TW: physical/verbal/emotional abuse.

Chapter 27

"Aah!" Mi Nam stopped, putting his cake covered hands up in defeat. "I give up, hyung. You win!"

Jeremy smiled brightly, basking in the glory of his win. He told Mi Nam not to provoke him after all- because even after thirty minutes of high intensity cake throwing Jeremy didn't show any signs of letting up. It was nice, the younger thought, that even after everything that had happened Jeremy seemed to smile so easily. But a nagging thought crossed Mi Nam's mind that it could very well be something forced, and that Jeremy was keeping his pain all to himself. Go Mi Nam probably would ever really truly never know, but he would continue to do his best to make sure he kept smiling.

Exhausted, Go Mi Nam dropped his hands. He instantly realized the state of his surroundings, before exchanging a look with Jeremy. Completely oblivious, the younger motions for him to look around. They had completely wrecked the kitchen.

Pieces of cake were scattered amongst the counter top, floor and wall along with whatever random condiments and food they had gotten their hands on in the process.

When it finally hit Jeremy just how much they messed up- he couldn't do anything but laugh because, seriously, how was it that they could do so much damage in 30 minutes?

Jeremy's contagious laughter latched on to Mi Nam and within seconds a hearty laugh is tumbling out of his lips. "Oh my god," Mi Nam put his hands on his hips, trying to keep a straight face. "Seriously, hyung." He groaned, before breaking into laughter again. "This isn't funny!"

Mi Nam's eyes fall onto Jeremy's face, which was still smeared with cake. His laughter died as he focused on his smile and how absolutely happy his hyung looked. His felt has heart quiver. Why couldn't this just last a little longer?

Attempting to distract himself, Go Mi Nam looked at the clock on the wall. "Shit! Hyung! It's almost 4am!"

"What? Really?" He spun and looked at the clock as well. "Wow."

"Hey." Mi Nam suddenly grabbed his Jeremy by the arm. "I'll take care of this. Go to bed."

"Oh. Okay." Jeremy complied; he was too tired to really fight it anyway. "See you in the morning then."

"Goodnight!" He watched as he walked out of the kitchen.

Once Jeremy left, Go Mi Nam let out a deep sigh and leaned on the counter. Oh, how nice it would be if kitchens could magically clean themselves.

But he bucked up, grabbed a sponge and began to clean. He did so relatively quickly, cleaning up the major messes. Satisfied he wouldn't hear that many complaints in the morning he decided to call it a night.

Or he was about to until his phone rang.

Who's calling me now? Pulling out his phone, he saw Ye Eun's name flash on the screen. A little bit of panic coursed through him. Any number of things could be the reason behind this call, he tried to reassure himself, but he still can't help but feel anxious.

He slowly opened his phone and put it to his ear. The second the call connected, Ye Eun spoke- "Sorry for calling so late."

"Ah, don't worry about that. You know you can call me anytime. Is everything alright?"

"It's fine. Really." She sounded tired and Mi Nam noticed her tone was different than normal- almost as if she was… inebriated?

"Have you been drinking?"

"A little." Ye Eun laughed, yet he sensed a hint of desperation in it. Like she was forcing it, even though Mi Nam knew she was a happy, giggly drunk. She was withholding some excess feelings but he wasn't going to drag it out of her at this moment. It was too late and he could slowly start to feel his mind slip into incoherence from both physical and mental exhaustion. "But I've been drinking water to sober sooner."

Mi Nam clicked his tongue in distaste. "You know that doesn't work right?"

"Ah, whatever. I can already feel myself becoming more levelheaded."

"As if you ever are."

"You're one to talk, Mi Nam."

Go Mi Nam fights not to roll his eyes at Ye Eun's comment; not in the mood for more petty squabble asked, "So what's on your mind?"

"Jeremy.'" She breathes out, her tone now deepened with sadness.

"You know, don't you?"

"Yeah. Its already a top online search. Then, I got the call. But, is he okay? I kept trying calling him and it all went to voicemail."

"He's okay, a bit roughed up though."

"What happened?"

"Jung Hwa."

"No, oh god why?" She cried. "Why? I mean how? What reason would that person have? He hasn't bothered Jeremy in all this time-"

"He and Julie are getting engaged."

"I can't believe this; it's why they fought isn't it?"

"I don't know. I came in late to the situation, but in that small amount of time he spoke enough to set Jeremy off."

