Heavily breathing, he collapsed on the bed, trying to process what his eyes had just witnessed. His palms were clammy and breathing uneven due to the shock, it had taken him a lot of effort to keep a straight face when he came home. "No. This cannot be. It's not true. How? Why would he? Seokjin....".
Sometime ago...
Seokjung watched his brother skip down the muddy path and after a few minutes of waiting, he followed suit. The cover of trees became thicker as they moved deeper into the woods. "Where could he be going?", Seokjung wondered.
Moving a little father from the road, he overtook his brother, not really afraid of being spotted as the trees gave him cover and his green hanbok helped him blend with the surroundings well. He noticed a pond at a distance from the tree he now stood behind, watching Seokjin who had picked up his pace, briskly walking towards the water body.
Seokjung observed the the pond and it's surroundings, astonished by the fact that he had never come across it, even during his outings in this particular area, which had been plenty. The pond was well covered, tucked away quietly having minimal contact with the people of the capital, possibly only his brother and that 'friend' .
He caught the glimpse of a man, who stood facing the pond, his hands behind his back. He was tall, well built and looked like one of the soldiers from military, judging by what he was wearing. But he could not make out the rank, having seen the uniform, once or twice, which led Seokjung to the conclusion that he might be on an important position. The individual turned, sensing his brother approaching and with a smile on his face, opened his arms wide, Seokjin wasting no time in melting into them.
He stood there stunned. Dumbfounded. Never in his dreams had he suspected that Seokjin would be in a relationship with someone, he felt betrayed that his brother had not chosen to consult him before taking such a decision.
But he was taken aback the moment he managed to make out who the man way. "KIM NAMJOON? Out of every single alpha out there it had to be KIM NAMJOON?" Sweat broke out and heart raced as his mind spiraled to the scenarios, which would happen if their families found out. No. He could not let it happen. Not when he did not even know how this Kim Namjoon was. He could just be playing around with his brother, waiting for the opportunity to hurt him.
"I won't let this happen. Never".
"Hyung! Hyung where are we going?", Seokjin whined as he was dragged by his brother towards their home. "Ouch! Hyung stop you're hurting me!", he yelped attempting to free his hand that was enclosed in Seokjung's tight grip. He responded with a glare, not relenting the slightest, pulling Seokjin roughly up the stairs through the front door. He was pushed into his bedroom, his brother stepping in and locking the door behind him.
"Why did y-"
Seokjin stopped mid sentence as the hard hand landed on his cheek making his face fly to one side. "Hyu-".
Another slap.
He felt tears well in his eyes, hand coming to rest on his now angry red, stinging cheek. Seokjung stood fuming his front of him, eyes red, ablaze with anger. Seokjin kept his head down, not wanting to look at the alpha, feeling small in his presence. Never in his life had he felt such an aura coming from his brother, heavy and raged, quiet contrary from his calm and composed one. His heart beat increased, as a feeling of dread washed over him.
"What did I do hyung?", he asked timidly, completely oblivious to the fact that his brother had found out about his relationship with Namjoon. "WHAT DID YOU DO?", Seokjung exploded, grabbing his shoulders and shaking them violently.
"Do you know what you have done you stupid omega? Huh? Where was your brain when you decided to be in a relationship with that alpha? Where was your common sense WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?", he questioned, aggressively tapping Seokjin's forehead with his fingers while the one hand holding his arm tightened, making the omega whimper as pain shot through his arms, feeling the nails dig into his soft skin a lump forming in his throat.
Seokjin quivered under the strong gaze whispering softly, "I-I love him hyung. He's a good man". "How do you know he's a good man huh? Does your brain not comprehend the fact that he's from the enemy clan? Don't you understand that he might just be using your mind and body?"
"Namjoon is not l-like that hyung. H-he would never hurt me", Seokjin stuttered between tears. "Shut up Seokjin! I've heard enough. I thought you had grown up, but it seems like you still do not understand people. They have been our enemies for decades now, and yet you have the audacity to think that he might be different?", Seokjung questioned him, jaw clenching at the thought of him playing around with his brother's feelings. "I'm disappointed Seokjin", he muttered, not having imagined that his brother would do something like this.
"Hyung at least listen to me", Seokjin pleaded, hoping to clarify the misconception that he had towards Namjoon. "I'm don't want to listen to anything now. Stop trying to convince me", Seokjung growled, warning the omega to back off.
