[NC-17] BREATHE INTO ME (15/??)
Decimoquinto Tumba:
SNAKE
Ryeowook walked without sense of direction, leaping and running from a building to another building if necessary. He obviously didn’t care where he was heading off. North, east, west, south, he had no idea. All he cared about was to find a decent place to stay for now. He was confuse, very confuse. He needed to reflect on what he just did and being alone was a factor to help him. Add up the scene he could see after he arrive in the rightful place….
“But…” He started yet he couldn’t finish. The picture of the man he hurt came so suddenly in his mind. ”…did I make the right choice?” He asked himself once more but there was no turning back.
He looked back to Sooman and spoke, “They are staying in a house in the coastline just outside Seoul. I can lead you there if you want.” replied Ryeowook.
“Good, you had done great for this organization, especially to me. You didn’t fail me. And I’m so proud of you.” Sooman praised him and that made Ryeowook smiled yet limitedly. He felt relieved yet his heart and mind kept shouting. ”This is wrong and you know it…”
“Oh!” gasped Ryeowook. He didn’t expect he’d be back there. He didn’t expect that he’d be back to see that house where everything had happened. As the wind blew softly, Ryeowook closed his eyes. Remembering how he had grown for those moments might help him.
[EuNic monkEy’s notes: Another series of flashbacks. Hahaha~ enjoy!]
17 years ago, 7 years old Ryeowook…
Thug! Pack! Thug!
“Appa, andwae… stop! Jebal! Ugh!” cried Ryeowook helplessly as he received blows of punches coming from his father. Smell of alcohol lingered within his mouth. His eyes were emitting coldness and no mercy could be reflected from it. Ryeowook tried to protect himself with his small hands but it was no use.
“You insolent boy! No for good son! You’re mother left and she left you behind because you are nothing to her.” shouted the pitiless father.
Thug!
“You are useless and she doesn’t love you!” screamed Ryeowook’s father after landing his last punch in Ryeowook’s face. “and neither will I!” screamed the father before he walked away, closed the door and lock it outside. Ryeowook just cried on the corner of the small room as he tried to amend his bruises. It had been a routine wherever his father got drunk. He would punch and hurt Ryeowook if he tried to talk about his mother or doing anything that would remind him of his mother. It had been the routine for almost 2 years that had passed.
Father… he wasn’t really Ryeowook’s father nor anyone related by blood. He was his stepfather. When his mother married him, she was already pregnant with Ryeowook for 5 weeks. Ryeowook never got the chance to meet his real father. It was only an arrange marriage. His mother loved his father more than his stepfather. But his stepfather loved his mother too much that he became possessive of her. She tried to love him back but she really couldn’t. That’s why she ran away. She promised Ryeowook she’d be back for him.
But now, 2 years almost passed it she still didn’t come back.
Actually, they were happy family during Ryeowook early years but his mother wasn’t. When his mother left, his stepfather became like a snake, removing the skin of being a good father and showing what he really was like and telling him poisonous lies about her leaving them for another man. Ryeowook wouldn’t believe his stepfather no matter how he grew attached to him.
Click!
Ryeowook’s fears rise up again, fearing that his father came back to give him suffering once again but everything eased up when he heard a voice.
“Wookie?!”
“Jungwoon hyung!” cried Ryeowook as he ran to the one who opened the door. Even though he was limping due to the bruises he got, he just ran to him for comfort. Jungwoon on the other hand opened his arms to accept Ryeowook who started to bawl against Jungwoon’s chest and the latter just let him be, rubbing soothing strokes at Ryeowook’s back.
“Let’s get out of here.” insisted Jungwoon. He turned back and knelt before speaking again, “Ride on my back.”
“Huh? Ani!” refused Ryeowook with a tint of blush on his cheeks.
“Pallewa. You know I don’t take no for an answer.” insisted Jungwoon firmly. Ryeowook just obliged and climbed Ryeowook’s back. “Hold tight.” Reminded Jungwoon and made sure Ryeowook was comfortable enough. Ryeowook leaned on Jungwoon’s back, resting his hands around his shoulders. Ryeowook closed his eyes with contentment in his smile. He never felt safer before until Jungwoon came for him.
Kim Jungwoon, a boy who was 3 years older than him, the oldest son of a restaurant owner in the neighborhood. He was the only one brave enough to always look for Ryeowook despite Ryeowook’s father’s cruelty. They were the only people who are kind enough to help the poor guy and to make him better.
“Oh my gosh! What happened to you Wookie-ah?” gasped Jungwoon’s mother as he saw her son and the one he was carrying on the back.
