The morning light filtered through the curtains like honey, painting golden streaks across the rumpled sheets. Soobin's eyes fluttered open, a soft yawn escaping his lips as consciousness slowly returned. His arm stretched out instinctively, seeking the familiar warmth that should have been beside him.
Nothing.
The sheets were cold, untouched as if no one had ever been there at all.
Soobin sat up abruptly, the fog of sleep evaporating in an instant. The bed felt impossibly large, the silence too loud. His heart began to race as he threw off the covers.
"Hyunwoo?" His voice echoed through the empty apartment.
He stumbled through the hallway, checking every room kitchen, bathroom, living room. Each space was pristine, undisturbed. No trace of the boy who had been there just hours before. No hastily scribbled note.
No forgotten belonging.
Nothing.
Panic clawed at his chest as he grabbed his phone, fingers trembling slightly as he dialed.
"Check the CCTV footage from last night," he barked the moment his assistant answered. "I need to know exactly when Hyunwoo left and which direction he went."
The sound of rapid typing filled the silence. Each second stretched like an eternity.
"Sir," came the hesitant reply, "the footage shows Hyunwoo leaving at 4:17 AM. He was alone, wearing a black hoodie, and he left on foot heading toward the main road."
Soobin's grip tightened on the phone. "His phone—did he take it?"
"Yes, sir. We believe so."
"Call Secretary Park immediately. Find out if he went home to his family."
Another agonizing wait. Another silence that felt like drowning.
"Sir... Secretary Park confirms no one has seen him. He never came home."
That was all Soobin needed to hear.
He was already reaching for his jacket, mind racing through possibilities. Where would Hyunwoo go? Who would he turn to?
Then it hit him like a cold wave.
Minjae. Despite everything that had happened, despite the hatred and the hurt—maybe Hyunwoo had nowhere else to go.
"Get the car ready," he ordered, already heading for the door. "I'm going to Kang Minjae's place."
"Sir, do you really think—"
"I don't know what to think anymore," Soobin cut him off, his voice raw with desperation. "But I have to try somewhere."
As he rushed out into the morning air, one thought consumed him entirely: he had to find Hyunwoo before someone else did. Before Hyejin's web of manipulation claimed another victim.
Because deep in his gut, Soobin knew this disappearance wasn't random.
---
Minjae's Apartment - Earlier That Morning
Jiho's consciousness returned slowly, like surfacing from the warmest dream. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting everything in soft gold. He could feel it before his mind fully caught up—the steady weight of Minjae's arm around his waist, the gentle rhythm of breathing against his neck, the solid warmth pressed against his back.
His heart did a little flip as the memories of the previous night came flooding back. The confession, the gentle kiss, the way Minjae had held him like he was something precious. It hadn't been a dream after all.
Jiho smiled into the pillow, not wanting to move and break this perfect moment. He listened to Minjae's breathing, each soft exhale tickling the sensitive skin behind his ear. He counted the seconds between each breath like he was memorizing a secret song.
"I know you're awake," Minjae's voice rumbled against his shoulder, thick with sleep and amusement.
Jiho squeaked and tried to burrow deeper into the pillow. "No, I'm not!"
A low chuckle vibrated through Minjae's chest as his arm tightened possessively around Jiho's waist. "Liar. Your breathing changed five minutes ago."
"You were timing my breathing?" Jiho twisted slightly to look at him, cheeks already warming.
"Maybe," Minjae grinned sleepily, his hair sticking up in adorable directions. "Is that weird?"
"Very weird," Jiho said, but his voice was fond. "You're like a creepy stalker."
"Your creepy stalker," Minjae corrected, nuzzling into the crook of Jiho's neck. "Mmm, you smell like vanilla and sunshine. How is that even possible?"
"Stop sniffing me, you weirdo!" Jiho giggled, squirming as Minjae's breath tickled his skin.
"Never," Minjae declared dramatically. "This is my new hobby. Professional Jiho-sniffing."
"Oh my god, you're insane." Jiho tried to escape, but Minjae only held him tighter, pressing lazy kisses to his shoulder.
"Insane about you," Minjae murmured, his voice softer now. "Is that okay?"
Jiho's heart did another flip. He turned over to face Minjae properly, drinking in the sight of sleep-mussed hair and tender eyes. "More than okay," he whispered.
They stayed like that, wrapped in blankets and each other, trading soft kisses and sleepy smiles as the world outside continued spinning without them. For once, nothing else mattered—not school, not bullies, not the complicated mess of their lives. Just this perfect bubble of warmth and belonging.
