Unvoiced Secrets
Title: Unvoiced Secrets (4/?)
Author: his_angel16
Characters: Dongho-centric, slight!XanderHo, slight!HyunSeop
Genre: Angst, AU
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Shin Dongho was sent to a boarding school by his parents, who wish to disown him. Among the other students, he meets his cousin and their family's secrets begin to unravel, stunning everyone involved. When the time for being the hero falls upon young Dongho's shoulders, will he be able to prove himself or will death ultimately have the final say?
Warning: Violence
A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update this. >.< I wonder if any of you remember the story. =/
Chapter Four:
Kiseop gnawed on his fingernail as he waited for Xander’s arrival at the Lee Estates. The elder told him that he would round up Key, Jonghyun, and Minho before coming over. He also explained that it could very well take until nearly evening of the next day. Finding troublesome kids could be just that. So, here he was, pacing around the dimly lit cell while the others slept soundly.
“Kiseopie, try to get some sleep,” Soohyun yawned from the other cell. He was leaning against the wall, Dongho snuggled to his side fast asleep.
“I can’t sleep right now, Soohyun. I have to be awake in case that bastard of a dad shows up.”
“Yah, calm down. Xander hyung is bringing those punks that assaulted your cousins and were beaten by Dongho. Once they see him and the two of them, they’re bound to prove our point.”
“I can’t chance falling asleep…especially with my dad’s threat hanging over us like this. I can’t take the chance of waking up to one or both of you being dead. I’m not risking it so just be quiet and get some sleep yourself.”
It was three in the morning before the door to the holding area opened, Boss Lee arriving with Xander and the three who attacked Taemin and Jinki. They were grumbling under their breath as Boss Lee approached the cell his son and nephews were in.
“You have visitors,” he stated, motioning to the others behind him.
Kiseop nodded, turning to look at the Shins’ cell. “Yah, hyung, wake up our dongsaeng,” Kiseop ordered Soohyun, being sure to not give away identities just yet. When Soohyun woke up the youngest, Dongho climbed to his feet and walked over to where Kiseop was standing, only bars between them. “Kim Key, there’s someone here that you’ll remember.” Kiseop turned to look behind him. “Both of you, stand up.” Taemin and Jinki stood, walking forward.
“Hi, hyung,” Taemin said, looking at Key. He smirked when Key glared at him and Jinki.
“Yah, what the hell is this?” Key asked, crossing his arms. “Why are these two idiots here?”
Dongho frowned, glaring at Key as he took another step forward, going into what little light was there. “It doesn’t matter why they’re here,” he said, his voice causing Key, Jonghyun, and Minho to look over. They all gasped before Key lunged at him, being stopped by the bars.
“Get over here, asshole! I haven’t been able to get even with you since you were expelled from school!” Key yelped when Xander pulled him away from the bars.
“Father, Dongho is the person who protected Taemin and Jinki at school. He was expelled for it. I had Xander hyung bring those three bastards here to prove that. So, all this time you were waiting to meet your nephews’ protector, but what happens now that you know who he is?”
Boss Lee looked at Dongho, seeing him smirking at Key, Jonghyun, and Minho defiantly. The look in his eyes only held more proof of what Kiseop had just informed him. “You…you are the one who protected my nephews? But why do you pose as a Shin? Who are you, really?”
Dongho looked at Boss Lee, his smirk disappearing. “My name is Shin Dongho. I’m Soohyun’s cousin. I grew up away from the Shin Mafia and due to that, I’m nothing like them.”
Key scoffed. “Nothing like them? You assaulted us at school. Because of you, Jonghyun spent a week in the hospital, Minho spent only three days there, and I spent two months in the intensive care unit! Yet you claim that you don’t act like a Shin? You using violence to solve your problems is just one attribute of the Shin Mafia.”
“What was I supposed to do? Stand by while you continued to bully Jinki and Taemin? Hell no. I might not have great parents who give a damn as to where I am, but I did learn something from all the times I’ve been yelled at. When my mother was being physically and emotionally assaulted by members of the very family that the man she loved belonged to, he took her away. He left his family in order to protect her from the attacks.”
“Dongho, I thought you said your parents fled before you were born. How would you know?” Kiseop asked.
Soohyun looked at Dongho, the memory finally coming back to him. “It was after Dongho was born that they left. I remember it clearly now. Uncle was arguing with Father about the lineage of the Shin family. Being the eldest, Uncle was supposed to lead the main branch, but I was born first, so Father took that position from him.”
Dongho nodded. “I was five when my family left the Shin family, the mafia, and everything else behind. The last time I ever saw any of them was when I was six. My dad tried to talk Soohyun’s dad into calling a truce and raising the both of us as heirs, but Soohyun’s dad would have nothing of the sort. He threatened to kill me and my mom if my dad ever came around again.”
Soohyun looked at Dongho, confused at his words. “Then why does Father want you to come to the Shin Estates on the next new year?”
Dongho smirked, turning his gaze to the elder. “You aren’t the rightful heir to the Shin Mafia. My only guess is that your dad wants to remedy that issue.”
“If Soohyun isn’t the rightful heir, then who is?” Kiseop asked, confused by the new information. His head was swimming due to all of it. He had a hard time trying to wrap his head around the fact that Boss Shin stole the position as head of the Shin family and that he threatened to kill Dongho and his mother.
Dongho smiled, looking from Kiseop to Soohyun and finally to Boss Lee. “My dad is the rightful leader of the Shin Mafia since he’s the eldest son. By default that makes me the heir. While I’m alive, Soohyun can never take the place at the head of the family. His dad wanted to make sure that I either give up my claim as the rightful heir…”
“Or he’d just get rid of the obstacle in the way,” Soohyun finished. He looked at Dongho, his eyes wide. Everyone was silent for a moment, all of them absorbing the information and locking it in place like pieces of a puzzle. “Dongho, you…”
“I can never return to Shin Estates, Soohyun. If I do, I’ll either be held captive by my own uncle until I willingly give up my place as the heir, or he’ll kill me on the spot to ensure that you become the head of the family once he retires.”
Kiseop looked at Dongho. “Your parents left the Shin Mafia in order to protect you, to keep Boss Shin from killing you,” he murmured. Suddenly, he smiled and burst out in a fit of laughter, everyone giving him confused looks. He looked at his dad, a mocking expression on his face. “Your nephews were saved by the rightful heir to the Shin Mafia! And to think that I was worried about Dongho being killed for posing as Soohyun! You can’t touch either of them now!”
Boss Lee paled, knowing his son was right. The very man he set out to kidnap was proven to be Soohyun, but not the heir he needed. And the man he wanted to meet, the man who protected his nephews, was not only a Shin, but the heir he needed to kidnap in order to bring the Shin Mafia to the ground.
The door opened, Boss Shin appearing with his own men and hastily walking down to where they all were. He stopped once he was a few feet away from Boss Lee. He glanced at the other people in the basement, his eyes immediately hardening into stone at seeing his son in one of the cells.
“Release him immediately,” Boss Shin ordered.
