.. The only boyfriend I've ever had." There was so much hurt to his voice the younger felt bad about asking. Jongho's brows furrowed together as he watched him bind the bandage around his hand.
"Who broke it off?"
Yunho stopped his movements and Jongho was afraid that he'd overstepped his boundaries. He could tell from the look of anguish that had crossed his face that it had been his ex. His beautiful chocolate eyes swam with tears that he kept trained on the bed between them. Jongho placed a hand on Yunho's knee until he raised his eyes to look at him. "Well he's an idiot," Jongho said firmly. "Anyone would be an idiot for leaving you."
At his kind words Yunho felt heat rise to his cheeks. He quickly put all the medical supplies away hoping that Jongho didn't notice just how flustered he'd made him. The younger boy sat back on his bed as he watched the other, drawing his bottom lip into his mouth in contemplation. "I've had a lot of really shitty relationships and even more one night stands...I just— I feel like my brain isn't wired to be with one person." Jongho admitted quietly. "I've never been in love."
His last sentence caught Yunho by surprise and his eyes widen a bit. "Never, never?" He asks.
Now it was Jongho's turn to look embarrassed as he drew random shapes on the sheets around them. "Nope, I-I just gave up. I don't think I deserve it." He whispered the last part mostly to himself. The last person who should have a love story was him. A night from years before, one he'd tried to forget, flashed across his mind...
It was some stupid college party at a house of someone he hardly knew. He was attending university to become an asshole lawyer like his father was. A path he had little choice but to fall in line and follow. He hated his family and the person they were molding him into but he kept his mouth shut. Couldn't have them put a stop to the cash flow, now could he?