"I could stay here forever," Jiho sighed contentedly.
"Then stay," Minjae said simply. "I'll build us a pillow fort and we'll never leave."
"What about food?"
"I'll order delivery."
"What about school?"
"Overrated."
"What about—"
Minjae silenced him with a gentle kiss. "What about you stop overthinking and just enjoy this?"
Jiho melted against him. "Okay."
But even as he said it, reality was already creeping in around the edges of their perfect morning.
---
Later That Morning
After what could generously be called breakfast—though it mostly consisted of stolen kisses between bites of toast and coffee that had gone cold while they got distracted by each other Jiho reluctantly sat up and stretched.
"I should probably go home," he said, not meeting Minjae's eyes. "My mom will worry if I don't show up soon."
Minjae's face fell slightly. "Right now?"
"I've been gone all night," Jiho pointed out gently. "She'll think I got kidnapped or something."
"Technically, you did get kidnapped," Minjae grinned. "By a devastatingly handsome guy who refused to let you go."
"Devastatingly modest, too," Jiho laughed, but he was already getting up, looking around for his clothes.
Minjae watched him with an expression that was equal parts fond and reluctant. "Let me drive you."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to," Minjae said firmly, already reaching for his keys. "Besides, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't make sure you got home safely?"
The word 'boyfriend' sent a thrill through Jiho that he tried to hide. "Is that what you are now?"
Minjae paused, suddenly looking vulnerable. "Do you want me to be?"
Instead of answering with words, Jiho stepped closer and kissed him softly. "What do you think?"
The smile that spread across Minjae's face was brighter than the morning sun.
They walked to Minjae's car hand in hand, fingers interlaced like it was the most natural thing in the world. The ride was filled with comfortable silence and stolen glances, both of them still processing the monumental shift in their relationship.
When they reached Jiho's neighborhood, Minjae parked a few houses away from his gate—a silent acknowledgment that they weren't quite ready to face the questions that would come with being seen together.
"So," Minjae said softly, turning to face him. "This is real, right? Last night, this morning... I didn't dream it all?"
Jiho's heart squeezed at the uncertainty in Minjae's voice. He reached over and brushed a strand of hair from Minjae's forehead. "It's real," he whispered. "We're real."
Minjae's eyes closed briefly at the touch. When he opened them again, they were bright with emotion. "I'll text you later?"
"You better."
Minjae leaned over and pressed a tender kiss to Jiho's forehead. "See you soon, Jiho-ya."
Jiho practically floated out of the car, turning back to wave as Minjae drove away. His cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
---
Inside Jiho's House
The moment Jiho stepped through the front door, his bubble of happiness popped. His mother was standing in the living room, still in her pajamas despite the late hour, her eyes red and swollen like she'd been crying all night.
"Mom?" Jiho's voice came out small and worried.
Before he could say another word, she rushed toward him and pulled him into a crushing hug. Her whole body was trembling.
"Jiho-ya, my baby," she sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I'm such a terrible mother. I failed you."
Jiho's blood ran cold. "Mom, what are you talking about?"
She pulled back, cupping his face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Mrs. Kim called me this morning. She said her daughter saw some video online—something about you and another boy. She said people were talking about it, saying horrible things."
Jiho's world tilted sideways. The video. He'd almost forgotten in the blissful haze of being with Minjae.
"She said someone tried to... to force himself on you," his mother continued, her voice breaking. "Jiho, why didn't you tell me? How long has this been happening? Who's been hurting my son?"
"Mom, please," Jiho said quickly, forcing his voice to stay steady. "It's not what it looked like. There was a misunderstanding, but it's been resolved. I'm fine."
"Fine?" she repeated incredulously. "Jiho, people are talking about my son being assaulted, and you say you're fine?"
"Because I am," he insisted, hating every lie that fell from his lips. "Look, Mrs. Kim loves to gossip. You know that. And I tried to find this supposed video—it doesn't exist. If something like that really happened, don't you think the school would have called you by now?"
His mother's grip on his face loosened slightly as doubt crept into her expression.
"Besides,"Jiho added quickly, trying to calm her down, "I was just with Minjae,We were working on our school project. He even called you yesterday to let you know, right? If something bad had happened, do you think he would've stayed quiet?"
She searched his face desperately, looking for any sign that he was lying. Jiho forced himself to maintain eye contact, to keep his expression open and honest even as his heart raced.
"You promise me you're okay?" she whispered. "You promise you're not lying to me?"