“Sssh, Mom. Couldn’t you he fell asleep?” snapped Jungwoon. His mother giggled softly and just followed Jungwoon to his room where he put Ryeowook on his bed.
“This is really bad. His father is a bastard.” sighed Jungwoon's mother what was now cleaning Ryeowook’s bruises.
“Why can’t we just keep him? Or tell the authorities about how his father abuses him and tell them he is hurting him.” whined Jungwoon with his young mind. He couldn’t take anymore finding his dongsaeng getting always hurt.
“His father is someone who is important in the society. If we go against him, we could never win.” reminded Jungwoon’s mother. Jungwoon stood still, pouting his lips, As Mrs. Kim finished cleaning Ryeowook’s bruises and she went to her son and continued, “You’re still young to understand. For now, all we can do is to be there when he needed someone the most.” said Mrs. Kim before she left the room completely.
As soon as he and the sleeping Ryeowook were left in his room, Jungwoon sat at the edge of his bed and gently caress his hand. He put it by his chest and whispered by Ryeowook’s ear. “I’ll always be there for you, Wookie. I’ll always be and that’s what I promise you.”
For Ryeowook, he was vague whether he heard those words just on his dream or for real. He just felt being lighten up from the burden of suffering that a smile lingered in his face as he continued his peaceful slumber.
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It was always a routine. Always the same routine if he got beaten up by his step father, Jungwoon would always come and save him for the time being, until one night…
Ryeowook was happily eating with the household of Kim in their restaurant. Until the door burst open. Everyone’s attention gathered and Ryeowook started to get nervous as fear ate his heart. When a female figure came in, Ryeowook’s fears subsided and warmness enveloped his longing heart.
“Mom…” spoke Ryeowook softly yet full of longing. “… is that really you?” said he with tears streaming down from his eyes.
“Ryeowook, baby… I’m sorry.. I’m sorry.. mommy’s here now… I promise I’ll never leave you again.” comforted the woman.
“Is it really our son?” spoke someone from Ryeowook’s mother’s back. The mother and child let go of each other and the mother smiled. She looked to Ryeowook who was looking back and forth from his mother and the stranger standing.
“Ryeowook -ah, this is your real father.” introduced his mother. Ryeowook’s eyes glimmered. Finally, his family was complete.
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It wasn’t easy to get away from Ryeowook’s step father but even so, luck was with them that the marriage of his mother and step father was void. They throw him into prison for hurting Ryeowook but he got bail, after all he was an influential individual that he could control the system. But Ryeowook’s family careless, they knew his step father wouldn’t be able to touch them again. Ryeowook’s father after all is someone more influential than the step father.
But because of this, a separation happened.
“Yeah, we’ll be moving together with Wookie the day after tomorrow in Seoul.” said the mother excitedly while eating dinner with the Kim household. Jungwoon quickly looked at Ryeowook who was now looking down.
The dinner went silently, well within only the two youngsters in the dining table. Jungwoon finished the dinner quite fast. Actually, he really didn’t touch much yet he excused himself. Ryeowook bit his lower lip. He knew that it had something to do with him leaving for Seoul. As soon as dinner was concluded, the parents continued to talk while Ryeowook went to where he knew Jungwoon would be.
He opened the door and a silhouette by the bed was a proof that he was right.
“Jungwoon hyung~” called Ryeowook as he went closer to the bed. He was startled when the silhouette grabbed him yet eased up at the hugged that enveloped him. He felt droplets of water landing on his shoulder and sobs were heard.
“Jungwoon hyung, don’t cry please…” begged Ryeowook not liking this state of his so called hyung.
“I’m really… h-happy…W-Wookie-ah… I’m really ha-ppy…b-but…” bawled Jungwoon. Really, Jungwoon was happy how the turn of events favor Ryeowook and his family but what made Jungwoon sad was they have to go on separate ways.
“Sssh… I know hyung… but definitely we’ll see each other sometimes… we can exchange letters too. Surely I’ll write to you once a week and you’d do the same neh?” convinced Ryeowook even though he too was crying now.
“Promise me one thing Wookie.” said Jungwoon, making Ryeowook to face him. “Don’t forget me okay. Don’t ever forget me.” requested Jungwoon. Ryeowook nodded.
“Deh! I would never forget you Jungwoon hyung. Never.” promised Ryeowook. The two hugged each other once again. Lying in the bed now, Jungwoon started to sing something. With closed eyes, Ryeowook listened intently. Jungwoon’s voice is really beautiful, like an art that is incomparable.
