Flashback –
At the Nexon House
Chaewon picked up his phone and headed toward the door.
Mark saw him and quickly stopped him. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going home," Chaewon said in a low voice.
"Are you crazy?" Winner shouted from behind. "You just said how you will face him, and now you're going back?"
Chaewon's eyes were red and swollen. He took a deep breath so he could speak. His voice was almost gone. "If I don't go home, han will sleep on an empty stomach."
"Yah, Chaewon, he was at the party. Do you really need to care about him eating?" said Mark.
Chaewon paused for five seconds, then replied, "If I do not go back, he will go to university without eating."
Mark and Winner sighed in disappointment.
Then Hanbin entered and said firmly, "You are not going anywhere. You will stay here from now on. If you still say the university is far, I can hire a driver for you."
Chaewon looked at him and said, "Hyung, you are already doing a lot for me. Paying my fee, letting me live in your apartment, and even taking care of my daily expenses. If I stay here, it will cause nothing good for you guys. What if someone saw me here? I'm already in a dark light. I don't want you guys to get affected by me."
Hanbi 's chest sank when he heard this. To him, everything he did was nothing more than sharing candy with a younger brother. He never counted it as a burden, but Chaewon's words cut him down. Still, he replied in a low tone, "But you were living here before university."
Chaewon immediately answered, "I was staying here… or should I say I was hiding here. No one knew I was here. But now everyone's eyes are on me. I don't want to cause trouble for you guys."
Hanbin was hurt, but he understood. Keeping Chaewon here would feel like caging him again. How will he fight with the rest of the world if he hides behind us?
So he said, "Okay, I will leave you home. Mark, bring a coat for Chaewon."
Why do you always ask me to do stuff. Winner is also standing next to me. Still he went.
Chaewon hadn't been wearing much since he left the court in a hurry. Mark brought a coat and helped him put it on.
Hanbin put on a coat, a mask, and then a cap, and left with Chaewon.
The car ride was silent.
But Hanbin's mind was storming: So Seungmin wanted to clear Chaewon's case because Han told him to. Then why did he say to keep his identity hidden from Han? He took the evidence, and it's been such a long time—why hasn't he uploaded it anywhere? Why is he taking so much time? His grip tightened on the wheel. What if he knows that Chaewon likes Han, and that's why he's holding it back? For now, I need that evidence. After I get it, I'll take Chaewon out of there. Nothing good will come from him staying involved with them. That Seungmin is scary, and both he and Han are highly influential. I don't want Chaewon to get hurt. Should I offer to keep Chaewon away from Han in exchange for the evidence? Maybe that's what he wants… Or should I offer him money? His head was spinning with thoughts.
"Hyung, leave me here," Chaewon suddenly said.
"I can leave you home," hanbin replied.
"No, it's fine. I want to walk. Just 15 minutes away from home. It will be fine."
He stopped the car. Chaewon unbuckled his seat belt. Hanbin did the same, but chaewon stopped him. "It's fine, Hyung. You don't need to come out."
Chaewon got out and waved at hanbin in the car.
"Take care," Hanbin said softly before driving away.
Chaewon kept waving until the car disappeared. Then he sat down, clutching his chest, breathing heavily. Tears filled his eyes. Still, he whispered to himself, "It's fine, Chaewon. It's fine. You will be fine. Everything will be fine."
Slowly, he stood up again, his body feeling unbearably heavy.
He walked with his head down, glancing here and there as his steps dragged forward.
And when he finally reached the door—Han
was there.