"Then, are you okay?" She asked slowly, voice lined with concern.

Mi Nam had to take a minute to himself to actually think about it. He was sure that he wasn't ok- how could he be? Jeremy was in so much pain, both physical and mental. "I just... feel a lot of pain for Jeremy. It's hard to be okay."

"You don't know their history do you?"

"A little." But Mi Nam was unfortunately still curious. "Is it possible you can tell me what happened between them?"

"Are you sure you're prepared for what I'm going to tell you?"

Mi Nam replied with a yes, even though he was hesitant. To understand how to help him better, would he not need to know what happened to him?

"As you probably know by now, Jeremy and Jung Hwa were close; and since Jeremy always wanted an older brother, we all thought it was great for him because Jung Hwa seemed like such a good guy." Ye Eun paused. "But this was far from the truth. Jung Hwa constantly belittled and berated him, even in front of others, over everything. Jeremy did nothing except shake his head and murmur in agreement. But I could always tell how much it hurt his feelings. I couldn't understand why he wanted to be friends with someone like that. But Jeremy kept saying that Jung Hwa was 'a good person with a bad mouth''."

"So, what is it that happened, exactly?" He asked, carefully.

"Jeremy became withdrawn and lost a lot of weight. Too much, too quickly. His parents became very worried. They felt that Jung Hwa was the reason and told him to cut his ties with him- urging Jeremy to go to therapy."

"But he didn't leave Jeremy alone did he?"

"They were dependent on each other, somehow. Jung Hwa claimed he couldn't be without him. Jeremy was his air."

Mi Nam sighed, unsure if he could bear to hear the rest of the story.

"One day, Jeremy collapsed from exhaustion in school. It was then they realized how bad it truly was." She took a breath. "When they saw his thin body covered in bruises, his mother lost her mind. The doctors mistakenly thought his parents were abusing him, but he adamantly told him they never laid a finger on him. His parents knew it was Jung Hwa and wanted to press charges but Jeremy wasn't talking, nothing could really be done. Until," Ye Eun stopped, unsure if she had the strength to continue on with the story. She was actually in tears at this point, but she tried to speak in a monotone, as to not alert Mi Nam. This was in vain though, because she knew that Mi Nam already knew that she was in tears on the other side of the line. "I'm sorry Mi Nam, its just...this is kind of really hard to talk about."

"No, its fine. Only finish if you are comfortable." Honestly he wasn't going to force her, he didn't care that desperately to pull information from her especially about a topic that traumatizing. What she had already told him was hard enough to process.

"I..." She began again, "My cousin flew into a rage so violent when Jung Hwa stepped into his hospital room he had to be restrained and tranquilized. Everything fell together after that."

It was all too much for Mi Nam to take in at once. He became overwhelmed with such a strong sense of sorrow that tears instantly began to fall from his eyes and he began to sob.

"Please, let me go. Please." Jeremy pleaded desperately. Jung Hwa's hands were around the collar of his shirt, squeezing it so tightly he swore if he pulled anymore he'd suffocate. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Why did he think he could reason with him? When was Jung Hwa ever reasonable?

Jung Hwa just scoffed. "Sorry? You need to be taught a lesson for being so disloyal." He let his grip of his collar go to only replace it with an equally painful grasp of his hair. He yanked him down, making sure to angle him in a way to cause the most pain possible.

"You pathetic little shit. I don't know why I even deal with you." He released his hair and violently shoved him down on the cold stone floor. Jeremy groaned at the contact, pain shooting throughout his body. Tears begun to well in his eyes as he attempted to get back up to face his hyung again, only for Jung Hwa to kick him right in the gut. He gasped loudly, the kick hitting him with such impact he lost his breath. Wrapping his hands around his stomach he cradled himself, the sensation almost too excruciating to bear. He reeled in shock at his hyung's brutal actions even though he had come to expect his violent outbursts. Jung Hwa had never been so outright ruthless.

"You must have thought you were some hot shit coming in here like that, huh? But the second I come in arm's length you revert back to the weak shit you are. So you want to end this, right? Don't want to be treated this way anymore? Then I dare you, Kang Onyu. Lay a finger on me. Be a man."

Jeremy woke up in a cold sweat, panting heavily. It had been years since he had such a vivid flashback. An awful and sinking sensation had rolled through his body, the same he felt at that moment years ago, and it left him unable to sleep any longer.