“You know hyung. You should be called Yesung. You really have an art-like voice.” commented Ryeowook after Jungwoon finished singing.
“Eh, do you think Yesung should be my stage name if I become a singer in the future?” asked Jungwoon with amazement to the idea but then there was no response. He looked down to Ryeowook and saw him sleeping soundly within his embrace, snuggling closer to each other. Jungwoon closed his eyes, enjoying their last moments before Ryeowook moved out to the city.
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It was a dream came true for Ryeowook to live like this. Together with his family, there weren’t a dull moment that had happen in his new peaceful life. He lived with his parents with significance. Ryeowook’s family was a rich one but even so unlike those rich bastards, they were more approachable. You could tell that Ryeowook had been spoiled but then they just loved each other so much they wanted to keep their family intact. Keeping in touch with his Jungwoon hyung, everything was just perfect. But there was a time when connections were cut unexpectedly.
“I wonder when Jungwoon hyung will write to me again. It have been weeks already,” said the worried Ryeowook.
“Ryeowook~ mail for you,” called his mother from their living room.
“Oh! That must be it,” squealed Ryeowook. He hurriedly run outside his room, down to their living room and meet up with mother who seemed uneasy.
“Is there something wrong, mom?” asked Ryeowook. As Ryeowook stood up in front of his mother, she handed to him a complied letters. It seemed very familiar for Ryeowook.
“My mails, all turned down? How…” said Ryeowook who couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t know. It seemed no one lives there anymore, son.” explained his mother.
“But… it couldn’t be… what happened? He could have… I don’t believe it,” cried Ryeowook as tears showed up. His mother quickly hugged him as Ryeowook whimpered for the lost.
“Please mom… let’s go back there and see what happened… please… I’m begging you,” cried Ryeowook more.
“Ssssh baby, don’t cry. I’ll talk to it with your father, okay? I promise you we’ll go there.” comforted his mother.
And she didn’t fail her son.
“I guess they really move out.” said Ryeowook’s father finding themselves by the entrance of the restaurant they knew so well.
“Oh, Mrs. Kim~ My, my… is that our little Ryeowook before? You have grown so much.” said a familiar woman.
“Ahjumma, where’s Jungwoon hyung and his family?” asked Ryeowook after the woman finished her greetings. The smile in the woman immediately turned gloomy.
“Oh my… you don’t know what happened yet?” gasped the woman.
“Know what?” asked Ryeowook’s mother.
“The family was massacre almost 2 months ago by a drunken customer.” said the lady with a heavy heart.
“Jung…woon hyung?” mumbled Ryeowook in shock.
“Though our Jungwoon was able to escape such fate but right after the funeral of his parents and little brother, he is gone missing.” narrated more the lady. She heaved a sigh first before continuing her dialogue, “I hope that boy is okay. Leaving alone isn’t good for his state. Poor boy...”
That day, Ryeowook had mixed emotions. He was anguished by the lost of the family whom have taken good care of him in the span of 2 years he was suffering in the clutches of his stepfather yet happy that there was still hope he could find his Jungwoon hyung who was so dear to him. Standing now in front of Jungwoon’s parents, he promised them he would find him no matter what.
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For almost 20 years that Ryeowook had lived, he experienced the ups and downs of life. He lived normally with his lovable parents, nourishing him with love and care. He had friends. Although he experienced such thing for 7 years, he still longed for the only man who gave importance to him more than anyone else. For seven years, he hoped that man would show up and locked him back into his arms, the man who gave importance of love to him.
But then, there would be time when everything seemed to be too good to be true as past came knocking unexpectedly.
“Mom! Dad! I’m home!” shouted Ryeowook with joy upon arrival back home. It was his parents’ anniversary and this time they chose to celebrate it peacefully. Without banquets or expensive parties, they would have a party for just the three of them.
“It’s been a long time Ryeowook.”
Someone said inside the darkness of the house. Ryeowook already felt shivers upon hearing the voice of the intruder in their serene house. He opened the light and fear stroke his nerves.
“Step…f-father?” murmured Ryeowook in dread. He felt crushed seeing when he saw the lifeless bodies of his parents by the foot of his step father, lying within the pool of blood. And by the hands of the slaughterer, a knife was shimmering with stains of blood.
“Now it’s your turn..” smirked his step father and then attack him, launching the knife towards his chest yet Ryeowook was able to dodge those dirty hands. Struggling around, Ryeowook tried his best to get the knife so he could at least threatened him and ran away to buy him sometime to call for help. But Ryeowook couldn’t remove the fact that hatred blinded a part of him.
