Hanging By A Thread 27/?
Title: Hanging By A Moment
Pairing: Yoochun/Junsu, Yunho/Jaejoong, Yunho/Changmin
Rating: PG-15 to NC-17 (for some parts)
Genre: fluff, angst, romance
Length: 27/?
Warning(s): violence, some language, mentions of harassment and rape, some bullying
Summary:
You are the light that's leading me to the place
Where I find peace again
You are the strength that keeps me walking
You are the hope that keeps me trusting
You are the life to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything
A/N: i know, i know... i didn't update last week... so, this will be a double update for you guys~ TT3TT i'm so sorry~ my internet's been crappy and i've been busy with other things... but i hope i still have my readers~
-27-
Interlude: YUNHO
“What did you think you were doing?” I asked glaring at Hyunsik. “If I hadn’t stopped you, you would’ve bashed his head in or worse, killed him.”
“If I hadn’t, he would’ve stabbed you.” Hyunsik answered. “There were four of them and only two of you who could fight. I’m not a fighter but I wanted to help. I wanted to protect you.”
I just continued to glare at Hyunsik.
“Even if I had ended up killing him, it would have been his fault.” Hyunsik scoffed glaring back. “I’d just be defending myself.”
“You think the police would believe you, just because you look weak and fragile?” I shot back. “Why did you even pick a fight with them in the first place?”
“I don’t care if I end up hurting or killing anyone.” Hyunsik said. “As long as I get to protect the ones that matter to me most.”
“Is that how you look at this kind of situation?” I asked in disbelief. “Protecting someone doesn’t give you the right to hurt other people. Even if those people had hurt the one you’re trying to protect. Your ‘an eye for an eye’ method isn’t a means to an end, Hyunsik-sshi.”
I take one last look at Hyunsik before turning my back on him and walking away.
“I’m glad.” Hyunsik said after I took a few steps away.
I stop and turn back to look at him.
“It’s a relief that you haven’t changed at all, Yunho-sunbae.” Hyunsik smirked.
I looked at Hyunsik with narrowed eyes.
“What do you want, Hyunsik-sshi?” I asked.
“I’m surprised you’d already forgotten this place, sunbae.” Hyunsik said. “This is where we first met.”
I looked at Hyunsik wide eyed.
“I was beaten bloody here a few years back.” Hyunsik said. “By my own brother and his friends. Do you remember? You had been running after Junsu-sunbae at the time and the both of you happened to come across me.” He continued in a nonchalant tone. “Did you know that I almost died that day?”
Kang Hyunsik walked up to me without breaking eye contact.
“If you hadn’t come right then, I wouldn’t be here today.” Hyunsik said with a smile before he walked away.
There was something wrong with the way Hyunsik’s words sounded. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
~
“Yunho-sshi.”
I turned to find a familiar face with a fatherly smile. Baek Donghoon.
“Donghoon-sshi.” I smiled in greeting. “It’s been a while.”
“Likewise, Yunho.” Donghoon said. “Is Junsu with you? I’d like to have a moment, if it’s okay.”
Seeing Baek Donghoon’s serious face, I nodded in answer as I let ourselves in our apartment.
I made my way inside, toeing off my shoes. I made a beeline for the living room, where I found Junsu and Yoochun seated on the couch. Junsu held Yoochun’s hand, as he talked to him. Both turned their attention to us, Junsu’s eyes flashing with recognition.
“Donghoon-sshi!” Junsu greeted as he and Yoochun stood up and bowed.
“From the look of things, both you and Yunho seem to be okay.” Donghoon said. “This is - ” he turned to Yoochun.
“Ah, my name is Park Yoochun.” Yoochun introduced himself.
“Yoochun-ah, this is Baek Donghoon.” I explained. “He’s a detective friend of ours.”
“Are you?” Donghoon began.
“Mine.” Junsu cut in. “My boyfriend.” He smirked.
“Donghoon-sshi, you said you wanted to talk?” I asked wanting to know why he had suddenly shown up.
“Still so perceptive.” Donghoon chuckled. “I assume the three of you know Kang Hyunsik?” he asked.