Boss Lee turned, motioning for one of his men to unlock the cell that held Soohyun. “I’ll release your son, but the other one, I’m keeping here,” Boss Lee said.
“The other one…?” Boss Shin took another look, his eyes narrowing at seeing Dongho. “I should have known you were the cause of all of this. My son was safe inside the walls of the Shin Estates and he left suddenly. I didn’t know the reason, but I followed him here and waited for my opportunity to make my way inside. I should have known it was your fault. No wonder my brother dumped you off at that boarding school.”
“Don’t speak of Dongho that way,” Soohyun said, staying inside the cell after it was opened. He stood loyally beside Dongho. “I remember everything now. Father, you stole your position from Dongho’s father. I’m not the rightful heir. You knew this and that’s why you wanted me to bring you Dongho at the start of the new year. You didn’t want to accept him as your son. You wanted to get rid of him if he didn’t willingly hand over his position to me.”
Boss Shin laughed. “So, you’ve finally figured it out, have you? Don’t you know that I’ll always have an ulterior motive? I’m a Shin, it’s in my blood.”
“Don’t be so quick to make silly claims like that,” Dongho said, looking at Boss Shin in disgust. “I won’t have my name smeared with your underhanded methods.”
Boss Shin laughed again, looking at Dongho. “Your name? Since when has it been your name? Your very parents didn’t want you anymore. You aren’t a Shin.”
Dongho stood up straighter, looking defiantly back at his uncle. “I am a Shin. My father, Shin Dae-Hyun, the firstborn son of Min-Ki and Yukiko, was the rightful heir to the Shin Mafia when Grandfather retired. You, being the greedy, power-hungry fool that you are today, took it away from him. You claimed that you deserved it since you married first and had a son first. My father agreed to it only until he, too, had a son. You didn’t want to give up your spot as the head of the family, so you ordered the entire mafia to assault my mother. After witnessing that all as a young boy, I’m glad I grew up away from you.”
“Watch what you say, boy. I hold all of the cards of your future. You don’t want to piss me off. Soohyun, let’s go.”
“I’m through with being a passive person. Give my father back his place.”
Boss Shin turned to look at Dongho, one eyebrow raised at his order. “You have nothing to back you up, boy. If you want to live, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about these things. Next time you claim to be the rightful heir of the Shin Mafia, I won’t be so lenient.”
“You’re wrong, Father,” Soohyun interrupted. He remained beside Dongho, unmoving at his father’s demand to follow. “Dongho has me backing him up. With him here, and me knowing the truth, I refuse to be the heir to the Shin Mafia. If Uncle Dae-Hyun was the rightful leader and not you, then by default, the place of heir is Dongho’s.”
Boss Shin glared at his son. “Get over here. We’re leaving. So long as I’m alive, I will make certain that the bastard standing next to you will never be the heir. You’re the heir, damn it. It will belong to our branch of the family forever. I won’t allow them to take your destiny away from you. Now, let’s go.” Boss Shin grabbed Soohyun’s wrist and forced him to walk. They turned, heading for the stairs, Boss Lee finally snapping inside.
“No…I won’t lose. I refuse to admit defeat…” He looked around, eyes falling on the pistol in the holster on his subordinate’s belt. He took it, pointing it toward Soohyun’s back. The look in his eye was nothing less than insane. “I won’t lose to people like you…”
Dongho, glanced at Boss Lee before he turned toward Soohyun, trying to get to him before Boss Lee pulled the trigger. His steps were quick although Soohyun and Boss Shin hadn’t walked but a mere five paces away. “Hyung, get down!” Dongho ordered, a gunshot sounding a split-second afterwards.
Soohyun and Boss Shin were both knocked forward onto the floor, Dongho sprawled out overtop of Soohyun. Boss Shin scrambled around, sitting up and trying to figure out what happened. He saw blood pooling on the floor, his eyes widening when he realized it was below Soohyun.
“Soohyun, are you okay?” he asked his son frantically.
Soohyun raised his head, looking forward toward his father. “I’m fine, why?”
“There’s blood…”
Soohyun tried to get up, groaning as he had to shimmy out from under Dongho. “Yah, you don’t look like it, but you’re heavy,” he said, rolling over and sitting up. He noticed that there was indeed blood on the floor and he quickly patted himself down, making sure it really wasn’t him. Once he concluded that he was wound free, he looked at Dongho, his eyebrows pulling together. “Yah, Dongho, say something.”
Dongho winced, controlling his expression before he sat up, his hand covering his side. He smiled as best he could at Soohyun to reassure the elder. “Are you okay, Soohyun hyung?” he asked, hoping his voice didn’t sound too pained. His side felt like it was burning. “You aren’t hurt, are you?”
Soohyun shook his head. “Not at all. I’m perfectly fine. What about you? Are you okay?” Dongho only nodded, a wave of pain washing over him making him doubt his voice would sound normal. “But then where did this blood come from?”
“Let me out immediately,” Kiseop ordered, his eyes never leaving Dongho. When his father’s subordinate unlocked the cell, Kiseop stormed out. He walked over and knelt beside Dongho. “Move your hand.”
Dongho looked at Kiseop, his eyes conveying that he really didn’t want to, but the look in the elder’s eyes held a silent threat. Closing his eyes, Dongho slowly moved his hand away from his side. Soohyun’s eyes widened at what he saw. Blood ran down Dongho’s side, the wound from the bullet deep.
“D-Dongho, you…” Soohyun couldn’t seem to find the words to finish. He was bombarded with so many emotions at what occurred that he felt dizzy. He looked at Dongho, the younger refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.
“We have to get you to a hospital,” Kiseop said, standing. “Can you get up on your own?”
Dongho shook his head. “I don’t think I can move. Just sitting up hurt like hell. If I move too much it might cause more damage than it already has.” He winced at the pain just talking caused. He smiled at Soohyun. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.”
Soohyun shook his head. “If it hurts too much, don’t speak. We need to get you to the hospital…” When Dongho shook his head, Soohyun frowned. “What do you mean no? Dongho, we have to get you help or you‘ll…” He couldn’t bring himself to say the word die. He couldn’t allow himself to think of that as an option.
The younger shook his head, smiling sadly as he looked down. “I’m glad I was able to do something for you, in the end. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, you know? That I’m not just a screw up like most people think.”
“Don’t talk like that,” Xander said, finally able to speak. He slowly approached Dongho, dropping to his knees beside the younger. “We’ll get you help so you can’t say things like that. It makes us think you’re giving up…”
“Hyung, I am giving up. I’ve accomplished what I came here to do in the first place. I was able to protect Soohyun, to keep him safe. It’s the very reason why I came here and now that I’ve succeeded, I feel like I’ve conquered the world.”
“Damn it!” Soohyun hissed, pounding his fist on the floor. Tears spilled from his eyes at hearing Dongho speaking like that. “Stop saying things like that.”
“I’m sorry, Soohyun hyung, but I have to talk while I can. Even though the bullet didn’t damage any vital organs, I’ve lost quite a bit of blood already.”
“Knock it off. Stop saying things as if you’re expecting to die.”
“It’s too dangerous for me to move and it would take an hour for any paramedics to arrive. Soohyun hyung, do you know how much blood a person can lose in an hour?”