He lifted himself up in his bed, a light wave up nausea hitting him when he did so. Yet even though his head felt light, the heaviness he felt continued sink through him and into his bones. A wall of emotion hit him so strong that he instantaneously began to cry, bringing his hands up to his face to try to stifle his tears.

"Oppa," Ye Eun started tenderly, tiny hands holding his tightly, "During this time, all of my strength, I'll give to you. Just remember that you will find your way out the dark. You will become strong again."

It had been years since Ye Eun said those words; and Jeremy still didn't know if he was stronger.

"I found my way out the dark." He told himself as he exhaled, "But was I ever strong? Am I strong enough yet?"

He felt too helpless to be strong. A dull ache rested in his soul just at the thought of Jung Hwa being in the same vicinity, and yet here he was in the flesh. All of his perceived strength, dissipated in a single breath, destroyed by memories and raw emotion.

Jeremy looked to the clock on his bedside table and sighed when he saw it was only 4 am. The roughly two hours of sleep he gained was no match for the extreme fatigue from the day's events that was rapidly beginning to make itself clear. But he knew that he wasn't going to get back to sleep anytime soon.

As the crying began to slow, he swallowed, sure that a glass of warm milk could help calm his nerves. He slowly lifts himself out of his bed, leaving his room to go get it.

When he arrived back in the kitchen, he sees Mi Nam still sitting there- nearly in the exact spot he had left him. After the food fight he had offered to clean the kitchen up, and it was as indeed clean, but something seemed...off.

"Hyung." Go Mi Nam turned around to acknowledge him; Jeremy caught notice of his eyes, swollen and red as he had just been crying.

Should he ask? Even though he's conflicted, he can feel his mouth open up to speak.

Mi Nam cut him off however.

"A cup of water, right?" The younger immediately got up to retrieve a cup from the pantry. Jeremy watched him in silence as he did so, pondering just what the boy could have been crying about.

"Here." Suddenly, Mi Nam stood in front of Jeremy with the cup.

"I..." Jeremy bit his lip. "Thank you."

"I couldn't sleep either. But what's new about that?" Mi Nam laughed, sadly.

Jeremy drank all of his water quickly, returning the cup to the sink. "You didn't..."

"What?"

"Cry because of me, did you?" He questioned as he placed himself in front of the other.

He just sighed. "When I feel, I tend to feel everything."

"Please don't cry. I don't want people to cry because of me."

"It's so stupid. All of this. Fuck Jung Hwa." Mi Nam became riled up. "How could he do this to you?"

Jeremy couldn't help but let a sad smile cross his lips. Mi Nam, really cared about him didn't he? It was sweet.

Taking the younger by the shoulders, he started to tell his story, "At that time, I was in the dark. I was there for a very long time too, without realizing it. It took me a long time to see the sun again and when I did I was nearly blinded. I wanted to go back and hide because it was so painful. But I realized that I didn't belong where I was, and that I was never going back. And, even though sometimes the skies get cloudy above me, that day, I decided I was never going to let the sky become that dark over me again."

Go Mi Nam could barely believe such profound and deep words slipped from the mouth of his hyung, hitting him in the very core of his heart.

"How are you so strong hyung?"

"I'm not strong, Mi Nam. I'm not at all." He stopped, taking his hands from Mi Nam. "I just have a weak heart that I need to protect."

"We have the same kind of heart too then?"

"I guess..." A bittersweet smile found its way to his face remembering the conversation from before. "We truly must be soulmates right?"

Mi Nam was struck by his hyung's words, quickly breaking eye contact with him. His heart began to beat uncontrollably, the word sinking into the bottom of his stomach. Why did Jeremy have to mindlessly say such a thing? Why was Mi Nam letting himself get all worked up over a simple word that he knew Jeremy meant innocently?

Keeping his eyes elsewhere, he replied with a slow and hesitant, "It seems that way."

Jeremy picked up on Mi Nam's change but decided against questioning it. After all, what would he even ask?

In attempt to steer the conversation in a more positive direction, he continued on, "And so, since we're soulmates…" Jeremy began, "it's only right for me to try to help you get completely out of your dark place."

Jeremy learned a long time ago that doing something like this was a major part of his healing process. Taking on others problems eased his mind just enough to allow him to be distracted from his own and helped him not fall victim to his own emotion. After all, there was absolutely nothing he could do about their marriage. Not that he wanted to if he could, anyway. The second Julie said she was with Jung Hwa, he felt their whole relationship wilt into a hollow nothingness.