“Yes, we do.” I answered. “He transferred to our university a month ago and apparently, he’s the guy who we’d saved a few years back, Su.” I turned to Junsu. “Do you remember that incident where we’d come across a gang fight?”
“He was the one who’d gotten beaten to a pulp, huh?” Junsu asked remembering. “Donghoon-sshi, do you know him?” he asked.
“Yes.” Donghoon answered with a grim expression. “It’s a bit worrying that he’s going to the same university as you both.”
“Why? Does he have a criminal record?” Junsu asked. “What did he do? Shoplift? Drugs?”
“No.” Donghoon answered still with a grim expression. “Murder.”
It was silent for a long moment as Donghoon-sshi’s words sank in.
~
“Technically it was self defense. Kang Hyunsik killed someone five years ago.” Donghoon said. “Hyunsik had killed his older half-brother, Kang Yoongyu in self defense.”
Donghoon took out an old photograph from his pocket and handed it to Yunho.
“At the time Yoongyu was only 21, Hyunsik was 18. Do you recognize him?” Donghoon asked. I shook my head. “He’s the leader of that gang you’d come across and sent to the hospital that day you saved Hyunsik’s life. Yoongyu was an incurable criminal. Violence, extortion, drugs, trafficking, smuggling - that’s what Yoongyu’s gang specialized in.”
“Six months after that incident with you and Yoongyu’s gang, Hyunsik stabbed Yoongyu to death.” Donghoon continued. “We’d found out that Hyunsik was severely bullied not only by his fellow gang members, but also by his own half-brother. He’d lost control that day because he couldn’t take the violence and abuse anymore. Hyunsik was arrested and tried but was never sent to jail because his brother had tried to violate him. To protect himself, Hyunsik had no choice but to kill him.”
“That’s an unfortunate incident, Donghoon-sshi, but what does it have to do with us?” Yunho asked.
“Nothing.” Donghoon answered. “But, Kang Hyunsik was deemed mentally unstable because of the trauma he’d gone through under his brother’s gang. The court had order him to undergo psychotherapy. He was sent to the same hospital that you, Junsu used to go to. Dr. Hwang also handled his case.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on his progress and I couldn’t help the uneasy feeling when I found out that he’d transferred to your university.” Donghoon explained. “I hope that I’m not making too much of a fuss about this, but both of you should try to not get too involved with Kang Hyunsik.”
I sighed remembering the detective’s unannounced visit and his warning before he left. I’d excused myself from Junsu and Yoochun saying that I needed time alone. I’d gone out and found myself sitting at a bar nursing a glass of beer.
Feeling a presence behind me, I sighed and ran a hand through my hair in frustration.
“Leave me alone.” I said not even turning to look who was behind me. “I don’t want any company.”
“We meet again, sunbae.” Hyunsik’s cold voice said.
“Can’t you get a clue?” I said anger seeping into my voice. “I don’t like you.”
“That’s okay.” Hyunsik replied taking a seat next to mine. “I’d say that’s an improvement from your lack of interest. It only means that you’re more aware of me.”
“Looks like you need to check yourself back into a hospital.” I said looking at him.
“I already went, sunbae.” Hyunsik answered. “I was told that the bruises will only take a couple of weeks to heal.”
“I didn’t mean that.” I said looking at him. “For this.” I said pointing at my head before downing the remnants of my beer before putting a few bills on the bar.
“Your drink’s on me, sunbae.” Hyunsik said with a smile.
“Thanks.” I said turning to him. “But no thanks.” I added before leaving.
~
“Hey, are you okay?”
I turned to find Changmin looking at me with a serious expression. There’s a glint in his eye that says he’d found something out. I pretty much have an idea what.
“Yoochun told you?” I asked not really needing an answer. “We were warned not to get involved with him.” I added with a sigh. “That includes you by the way.”
“As if we can just have him booted out of our classes.” Changmin scoffed. “I get the feeling that that would be difficult to do especially with that kid’s obsession of you.” He said with a frown. “I don’t think he’s one to back down even if you did already reject him.”
“Frustrating as hell, if you ask me.” I said running a hand through my hair. “He’s persistent.”