Yet a wrong step turned everything unexpected. He slipped in a step that he fell down pulling his stepfather with him. There was shock in his stepfather’s eyes that brought back Ryeowook’s fear. When his stepfather rolled to the side and Ryeowook sat up and saw blood within his hands. He looked to his side and saw his stepfather struggling for breathe; blood oozing by the left side of his lips and the shimmering knife plunged deeply on his chest.
“Now… you are like me…” were his last words with smug on his face.
Looking at his shaking hands and down to the lifeless bodies before the reach of his sight, Ryeowook fled to the darkness of the forest nearby. By a tree he randomly found in the middle of the forest, he folded up his knees and shivered in fear.
SSSSSS~
He couldn’t believe what he just did. Fear ate his senses that nothing around him was registering in his mind.
Chunk!
“Argh!” shouted Ryeowook when he felt fangs pierced in his left leg.
SSSSSS~
Even in the darkness, the scales of the snake that just beat him reflected the lights of the moonlight. Ryeowook became sweaty that he tried to run elsewhere, wherever his feet may take him.
His left leg instantly stung that he fell by the grass ground. He heard sirens of the police cars nearby that it alerted him.
“Now… you are like me…”
“I’m a murderer. I couldn’t go back~” murmured Ryeowook that he stayed hidden by the bushes. He felt a burning sensation he couldn’t explain inside him. Images of his love ones flashed continuously on his mind. He was becoming pale and a soaring pain emerges from his throat out to his mouth. Shaking violently as he fainted, his eyes started getting blurry. With one last tear drop tracing his face, his life ended with an image of his Jungwoon hyung, the man he knew he loved so much. He felt miserable that he died not seeing him even for the last time.
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Ryeowook opened his eyes unaware of his surroundings. Dizziness continuously implicated his mind.
“It’s successfully done. Hyori noona~” he heard a man’s voice.
“Yes, the effects of the poison he got from the bite of the snake reacted well.” A woman voice came next.
“You’re job is now done Hyori. You may leave now.” said another man older.
“What are you saying? I have to keep an eye with this. The poison in his body isn’t fully removed that it might continuously weaken him even if he was now a successfully Corvus. It would take years before the poison fades off. You’re not planning to release him right?”
“Of course not yet, but he would be under the watchful eyes of the other scientists. I want you to work with the other cases of our Corvuses. Now, you and Hankyung may leave. If you are greatly needed, you would be called.”
“But-“ protested once again the woman yet she was stopped. What happened next didn’t register more in Ryeowook. He felt so weak that all his senses dulled down.
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When Ryeowook woke up again, he finally learned what he had become. Trained under Sungmin’s guidance, he mastered his new self. He developed faster than anyone else. There was something in Ryeowook that made him excel more than others.
When he was called for his first mission, he couldn’t believe he had to do something like that. It was his fear, to kill someone. Growing with the company, he thought it was the best to go for it until he saw those eyes of the one he shot when he attacked. After all, it was thanks to them that he may fulfill his promise and he could find his Jungwoon hyung again.
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“Jung…woon hyung.” mumbled Ryeowook in shock seeing the eyes of the man he shot. He knew those eyes well. Even if years had passed, he couldn’t be wrong.
“Ryeowook! NO!” he heard his Sungmin hyung that he defended himself when the latter attack him, well stopping him actually.
“Hyung! Waeyo?!” he tried to defend himself but careful not to hurt his hyung. He couldn’t believe that Sungmin was siding with them. And that made everything confusing for Ryeowook. He thought that they were together in this, protecting the company but it seemed he was wrong. He was betrayed.
Yet another thing made it perplexed. Hearing the great Eunhyuk’s words, he was more bewildered where to side. To those who gave him the second life or to those who were like him and could understand him.
Ryeowook opened his eyes. He saw someone entering Yesung’s room, the guy he shot in the attack. He just observed them from the post he was standing at, the bickering of two other people who seemed to be a couple. He was in reverie thinking that he was part of it and he was the one taking good care of that Yesung guy. He snapped out of it when he sensed he was caught. He moved away trying to hide. Finding the perfect spot by a branch of a big tree, he got a good sight of Yesung looking for something outside. He watched as Yesung came back to his room and rested comfortably.
After sometime, he moved closer and silently he went Yesung’s room through the balcony. He watched at the latter sleeping soundly under the blanket yet beads of sweat formed by his forehead. It didn’t come to Ryeowook that if he touched him, he might get caught again yet still he touched him and caress his cheeks. It seemed Yesung calmed down under his touched.