"I promise, Mom," he said softly, pulling her into another hug. "I'm okay. We're okay."
She held him tightly, and Jiho could feel some of the tension leave her body. But as he stood there in his mother's arms, guilt ate away at him. She deserved to know the truth. She deserved to know that her son had been suffering, that he'd been bullied and humiliated and pushed to his breaking point.
But she also deserved to sleep at night. She deserved to not carry the weight of his pain on top of everything else she was already struggling with.
So Jiho held her and lied with every breath, protecting her the only way he knew how.
Even if it was slowly killing him inside.
---
The Confrontation
Minjae was still floating on air as he walked back toward his apartment, replaying every moment of the morning with Jiho. The shy smiles, the gentle touches, the way Jiho had said we're real like it was a prayer—
"Minjae!"
The shout cut through his daydreaming like a knife. Minjae spun around, immediately on guard.
Soobin was jogging toward him, looking frantic and disheveled. His usually perfect hair was a mess, his clothes wrinkled like he'd slept in them. His car was parked haphazardly at the curb, the door still hanging open.
"Soobin-hyung?" Minjae frowned. "What are you doing here?"
Soobin came to a stop a few feet away, breathing hard. His eyes were wild with worry and something that looked like desperation.
"Have you seen Hyunwoo?" he asked without preamble. "Has he tried to contact you or Jiho?"
The mention of that name was like a bucket of ice water over Minjae's head. All the warmth and happiness from the morning evaporated in an instant, replaced by a cold, familiar rage.
"Why the hell would I want to see that bastard?" Minjae's voice turned dangerous.
"He's missing," Soobin said quickly. "He left my place at 4 AM and no one's seen him since. I thought maybe—"
"Good," Minjae cut him off harshly. "I hope he stays missing."
Soobin flinched. "Minjae-ya, please—"
"No, you listen to me," Minjae stepped closer, his voice rising. "That psychopath made Jiho's life hell. He bullied him, humiliated him, forced him to jump into a freezing river. He tried to assault him on a livestream in front of hundreds of people. And you want me to help you find him?"
"I know what he did was wrong—"
"Wrong?" Minjae laughed bitterly. "Wrong is cheating on a test or lying to your parents. What Hyunwoo did was evil. He's a monster, and honestly? I hope he's rotting in a ditch somewhere."
Soobin's face went white. "He's still just a kid, Minjae. And I think... I think someone's been manipulating him."
"Oh, here we go," Minjae scoffed. "Let me guess—poor little Hyunwoo was just misunderstood, right? Someone made him do those terrible things?"
"Hyejin," Soobin said quietly. "I think Hyejin's been pulling his strings."
That gave Minjae pause. "Hyejin? What does she have to do with anything?"
"She's been obsessed with you for years," Soobin explained desperately. "Ever since middle school. And around the same time she started hanging around Hyunwoo, he changed. He became cruel, vindictive. The timing can't be a coincidence."
Minjae stared at him incredulously. "So what, you think she hypnotized him? Brainwashed him into becoming a sadistic bully? That's insane, hyung."
"I don't know how or why," Soobin admitted. "But something's not right. The Hyunwoo I grew up with... he wasn't like this. He was sweet, kind you know that"
"Well, the Hyunwoo I know is a piece of shit who gets off on hurting innocent people," Minjae snarled.
Soobin looked like he'd been slapped. "You don't understand—"
"No, you don't understand!" Minjae exploded. "Do you have any idea what Jiho went through? What he's still going through?
Soobin's mouth opened and closed soundlessly
"No, hyung," Minjae said coldly. "I haven't seen your missing lover. And if I do see him, I can't promise I won't finish what he started when he decided to mess with the person I love."
The words hung in the air between them like a threat.
Soobin stared at him for a long moment, something breaking behind his eyes. "If he contacts you," he said quietly, "please just... let me know."
"Don't hold your breath," Minjae replied icily.
Soobin turned without another word and walked back to his car, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He drove away without looking back, leaving Minjae standing alone on the sidewalk.
As the sound of the engine faded, Minjae felt some of his anger drain away, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion. He thought about Jiho, probably lying to his mother right now to protect her from the truth. He thought about all the pain that bastard had caused.
And despite everything, despite his hatred for Hyunwoo, a small part of him couldn't help but wonder: what if Soobin hyung was right? What if there was more to the story?
But then he remembered the look in Jiho's eyes when he'd pulled him from the river, cold and broken, and all doubt vanished.
Some people didn't deserve to be saved.
And Hyunwoo was one of them.
---