As we passed by the locker rooms we happened upon Kang Hyunsik changing out of his stained shirt. Scars littered his body. Marks of abuse, slashes and the remnants of burns on his back and torso.
“They’re marks from being beaten and abused almost everyday of my life.” Hyunsik suddenly spoke up. He had his back to us as he took out a fresh shirt and shrugged it on. “He wouldn’t let anyone touch or even mark my face. They would’ve been caught.”
“My older brother wasn’t really a bad guy.” Hyunsik said turning to face us with a sad expression on his face. “He shouldn’t have died the way he did is what I should have said.” He smirked eyes empty and cold. “But that sorry excuse of a trash deserved to die. Even if I didn’t kill him myself, someone else would have done it.”
“Temporary insanity and post traumatic disorder.” I said eyes hardening. “That’s the excuse you used so that you’ll be looked at as the victim.”
“Laws are made for the weak.” Hyunsik chuckled darkly. “What I did was use them to my advantage.”
“I pity your brother.” Changmin said. “Not knowing anything, he’d been under the pretense that he had the advantage over you only to find out that you’d been using him all along. And when he’d lost his use, you killed him with your own hands.”
“There was no one as pathetic as Yoongyu-hyung.” Hyunsik said. “He always had to be the boss but in reality he was a coward who didn’t own up to his own mistakes. Everyone around him thought he was a nuisance, even his own family.” He added with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I just made him disappear. Permanently. I did everyone a favor.”
“That night when you and Junsu had found me.” Hyunsik continued looking at me. “That was the night I’d decided to run away from him for good. But he and his gang had caught me. I could have died that night if it weren’t for you, sunbae.” He added closing his locker and making his way out without a backward glance.
“I don’t even want to attempt to understand him, Yunho.” Changmin mused. “There’s something dark about him I can’t explain.”
“People tend to underestimate him because of his face and weak stature.” I said. “He is anything but that. He’s cold, calculating, and manipulative.”
---
one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten
eleven | twelve | thirteen | fourteen | fifteen | sixteen | seventeen | eighteen | nineteen | twenty | twenty-one | twenty-two | twenty-three | twenty-four | twenty-five | twenty-six
Pairing: Yoochun/Junsu, Yunho/Jaejoong, Yunho/Changmin
Rating: PG-15 to NC-17 (for some parts)
Genre: fluff, angst, romance
Length: 27/?
Warning(s): violence, some language, mentions of harassment and rape, some bullying
Summary:
You are the light that's leading me to the place
Where I find peace again
You are the strength that keeps me walking
You are the hope that keeps me trusting
You are the life to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything
A/N: i know, i know... i didn't update last week... so, this will be a double update for you guys~ TT3TT i'm so sorry~ my internet's been crappy and i've been busy with other things... but i hope i still have my readers~
-27-
Interlude: YUNHO
“What did you think you were doing?” I asked glaring at Hyunsik. “If I hadn’t stopped you, you would’ve bashed his head in or worse, killed him.”
“If I hadn’t, he would’ve stabbed you.” Hyunsik answered. “There were four of them and only two of you who could fight. I’m not a fighter but I wanted to help. I wanted to protect you.”
I just continued to glare at Hyunsik.
“Even if I had ended up killing him, it would have been his fault.” Hyunsik scoffed glaring back. “I’d just be defending myself.”
“You think the police would believe you, just because you look weak and fragile?” I shot back. “Why did you even pick a fight with them in the first place?”
“I don’t care if I end up hurting or killing anyone.” Hyunsik said. “As long as I get to protect the ones that matter to me most.”
“Is that how you look at this kind of situation?” I asked in disbelief. “Protecting someone doesn’t give you the right to hurt other people. Even if those people had hurt the one you’re trying to protect. Your ‘an eye for an eye’ method isn’t a means to an end, Hyunsik-sshi.”
I take one last look at Hyunsik before turning my back on him and walking away.
“I’m glad.” Hyunsik said after I took a few steps away.
I stop and turn back to look at him.
“It’s a relief that you haven’t changed at all, Yunho-sunbae.” Hyunsik smirked.
I looked at Hyunsik with narrowed eyes.
“What do you want, Hyunsik-sshi?” I asked.