Kiseop glanced at Soohyun before he looked back at the younger. “I’m not going to let you die.” He hurried up the stairs, the front door slamming overhead. They heard an engine rev before it faded into the background.
“Where’s Kiseop hyung going?” Taemin asked, his voice quiet. When no one answered, he frowned and sat down, leaning against the wall. He didn’t know what was going to happen, but he did know that he didn’t want Dongho to die. Shin or not, Dongho was his friend and he could admit that to himself now.
Soohyun watched silently as Dongho grew paler. He wanted to do something, anything, to make his cousin live, but he not only didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know if he could move. Before they knew it, fifteen minutes had passed and the flow of blood was slowly decreasing. Dongho was leaning against the wall for support, trying to keep his eyes open. He felt tired. He wanted nothing more than to sleep, but he was too afraid to close his eyes. He didn’t voice his fear, not wanting to scare the others any farther than he already had. He took a deep breath, once again wincing at the pain it caused.
“Where did Kiseop hyung go?” Dongho asked, the silence making him feel closer to death than anything. He didn’t want to be quiet, he wanted to talk if this was how he was going to die. “He’s been gone for a while now. Where do you think he went?”
“Dongho, I’m not going to tell you again. Stop talking. You need to save your strength,” Soohyun said. He was still sitting across from the younger, too afraid to get any closer.
Dongho frowned, turning his head to face Xander. “Hyung, will you get closer?” The elder obliged, scooting to sit right next to him. When he went to ask why, Dongho leaned over, leaning his head on Xander’s shoulder.
“Yah, Dongho-ssi, you can’t go to sleep, okay?” Xander informed. He looked down at the younger. “You can’t go to sleep until we get you help.”
It was another thirty minutes before the front door opened. They all looked around, not knowing who it was. Kiseop appeared at the doorway, coming down the stairs. He was followed by three paramedics and two police officers. “My father’s the one who shot him. He’s not exactly sane anymore. He hasn’t been for a while now, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t mean to shoot him,” Kiseop explained, stepping out of the way so the police could handcuff his father and take him away.
“Kiseopie, you went to get help?” Soohyun asked, standing on shaky legs. “But, how did you do it so quickly?”
Kiseop smirked. “I broke the speed limit. I was able to get to the hospital and get them to come here and the police came as an escort and to arrest my father for attempted murder.”
“You turned in your own father?” Xander asked. Kiseop nodded. “You really have a lot of respect for Dongho, huh?”
“What my father did was wrong. He tried to kill Soohyun and Dongho, being the stubborn yet courageous kid he is, took the hit instead.”
“We need to get him onto a stretcher and get him into the ambulance,” a paramedic said. It didn’t take hardly any time at all to get Dongho strapped to the stretcher. Soohyun was the first to follow them out, only one step behind them. Even Boss Shin followed them, still a little stunned at what happened.
“Who’s going to ride with him to the hospital?” Jinki asked.
“I will,” Boss Shin replied. They all looked at him in shock. He climbed into the back of the ambulance after they loaded Dongho inside, a paramedic climbing in as well. The other two paramedics closed the doors, going around and getting in the front. The sirens wailed as they sped down the road, turning the corner and heading for the hospital.
“Why would Father want to go?” Soohyun asked. He looked at Kiseop. “Yah, we need to get to the hospital. Kiseopie and I will take his motorcycle. Xander hyung, you bring Taemin and Jinki.”
Xander nodded before turning to the younger two. “Are you okay with riding with me?” They both nodded. “Let’s go then.”
“Can we come, too?” Key asked, standing a little to the side. Although he’d outright deny it, he was worried about Dongho. Even with the bad blood between them, Dongho risking his life for someone else made Key, Minho, and Jonghyun gain respect for him. “I want to see how he is.”
“You guys can come, too,” Taemin said. Key nodded before he and his two friends climbed into the back of Xander’s car. Taemin looked at Jinki, sighing before he squeezed into the backseat beside Jonghyun. Although he felt terribly uncomfortable, Taemin said nothing as Jinki closed the car door and climbed into the passenger seat. Xander slid in behind the wheel and he closed his door. He waited for Kiseop to rev his motorcycle engine before he turned the key in his ignition. His car’s engine roared to life and he followed Kiseop down the road.
In the back of the ambulance, Boss Shin sat quietly, watching the paramedic temporarily patch up the bullet wound in his nephew’s side. He was still a little stunned about the entire incident. He didn’t expect the young man before him to be so daring. He couldn’t understand why Dongho selflessly risked getting killed for Soohyun. The event kept playing itself in his mind as if on repeat. He looked down at Dongho, admiration and gratitude welling up inside him.
“Dongho, I think now is as good a time as any to thank your for saving my son,” Boss Shin started, not exactly sure how to express his emotions. He had never shared them with anyone before, not even his wife or Soohyun. He cleared his throat and tried again. “What you did back there was brave and-”
“Bravery has nothing to do with it,” Dongho said, cutting him off. He stared up at the roof of the ambulance, his eyes holding a glossy sheen. “It was either Soohyun or me.” He winced as the paramedic added pressure to his side. “I went to Lee Estates to save Soohyun in the first place, but hyung showed up and ruined everything. I went to take his place and he wouldn’t let me. When it comes down to it, I don’t think I’d have the courage to do it again.”
“What do you mean by that? Was Lee planning something from the start to go after Soohyun?” Dongho nodded. “Then you went there first, before any of them, to stop whatever it was Lee was planning?”
“I went there to take Soohyun’s place as the Lee Mafia’s hostage. Knowing that the real Soohyun was at your estate, you wouldn’t have fallen for it and I’d have been kept there permanently. He wanted to kidnap hyung so he could use him as leverage to control the entire city. My going there as Soohyun meant that hyung could be free and the Shin family along with everyone involved with them would remain unharmed.”
Boss Shin looked away. “I was wrong about you and my brother. I was even wrong about your mother. They raised you well. I’ll have to inform Dae-Hyun about you being shot. He’ll throw a tantrum that the cause of it was my son, but he’ll be happy to know that you’re alive.”
Dongho smirked. “My parents don’t care about what happens to me anymore. Growing up, I could have killed someone and they’d have turned a blind eye to it, acting as if I had done nothing. But for some reason, as I got older, all they saw were the times I had messed up. Me being expelled from my old school for protecting my hyungs was apparently the last they could take.”
“I’m going to call them anyway. Regardless of whether or not you’ve messed up in the past, what matters is right now. They need to know that their only child is hurt.”
Dongho closed his eyes, sadness lacing his voice as he spoke. “I’m not going to be an only child for much longer. Mom’s pregnant and they’re having another son.” He opened his eyes, refusing to let himself cry. “Dad already told me before he ordered to have me dumped off at that stupid boarding school that he couldn’t care less about me. He said that he’d have a new son soon enough, one that would obey everything he said and who wouldn’t get into trouble like me.”
The paramedic frowned as he looked at the small portable heart monitor that was hooked up to Dongho. “This isn’t good,” he murmured.
