I'm In Trouble

Clip 37

"You might want to wash that," a voice spoke to him warmly while pointing towards his hands as he stared down at the floor blankly. Baekho snapped out of his daydream and looked at his hands. They were still stained with blood, not his but Minhyun's and Jonghyun's. He had punched the latter hard and repeatedly until he passed out before he had tried to stop the bleeding from Minhyun's slit neck. He got up and thanked the nurse before making his way to the restroom. He washed his hands and used soap to scrub every inch of it off including the bottom of his nails. He turned off the tap and finally let out the first whimper. He looked at the mirror and noticed how haggard he looked. Not once but twice in a single night Minhyun had gave him a shock. He held the sides of the sink as he let out shaky cries escape his lips. He had to hold it together. He wasn't the one suffering physically. Minhyun had it worse but that didn't mean it didn't take an emotional and mental toll on him. Baekho didn't know when he started to cry but he just let the tears fall as he gripped the sink to support himself. His body trembled and his knees felt weak but he stayed standing. He couldn't fall now, couldn't break.

He breathed shakily again one more time, taking a long deep breath and letting it go before wiping his hands and cheeks dry with the tissue. He patted his pink cheeks and sighed. He made his way back to the operation room and noticed Minhyun's manager pacing back and forth. He had a nurse called the other earlier after Minhyun had been wheeled in. He didn't know what to say at all. Only guilt gripped him as he watched the worried male. He took a seat and his manager finally took notice of him. He stormed up to Baekho and grabbed a fistful of his shirt.

"Why the hell is this happening? Aren't you supposed to be protecting him so why is he in a critical condition?" the man yelled and to be honest, Baekho felt like he deserved to be scolded. He had allowed Minhyun to be put into danger's harm twice and he knew he couldn't even pay for it with his life.

"I'm sorry. I... I tried to stop him." But not enough. He should have tried harder. His manager let go and breathed in.

"Oh god. Please let nothing happen to him."

Baekho noticed how worried his manager was and wondered if the two's relationship was more than just that. Minhyun's manager collapsed into the seat beside him and fell almost silent, just staring blankly at his hands while gripping them together tightly. Baekho glanced at him and pursed his lips.

"Um... Did you call Minhyun's parents?" He decided to ask instead of just sitting still.

"No. Don't even bother. They won't come anyways."

"What do you mean?"

"Minhyun didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"He's not a legitimate son and his real mother died from childbirth. His stepmum doesn't care much for him and his father treats him like he's invisible after he came out to him."

"Oh." Baekho didn't know. His resources didn't give him that much information about Minhyun's full background after all. He could only feel worse at this point for the things he had said to the other. He remembered yelling that Minhyun had everything. Family, money, fame. He needed nothing else and yet the other had insisted that all he needed was Baekho. He didn't understand it but maybe he did now. Because nothing meant anything to Minhyun. Not his career, not his family and definitely not his own life. "Oh..."

"Hey... Don't cry," Minhyun's manager said, softening up slightly as he sat up and patted Baekho's back as more tears slid out again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know. He never mentioned it."

"Of course he didn't. He doesn't care for people who don't care for him. He was always so bored of everything. Even when I had given him this chance to become a top star which he did, he was never fully satisfied."

"You did?"

"Yes, I was the one who had him scouted when I found him wasting away at some rundown bar. He was going through a bad breakup at that time and I helped him out, thought I could fix him and give him a better life. I did for the most part but it wasn't a life that completed him in any way. He was still always so...empty until he met you. It was like a fire lit up in him but his focus was pulled away from his music. I could tell he was really into you more than his job so I helped him out, I thought it would make him feel better... Not end up in a hospital."

"I... I deeply apologise. I did not wish for this either." Baekho rubbed away his tears and sniffled.

"I'm sorry if it sounded like I was blaming you earlier. I just got worked up too."

"It's okay. I understand. Minhyun is still a pop star right now... I think it's best if we do part ways," Baekho said softly. "I want what's best for him and I don't think I am."

"Are you crazy? I haven't seen that much life in the kid ever since I first met him. He needs you, I don't know why or what you did but if you leave him alone, imagine all the other stupider stuff he might do or however it led up to this."

Baekho gripped his arms and nodded. "Right..."

They sit in silence again until the operation room door opened and the nurses wheeled him out to a patient room. Baekho and his manager followed along. Minhyun was still unconscious but breathing and alive. The manager spoke with the doctor while Baekho waited for the nurses to finish their job before taking a seat. He was so relieved Minhyun was alive but also wrecked with guilt for allowing this to happen.

"Kang sshi."

"Ah. Yes?"

"You can go home for now. I'll take care of Minhyun."

"Thank you but... Please let me stay by his side for a little longer."