“I’m surprised you’d already forgotten this place, sunbae.” Hyunsik said. “This is where we first met.”
I looked at Hyunsik wide eyed.
“I was beaten bloody here a few years back.” Hyunsik said. “By my own brother and his friends. Do you remember? You had been running after Junsu-sunbae at the time and the both of you happened to come across me.” He continued in a nonchalant tone. “Did you know that I almost died that day?”
Kang Hyunsik walked up to me without breaking eye contact.
“If you hadn’t come right then, I wouldn’t be here today.” Hyunsik said with a smile before he walked away.
There was something wrong with the way Hyunsik’s words sounded. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
~
“Yunho-sshi.”
I turned to find a familiar face with a fatherly smile. Baek Donghoon.
“Donghoon-sshi.” I smiled in greeting. “It’s been a while.”
“Likewise, Yunho.” Donghoon said. “Is Junsu with you? I’d like to have a moment, if it’s okay.”
Seeing Baek Donghoon’s serious face, I nodded in answer as I let ourselves in our apartment.
I made my way inside, toeing off my shoes. I made a beeline for the living room, where I found Junsu and Yoochun seated on the couch. Junsu held Yoochun’s hand, as he talked to him. Both turned their attention to us, Junsu’s eyes flashing with recognition.
“Donghoon-sshi!” Junsu greeted as he and Yoochun stood up and bowed.
“From the look of things, both you and Yunho seem to be okay.” Donghoon said. “This is - ” he turned to Yoochun.
“Ah, my name is Park Yoochun.” Yoochun introduced himself.
“Yoochun-ah, this is Baek Donghoon.” I explained. “He’s a detective friend of ours.”
“Are you?” Donghoon began.
“Mine.” Junsu cut in. “My boyfriend.” He smirked.
“Donghoon-sshi, you said you wanted to talk?” I asked wanting to know why he had suddenly shown up.
“Still so perceptive.” Donghoon chuckled. “I assume the three of you know Kang Hyunsik?” he asked.
“Yes, we do.” I answered. “He transferred to our university a month ago and apparently, he’s the guy who we’d saved a few years back, Su.” I turned to Junsu. “Do you remember that incident where we’d come across a gang fight?”
“He was the one who’d gotten beaten to a pulp, huh?” Junsu asked remembering. “Donghoon-sshi, do you know him?” he asked.
“Yes.” Donghoon answered with a grim expression. “It’s a bit worrying that he’s going to the same university as you both.”
“Why? Does he have a criminal record?” Junsu asked. “What did he do? Shoplift? Drugs?”
“No.” Donghoon answered still with a grim expression. “Murder.”
It was silent for a long moment as Donghoon-sshi’s words sank in.
~
“Technically it was self defense. Kang Hyunsik killed someone five years ago.” Donghoon said. “Hyunsik had killed his older half-brother, Kang Yoongyu in self defense.”
Donghoon took out an old photograph from his pocket and handed it to Yunho.
“At the time Yoongyu was only 21, Hyunsik was 18. Do you recognize him?” Donghoon asked. I shook my head. “He’s the leader of that gang you’d come across and sent to the hospital that day you saved Hyunsik’s life. Yoongyu was an incurable criminal. Violence, extortion, drugs, trafficking, smuggling - that’s what Yoongyu’s gang specialized in.”
“Six months after that incident with you and Yoongyu’s gang, Hyunsik stabbed Yoongyu to death.” Donghoon continued. “We’d found out that Hyunsik was severely bullied not only by his fellow gang members, but also by his own half-brother. He’d lost control that day because he couldn’t take the violence and abuse anymore. Hyunsik was arrested and tried but was never sent to jail because his brother had tried to violate him. To protect himself, Hyunsik had no choice but to kill him.”
“That’s an unfortunate incident, Donghoon-sshi, but what does it have to do with us?” Yunho asked.
“Nothing.” Donghoon answered. “But, Kang Hyunsik was deemed mentally unstable because of the trauma he’d gone through under his brother’s gang. The court had order him to undergo psychotherapy. He was sent to the same hospital that you, Junsu used to go to. Dr. Hwang also handled his case.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on his progress and I couldn’t help the uneasy feeling when I found out that he’d transferred to your university.” Donghoon explained. “I hope that I’m not making too much of a fuss about this, but both of you should try to not get too involved with Kang Hyunsik.”