Boss Shin looked at him, his eyes narrowed. “What isn’t good?”
The paramedic looked at Boss Shin before glancing to Dongho and finally looking back at the monitor. “He’s lost too much blood. His heart is overworking itself in order to pump what little blood he still has throughout his entire body. At this rate, his heart will give out.”
Dongho laughed before he drew a sharp breath and winced. “So, I’m going to die because of heart failure, not because I was shot. Great. What a heroic way to go.”
“You aren’t going to die.” Boss Shin motioned for the paramedic to come closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Is it possible to do an emergency blood transfusion on the way to the hospital?”
“There is, but we’d need a compatible person to donate the blood.”
“I’m his uncle. Is that compatible enough?” When the paramedic nodded, Boss Shin shrugged out of his coat. He rolled up his right sleeve, turning his arm elbow down. “Take as much as he needs in order for his heart to slow down.”
The paramedic nodded, going to work on hooking a tube in Boss Shin’s arm and hooking the other end into Dongho’s. It was ten minutes until they reached the hospital, the paramedics unloading Dongho and rushing him inside. Boss Shin stood still, silently watching as the glass doors of the emergency room slid closed. He held his arm, the pressure he applied stopping the bleeding as Soohyun and Kiseop arrived, followed by Xander and the other five.
“Father, how’s Dongho?” Soohyun asked, stopping beside him.
“It wasn’t looking too promising in the ambulance. I need to call Dae-Hyun. He should know what happened at least.”
Soohyun shook his head. “I’ll go talk to him. Calling him on the phone, he’ll only blow up and hang up without hearing anything.” He turned, grabbing Kiseop’s keys and climbing on the motorcycle. “Kiseop, keep me updated. I’ll be gone for a little while, but I’ll come back with Uncle.”
“I’ll tell you everything that happens,” Kiseop replied, handing over his helmet.
Soohyun tugged it on, looking at the younger. “Whatever you do, don’t let him die.” He closed the visor, revving the engine before speeding away.
Kiseop sighed, turning as Xander rushed toward him. “Yah, Seop, how’s Dongho? Is he going to die?” Xander asked.
“I’m not sure. Boss Shin said he didn’t look too well in the ambulance. Let’s go inside and wait.” They all filed inside, Kiseop pacing while they waited for news of Dongho.
Soohyun stared up at the building, his heart pounding wildly in his chest at facing his uncle for the first time in years. He pulled the helmet off as he climbed off the motorcycle, placing it securely on the seat. His feet felt heavier with ever step he took toward the spacious home. Arriving at the porch, he knocked on the door, waiting for someone to answer. When the door swung open, Soohyun looked up into the eyes of Dae-Hyun.
“Can I help you?” Dae-Hyun asked, looking him up and down as if he were some sort of beggar from the streets.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” Soohyun replied, Dae-Hyun shaking his head. “I’m Soohyun. Shin Soohyun. I’m your nephew.”
Dae-Hyun thought for a moment before a smile spread across his face and he clapped Soohyun on the shoulder. “Soohyun! Come in, come in! it’s good to see you. You’ve grown into a fine young man. How are you?”
Stepping inside, Soohyun noticed his aunt sitting in a recliner as she sipped tea. He took a deep breath before turning to address his uncle again. “You might want to sit down. I need to tell the two of you something.” He wiped the palms of his hands against his jeans, walking with his uncle to wear his aunt was seated.
After sitting down, Dae-Hyun watched as Soohyun knelt, his eyes widening as he passed a glance at his wife. Looking back at Soohyun, he spoke. “Yah, why are you kneeling like you’ve done something wrong and need to be forgiven?”
Soohyun kept his eyes to the floor, tears blurring his vision. “I ran into Dongho at the boarding school you sent him to,” he began, almost choking on his words. “One of my friends belongs to the Lee Mafia. In fact, it’s Lee Kiseop, the heir to the Lee Mafia. Overhearing his father’s words, Kiseop wanted to warn me, but ran into Dongho first and told him that his dad wanted to kidnap me. To keep me safe, Dongho went to the Lee Estates and claimed to be me.”
“What are you trying to say?” Mi Cha asked, reaching over to take Dae-Hyun’s hand.
Soohyun looked up, tears streaking his face. “Kiseop’s dad tried to kill me and Father, but Dongho shoved us out of the way. He lost a lot of blood and is at the hospital, but I don’t know if he’s going to make it. Uncle, you have to go see him! Even if Dongho messed up in the past, can’t you just forgive him this once?”
Dae-Hyun felt Mi Cha squeeze his hand. He sighed and looked away, getting to his feet. “Get out. Dongho made his choice and is an embarrassment to this family.” He stormed to the hallway and to his study. The sound of the door slamming shut reverberated through the house, giving a finality to the situation.
Mi Cha walked to where Soohyun was, reaching out and helping him stand. “Soohyun-ssi, I’ll try to get him to go to the hospital. You go on ahead and check on my son.”
Soohyun nodded, turning and hurrying from the house. He wiped his eyes, forcing the tears to stop until he could get back to the hospital. He picked up the helmet, his phone ringing. Setting it back onto the motorcycle, he answered his phone.
“Kiseop, how’s Dongho?” he asked immediately.
“He’s out of surgery, but…” Kiseop began.
The pause in Kiseop’s voice made Soohyun’s heart still. “But what?”
“Dongho slipped into a coma.”
Soohyun felt hot tears slip down his cheeks. He felt his legs give out, finding himself sitting on the pavement as he vaguely heard a door in the distance open. He stared at his phone, shaking his head slightly as if doing so would make things different. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked over to see Dae-Hyun and Mi Cha beside him.
“Are you happy now?” he asked, more tears spilling out. “Kiseop just informed me that Dongho slipped into a coma. Is this what you wanted? To have only one son? Because of your damn pride, because of you dumping him off without a care, Dongho is in a coma!” He disregarded that Kiseop could hear him as he shouted at his uncle. He climbed to his feet, leaning against the motorcycle in case his legs gave out again as he glared at Dae-Hyun. “Dongho might not mean anything to you, but to me, he is something that can never be replaced.”
“Soohyun-ssi, calm down,” Mi Cha suggested, reaching out to him. She frowned when he flinched away.
“I won’t calm down. Uncle-” Soohyun shook his head. “No, I don’t want an uncle like you.” His eyes hardened as he looked at Dae-Hyun. “Don’t you dare show up at the hospital. Remember that you abandoned him, remember that you dumped him off and that you gave up on him. From now on, he’ll live with me and Father. We’re his family. So you take your new child and raise him up well, but don’t forget to tell him that his hyung is the greatest man that ever walked this earth.”
“Yah, Soohyun, who do you think you are?” Dae-Hyun asked, his anger getting the better of him.
Soohyun looked at him. “I’m Dongho’s hyung. And from this day forth, I’m going to make sure he gets everything handed to him on a platter. He won’t have to lift a finger if he doesn’t want to.” He grabbed the helmet and tugged it on, once again revving the engine. He peeled out of the driveway, heading back to the hospital. He didn’t know if his aunt and uncle would follow him, but if they did, he could only hope that Kiseop or one of the others could hold him back from doing something stupid.
