Hi! Happy April! How are you all doing? I am back with another chapter for you all to enjoy. I don't have much to say but we are back with Jihoon for this one. We get some nice Lee bros moments and some Mingyu bodyguard moments as well. I won't say more than that, so please enjoy this chapter!
"How have you been?" Jihoon asks as he walks through the park by Chan's side. His younger brother had suddenly appeared at Joshua's apartment less than an hour ago with bags filled with his clothes. Chan said that he was staying until further notice and Jihoon didn't bother to argue with him. He knew his friend wouldn't care much either. After the short funeral, Jihoon had went back home since he couldn't get any more days off of work. He didn't get much time to speak with Chan. He had left messages, but the younger chose to leave him on read. Jihoon let him be, knowing that if Chan really wanted to talk to him he would. He could only wonder what the younger Lee is going through. He has no idea that Seokmin is still alive. He's still mourning. It doesn't help that their family aren't exactly the type to cry over a loss like this, finding it rather a good thing that the soul of the deceased is crossing the bridge into a new life. "Okay," Chan answers in a dull tone.
"If you need me or want to talk, I'm here," Jihoon says.
"Yeah," Chan mutters. Jihoon stares at Chan, who has a blank expression on his face. Although he doesn't appear that affected, Jihoon can tell his little brother is in a lot of pain. He wouldn't have rushed over here like this if he's alright. He wishes that he could tell Chan that Seokmin is okay. He really does, but he couldn't help but agree with the decision that his vampire brother made. Chan is only in high school. He doesn't need the added stress and craziness that comes from knowing of vampire kind. It's enough that both of the older Lee sons are dating vampires. Between Seokmin turning into one of the creatures and walking on eggshells following his almost execution within the society, things were a bit nuts. Not to mention, the fact that the King and Queen know about Jihoon's relationship with Seungcheol and may send assassins at any time. Chan doesn't need to know about any of this. The kid deserves to live his life and that's why he can't know about Seokmin. "What about you?" Chan asks, "How are you holding up?"
"Better than I thought," Jihoon says, trying his best to act like he is still broken up about his brother's not death.
Chan sighs, "I wish I was the same."
"Mourning isn't a race," Jihoon says.
"I know that," Chan states, "I'm just tired of it all. I just wish he didn't..."
"I know," Jihoon murmurs, "I wish the same thing..."
"You know I keep thinking that he's still here. I go through my everyday life as if he had never passed at all...it isn't until he isn't there that I remember that he's gone," Chan says with a faraway look in his eye, "I get off from school and I expect him to be there to pick me up. He would be in his car and I would get in the passenger's seat. He would pinch my cheeks and ask did my Channie have a good day at school? Like he was eomma or something. I would always yell at him for pinching me and he would say that he can't help it cause I was too adorable. His car would always be stocked with junk food for me to eat. He would buy a whole shelf from that convenience store down the street before coming to my school. He would never touch any of it even though I told him he bought it so he should eat it too. He would always insist that the snacks are for me and me only. Now...I keep walking out of school thinking he'll be there and he isn't...and I'm walking home bawling my eyes out while people stare at me..." Jihoon imagines his brother doing such a thing. He used to do that for Seokmin when he was in middle school, it makes sense why his brother would continue doing so for Chan. He knows how much Seokmin enjoyed it, having his cool hyung pick him up in his car. Chan may find Seokmin over the top, but it's clear the younger really treasured that car ride. "And then some nights, when Seokmin hyung had a late shift at his job, he wouldn't come back home until late," Chan says, his voice shaking a bit and his eyes becoming glassy, "He would come directly into my room even though he was exhausted and should be getting ready for bed or something. He would come over with the widest smile ever and hug me until I couldn't breathe. He would always ask if I missed him or not. I would always say no...I was joking of course...he knew that...I hope he knows that..."
"He does," Jihoon murmurs, patting Chan on the shoulder.
"I just expect him to come home...and he doesn't...he won't...," Chan takes a deep breath, "I'm trying to not think about it too much. To get over it...I mean it's been a couple of weeks already..."