I sighed remembering the detective’s unannounced visit and his warning before he left. I’d excused myself from Junsu and Yoochun saying that I needed time alone. I’d gone out and found myself sitting at a bar nursing a glass of beer.
Feeling a presence behind me, I sighed and ran a hand through my hair in frustration.
“Leave me alone.” I said not even turning to look who was behind me. “I don’t want any company.”
“We meet again, sunbae.” Hyunsik’s cold voice said.
“Can’t you get a clue?” I said anger seeping into my voice. “I don’t like you.”
“That’s okay.” Hyunsik replied taking a seat next to mine. “I’d say that’s an improvement from your lack of interest. It only means that you’re more aware of me.”
“Looks like you need to check yourself back into a hospital.” I said looking at him.
“I already went, sunbae.” Hyunsik answered. “I was told that the bruises will only take a couple of weeks to heal.”
“I didn’t mean that.” I said looking at him. “For this.” I said pointing at my head before downing the remnants of my beer before putting a few bills on the bar.
“Your drink’s on me, sunbae.” Hyunsik said with a smile.
“Thanks.” I said turning to him. “But no thanks.” I added before leaving.
~
“Hey, are you okay?”
I turned to find Changmin looking at me with a serious expression. There’s a glint in his eye that says he’d found something out. I pretty much have an idea what.
“Yoochun told you?” I asked not really needing an answer. “We were warned not to get involved with him.” I added with a sigh. “That includes you by the way.”
“As if we can just have him booted out of our classes.” Changmin scoffed. “I get the feeling that that would be difficult to do especially with that kid’s obsession of you.” He said with a frown. “I don’t think he’s one to back down even if you did already reject him.”
“Frustrating as hell, if you ask me.” I said running a hand through my hair. “He’s persistent.”
As we passed by the locker rooms we happened upon Kang Hyunsik changing out of his stained shirt. Scars littered his body. Marks of abuse, slashes and the remnants of burns on his back and torso.
“They’re marks from being beaten and abused almost everyday of my life.” Hyunsik suddenly spoke up. He had his back to us as he took out a fresh shirt and shrugged it on. “He wouldn’t let anyone touch or even mark my face. They would’ve been caught.”
“My older brother wasn’t really a bad guy.” Hyunsik said turning to face us with a sad expression on his face. “He shouldn’t have died the way he did is what I should have said.” He smirked eyes empty and cold. “But that sorry excuse of a trash deserved to die. Even if I didn’t kill him myself, someone else would have done it.”
“Temporary insanity and post traumatic disorder.” I said eyes hardening. “That’s the excuse you used so that you’ll be looked at as the victim.”
“Laws are made for the weak.” Hyunsik chuckled darkly. “What I did was use them to my advantage.”
“I pity your brother.” Changmin said. “Not knowing anything, he’d been under the pretense that he had the advantage over you only to find out that you’d been using him all along. And when he’d lost his use, you killed him with your own hands.”
“There was no one as pathetic as Yoongyu-hyung.” Hyunsik said. “He always had to be the boss but in reality he was a coward who didn’t own up to his own mistakes. Everyone around him thought he was a nuisance, even his own family.” He added with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I just made him disappear. Permanently. I did everyone a favor.”
“That night when you and Junsu had found me.” Hyunsik continued looking at me. “That was the night I’d decided to run away from him for good. But he and his gang had caught me. I could have died that night if it weren’t for you, sunbae.” He added closing his locker and making his way out without a backward glance.
“I don’t even want to attempt to understand him, Yunho.” Changmin mused. “There’s something dark about him I can’t explain.”
“People tend to underestimate him because of his face and weak stature.” I said. “He is anything but that. He’s cold, calculating, and manipulative.”
---
one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten
eleven | twelve | thirteen | fourteen | fifteen | sixteen | seventeen | eighteen | nineteen | twenty | twenty-one | twenty-two | twenty-three | twenty-four | twenty-five | twenty-six