By Zephyria Andrew, who had fled in a panic, visited Yu-jin’s house again a few days later when he was alone. When Yu-jin saw his face through the intercom, he was literally shocked to the point of fainting. Andrew spoke to him, who was frozen in fear.
“Hey, I’m sorry all of a sudden… I have something to say, can’t I see you for a moment? I won’t do anything weird.”
Before he could say no, he hurriedly added.
“You don’t have to let me inside. I’ll talk to you standing at the door, so you can press the emergency bell right away if anything happens… okay?”
Andrew was begging so pathetically. Yu-jin had rarely been begged or asked by someone like that, so he was very weak to this kind of attitude. In the end, he had no choice but to agree.
“Talk to me standing there.”
Yu-jin said immediately to Andrew, who had taken the elevator up. Andrew, who didn’t come inside and stood outside the front door, hesitated and looked at him. Yu-jin was about to press the emergency bell on the wall of the entrance hall in case anything happened, and he had his hand on the button. Andrew, who was very nervous and cowering, lowered his head and finally opened his mouth.
“I must have been crazy.”
Andrew said with a very dejected face.
“I was mistaken, thinking you liked me. I’m sorry, you’re Winston’s lover… I didn’t realize you were just being kind to me, and I misunderstood on my own.”
Yu-jin was inwardly surprised by his attitude of formally apologizing. For a member of the Campbell family to bow his head to him was something he had never imagined. Although Andrew was entirely at fault, he didn’t expect him to come and apologize like this. He thought he would just make excuses over and over again, but Yu-jin was confused when he accurately pointed out the situation and apologized. Andrew continued, his hostility somewhat diminished.
“You treated me like a friend, but what did I do… I was so stupid, I don’t know how much I regretted it.”
He took a deep breath and looked up at Yu-jin with a desperate face.
“Please, can’t we go back to being friends? I’ll never be rude to you again, I swear.”
How could they after what had happened? A sense of resistance immediately arose, but on the other hand, he thought it was bad to treat someone who had come to apologize so coldly. Despite his age, he wasn’t mature enough to judge what was the right thing to do in this situation. As he hesitated without opening his mouth, Andrew looked embarrassed.
“I know what you’re worried about. Of course you’ll be uneasy.”
Then he hurriedly added, as if he was being chased by something.
“But you can trust me. Think about it, if I ever do anything again, you’ll tell Winston right away, won’t you? Knowing that, how dare I do that? Winston will believe you in any case.”
Looking back, his attitude was suspiciously desperate, but Yu-jin at the time didn’t have enough experience to see through that far. He was just surprised and embarrassed by the sudden situation, and his head was so full of thinking about what attitude to take that he didn’t have the余裕 to think about anything else.
He’s right…
Yu-jin believed in Winston and had no doubt about their love. Andrew knew that too, so why would he bother taking a risk? Besides, he had seen him run away at the mere mention of Winston’s name, hadn’t he?
Winston will believe my words first in any case.
Yu-jin was certain. And that belief and love pushed him into a trap.
“…Okay.”
Yu-jin, who had opened his mouth with difficulty, quickly continued.
“But you must never do drugs or drink again. You’re free to do that elsewhere, but not in this house. And next time you visit, get permission from Winston first. Then I’ll welcome you anytime. It’s even better if you come when Winston is here.”
“Okay, I’ll do that if possible.”
Andrew nodded and gave a bitter smile.
“Thank you, Yu-jin.”
What he was thankful for was omitted, but Yu-jin arbitrarily thought it was a greeting for forgiving him.
“Just don’t do it again.”
Yu-jin, who spoke quite considerately, added a smile, and Andrew also smiled. He didn’t know at the time that it was a smile mixed with the anxiety and uneasiness peculiar to a guilty person.
Later, Yu-jin realized how stupid he had been, but at the time, he had lived his whole life in a remote Separate Residence/Annex and had just come out into the world, so he was like a chick that had just broken out of its shell. Moreover, Winston’s blind love made him even more defenseless. So when that happened, Yu-jin had no choice but to be helplessly swept away.
* * *
Bang, a thunderous roar echoed right next to his ear. Yu-jin, who had momentarily covered his ears and closed his eyes, tried to open his eyes again, but a terrifying noise pounded his head in succession.
For a moment, his head rang and dizziness washed over him. Yu-jin blinked urgently at the swaying vision and barely regained his senses. He belatedly recalled his memories and hurriedly looked around, and he soon turned pale and gasped. His blood-soaked lover was gasping for breath, leaning against one wall.
“Winnie!”
Tears burst out and he screamed. Yu-jin ran to him in a daze, calling his name repeatedly and groping all over his body. There was so much blood, but the overflowing tears kept obstructing his vision, so he couldn’t tell where the bleeding was coming from.
“What do I do, what do I do… Winston, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault, I’m sorry…”
He apologized repeatedly, but Winston just looked dazed.
“Are you hurt?”
He asked with a pale face, as if all the blood in his body had drained away.
“Are you not hurt, honey?”
Winston, who had been panting, stroked Yu-jin’s face and frowned in confusion. He mumbled, dropping his hand that had been groping his cheek.
“Why, the blood… it won’t come off. Honey, where are you hurt?””You idiot, this is your blood…!”
Winston finally smiled at Yu-jin, who shouted while shedding tears.
“Oh, is that so.”
He feebly raised the corners of his lips and murmured for the last time.
“I’m glad it’s not you who got hurt.”
“Open your eyes, Winston! Wake up! No…!”
He screamed until his throat was hoarse, but Winston soon lost consciousness. Yu-jin could only hug him and cry endlessly.
* * *
“Huff…!”
He gasped for breath and opened his eyes wide, blinking blankly as he lay there. He had woken up, but his mind was not yet clear. After a while, Yu-jin, who had been bewildered and only catching his breath, barely regained his memory and let out a bitter sigh.
Weeks had passed since Winston was hospitalized with serious injuries caused by a stranger who suddenly broke into the house. During that time, Yu-jin had been completely isolated from him, waiting with a burning heart. Mrs. Campbell’s curse words to Yu-jin when she met him at the hospital while Winston was receiving emergency treatment in an unconscious state were still vivid in his ears.
‘You should have died! Why is my son lying there? It’s all your fault, you should have died, you…!’
She screamed repeatedly and slapped him mercilessly, but no one stopped her. Yu-jin could only cry and beg for forgiveness. Since then, he had been constantly blaming himself. Why did they decide to live alone? Why didn’t he try to please Mrs. Campbell somehow? If they were in the Delights, such a dangerous thing would not have happened. Winston wouldn’t have been attacked by a robber, and he wouldn’t be hovering between life and death now.
“Winnie…”
As his memories returned, he burst into tears again. Yu-jin sobbed and soaked the pillow. Another day began with terrible self-blame. He had to spend such meaningless days without even knowing the fate of the man who was his only lover and everything.
What if he really lost Winston like this…?
His mind went blank for a moment. He reflexively jumped up and blinked, trembling all over. This was not the time to be spacing out. If Winston died, Yu-jin would have no reason to stay here either. He rushed out without looking back.