He was startled when a hand grabbed him but eased up when it was still Yesung, grabbing his hand yet his eyes were still closed. Maybe he was still dreaming.
“W-Wookie… I finally found you…” mumbled Yesung in his sleep and tears started to pour in Ryeowook’s eyes.
“Jung…w-woon hyung..” murmured Ryeowook silently yet in happiness. He felt something vibrating by his pocket. He knew what it was and what it meant.
“I’ll be back… I love you hyung…” mumbled Ryeowook and peck Yesung’s forehead before leaving.
“WOOKIE!” shouted Yesung as he sat up. He sighed in relief when it was all just dream. He promised himself he’d find his beloved Wookie when everything’s over but the attack made him remember his beloved Wookie. It felt so real as if Ryeowook was the one really touching him, especially when he felt lips landed on his forehead. He glanced by the door of his balcony, shocked seeing the curtains being blew away softly by the wind through the open door. But he remembered he closed it properly before falling asleep.
“Where are you now, Wookie?” mumbled Yesung. He then looked to his side and a tank was placed there. “Danggie, I know you still don’t know your mother, but do you know where he is?” talked Yesung
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Kyuhyun was driving home with Sungmin on the passenger’s seat. Sungmin kept his silence for awhile, thinking what he just heard. They may be already in the car and Lee Sooman and Kyuhyun’s father by the entrance of the elevator but with his sharp senses he got after being a Corvus, he could hear Sooman’s words.
“Kyuhyun playing well? What did he mean by that? Is Kyuhyun’s feeling for me a fraud?” thought Sungmin. He looked at Kyuhyun who was concentrating on the road. “Kyu, do you really love me?” asked Sungmin boldly. He didn’t care what would be Kyuhyun’s reaction. He just wanted to hear it from him.
SHREEEK! BEEEEEP!
“Hey, are trying to kill yourself?!”
“Are you drunk jerk?!”
Even after Kyuhyun recklessly park the car by the side of the busy highway that may result into a big accident and earning lots of complains from the other cars taking that road, Sungmin kept his mouth shut. He was just waiting for Kyuhyun to speak.
Kyuhyun get out of the car and then went Sungmin’s side, opening the door and forcedly dragged Sungmin out of the car yet caging him between Kyuhyun’s body and the car.
“What the heck? Kyuhyun!” hissed Sungmin.
“Look at me!” ordered Kyuhyun to Sungmin. Sungmin looked at Kyuhyun through his eyes.
“Listen carefully to what I’m going to say because I’m not going to repeat it twice. I’m not a person who would openly declared I love someone and announce it every minute of my life. I love you no matter what and no matter what you have become! It’s your lost if you don’t believe me or you doubt me because I’m not going to prove to you every single minute that I love you but I want something to be clear so better listen to me. You are mine and mine alone~ I’ll stick with you even if you don’t want me because I love you and that’s final!” declared Kyuhyun which shock Sungmin a bit. He didn’t even give Sungmin another chance to speak and just lock his lips with him.
That night, while Sungmin was sleeping in Kyuhyun arms, he pecked the lovely forehead of his lover, mumbling sweet musings in his ear. He looked straight up to the ceiling and then heaved a sigh.
“Hang on there, Sungmin. Everything would be over soon. This might hurt for awhile but please bear with me.” Kyuhyun mumbled once again and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry but please remember that I love you.”
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Right after he was given orders, Ryeowook came back to the house where he would attack soon enough. Still, they were still resting in peace, especially his Jungwoon hyung. He knew that there was a chance it might not be his Jungwoon hyung but he could feel it was him. It was really him. He was uncertain what would happen in the future, in his future. Even if he do die, this time he’d die happily for he really did find Jungwoon, or would he call him now Yesung. But for now, he would be a snake, like the one that took his life before. He would be like his stepfather who would turn up at the least expected yet unlike him, he would be a snake who was doing the right thing. He made up his mind. He would side secretly with the great Eunhyuk and Sungmin who was like him. In order to do so, he would be a snake he hated the most.
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Hyori was in her, writing something on her notebook. Suddenly she felt someone watching her by the darkness of her office.
“Who’s there?” shouted Hyori.
“Sooman’s attacking them soon enough. They’ll be attacked by the low class Corvuses lead by Ryeowook. I know you want to end this. If you know others who can help them, better call them now.” said someone from the shadows.
“Wait, I know you. You’re -“ said Hyori yet stopped midway after she felt she was all alone now.
“I guess it’s time to involve Heechul and Sungmin again. I wonder if it would be enough to end everything?” though Hyori.
Chapter by and Edited by: EuNic monkEy