Run into Sin | Jikook

Part 19

The dance studio is explicitly cold today and it numbs the tips of Jeongguk's fingers as he comes inside, groaning obnoxiously loud. He stretches his arms above his head, smoothing out the kinks in his muscles before settling down his bag and the takeaway food he had brought beforehand.
Hoseok sits in the middle of the studio.

He's cross-legged, arms stretched out in front of him to prepare for their vigorous dancing for the evening. He seems poised and practiced, body bunched together.

Jeongguk watches in amazement for a second, unable to stop the admiration that spreads through his lungs at his friends. Hoseok is exceptionally brilliant at what he does and there's no denial about it. He leans against the wall, waiting.

When Hoseok looks up, however, Jeongguk's blood runs cold.

Because the man is seething. He looks disturbed, features pulled together in dismay and disappointment. His eyes are drooped low, his lips twitching in a frown. Hoseok makes eye contact with Jeongguk and looks a mix between agitated and outraged.

"I know." Is all he says. "I know about the videos."

The words are straightforward, cutthroat and Jeongguk's sure his entire world stops moving for a second as he stares in disbelief. How the fuck does Hoseok know? He had concealed it well, had made his knowing friends keep quiet about it as well. There's no way he would've figured it out.

Jeongguk blinks a few times, swallowing around the growing lump in his throat. Bile builds up and he feels the need to vomit but he holds himself together and pushes through.

"How?" He breathes out.

Hoseok clicks his tongue, shaking his head. He gets up from the floor and struts over to one side of the studio, grabbing his jacket as if he's on his way to leave. Panic addresses Jeongguk and he rushes forward, grabbing ahold of Hoseok's forearm to halt him.

"Don't go, hyung. It's not so bad. Please, don't make this more dramatic than it has to be."

Hoseok snatches his arm back.

"You do realise that what you're doing is illegal, that you'll lose your place in the dance academy?" The older man presses, his voice brittle as if he's close to breaking. "I care about you so fucking much, Jeongguk so fucking excuse me for being scared for you."

"This is why I didn't tell you."

"Because I'd tell you the truth?" He spits, taking a step back. "That you'll get into a shit load of trouble if someone finds out? That you'll taint your image, our image?"

Jeongguk closes his eyes for a second, trying to collect himself. The last thing he wants to do is lose his control, say something he'll only regret later. He doesn't deal with authority well, doesn't like answering to people trying to talk down upon him. Hoseok's piercing him with a look that seems like he's trying to pry right into his soul, discover his inner secrets.

"No one's going to find out."

"How do you know that?"

"Because hyung," he sighs exasperated. He takes a step forward, trying to placate Hoseok as much as he can manage to do so. "I didn't just jump into it without thinking it through."

"You say that, Jeongguk..." Hoseok pursues his lips. "But I found out. I saw a link on my Facebook for a 'really hot porn video', and I recognised your voice immediately. You don't think someone else will?"

Jeongguk realises there's truth ringing in Hoseok's words. There's nothing he can do to change the pitch of his voice in the videos, only attempt to lower the volume so he'll hardly be recognisable.