Author: his_angel16
Characters: Dongho-centric, slight!XanderHo, slight!HyunSeop
Genre: Angst, AU
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Shin Dongho was sent to a boarding school by his parents, who wish to disown him. Among the other students, he meets his cousin and their family's secrets begin to unravel, stunning everyone involved. When the time for being the hero falls upon young Dongho's shoulders, will he be able to prove himself or will death ultimately have the final say?
Warning: Violence
A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update this. >.< I wonder if any of you remember the story. =/
Chapter Four:
Kiseop gnawed on his fingernail as he waited for Xander’s arrival at the Lee Estates. The elder told him that he would round up Key, Jonghyun, and Minho before coming over. He also explained that it could very well take until nearly evening of the next day. Finding troublesome kids could be just that. So, here he was, pacing around the dimly lit cell while the others slept soundly.
“Kiseopie, try to get some sleep,” Soohyun yawned from the other cell. He was leaning against the wall, Dongho snuggled to his side fast asleep.
“I can’t sleep right now, Soohyun. I have to be awake in case that bastard of a dad shows up.”
“Yah, calm down. Xander hyung is bringing those punks that assaulted your cousins and were beaten by Dongho. Once they see him and the two of them, they’re bound to prove our point.”
“I can’t chance falling asleep…especially with my dad’s threat hanging over us like this. I can’t take the chance of waking up to one or both of you being dead. I’m not risking it so just be quiet and get some sleep yourself.”
It was three in the morning before the door to the holding area opened, Boss Lee arriving with Xander and the three who attacked Taemin and Jinki. They were grumbling under their breath as Boss Lee approached the cell his son and nephews were in.
“You have visitors,” he stated, motioning to the others behind him.
Kiseop nodded, turning to look at the Shins’ cell. “Yah, hyung, wake up our dongsaeng,” Kiseop ordered Soohyun, being sure to not give away identities just yet. When Soohyun woke up the youngest, Dongho climbed to his feet and walked over to where Kiseop was standing, only bars between them. “Kim Key, there’s someone here that you’ll remember.” Kiseop turned to look behind him. “Both of you, stand up.” Taemin and Jinki stood, walking forward.
“Hi, hyung,” Taemin said, looking at Key. He smirked when Key glared at him and Jinki.
“Yah, what the hell is this?” Key asked, crossing his arms. “Why are these two idiots here?”
Dongho frowned, glaring at Key as he took another step forward, going into what little light was there. “It doesn’t matter why they’re here,” he said, his voice causing Key, Jonghyun, and Minho to look over. They all gasped before Key lunged at him, being stopped by the bars.
“Get over here, asshole! I haven’t been able to get even with you since you were expelled from school!” Key yelped when Xander pulled him away from the bars.
“Father, Dongho is the person who protected Taemin and Jinki at school. He was expelled for it. I had Xander hyung bring those three bastards here to prove that. So, all this time you were waiting to meet your nephews’ protector, but what happens now that you know who he is?”
Boss Lee looked at Dongho, seeing him smirking at Key, Jonghyun, and Minho defiantly. The look in his eyes only held more proof of what Kiseop had just informed him. “You…you are the one who protected my nephews? But why do you pose as a Shin? Who are you, really?”
Dongho looked at Boss Lee, his smirk disappearing. “My name is Shin Dongho. I’m Soohyun’s cousin. I grew up away from the Shin Mafia and due to that, I’m nothing like them.”
Key scoffed. “Nothing like them? You assaulted us at school. Because of you, Jonghyun spent a week in the hospital, Minho spent only three days there, and I spent two months in the intensive care unit! Yet you claim that you don’t act like a Shin? You using violence to solve your problems is just one attribute of the Shin Mafia.”
“What was I supposed to do? Stand by while you continued to bully Jinki and Taemin? Hell no. I might not have great parents who give a damn as to where I am, but I did learn something from all the times I’ve been yelled at. When my mother was being physically and emotionally assaulted by members of the very family that the man she loved belonged to, he took her away. He left his family in order to protect her from the attacks.”
“Dongho, I thought you said your parents fled before you were born. How would you know?” Kiseop asked.
Soohyun looked at Dongho, the memory finally coming back to him. “It was after Dongho was born that they left. I remember it clearly now. Uncle was arguing with Father about the lineage of the Shin family. Being the eldest, Uncle was supposed to lead the main branch, but I was born first, so Father took that position from him.”
Dongho nodded. “I was five when my family left the Shin family, the mafia, and everything else behind. The last time I ever saw any of them was when I was six. My dad tried to talk Soohyun’s dad into calling a truce and raising the both of us as heirs, but Soohyun’s dad would have nothing of the sort. He threatened to kill me and my mom if my dad ever came around again.”
Soohyun looked at Dongho, confused at his words. “Then why does Father want you to come to the Shin Estates on the next new year?”
Dongho smirked, turning his gaze to the elder. “You aren’t the rightful heir to the Shin Mafia. My only guess is that your dad wants to remedy that issue.”
“If Soohyun isn’t the rightful heir, then who is?” Kiseop asked, confused by the new information. His head was swimming due to all of it. He had a hard time trying to wrap his head around the fact that Boss Shin stole the position as head of the Shin family and that he threatened to kill Dongho and his mother.
Dongho smiled, looking from Kiseop to Soohyun and finally to Boss Lee. “My dad is the rightful leader of the Shin Mafia since he’s the eldest son. By default that makes me the heir. While I’m alive, Soohyun can never take the place at the head of the family. His dad wanted to make sure that I either give up my claim as the rightful heir…”
“Or he’d just get rid of the obstacle in the way,” Soohyun finished. He looked at Dongho, his eyes wide. Everyone was silent for a moment, all of them absorbing the information and locking it in place like pieces of a puzzle. “Dongho, you…”
“I can never return to Shin Estates, Soohyun. If I do, I’ll either be held captive by my own uncle until I willingly give up my place as the heir, or he’ll kill me on the spot to ensure that you become the head of the family once he retires.”
Kiseop looked at Dongho. “Your parents left the Shin Mafia in order to protect you, to keep Boss Shin from killing you,” he murmured. Suddenly, he smiled and burst out in a fit of laughter, everyone giving him confused looks. He looked at his dad, a mocking expression on his face. “Your nephews were saved by the rightful heir to the Shin Mafia! And to think that I was worried about Dongho being killed for posing as Soohyun! You can’t touch either of them now!”
Boss Lee paled, knowing his son was right. The very man he set out to kidnap was proven to be Soohyun, but not the heir he needed. And the man he wanted to meet, the man who protected his nephews, was not only a Shin, but the heir he needed to kidnap in order to bring the Shin Mafia to the ground.
The door opened, Boss Shin appearing with his own men and hastily walking down to where they all were. He stopped once he was a few feet away from Boss Lee. He glanced at the other people in the basement, his eyes immediately hardening into stone at seeing his son in one of the cells.
“Release him immediately,” Boss Shin ordered.
Boss Lee turned, motioning for one of his men to unlock the cell that held Soohyun. “I’ll release your son, but the other one, I’m keeping here,” Boss Lee said.