Everything was already done and Jeremy just had to deal. Deal with the deception, pain and loss of more than a friend. Deal with it and move on.

But it was sort of relieving. It became even more so when he thought of the possibility of channeling it into helping someone he's seen struggle silently beside him for too long.

After all, he wanted to see Mi Nam just be happy. Genuinely happy.

Go Mi Nam was extremely important to him, something that Jeremy found increasingly difficult to accept and understand. But it was a definite fact that he wasn't going to run away from. It was almost as if Mi Nam snuck in his heart overnight and set up camp, the stakes going so deep into his heart, only a God itself could probably remove them.

"Are you trying to console me, idiot?" Mi Nam asked, eyes immediately watering. He became overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief at his hyung's selflessness. How was he even able to think about Mi Nam's problems when he had just faced such an emotionally exhaustive and painful event? The younger knew if he was in his place it would completely drag him down, and he'd be unable to deal with the tidal wave of emotions.

But it wasn't as if Jeremy could get over his encounter with Jung Hwa in a day, but he knew he was stronger than he used to be. And he would overcome it just like he had before.

"Well, you gave me a flashlight when I was suddenly emerged into darkness. So for you, I'll get a spotlight. I know you have bad eyes so I'll need something intense."

Mi Nam couldn't help but push him playfully, rolling his eyes. Even at times like this, he still managed to be…so Jeremy. "Hyung, do you want to blind me?"

"No, but, at least you'll know what the being in the light feels like. And just the memory of that light will be enough for you to continue see and feel even if you go blind."

The next morning was a tough one. There was a heaviness weighing on everyone in the household, and it was the heaviest on Kang On Yu. As Mi Nyu quickly zipped around setting out breakfast, Min Jee sat at the kitchen table with her, eating a small serving of food her aunt sat out for her. Her eyes followed her aunt in curiosity at her speed and picked up on her odd body language, being the young perceptive child she was. And, after eating another spoonful of rice she asked, "Auntie, what's wrong?"

Mi Nyu stopped in disbelief. Had she made it so obvious? "Nothing, Min Jee-ah. Just finish your breakfast." She sweetly cooed, pinching her little cheek. "Then we'll go to school, okay?" Min Jee nodded, responding with sprightly yes before picking up her spoon again. Mi Nam had asked that very morning if his sister would be so gracious as to take his child to school that day, before plopping back to sleep.

"Today will be busy. I won't have time to take her, but I'll be able to pick her up."

And Mi Nyu sighed, knowing exactly what he meant- even though she knew he had no schedule. There was a part of her that was sure this sort of thing may become a regular occurrence. Not that she minded it; after all, she was the child's aunt and more than happy to do so. She just knew Tae Kyung would probably make a fuss about it.

Her suppressed worry came back to surface that moment, remembering how Tae Kyung hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night. He kept tossing and turning and there was even a point where she woke up to have him not beside her.

Mi Nyu wasn't necessarily panicked, but felt too worried not to look for him. And after looking all around their bedroom with no sign of him she left, wrapping herself in one of his housecoats, to search for him. She made a quick sweep of the house and couldn't find trace of him. She peaked out of the window to see if his car was still there, and it was. But where was he?

Slowly she stalked her way back up to the rooftop, figuring that was the only place he could be. And he was. She found him leaning on the rooftop's railing, looking towards the cityscape. As she approached him, she began to smell smoke, and was shocked to see the culprit was a single lit cigarette in his hand.

"Tae Kyung?"

He turned his head only slightly, acknowledging her. Mi Nyu had never seen his body language so tense and his expression so weary.

"Are you surprised?"

"A little." She stood a bit of a distance from him as he put the cigarette to his lips.

"You know, I haven't picked up a cigarette in years." He held it out in front of him, blowing out a big gush of smoke. "Then today, out of nowhere, I never wanted a cigarette so badly." Tae Kyung hated it, but he broke.

It seemed to both make sense and perplex the fiancée of Hwang Tae Kyung as to how he smoked. His whole persona was against doing things like smoking. The concept of smelling so "unpleasant", yellow teeth, black tar filled lungs, the health risks- all of it seemed opposite of Tae Kyung. Yet here he was, smoking.