"Channie..." Jihoon says, looking at his brother with worry.
"Seokmin hyung wouldn't want me to cry," Chan states, quickly wiping the corners of his eyes, "He would tell me to smile. He would say that I shouldn't be upset. That I should live my life, but it isn't easy...it isn't easy at all..."
"No, it isn't," Jihoon mutters under his breath, "It's not supposed to be."
"I....I just want things to go back to normal," Chan exclaims, turning his head to look at his hyung. Jihoon's heart aches as he looks at the face of his younger brother. His eyes shine with unshed tears and his lips quiver as he tries his best to keep himself from breaking down. He looks so young, Jihoon thinks, so young. Jihoon grabs onto Chan's arm and pulls him into his hold. He wraps his arm around his younger brother and gently rubs his back. "It won't though. Things can never go back to the way it was," Chan whispers, "It will never be the same ever again...." Jihoon purses his lips and squeezes his younger brother tighter. He can feel his shirt start to get damp as tears trail from Chan's eyes. The boy doesn't make a sound, but the tears continue to pour from him. Jihoon doesn't speak, not knowing what to say to his younger brother. Cause, he's right. Things are different now. This is their new normal. A bigger world. Smaller people. And Seokmin as a vampire and not their sunshiney brother. The two brothers stay like this for a while, staying close to one another like their lives depended on it. That is until a large rock comes flying through the air and hits Chan on the back to the head. "Ah!" Chan shrieks before his eyes roll to the back of his head and falls limp in Jihoon's arms. Jihoon's eyes widen and he grips onto his brother, slowly lowering to the floor. "Channie! Channie!" Jihoon calls out. He grits his teeth and touches the back of his head. He curses when blood appears on his fingertips. "You hit him too hard, Baekho!" A voice exclaims, "He's just a freaking kid!"
"Well, he's out, isn't he?" Baekho says with a shrug, "C'mon, we have a job to do."
"Who the hell are you!?" Jihoon growls, turning to look at his brother's assailants. He glares at the two men, who look back at him with surprised expressions. "The people that will be ending your life," The other one says plainly. Jihoon tenses at those words and gently puts Chan on the ground. He gets to his feet and stands in front of his brother, "You're vampires."
"Bingo," Baekho states. Jihoon heart races in his chest, but he does his best to keep calm. He needs to focus. He has to protect Chan. He doesn't know how well he'll do. There are two of them and only one of him. As much as he likes to say he can make any vampire bend to his will, it doesn't mean he actually can. Especially if it's in hand to hand combat. "Let's get this over with," the other says, walking closer to Jihoon. The human trembles a bit, but tries his best to maintain his composure. "Stop!" Mingyu bellows, dropping from who knows where right in front of Jihoon. Jihoon looks to the vampire and lets out a sigh of relief, thankful that his friend is here.
"Mingyu?" Baekho questions, "What are you doing here?"
"Stopping you," Mingyu states, "Baekho and JR, I'm ordering you to stand down."
JR shakes his head, "We can't do that. Our orders come directly from the King and Queen themselves."
Mingyu shakes his head, "What did they tell you to do? Who did they tell you this human is? Do you know anything about the human you're about to kill?" Baekho and JR exchange a quick look before glancing back at Mingyu and shaking their heads. "It shouldn't matter," Baekho says, "If it's what the King commands, we will do it."
"This is Lee Jihoon," Mingyu states, "Crown Prince Choi Seungcheol's lover." Baekho and JR's eyes both widen in shock. They stare at Jihoon, who glares back at them. "We didn't know," JR mutters, "If we had...we never would have taken the mission."
"I know," Mingyu says, "Seungcheol trusts you two. That's why I had to stop you before you did something that you would regret."
"We're sorry," JR says to Jihoon, "We had no idea who you were. We don't have anything against vamp and human relationships. We thought you were just some human that was a threat to us and that was why the King wanted you dead...we never would have guessed that you were the prince's lover...I'm so, so, sorry."