"From today onwards, you stop meeting him. Being close to him will only bring harm to you. Stay away from him if you do not want eomma and appa to find about all this. And don't you dare disobey me and seek off, I may not hurt you but I am free to hurt him as much as I please. So before you do something, think about it's consequences. Every day while you HAVE to tell me where you are going, so that I find you when I want to", he instructed.
Seokjin's face fell as he heard the words coming out of his brother's mouth. In this case he won't be able to meet Namjoon..... "No, no please no".
"Hyung please listen to me! You're not understanding the whole thing. H-he really not like the others, I've known him for a long time h-hyu!", words died in his throat as Seokjung freed his arm from his grasp.
"Do you hear yourself Seokjin? I wonder how I did not come to know about this before. How did you go undetected, Jungkook is helping you isn't he?", he glowered, face relaxing a little when the omega declined.
Just then the handle of the door was rattled from outside. "Hyungie?", a voice gently called, "It's me. Open the door please". Seokjung turned towards him, "I have my eyes on both of you. I should not see you around him again, or else..." , the alpha warned, before he opened the door to let Jungkook in.
He stood there confused, looking at his eldest brother questioningly when his gaze fell on Seokjin's tear stained face. His eyes widened and he dashed past Seokjung, embracing Seokjin tightly, who buried his face in his neck letting out small sobs. He held him close, rocking them back and forth a little, hands running over his back to calm him.
Jungkook turned towards Seokjung who's face was stoic, eyes studying Seokjin. "Remember, I am doing this for your good only", he uttered, leaving the room and slamming the door shut behind him. Seokjin flinched at the bang, proceeding to have a complete meltdown in Jungkook's arms, the seriousness of the situation finally hitting him. "How is this supposed to be good for me when I know that it is going to break me ultimately?"
"Hyungie, hyungie calm down. Breathe", Jungkook whispered, cupping his face delicately wiping the tears flowing down his cheeks with his thumbs, eyebrows furrowed and lips set into a small frown.
"He- he found out Kookie. He found out about us. Why was I so careless?", Seokjin cried attempting to hit himself. "What do I do now, how do I fix this mess?", he sobbed, voice hoarse due to crying, pulling at his hair, desperately raking his brain for a way out, but he found none. The chaos and shock did not let him come up with an idea, only making him cry louder in frustration and anger.
Jungkook held him close, gently threading his fingers through long hair attempting to calm him down. "Shhhh, Don't cry now. It's not going to help us. We need to inform Namjoon hyung about this before Jun hyung does something", he muttered.
"But you can't talk to him face to face. If hyung finds out, he'll know that you have been helping me". "I can't even talk to Tae.....", he signed defeatedly. Seokjin thought hard, "Who could it be....?"
Suddenly, a name popped up in his mind "Hobi! He'll do it!", Seokjin voiced. "Not him hyungie, Seokjung hyung knows that Hobi hyung and Namjoon are friends", Jungkook said shaking his head.
"Then Yoongi! He doesn't know about Yoongi... he can relay my message to Namjoon", Seokjin said, eyes lighting up with hope. Jungkook paused a little and tried to remember and instance where Seokjung had met Yoongi. "I think he hasn't met Yoongi hyung. I'll let him know about this tomorrow, okay?", Jungkook asked to which Seokjin nodded in approval.
"I hope hyung does not do anything before that", Seokjin mumbled nervoulsy. His habit of thinking negatively in the worst possible situations disturbed his mind and made him uneasy. Unlike others, he found it difficult to stay optimistic at all times and so, in moments of destress, he found himself panicking and lost the ability to think rationally.
"I hope so too", Jungkook muttered, praying that the situation would not escalate because god knows what they would be able to do if that happens.
XXX
Namjoon felt sick with apprehension. He couldn't shake of the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong and Seokjin not showing up even after twenty minutes only increased his worry. His eyebrows furrowed, as an unsettling feeling took over him, which he desperately tried to wash away not wanting it to ruin is mood. Or just maybe because he thought that his intuition was right. "I hope it's just a feeling".
Footsteps sounded behind and he turned round in relief only to be taken aback on seeing Seokjin's brother standing before him. "How did he..."
Seok Jung's blood boiled as he stood before the man who apparently had won Seokjin's heart. I regrated not keeping a watch on his brother's whereabouts, giving him too much freedom. According to him, Seokjin was in a situation where no matter which direction he chose, his heart would be broken.