She knew it had to do with the day's events. "Do you want to talk about it?" She herself tried to pull more information from her brother- it was complicated he said, but ended up admitting that it had to do with Julie. While they may have discussed it more, it seemed that Shin Woo and Tae Kyung had only had a short conversation with each other, Mi Nyu noticed. Maybe since they had been filming and were tired, they had decided to just talk about it the next day? Jeremy hadn't returned, Mi Nam nearly refused to talk and Mi Nyu didn't really want to push the issue and try to ask any more questions even though she was dying to understand more of the situation. What she wanted most though, was Jeremy back safe.

Tae Kyung took one last puff before throwing the cigarette on the ground, stomping it out completely with his foot. "When I first heard there was trouble I thought it couldn't be serious." He exhaled, suddenly but slowly, pent up smoke billowing like a chimney from his mouth. "This is Jeremy we're talking about. He wouldn't harm a fly." He paused for a second, closing his eyes momentarily before opening them again, hoping to erase more traces of sleep. "But then I was shown the pictures. I was floored. Because Jeremy doesn't do these type of things. He can hold a mean temper when he wants, but this? It couldn't be him. Had to be a look-a-like."

Knowing there was much more he wanted to say, she stayed quiet, patiently waiting for him to continue. It only took another minute or two. And honestly, Tae Kyung had debated in that silence whether or not he wanted to keep going- but he knew how important this all was to let out. "But I kept a clear head. I told Shin Woo we'd talk later, when work was over. We expected to come home and have Jeremy explaining to us it was a misunderstanding or something. But when he came back and nobody knew where he was? I was in panic. Shin Woo said it was because he was probably too ashamed. Mi Nam seemed to confirm"

Tae Kyung ran his fingers through his hair before continuing. "And when Shin Woo asked what we should do, for the first time I shook my head. I didn't know. Our little brother was missing; hurt and our youngest seemed just as shaken. For the first time I felt powerless.

Then he told me we should just wait. Jeremy will come back. We should talk about it the morning. It was late. Our heads will be cleared then. But how can our heads be clear when our hearts aren't?" With the stress Tae Kyung put in his sentence, she sensed something more to his late night stress induced smoking session.

"While I don't understand why he did it, I'm sure there was a reason. Not that it justifies it, but Jeremy wouldn't get that way unless someone really hurt him or someone else he cares about. It may be off, but I almost feel as if something was said to Oppa. It's almost as if he's out of his body."

"I think I probably would be too if I saw my hyung nearly beat a man to death in front of me."

"We'll probably never know everything that happened today, and maybe it's best left that way. What I think is important is helping Jeremy in whatever way we can." Mi Nyu started. "What's important is knowing that he's okay." Mi Nyu turned Tae Kyung now, grabbing both of his hands. "It's okay to feel that way, Tae Kyung. In this life, we think we are in control of a lot more than we are. And even if things are under your jurisdiction, it's impossible to be in control of everything. Don't make yourself feel bad about it. You were put as leader for a reason, and it was not just age."

Tae Kyung responded with a hug, his gaze locked directly at the dazzling night sky above. "Did you know that every day I count my blessings? When people ask me why I want to marry you, someone who seems so simple and average, I only laugh and tell them they'll never understand. You don't need a million reasons to love someone, but there are a million reasons why I love you. One is those is the fact that no matter what I do, you do your best to support me. And I don' think you'll ever understand how much that means to me." Tears brimmed in his eyes, overwhelmed by love.

Rubbing circles on his back, she smiled. It was a rare moment that Tae Kyung was so honest and open with her, and Mi Nyu loved it. He seemed so much more human.

When Mi Nyu broke away from him she saw that he was crying. Instead of asking why, she simply began to wipe his tears away.

"It's your mother, isn't?" She just knew it. It wasn't as if the other things hadn't upset him- but this was that one thing that set him off. But what had she done to shake him down like this?

"She called and wanted to congratulate us on our wedding."

She decided not to ask whether or not she would be attending the wedding earlier, figuring that her appearance would be too much. But if that's all that had been said, why was he so upset? Something had happened in that phone call that really stirred him.

"I think she's sick, Mi Nyu." Tae Kyung started. "She sounded bad when she called." It still was strange to Tae Kyung to even feel that way. "She said she was going to go to the doctor but I doubt it. She's too concerned with her image. Stupid woman."

"Are you scared of losing her?'

"I..." He hesitated; while he knew the answer was yes he couldn't bring himself to say it. "When I was younger, I was so angry at her. I loathed her. There were moments when I hoped she'd just disappear." He truthfully admitted, pain lining his voice as if he was swallowing glass.

