Haneul’s POV

I spaced out until I heard the door open.

“Junhyung!” I said without even thinking.

“Sorry, I’m not.” The person said, taking off his hood. MBLAQ’s Leader, Yang Seungho.

“Oh.” I said, handing him the basement keys.

“Oh? Ha~ You’re the first one who sees me and says Oh. But anyway, I’m not here to promote myself, neither am I here for the basement. I am here to look for you.” He said.

“What?” I asked, feeling nervous.

“Do you have a laptop here?” He asked.

I nodded and handed my laptop to him. He put in his thumb drive and played me a video.

“Watch it.” He said.

I looked at him, then at the video. It was Beast singing ‘Beautiful’. The focus was on Junhyung. He seemed really out of it and he wasn’t smiling at all. He broke into tears halfway through the song. ‘Beautiful’ is supposed to be a really happy song, but how come this sounded really sad?

“This was Junhyung just now. And do you know why?” He asked, shutting the cover of my laptop.

I heard that Seungho is scary. Indeed, he is.

“I’m sorry.” I said.

“No, don’t apologize to me. You did nothing wrong to me. Actually, you don’t even have to apologize to Junhyung too. You didn’t promise him you would come, did you?” He said.

“I didn’t mean it.. I really forgot.” I said softly.

I felt so intimidated by him.

“I don’t know and don’t care whether you forgot or deliberately not appear. But still, I choose to trust that you really forgot. I just don’t understand. How could anyone step over someone’s sincere heart like this? You can’t see it, or did you choose not to see it? He’s so sincere in wanting to be your friend. I’ve never seen him act like this before. Instead of accepting it, you had to crush it. You crushed him, you know?” He said.

“Junhyung is really precious to me. He is like my blood brother. Actually more than that. And do you know what a Hyung would do when his Dongsaeng gets bullied?” He asked, staring at me with dangerous eyes.

I almost fell off the chair.

“I…” I couldn’t even speak.

“Junhyung is a really broken child. He is not like what you see. He is not tough neither is he cheerful. But ever since he met you, he has been smiling a lot. I thought you would really bring joy into his life. I thought. But just now, he broke down in front of me. He cried so hard that even when he fell asleep, he was still sobbing. Can you imagine the scene? As his Hyung, can you even picture how heartbroken I was?” He said with his fist clenched.

“Don’t look so uptight. I don’t hit girls, besides, you’re Junhyung’s friend. Oh, are you? I don’t know.” He smiled, but it was even scarier.

“I’m warning you. Really, really warning you. Don’t toy with Junhyung. Don’t even think of bringing him up and then throwing him down. Because I’ll crush you if you do it. I don’t care even if my reputation gets destroyed. I’ll crush you, and I mean what I say. Junhyung is broken enough. He doesn’t need to suffer another heartbreak. You don’t know what he has been through, neither would you ever understand. I know you’re tough and all, but I hope you’ll spare him. If you don’t like him or don’t want to be his friend, tell him straight in the face, don’t give him false hopes.” He said.

“I’m not..” I mumbled.

“And if you ever two time him, I’ll break you into two, literally. I’m serious.” He said.

“I’m not two timing! We’re not even together! What are you saying!?” I shouted.

“You know it yourself. My point is, if you hurt Junhyung, I’ll hurt you. Simple as that.” He said.

He threw a bouquet of red roses onto the counter.

“This was for you. You saw in the video that the other boys were giving out roses to the fans. While others receive a stalk, yours was supposed to be a freaking bouquet. Junhyung planned to give it to you personally. But you didn’t come.” He said.

“Remember my words. Don’t take me lightly. I’m very protective over Junhyung. He has suffered enough. It was very painful to watch. I was the one who took care of him and nursed him back to health. I wouldn’t let my efforts go to waste. I wouldn’t let him fall back into darkness again. Don’t make me hit a girl, please.” He said before walking out of the bookstore.

I found myself staring at the door. Did he just threaten me? Did I really hurt Junhyung so badly?

I was awake the whole night, staring at the bouquet of roses while thinking over Seungho’s words. What did he mean by Junhyung is not what I see him to be? He is broken and not cheerful at all? What did he mean? And what darkness? What is he saying? Why is he so protective over him? What happened to Junhyung?

The next day, I called Junhyung on his phone. I had to explain it to him before he leave. I don’t want him to leave Korea feeling so lousy. I was feeling extremely guilty too.

“Yeo-bo-se-yo? (Hello?)” The voice answered, but it doesn’t sound like Junhyung.

“Junhyung? Is that you?” I called out.

“Junnie Hyung is asleep. Who is this?” The voice asked. I recognize the voice. It is Dongwoon.

“It’s okay. I’ll call again later.” I hung up the phone.

I tried again in the afternoon.

“Yeo-bo-se-yo? (Hello?)” I heard a hoarse voice answer.

“Junhyung ah?” I called out.

“Nu-gu-se-yo? (Who are you?)” He asked.

“It's me.. Hane…” I haven’t even finished my sentence, he hung up the call already.

Usually I would flare up, but this time, my heart hurt. Why?

I tried calling again, but his phone was turned off. I thought maybe he needed time to cool down. I tried again at night, but his phone was still turned off. Then I saw on the Internet that Beast has left Korea for their world tour.

I saw Junhyung’s photo. His eyes looked swollen and his face was simply pale. He looked so tired and lifeless. I felt so guilty. I was the cause of it. I didn’t even have a chance to explain things to him. And I agreed to go for a proper meal with him before he left, I didn’t even do it.

He did everything for me, but I gave him nothing in return. It’s not him I cannot trust, it’s me that he cannot trust. How can I not see his sincere heart? How can I just step all over him like this? When did I become such a mean person? He didn’t do me any wrong. He is the nicest Korean person I ever met. How could I hurt him like this?

I hated myself so much. I pushed him away. I brought this upon myself. Seungho is right, I crushed him.

Junhyung ah, I am sorry. Would you ever hear me out? Would you ever forgive me? Would you give me another chance to be a better friend?