Unlike Seokjin, he had grown up believing that the Ilsan clan was their enemy, refusing to believe otherwise. The hate had been drilled into him by his uncle, who funnily had never encountered a single member from the Ilsan clan.
"Surprised Kim Namjoon?", the alpha mocked him, knowing that he had caught Namjoon completely off-guard. He chose silence as his answer. "I'm amazed by your ability to stay calm right now so I acknowledge the fact that you are one though nut", he amused, punching Namjoon's arm lightly as he walked around him in a circle, inspecting him.
"Where's Seokjin?", he asked blunt, looking at Seokjung in the eye. Seok Jung's expression instantly turned sour. He forced a smirk, exclaiming, "I'm standing in front of you and this is your question? Shouldn't you be questioning my presence instead of my brother's right now?".
"Where's Seokjin?", Namjoon echoed once again, not falling for the game that Seokjung was setting up.
"Now I'm offended", Seokjung uttered, eyes trained on the knight who did not seem affected at all. "I should be the one questioning you Kim Namjoon. Why are you with my brother?", he growled, dropping his act.
"Because I love him", the knight replied with a straight face. "I don't fucking care if you love him or not. I want you to stay away from that's it", he snapped, Namjoon's unresponsiveness angering him further.
"And why should I? I love him and know that he loves me too", Namjoon said firmly. "Because you cannot be trusted", Seokjung sneered, "People from your clan can never be trusted. Every single one of you is a betrayer and I know that you will hurt my brother in the end. I do not want to see him broken hearted. You do not deserve him Kim Namjoon, I doubt if you can protect him".
Namjoon's eyes darkened, "Don't disrespect my clan like that", he hissed. "Just because one of us broke your trust does not mean that all of us are like that. And I assure you I would die before I let Seokjin come to any harm", he affirmed.
"I don't believe you". "Just because you do not believe me does not mean I'm lying". "I will not be swayed by empty promises". "They are not empty promises, they hold my love for your brother", Namjoon stated firmly. "Keep these to yourself then and keep your distance or else...", the alpha threatened.
"No".
"What?", Seokjung asked increduously.
"I'm not going to stay away from him".
"Seokjin is not going to meet you today onwards, I'll make sure of that".
"You really think you will be able to keep us away from each other? I'm not going to be the only one to disobey you Seokjung-ssi. Jin loves me too and he will come to me", Namjoon questioned.
"And what if he doesn't?", Seokjung interrogated, raising an eyebrow. "Then I will go to him". "Don't you dare", the alpha snarled jaw clenched, roughly grabbing Namjoon by the collar, his eyes shifting colors, dangerously close to loosing his cool.
The knight's hands moved to hold the ones clutching his collar, and with a equal amount of force, he pried them off. "I will prove it to you Seokjung-ssi, that I really am worthy of Seokjin's love. Until then, without your permission, I will not meet him. It's a promise and I will fulfill it", Namjoon announced, determination shining in his eyes.
He did not know where this courage came from, to challenge Seokjin's brother and pledge something like this but nevertheless, he was determined to prove Seokjung that he was different, that he was worthy. And he had no plans about loosing.
"I have my eyes on you Kim Namjoon, prove me wrong and I will accept your relationship, until then keep away from Jin", he warned, eyes narrowing suspiciously. Namjoon only nodded in response.
"I won't disappoint you".
"We'll see Kim Namjoon. We'll see".
XXX
Many many years ago.... (Backstory)
The rivalry between the clan began due to a separation. The only hire of the Ilsan clan was married to the daughter of a noble from the Gwansan clan. The marriage was peaceful for a few years, until one faithful night, the man committed a mistake.
A grave mistake which could not reversed. Under the influence of alcohol, he wasn't in his right senses causing him to loose control and spent a night at the bar. The wife did not suspect anything when he came home saying he was too drunk to be able to walk properly and so he had spent the night at a friend's house who lived nearby. But soon rumors began to fly as some people had witnessed the alpha and a woman being close that night, constantly next to each other.
It did not take long for them to reach the ears of the wife, who then accused her husband of cheating. The poor man couldn't accept it, nor deny it. He knew it had happened, but he did not know how, the last thing he remembered was downing another shot of a strange tasting alcoholic drink after which he recalled nothing.
But alas! What was done, was done. Nothing could change it now. Their respective families defended them, but the situation was never settled. Both the clans paid a heavy price for the small mistake of the hire.
Thank you so much for reading guys!
Do let me know what you think about it and remember to vote and share! :)