“The other one…?” Boss Shin took another look, his eyes narrowing at seeing Dongho. “I should have known you were the cause of all of this. My son was safe inside the walls of the Shin Estates and he left suddenly. I didn’t know the reason, but I followed him here and waited for my opportunity to make my way inside. I should have known it was your fault. No wonder my brother dumped you off at that boarding school.”
“Don’t speak of Dongho that way,” Soohyun said, staying inside the cell after it was opened. He stood loyally beside Dongho. “I remember everything now. Father, you stole your position from Dongho’s father. I’m not the rightful heir. You knew this and that’s why you wanted me to bring you Dongho at the start of the new year. You didn’t want to accept him as your son. You wanted to get rid of him if he didn’t willingly hand over his position to me.”
Boss Shin laughed. “So, you’ve finally figured it out, have you? Don’t you know that I’ll always have an ulterior motive? I’m a Shin, it’s in my blood.”
“Don’t be so quick to make silly claims like that,” Dongho said, looking at Boss Shin in disgust. “I won’t have my name smeared with your underhanded methods.”
Boss Shin laughed again, looking at Dongho. “Your name? Since when has it been your name? Your very parents didn’t want you anymore. You aren’t a Shin.”
Dongho stood up straighter, looking defiantly back at his uncle. “I am a Shin. My father, Shin Dae-Hyun, the firstborn son of Min-Ki and Yukiko, was the rightful heir to the Shin Mafia when Grandfather retired. You, being the greedy, power-hungry fool that you are today, took it away from him. You claimed that you deserved it since you married first and had a son first. My father agreed to it only until he, too, had a son. You didn’t want to give up your spot as the head of the family, so you ordered the entire mafia to assault my mother. After witnessing that all as a young boy, I’m glad I grew up away from you.”
“Watch what you say, boy. I hold all of the cards of your future. You don’t want to piss me off. Soohyun, let’s go.”
“I’m through with being a passive person. Give my father back his place.”
Boss Shin turned to look at Dongho, one eyebrow raised at his order. “You have nothing to back you up, boy. If you want to live, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about these things. Next time you claim to be the rightful heir of the Shin Mafia, I won’t be so lenient.”
“You’re wrong, Father,” Soohyun interrupted. He remained beside Dongho, unmoving at his father’s demand to follow. “Dongho has me backing him up. With him here, and me knowing the truth, I refuse to be the heir to the Shin Mafia. If Uncle Dae-Hyun was the rightful leader and not you, then by default, the place of heir is Dongho’s.”
Boss Shin glared at his son. “Get over here. We’re leaving. So long as I’m alive, I will make certain that the bastard standing next to you will never be the heir. You’re the heir, damn it. It will belong to our branch of the family forever. I won’t allow them to take your destiny away from you. Now, let’s go.” Boss Shin grabbed Soohyun’s wrist and forced him to walk. They turned, heading for the stairs, Boss Lee finally snapping inside.
“No…I won’t lose. I refuse to admit defeat…” He looked around, eyes falling on the pistol in the holster on his subordinate’s belt. He took it, pointing it toward Soohyun’s back. The look in his eye was nothing less than insane. “I won’t lose to people like you…”
Dongho, glanced at Boss Lee before he turned toward Soohyun, trying to get to him before Boss Lee pulled the trigger. His steps were quick although Soohyun and Boss Shin hadn’t walked but a mere five paces away. “Hyung, get down!” Dongho ordered, a gunshot sounding a split-second afterwards.
Soohyun and Boss Shin were both knocked forward onto the floor, Dongho sprawled out overtop of Soohyun. Boss Shin scrambled around, sitting up and trying to figure out what happened. He saw blood pooling on the floor, his eyes widening when he realized it was below Soohyun.
“Soohyun, are you okay?” he asked his son frantically.
Soohyun raised his head, looking forward toward his father. “I’m fine, why?”
“There’s blood…”
Soohyun tried to get up, groaning as he had to shimmy out from under Dongho. “Yah, you don’t look like it, but you’re heavy,” he said, rolling over and sitting up. He noticed that there was indeed blood on the floor and he quickly patted himself down, making sure it really wasn’t him. Once he concluded that he was wound free, he looked at Dongho, his eyebrows pulling together. “Yah, Dongho, say something.”
Dongho winced, controlling his expression before he sat up, his hand covering his side. He smiled as best he could at Soohyun to reassure the elder. “Are you okay, Soohyun hyung?” he asked, hoping his voice didn’t sound too pained. His side felt like it was burning. “You aren’t hurt, are you?”
Soohyun shook his head. “Not at all. I’m perfectly fine. What about you? Are you okay?” Dongho only nodded, a wave of pain washing over him making him doubt his voice would sound normal. “But then where did this blood come from?”
“Let me out immediately,” Kiseop ordered, his eyes never leaving Dongho. When his father’s subordinate unlocked the cell, Kiseop stormed out. He walked over and knelt beside Dongho. “Move your hand.”
Dongho looked at Kiseop, his eyes conveying that he really didn’t want to, but the look in the elder’s eyes held a silent threat. Closing his eyes, Dongho slowly moved his hand away from his side. Soohyun’s eyes widened at what he saw. Blood ran down Dongho’s side, the wound from the bullet deep.
“D-Dongho, you…” Soohyun couldn’t seem to find the words to finish. He was bombarded with so many emotions at what occurred that he felt dizzy. He looked at Dongho, the younger refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.
“We have to get you to a hospital,” Kiseop said, standing. “Can you get up on your own?”
Dongho shook his head. “I don’t think I can move. Just sitting up hurt like hell. If I move too much it might cause more damage than it already has.” He winced at the pain just talking caused. He smiled at Soohyun. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.”
Soohyun shook his head. “If it hurts too much, don’t speak. We need to get you to the hospital…” When Dongho shook his head, Soohyun frowned. “What do you mean no? Dongho, we have to get you help or you‘ll…” He couldn’t bring himself to say the word die. He couldn’t allow himself to think of that as an option.
The younger shook his head, smiling sadly as he looked down. “I’m glad I was able to do something for you, in the end. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, you know? That I’m not just a screw up like most people think.”
“Don’t talk like that,” Xander said, finally able to speak. He slowly approached Dongho, dropping to his knees beside the younger. “We’ll get you help so you can’t say things like that. It makes us think you’re giving up…”
“Hyung, I am giving up. I’ve accomplished what I came here to do in the first place. I was able to protect Soohyun, to keep him safe. It’s the very reason why I came here and now that I’ve succeeded, I feel like I’ve conquered the world.”
“Damn it!” Soohyun hissed, pounding his fist on the floor. Tears spilled from his eyes at hearing Dongho speaking like that. “Stop saying things like that.”
“I’m sorry, Soohyun hyung, but I have to talk while I can. Even though the bullet didn’t damage any vital organs, I’ve lost quite a bit of blood already.”
“Knock it off. Stop saying things as if you’re expecting to die.”
“It’s too dangerous for me to move and it would take an hour for any paramedics to arrive. Soohyun hyung, do you know how much blood a person can lose in an hour?”