Jihoon frowns, "Yeah, well, sorry isn't going to help my brother." He glances at Chan, who is still knocked out cold. The two vampires glance at the passed out human with guilty expressions. "I know my own strength," Baekho mutters, "I threw the rock hard, but he should only have a concussion. He will be okay..."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks for not killing me," Jihoon huffs before bending down to check on Chan, more worried about his brother than his supposed to be killers. Mingyu could deal with those two. "You two should go back to the society," Mingyu says, "You should be lucky I was the one protecting Jihoon and not Seungcheol. He wouldn't have just let you walk away."
JR nods his head, "What should we tell the King and Queen though? They won't be happy to hear that we failed."
"Tell them that I stopped you," Mingyu states, "Seungcheol already told them that Jihoon would be protected. They shouldn't be surprised."
"Okay," Baekho says, "Again...we're really sorry." The two how to both Jihoon and Mingyu before disappearing. Mingyu sighs and walks over to Jihoon. "You okay?" Mingyu asks.
"I'm fine," Jihoon states, "Chan is hurt, not me."
"Let's get him some help then," Mingyu says, bending down and carefully picking the boy up, "Oh and call Seungcheol as soon as you can. He's going to want to know what just happened."
≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪
"I'm going to freaking kill them!" Seungcheol growls, "I warned them not to lay a hand on you and they sent two vamps your way! Ha! My own guards too! Ridiculous!"
"It's a good thing it was your guards," Jihoon says over the phone, "If it was anyone else, they wouldn't have stood down so easily."
Seungcheol scoffs, "Well, I highly doubt this will be the last time my parents try to have you killed. The next time they'll be pickier when they decide who does the deed." Jihoon sighs and takes a seat beside the bed that Chan is currently resting on. Thanks to Mingyu, they were able to get Chan to a hospital quickly and have him checked out right away. He should be fine, but the doctors suggested he stay for the night. Jihoon will be staying alongside him, his older brother instincts awakening after what happened to his baby brother. "They piss me off," Seungcheol murmurs, "I should just go at them right now."
"Don't," Jihoon states in a firm tone.
"They deserve it!" Seungcheol exclaims.
"Maybe they do," Jihoon says, "But, this is exactly what they want. They want you to blow up. They want an excuse to boot you out. Don't play into their trap. I'm not hurt. So calm down. It's silly to waste your energy in them or me. Especially since I'm scratch free."
"Fine," Seungcheol huffs.
"Thank you," Jihoon says.
"Are you really okay though?" Seungcheol asks in a softer tone, "You don't know how worried I was when you first called me."
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine," Jihoon says, "They didn't even get to touch me thanks to Mingyu."
"It's a good thing that I made him watch over you," Seungcheol muses.
"Yeah," Jihoon says, "Channie and I would have been goners..."
"Speaking of Chan...how is he?" Seungcheol questions.
"He has a concussion," Jihoon answers, his gaze flitting to his younger brother, "He should be fine after lots of rest and some time..."
"How is he doing in regards to the whole...you know..." Seungcheol says.
Jihoon sighs, "Not great. He's trying to be strong. He wants to be for Seokmin's sake, but it's hard for him. He's still young and Seokmin passed so suddenly. No one expected this. It's going to take a while for him to move on."
"I wish he knew," Seungcheol says, "I don't like that the kid has to suffer."
"So do I," Jihoon says, "I hate seeing my brother upset and crying, but I can't tell him. It's better that he doesn't know. Even Seokmin knows this."
"Yeah," Seungcheol murmurs.
"Hey, do you want to come over tomorrow?" Jihoon asks, "Give Mingyu a break and we can hang out."
"Sure," Seungcheol says, "But, aren't you at Shua's place?"
"Yeah, but he won't mind," Jihoon says.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow," Seungcheol says, "Try to get some rest."
"Will do," Jihoon says, "Bye."
"Bye, love," Seungcheol says before ending the call.
This was actually a nice little bowtie of an ending for this chapter. I can't promise the rest will be like that. If you know me, you know my attraction to cliffhangers. They're just ingrained in my blood. Anyway, there is more to come for this story and I hope that you continue to enjoy! Please vote, comment, follow me, add this story to your library, and check out my Kpop One-shots book.