Promise (Ateez au)

Chapter IX

He was staring at the ceiling, not knowing what to do. His whole body hurt like hell, but he couldn't figure out why. Was it because of what he was or because of the weird substances that Hongjoong had inserted into his body?
Tears started to form in his eyes, even though he tried to blink them away. Why couldn't they just let him die in peace, instead of letting him suffer? They know that it's the only thing he wants right now.
While still being lost in his thoughts, he heard the door open and quickly closed his eyes.

"He better stays like that until I'm finished, because I don't want to deal with his annoying voice anymore." He heard Hongjoong whisper to himself. He had promised to never cry over him anymore, but it was getting harder every time. He had never wanted to accept the existence of his feelings for the older, but knew he couldn't keep pushing them away. He was hopelessly in love with Hongjoong. And he knew Hongjoong wasn't in love with him. He made it very clear that there was no love between them. Yes, they slept in the same bed and yes, they had shared kisses with each other. But actual love was never exchanged. Not that Seonghwa knew what love felt like, but he imagined it being like going out into the forest and watching how the stars lit up the sky. Or just cuddling up together, trying to fall asleep in each other's arms. It's been a while since Seonghwa actually had a good night of sleep, always being scared Hongjoong had planned something out to hurt him while being asleep.

"I'm trying to help you." He always said, and in the beginning, Seonghwa believed it. He really thought Hongjoong wanted to heal him, or at least be in less pain. But now he knows it's not true. Hongjoong just wants to help himself. Yunho told him a while ago that Hongjoong got turned into a vampire the same way as Seonghwa. What that was exactly, he didn't know. No memories of before he became a vampire were left.

"I know you're awake. So get up and leave me alone." Hongjoong cut off Seonghwa's thoughts. Carefully he opened his eyes, staring right into the red eyes hovering over him. Pure disgust was visible in them after seeing Seonghwa's eyes.

"How many times do I have to tell you to cover your fucking eye?! Get out of my face. Now."

And Seonghwa did. He quickly grabbed the eye patch and hurried to the living room, something he regretted doing immediately. Wooyoung and San had occupied the couch, practically pushing their tongues in each other's throat.
San was quick to notice Seonghwa's presence though, and softly pushed Wooyoung off him.

"Hyung, are you okay?" San had walked over to the older, worry visible in his eyes. "You look so pale? Did something happen? Did Hongjoong hyung do something?"

"At the mention of that name, Seonghwa couldn't stay strong anymore. The tears that he had tried to hold in, finally got released. He knew he had to get out of there quickly, as San's eyes widened at the sight already. But what he did next, wasn't what Seonghwa expected.
While the red fluid started to paint his cheeks, he felt San's hand grab his own, and got pulled towards Yunho's room where he knew he would be safe. Where someone was who actually cared about him and made sure he felt better. He knew he was supposed to think of him as his enemy, since he was on Hongjoong's side, but he couldn't. He could never hate Yunho.

"San, what- Oh." Yunho had immediately noticed Seonghwa's state and made him sit down quickly, taking some tissues, cotton wool and a clear fluid that Seonghwa would never know the name of.

"I'm sorry, but you already know it's going to hurt a bit." Yunho said after having wiped away the blood-tears with the tissues. He poured the fluid in Seonghwa's eye, making him flinch a bit because of the sudden pain.

"Why did that happen, hyung?" San asked, not understanding why Seonghwa suddenly cried blood.

"For some reason, his tears have vanished and blood took over what once were normal tears. So when he cries, it's blood. And it hurts." Yunho answered, finishing up taking care of Seonghwa's eyes. "Can you throw this away for me?" Yunho threw the bloody eye patch to San, who barely catched it.