Kiseop glanced at Soohyun before he looked back at the younger. “I’m not going to let you die.” He hurried up the stairs, the front door slamming overhead. They heard an engine rev before it faded into the background.
“Where’s Kiseop hyung going?” Taemin asked, his voice quiet. When no one answered, he frowned and sat down, leaning against the wall. He didn’t know what was going to happen, but he did know that he didn’t want Dongho to die. Shin or not, Dongho was his friend and he could admit that to himself now.
Soohyun watched silently as Dongho grew paler. He wanted to do something, anything, to make his cousin live, but he not only didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know if he could move. Before they knew it, fifteen minutes had passed and the flow of blood was slowly decreasing. Dongho was leaning against the wall for support, trying to keep his eyes open. He felt tired. He wanted nothing more than to sleep, but he was too afraid to close his eyes. He didn’t voice his fear, not wanting to scare the others any farther than he already had. He took a deep breath, once again wincing at the pain it caused.
“Where did Kiseop hyung go?” Dongho asked, the silence making him feel closer to death than anything. He didn’t want to be quiet, he wanted to talk if this was how he was going to die. “He’s been gone for a while now. Where do you think he went?”
“Dongho, I’m not going to tell you again. Stop talking. You need to save your strength,” Soohyun said. He was still sitting across from the younger, too afraid to get any closer.
Dongho frowned, turning his head to face Xander. “Hyung, will you get closer?” The elder obliged, scooting to sit right next to him. When he went to ask why, Dongho leaned over, leaning his head on Xander’s shoulder.
“Yah, Dongho-ssi, you can’t go to sleep, okay?” Xander informed. He looked down at the younger. “You can’t go to sleep until we get you help.”
It was another thirty minutes before the front door opened. They all looked around, not knowing who it was. Kiseop appeared at the doorway, coming down the stairs. He was followed by three paramedics and two police officers. “My father’s the one who shot him. He’s not exactly sane anymore. He hasn’t been for a while now, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t mean to shoot him,” Kiseop explained, stepping out of the way so the police could handcuff his father and take him away.
“Kiseopie, you went to get help?” Soohyun asked, standing on shaky legs. “But, how did you do it so quickly?”
Kiseop smirked. “I broke the speed limit. I was able to get to the hospital and get them to come here and the police came as an escort and to arrest my father for attempted murder.”
“You turned in your own father?” Xander asked. Kiseop nodded. “You really have a lot of respect for Dongho, huh?”
“What my father did was wrong. He tried to kill Soohyun and Dongho, being the stubborn yet courageous kid he is, took the hit instead.”
“We need to get him onto a stretcher and get him into the ambulance,” a paramedic said. It didn’t take hardly any time at all to get Dongho strapped to the stretcher. Soohyun was the first to follow them out, only one step behind them. Even Boss Shin followed them, still a little stunned at what happened.
“Who’s going to ride with him to the hospital?” Jinki asked.
“I will,” Boss Shin replied. They all looked at him in shock. He climbed into the back of the ambulance after they loaded Dongho inside, a paramedic climbing in as well. The other two paramedics closed the doors, going around and getting in the front. The sirens wailed as they sped down the road, turning the corner and heading for the hospital.
“Why would Father want to go?” Soohyun asked. He looked at Kiseop. “Yah, we need to get to the hospital. Kiseopie and I will take his motorcycle. Xander hyung, you bring Taemin and Jinki.”
Xander nodded before turning to the younger two. “Are you okay with riding with me?” They both nodded. “Let’s go then.”
“Can we come, too?” Key asked, standing a little to the side. Although he’d outright deny it, he was worried about Dongho. Even with the bad blood between them, Dongho risking his life for someone else made Key, Minho, and Jonghyun gain respect for him. “I want to see how he is.”
“You guys can come, too,” Taemin said. Key nodded before he and his two friends climbed into the back of Xander’s car. Taemin looked at Jinki, sighing before he squeezed into the backseat beside Jonghyun. Although he felt terribly uncomfortable, Taemin said nothing as Jinki closed the car door and climbed into the passenger seat. Xander slid in behind the wheel and he closed his door. He waited for Kiseop to rev his motorcycle engine before he turned the key in his ignition. His car’s engine roared to life and he followed Kiseop down the road.
In the back of the ambulance, Boss Shin sat quietly, watching the paramedic temporarily patch up the bullet wound in his nephew’s side. He was still a little stunned about the entire incident. He didn’t expect the young man before him to be so daring. He couldn’t understand why Dongho selflessly risked getting killed for Soohyun. The event kept playing itself in his mind as if on repeat. He looked down at Dongho, admiration and gratitude welling up inside him.
“Dongho, I think now is as good a time as any to thank your for saving my son,” Boss Shin started, not exactly sure how to express his emotions. He had never shared them with anyone before, not even his wife or Soohyun. He cleared his throat and tried again. “What you did back there was brave and-”
“Bravery has nothing to do with it,” Dongho said, cutting him off. He stared up at the roof of the ambulance, his eyes holding a glossy sheen. “It was either Soohyun or me.” He winced as the paramedic added pressure to his side. “I went to Lee Estates to save Soohyun in the first place, but hyung showed up and ruined everything. I went to take his place and he wouldn’t let me. When it comes down to it, I don’t think I’d have the courage to do it again.”
“What do you mean by that? Was Lee planning something from the start to go after Soohyun?” Dongho nodded. “Then you went there first, before any of them, to stop whatever it was Lee was planning?”
“I went there to take Soohyun’s place as the Lee Mafia’s hostage. Knowing that the real Soohyun was at your estate, you wouldn’t have fallen for it and I’d have been kept there permanently. He wanted to kidnap hyung so he could use him as leverage to control the entire city. My going there as Soohyun meant that hyung could be free and the Shin family along with everyone involved with them would remain unharmed.”
Boss Shin looked away. “I was wrong about you and my brother. I was even wrong about your mother. They raised you well. I’ll have to inform Dae-Hyun about you being shot. He’ll throw a tantrum that the cause of it was my son, but he’ll be happy to know that you’re alive.”
Dongho smirked. “My parents don’t care about what happens to me anymore. Growing up, I could have killed someone and they’d have turned a blind eye to it, acting as if I had done nothing. But for some reason, as I got older, all they saw were the times I had messed up. Me being expelled from my old school for protecting my hyungs was apparently the last they could take.”
“I’m going to call them anyway. Regardless of whether or not you’ve messed up in the past, what matters is right now. They need to know that their only child is hurt.”
Dongho closed his eyes, sadness lacing his voice as he spoke. “I’m not going to be an only child for much longer. Mom’s pregnant and they’re having another son.” He opened his eyes, refusing to let himself cry. “Dad already told me before he ordered to have me dumped off at that stupid boarding school that he couldn’t care less about me. He said that he’d have a new son soon enough, one that would obey everything he said and who wouldn’t get into trouble like me.”
The paramedic frowned as he looked at the small portable heart monitor that was hooked up to Dongho. “This isn’t good,” he murmured.
Boss Shin looked at him, his eyes narrowed. “What isn’t good?”
