FOR SEUNGCHEOL | JEONGCHEOL FF

WHY DID YOU LEAVE

12.18.22

Seungcheol stared Jeonghan down from across the conference room. The latter, although looking calm and composed, looked every bit as bothered as the other 11 boys in the room. Seungcheol continued looking, challenging Jeonghan to look back at him but the younger man looked everywhere but him.

There was the expected tension in the air, to be honest, Seungcheol felt his chest constrict. He slouched on his chair, leaning to the table, his hands curling to fists as his fingernails dug on his own flesh.

"Hyung.." he heard Chan call out to him, obviously aware that he will explode anytime now. Chan's voice, however, brought Seungcheol's floating mind back in the room and with a deep dark voice he spoke, "Tell me again, Jeonghan."

His words elicited several sighs from the other members. "Hyung, please stop." Mingyu half-whined, half-begged. They've been at it for three hours already, with Jeonghan explaining to them three times what his plan is.

"Shut up, Mingyu. I want to hear it again. He has to say it to me." Seungcheol pressed on. If his gaze could dig holes in Jeonghan's body, Jeonghan would be full of it by now. "Say it again."

Jihoon then stood up, "I've had enough of this. Let's just all go. Let them be." and without even sparing another look at Jeonghan and Seungcheol, he walked out of the room. The other members reluctantly followed him.

"I said say it again!" Seungcheol yelled as he stood up, slamming his hands hards onto the table. Jeonghan finally lokked up at him. "What else do you want me to say, Seungcheol? I've told you everything."

"Tell me again. All of it. I don't understand. Make me understand. You have to.. because this... I can't accept this. I will not accept this. I refuse to. You're not leaving, Jeonghan." Seungcheol almost allowed the sob forming in his throat to be let out.

"I'm not leaving. I'm just... I'm taking a break... indefinitely."

"Why?"

"Because that's what I want."

"Want?!" Seungcheol exclaimed, laughing sarcastically. "How selfish!"

Jeonghan did not have any retort for that. He has no fight in himself anymore. He will take whatever Seungcheol gives him-- he will take in everything. He will accept everything even if it hurts. Because he knows it's nothing compared to how the older man is feeling right now.

"How long have you been thinking about this? You never even said anything to me."

"Quite some time now. I've been discussing it with the managers." Jeonghan explained calmly.

"And you think it right to just bypass me-- the leader, and just went straight to the management?" Seungcheol is pacing now.

"I didn't want to distract you, not with the pending release of the new album."

"So you're saying you're being considerate right now? Do you expect me to be thankful?" Sarcasm has laced Seungcheol's words. "You think not telling me is being considerate? We're releasing two weeks from now! Two weeks Jeonghan! And you will not even participate? What do you expect us to do? Re-shoot the whole thing? Record everything again?! Or maybe even postpone release so we can be considerate of your sudden decision to take a break?" Seungcheol could not stop it, even if he wanted to he could not. He knew something was wrong. He knew Jeonghan has been hiding somethign from him. It just never crossed his mind that this was it.

Jeonghan rubbed his temples. There it is again, the intense migraine and the flickering of his eyes. Not now-- he told himself. Not now.

"So?" Seungcheol looked at him expectantly.