Roses Left To Wilt

Chapter 7

Felix

Flashback

1 year ago.

Felix was lost. It was like he couldn't catch up with time. Everything moved so fast...yet he had to wait. He felt pathetic. Like he had deserved all the pain he endured. He felt like he was waiting for things to get better. He knew he had to do something. So, he did. But things just went out of the ashes and into the fire.

"Here, kid," A man in his twenties, covered in tattoos, pulled out a cigarette and handed it to Felix.

"I don't smoke," Felix looked away. The man stroked his scruffy beard and raised an eyebrow at him. "Why are you here if you're gonna sit there doing nothing,"

"They threatened to kill my brother. I don't even know why they fight so hard to have me. They don't make me do anything." It felt surreal for Felix to say the word brother.

"Heard you were an only child, though," he threw his cigarette on the ground and lit another one.

"I was adopted. I'm talking about my biological brother," Felix held the chain Hyungwoo gave him. Flashbacks appeared of him meeting his six-year-old brother after 14 years. He was so...wrecked. Scared. Starved. The only way to save him was to join. Do whatever they wanted him to do. Hyungwoo had no one. Even his own mother escaped, leaving him behind.

"What's your name?" Felix held the frail body of his brother in his arms for the first time. His eyes glistened.

"Hyungwoo," The boy managed to say. He curled up and held his knees.

"What have they done to you?" Felix clenched his brother's cold hands. Hyungwoo looked away. He reached into his pocket. A silver necklace.

"A star and a moon. Mom gave it to me,"

"Where's Mom?"

"She left,"

"Why?"

"I don't know,"

"I'll take care of you," Felix tried to smile. Hyunwoo looked just like him. The same big brown eyes. The same boxy smile.

From that day onwards, Felix would visit his brother every day. He made sure no one laid a hand on him, and he succeeded. The gang agreed to not hurt the boy. They needed Felix. They were ordered to ruin his life.

Ring, Ring! The leader picked up his phone. He saw the contact name through the cracked screen and nervously cleared his throat.

"Yes, boss?"

"Did it go well?" The man said.

"Yea...he's already getting attached. We just have to wait, and then we can kill the kid."

"Don't make me wait too long. I want them both gone. Find the woman, too. We have to kill everyone who's important to Collins."

"I was thinking...it's going to be a huge deal when one of the most successful businessmen in the world's nephew goes missing, wouldn't it? I don't think killing him so soon would be the best idea. That pest, Onruang, already abuses the boy. It would be quite believable if the police figured out about the abuse, and then the boy goes missing." The leader smirked.

"I like the idea, although patience isn't my expertise." The man said, in a slightly threatening tone.

"I understand, but we could also let the word get out, Boss!" The leader convinced.