The paramedic looked at Boss Shin before glancing to Dongho and finally looking back at the monitor. “He’s lost too much blood. His heart is overworking itself in order to pump what little blood he still has throughout his entire body. At this rate, his heart will give out.”
Dongho laughed before he drew a sharp breath and winced. “So, I’m going to die because of heart failure, not because I was shot. Great. What a heroic way to go.”
“You aren’t going to die.” Boss Shin motioned for the paramedic to come closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Is it possible to do an emergency blood transfusion on the way to the hospital?”
“There is, but we’d need a compatible person to donate the blood.”
“I’m his uncle. Is that compatible enough?” When the paramedic nodded, Boss Shin shrugged out of his coat. He rolled up his right sleeve, turning his arm elbow down. “Take as much as he needs in order for his heart to slow down.”
The paramedic nodded, going to work on hooking a tube in Boss Shin’s arm and hooking the other end into Dongho’s. It was ten minutes until they reached the hospital, the paramedics unloading Dongho and rushing him inside. Boss Shin stood still, silently watching as the glass doors of the emergency room slid closed. He held his arm, the pressure he applied stopping the bleeding as Soohyun and Kiseop arrived, followed by Xander and the other five.
“Father, how’s Dongho?” Soohyun asked, stopping beside him.
“It wasn’t looking too promising in the ambulance. I need to call Dae-Hyun. He should know what happened at least.”
Soohyun shook his head. “I’ll go talk to him. Calling him on the phone, he’ll only blow up and hang up without hearing anything.” He turned, grabbing Kiseop’s keys and climbing on the motorcycle. “Kiseop, keep me updated. I’ll be gone for a little while, but I’ll come back with Uncle.”
“I’ll tell you everything that happens,” Kiseop replied, handing over his helmet.
Soohyun tugged it on, looking at the younger. “Whatever you do, don’t let him die.” He closed the visor, revving the engine before speeding away.
Kiseop sighed, turning as Xander rushed toward him. “Yah, Seop, how’s Dongho? Is he going to die?” Xander asked.
“I’m not sure. Boss Shin said he didn’t look too well in the ambulance. Let’s go inside and wait.” They all filed inside, Kiseop pacing while they waited for news of Dongho.
Soohyun stared up at the building, his heart pounding wildly in his chest at facing his uncle for the first time in years. He pulled the helmet off as he climbed off the motorcycle, placing it securely on the seat. His feet felt heavier with ever step he took toward the spacious home. Arriving at the porch, he knocked on the door, waiting for someone to answer. When the door swung open, Soohyun looked up into the eyes of Dae-Hyun.
“Can I help you?” Dae-Hyun asked, looking him up and down as if he were some sort of beggar from the streets.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” Soohyun replied, Dae-Hyun shaking his head. “I’m Soohyun. Shin Soohyun. I’m your nephew.”
Dae-Hyun thought for a moment before a smile spread across his face and he clapped Soohyun on the shoulder. “Soohyun! Come in, come in! it’s good to see you. You’ve grown into a fine young man. How are you?”
Stepping inside, Soohyun noticed his aunt sitting in a recliner as she sipped tea. He took a deep breath before turning to address his uncle again. “You might want to sit down. I need to tell the two of you something.” He wiped the palms of his hands against his jeans, walking with his uncle to wear his aunt was seated.
After sitting down, Dae-Hyun watched as Soohyun knelt, his eyes widening as he passed a glance at his wife. Looking back at Soohyun, he spoke. “Yah, why are you kneeling like you’ve done something wrong and need to be forgiven?”
Soohyun kept his eyes to the floor, tears blurring his vision. “I ran into Dongho at the boarding school you sent him to,” he began, almost choking on his words. “One of my friends belongs to the Lee Mafia. In fact, it’s Lee Kiseop, the heir to the Lee Mafia. Overhearing his father’s words, Kiseop wanted to warn me, but ran into Dongho first and told him that his dad wanted to kidnap me. To keep me safe, Dongho went to the Lee Estates and claimed to be me.”
“What are you trying to say?” Mi Cha asked, reaching over to take Dae-Hyun’s hand.
Soohyun looked up, tears streaking his face. “Kiseop’s dad tried to kill me and Father, but Dongho shoved us out of the way. He lost a lot of blood and is at the hospital, but I don’t know if he’s going to make it. Uncle, you have to go see him! Even if Dongho messed up in the past, can’t you just forgive him this once?”
Dae-Hyun felt Mi Cha squeeze his hand. He sighed and looked away, getting to his feet. “Get out. Dongho made his choice and is an embarrassment to this family.” He stormed to the hallway and to his study. The sound of the door slamming shut reverberated through the house, giving a finality to the situation.
Mi Cha walked to where Soohyun was, reaching out and helping him stand. “Soohyun-ssi, I’ll try to get him to go to the hospital. You go on ahead and check on my son.”
Soohyun nodded, turning and hurrying from the house. He wiped his eyes, forcing the tears to stop until he could get back to the hospital. He picked up the helmet, his phone ringing. Setting it back onto the motorcycle, he answered his phone.
“Kiseop, how’s Dongho?” he asked immediately.
“He’s out of surgery, but…” Kiseop began.
The pause in Kiseop’s voice made Soohyun’s heart still. “But what?”
“Dongho slipped into a coma.”
Soohyun felt hot tears slip down his cheeks. He felt his legs give out, finding himself sitting on the pavement as he vaguely heard a door in the distance open. He stared at his phone, shaking his head slightly as if doing so would make things different. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked over to see Dae-Hyun and Mi Cha beside him.
“Are you happy now?” he asked, more tears spilling out. “Kiseop just informed me that Dongho slipped into a coma. Is this what you wanted? To have only one son? Because of your damn pride, because of you dumping him off without a care, Dongho is in a coma!” He disregarded that Kiseop could hear him as he shouted at his uncle. He climbed to his feet, leaning against the motorcycle in case his legs gave out again as he glared at Dae-Hyun. “Dongho might not mean anything to you, but to me, he is something that can never be replaced.”
“Soohyun-ssi, calm down,” Mi Cha suggested, reaching out to him. She frowned when he flinched away.
“I won’t calm down. Uncle-” Soohyun shook his head. “No, I don’t want an uncle like you.” His eyes hardened as he looked at Dae-Hyun. “Don’t you dare show up at the hospital. Remember that you abandoned him, remember that you dumped him off and that you gave up on him. From now on, he’ll live with me and Father. We’re his family. So you take your new child and raise him up well, but don’t forget to tell him that his hyung is the greatest man that ever walked this earth.”
“Yah, Soohyun, who do you think you are?” Dae-Hyun asked, his anger getting the better of him.
Soohyun looked at him. “I’m Dongho’s hyung. And from this day forth, I’m going to make sure he gets everything handed to him on a platter. He won’t have to lift a finger if he doesn’t want to.” He grabbed the helmet and tugged it on, once again revving the engine. He peeled out of the driveway, heading back to the hospital. He didn’t know if his aunt and uncle would follow him, but if they did, he could only hope that Kiseop or one of the others could hold him back from doing something stupid.