sike this is the last chapter you were fooled :): so before we get into it, let me just say:

Thank you to everyone who showed any love to this story at all, it means a lot. It’s been a long ride for me and I’m so excited for what else is to come in the future. But for now, please enjoy the final chapter of because :)

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Jihoon’s and Woojin’s heads were spinning as they drove to where Hyein told them to meet her. Honestly, Woojin still had no idea what was happening, but he realized that Jihoon barely knew either, so he didn’t bother to ask. Although technically Woojin and Hyein weren’t on good terms, Woojin missed her and Hyein missed him. And all through that car ride, Woojin was thinking about all the possible scenarios that could’ve happened, good and bad. Jihoon’s face was in total shock after the phone call and Woojin couldn’t help but to go crazy over it. It was clearly something big, and he was losing patience. And thank goodness he wasn’t driving, because he probably would’ve gotten distracted and crashed the car.

However, in the driver’s seat, Jihoon also faced his struggles. Just like Woojin, his mind was racing, trying to put things together. The phone call was quick, but he knew something was wrong when he could hear that Hyein was trying to muffle her tears. Over the past months, Jihoon grew quite fond of Hyein, and he could notice the small things about her, and this was just driving him insane. He always felt like he had to protect her, and now she needed it more than ever. And it wasn’t too long until tears formed in the corners of Jihoon’s eyes. Although he wasn’t the type to cry without knowing everything, at that moment, Hyein was his everything, and he worried like hell. It was the sadness and regret in her voice that drove him to the edge. It seemed so familiar and he didn’t know why, but it drove him to silent tears. 

When they arrived to the park near Hyein’s house, they immediately found Hyein. It wasn’t hard to find the silhouette of her, and her sobs weren’t helping either. They immediately rushed to her side and without thinking, they both hugged her, regardless of previous tension. Although she jumped in shock at the sudden contact, she eventually loosened up into Woojin’s chest and cried. Jihoon and Woojin didn’t know what to do, for all they could do was offer her their presence and comfort until she said anything. And they really needed to hear anything, anything at all.

Jihoon’s heart broke down even more when Hyein finally said, “I messed up.”

Although Jihoon started questioning her on what she did, Woojin observed her face. And all he could do was stare. He knew Hyein’s family life wasn’t great, but he didn’t know it was at this extent. Her entire right side of her face was bruised and bloodied. Because it was dark, Jihoon failed to notice, but now it was Woojin’s turn to cry, “Hyein, what did he do to you?” Jihoon looked at Woojin in confusion before looking at Hyein and seeing what Woojin saw. He gasped loudly before running to his car to grab a towel and using it to clean her face. Although there were mostly bruises, something had cut her face bad enough to make a deep cut, leaving blood all over her face. 

“Hyein, what happened?” Woojin asked again when she didn’t answer the first time, his voice cracking with fear and sadness. She could barely look up at him as tears began to fall down her cheeks once again. Throughout all the days they’ve been together, this was the most sad Woojin or Jihoon had seen her, and it was truly heart-aching, it was tearing all of them to pieces. And they all seemed to cry, as Jihoon wiped the blood from her face and Woojin hugged her. They didn’t expect an immediate answer, but they needed an answer. 

Eventually after a few minutes, Hyein had regulated her breathing again and looked up at them. Woojin and Jihoon both looked at her at the same time, worry filled in their eyes. 

“It was him.”

Woojin and Jihoon immediately understood, when she said those words. They basically had a tacit agreement to never call that man her ‘dad’ and he had no right to have that title. So for all the times they’ve ever talked, it was only ever ‘he’ or ‘him’. 

Hyein gulped before continuing, “I walked into the house like 10 minutes before I called Jihoon. And I really did try to be quiet because I thought he was sleeping, but he wasn’t. He was insanely drunk. I didn’t do anything but live and he started yelling at me and hitting me and cursing at me, and everything just became a blur. And I really messed up. He took one of those bottles and smashed it on my head. Although I covered myself, it still hurt like hell. Jihoon, why is my life like this? Why does this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this? Why?”

Hyein asked them those questions with more anger in her voice as she became worked up. Although Woojin and Jihoon tried to console her, she couldn’t help but to break down again. She was going mad. 

“Hyein, I’m calling the police,” said Jihoon firmly as he pulled out his phone. Although Hyein was weak, she lurched at Jihoon in efforts to stop him.

“Please! No! You can’t! He’ll just do it again! Don’t you care about me?” Hyein screamed at him.

“Hyein I love you so ing much and I can’t let that man hurt you or ever take advantage of you again! No one should ever lay another ing finger on you! I tried to stay out of it because of your wishes, but I’m sick of that, that boy! He’s not a man! He’s a coward!” Jihoon yelled back at her before pressing the call button on his phone as he walked away from Woojin and Hyein. Woojin was in shock over the scene that just unfolded in front of him, and he couldn’t do anything but hug Hyein. He did agree with Jihoon after all. 

And soon enough, the authorities arrived. Although Hyein wouldn’t leave Woojin’s arms, Jihoon talked to the police to tell them what happened. And he didn’t hold back. He told them everything Hyein ever told him, because he wasn’t afraid anymore. 

And soon enough, that coward was arrested for assault and too many other things. 

And as one person was being sent to his new life, Hyein was sent to the hospital. She almost out due to blood loss, stress, and trauma and Woojin and Jihoon were worried more than ever. Although on the trip to the hospital Jihoon tried to help as much as he could, Woojin couldn’t process everything. And he just sat there in complete shock, but no one questioned him. All he could due was stare at Hyein as tears ran down his face. In this situation, he was the one who felt like a complete . 

In his head, he was a terrible friend. He neglected the fact that Hyein’s life was this terrible, and only focused on himself. He made her life so much harder and now everything came tumbling down on him. On the other hand, Jihoon was feeling very similar, but acting very different. He was beating himself up inside over why he let it go this far, and he really did blame himself for it. He was heartbroken to see anyone like this, especially since it was someone so dear to his heart. 

And both Woojin and Jihoon were to spend them night at the hospital in Hyein’s room. Although they slept on the ground, they were comfortable knowing that Hyein was safe. 

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[two weeks later] 

Hyein ran down the stairs of Jihoon’s apartment to open the door for Woojin. Jihoon was in the kitchen making breakfast for the three of them, and it became customary for the three to have breakfast together every morning, no matter what. It was kind of their way to make sure they were all alive. By now, Hyein had moved in with Jihoon and received all of her family’s money. Although she could’ve gotten a job and bought an apartment herself, Jihoon insisted that she finished school and stay with him. And she happily complied.

By now, Jihoon’s and Woojin’s relationship was official and Hyein couldn’t be happier that the two lovebirds had finally found each other again. And plus, she had someone too. Just a week ago, Hyein and Youngmin started dating too, and everyone couldn’t be happier. They finally had the family and friends they needed. They loved each other so much, and now, they had no other worries. They were happy. 

Because they had each other.