Love Lies Bleeding🔞

🌰6

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TW :
This chapter will reveal more about the twins' and their father's toxic relationship, as
well as hint at their father having an affair.
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𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐏.𝐎.𝐕

Minho watched as Lee Know picked up a basketball, examined it and then put it back.

❝ Just pick on already they're all the same. ❞ Lee Know huffed.

❝ That's not true! I thought you were smart. If I pick the wrong one then all my hopes and dreams will be ruined~ ❞ Minho groaned. He looked around and noticed their father wasn't anywhere in sight.

Minho frowned and walked towards the end of the aisle to look for their father. He peaked out around the corner and found their father talking to a woman. They were awful close and the woman's cheeks were bright red.

Minho furrowed his brows. He stepped out from the aisle and walked towards the two.

❝ Father? ❞ Mr. Lee turned to look at Minho and smiled. Minho felt his stomach turn at the sight of his father smiling at him. It was strange but to Minho, seeing someone he barely knew smile at him so sweetly didn't sit right, especially when that sweet smile didn't reach the person's eyes.

Their father was rarely with them. In fact he only saw his father once or twice a month [ and at the rarest occasions, he stays with them for a week but that would normally be followed by months of not seeing nor hearing from him ]. This morning it was surprising to see him sitting at the dinner table with their mother waiting for them so he could take them to the store to buy Lee Know's basketball equipment.

Lee Know was over the moon to have their father come with them, but Minho was uncomfortable with the thought of being left with [ basically ] a stranger.

❝ Minho! This is my son I have told you so much about! One smart cookie, always at the top of his entire grade. ❞ The woman smiled brightly at Minho.

❝ He looks a lot like you, so handsome. ❞ The woman tried to reach out and touch Minho's head but Minho quickly stepped back.

❝ Now don't be rude Minho. Sorry he's just a bit shy at first. ❞ Minho glared at his father.

❝ Dad! Minho! ❞ Lee Know emerged from the aisle completely ignoring the existence of the woman and held up his basketball proudly.

❝ I finally found the perfect one! ❞ Minho grabbed Lee Know's arm and yanked him back into the aisle. Lee Know nearly tripped over his own feet at the sudden action.

❝ Where are we going? ❞

❝ To find the hoop. ❞

❝ But Dad─ ❞

❝ He'll find us, it's not a very big store. ❞ Lee Know frowned.

❝ But I want to pick it out with Dad. ❞

❝ Well he clearly doesn't want to be with us. ❞ Minho muttered. Lee Know pulled his arm away from Minho.

❝ Why do you always talk bad about Dad. He's hardly with us so why can't you just enjoy this time with him! ❞ Minho stared at Lee Know. It was the first time Lee Know truly looked annoyed and upset.

❝ Because. . . he. . . he. . . ❞

❝ He what? When we were building the tree house you barely helped. You always ran away when Dad came. ❞

❝ Because he's─ ❞

❝ Minho! Lee Know! There you two are. I was looking all over for you two. Why did you run off? ❞ Lee Know smiled widely.

❝ Dad! Minho wanted to go look for the hoop that's all. ❞ Mr. Lee stared down at Minho. Minho shifted his weight between his feet, uncomfortable with the look their father was giving him.

❝ Why didn't you say so! We can all go look for it together! ❞ Lee Know held their father's arm.

❝ I saw this really cool hoop when we first walked in. It's over here, come on. ❞ He pulled their father off towards the west side of the building. Minho walked behind them, keeping a large distance between them.

He watched as Lee Know happily talked with their father, his smile almost as wide as when they are with Jisung.

❝ Maybe. . .maybe I should keep it too myself. . . I mean. . . it could be his friend. . . adults have best friends too. . . ❞

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Minho tapped his finger against the dinner table. Their mother sorted through the mail, putting bills in one pile and announcements in another. Lee Know and their father were in the backyard setting up the basketball hoop.

❝ Is something wrong? ❞ Their mother look at Minho. Minho bit his lip.

❝ Well. . . ❞ His eyes became watery.

❝ Did something happen? ❞ Minho looked down.

❝ I saw Father talking with this woman. . . they were really close. . . but I don't know. . . they could be friends. . . ❞ Their mother pressed her lips together. There was a long moment of silence before she spoke again.

❝ I'm sure it was just one of his friends from work! Don't worry about it. . .everything is okay. ❞ Minho nodded.

❝ I'm going to go to bed. ❞

❝ You don't want anything to eat? ❞ Minho shook his head. He stood up and left the dinning room. He walked up to his shared room and closed the door.

He looked at Lee Know's bed and saw Lee Know's favorite teddy bear [ Mr. Teddy ] tucked in. He smiled softly and walked over to the bed.

The teddy bear was a gift from their father. Actually it was a gift to Minho from their father [ their father had completely forgotten about Lee Know ]. But Minho didn't like it so he pretended it was a gift to Lee Know from their father [ their mother, upon finding out what had happened, bought him the book he wanted so they both got something ].

Lee Know was ecstatic about the gift and would carry it around everywhere [ that was until Jisung turned four and he decided to hide it while Jisung was over so he didn't look too childish ]. Lee Know basically worshipped their father so Minho couldn't bring himself to tell Lee Know the truth and he hoped he'd never had to tell him the truth.

❝ Minho. ❞ Minho looked over at the opened door. Lee Know walked in and closed it.

❝ Why are you holding Mr. Teddy? ❞ Minho looked down and noticed the stuffed bear in his hands. He quickly dropped it onto Lee Know's bed and stepped back.

❝ Sorry I just. . . making sure nothing had happened to it. ❞ Lee Know hummed.

❝ Well tomorrow's our big day to start training after school! ❞ Minho nodded.

❝ Sounds good. . . where is. . . father? ❞

❝ Oh he was talking to Mom, something about one of his coworkers and then he left with his keys and stuff like he usually does. He probably won't be back until next month or something, but it gives me plenty of time to improve my skills and show him how good I am! ❞ Lee Know smiled widely. It was almost like he wasn't mad at Minho just an hour ago.

❝ Right. I'm sure he'll be super impressed. ❞ Lee Know chuckled.

❝ Yup! Well I should get ready to sleep. Could you help put on Mr. Teddy's pajamas for me. They are on my desk. ❞ Lee Know then left the room. Minho walked over to his desk and surely enough there was a pile of neatly folded clothes [ a plain white shirt and a white cap ] on the surface of the desk. Minho picked up the clothes and held it tightly.

❝ I can't tell him. . . no matter what. ❞ Outside the sound of three crows were heard. Minho flinched as he heard them take off. He quickly ran towards Mr. Teddy and picked him up. He squeezed the teddy bear tightly until the sound of the crows wings has faded into a distance. The teddy bear stared at him.

❝ Oh don't look at me like that. ❞ He muttered before shoving the shirt over it's head and pulling it's stuffed arms through the sleeves.