While Mi Nyu and her boyfriend had two different experiences, they shared a similar void caused by the absence of a parents. Now that he was faced with the reality of his mother being possibly very ill, he felt a guilt he never knew he could harbor. And he was honestly so afraid of losing her.

"It's awful isn't it, that I would think that way?" He pulled out his cigarette pack.

"You were a hurt child." She stopped him from taking out another cigarette. "You're beating yourself up for feeling hurt- something that you had every right to feel."

He shook his head. "I don't want to hold this hate anymore." Especially with the recent change in their relationship, it had become more of a burden to keep. Being with Mi Nyu only made him want to patch things up more.

"You and I both know it won't be easy, but with time, I have faith it will all work out."

"Jeremy what were you thinking?!" Tae Kyung's voice boomed across the room, a sending a shock wave through everyone standing in it.

Even though they were used to his yelling, it didn't take away the ferocity. He had a temper in him that never revealed itself unless it was of absolute necessity. So for him to be yelling in this way, his groupmates knew that Tae Kyung was really really mad.

"Fighting in public like that? Did you forget who you are?" Tae Kyung's voice lowered, temper quickly simmering down. While he had a bad temper, he also had an internal regulation system that stopped his temper from raising any higher than a certain point – or maybe it was because he always hated the aftermath of what happened when he let his anger consume him.

But his tone was just as strong as the yell. Jeremy still felt the anger in his words and in the eyes he was being stared at with.

"No, hyung."

"What did the guy say to you to even get you so worked up? Who was he that you felt it was necessary to use you fists?"

"Jung Hwa."

A dead silence fell over the men. Both Tae Kyung and Shin Woo remember the moment as if it had happened yesterday: the day when Jeremy's parents told them exactly the connotation the name "Jung Hwa" held. It was hard to believe that their bubbly and upbeat drummer had experienced such cruelty. That very same day they swore that if Jung Hwa even so much as came a hundred feet in their vicinity they would call the cops, after beating the living daylights out of him.

"That bastard is here?" He asked in disbelief. Tae Kyung had never felt the urge to murder a man, but Jung Hwa danced on that line. Had that man come to cause more trouble for Jeremy? He had come to Korea again to start with a clean slate and get on with his life. So why, after years, not hearing a peep from him had he come all the way from England?

"Yes." Jeremy replied.

"Still that doesn't excuse what you did."

"I know that, hyung."

While Shin Woo knew this conversation had to be had, he couldn't get over how insensitive Tae Kyung seemed, even though he knew it was Jung Hwa they were dealing with.

Just when Shin Woo was about to come into the conversation, Mi Nam spoke in his place. "Did you really expect Jeremy to just stand there and take it, hyung? He's pure scum."

Shin Woo, Jeremy and Tae Kyung were equally shocked at Mi Nam's outburst. Since when did Go Mi Nam become so adamant about Jeremy, since when did he speak for him?

Tae Kyung exhaled. Go Mi Nam had a point but regardless of the heavy emotional attachment- Tae Kyung had to approach the issue as their leader. He had to try his best to protect them for the incoming firestorm- but he was afraid of the President's reaction the most. Because while the President was often very personal and free-spirited in his approaches to things, he could also be quite rigid. He cared about the boys like fathers, and punished them like one too.

"It didn't matter if Jeremy got spit in the face, Go Mi Nam. He shouldn't have done it. He knew what risk he was taking the second he lifted his hand." Tae Kyung calmed down. "With the things that occurred between you and Jung Hwa, that garbage deserved every hit. But you did something that is going to have consequences." He stopped. "President Ahn wants in his office by 11."

Taking a deep breath, Jeremy carefully opens the door to President. He is surprised to see that President Ahn, the man who normally greets him so cheerfully had turned his back from him.

"Stop." He heard him say. "Don't even sit down."

Jeremy froze; had he angered the man to the extent?

The man hadn't turned around from his chair; and there was a part of Jeremy that was extremely thankful for this.

"Kang OnYu." President Ahn spoke his name. "I'm disappointed in your actions. You know what you have done is wrong and it will have consequences, right?"

"Yes."

"Then." He cleared his throat. "After releasing a statement saying that you are sorry, you are suspended from group activities until further notice, to reflect upon your actions and better yourself." Unknown to the boy, it actually hurt the president to say such words. But he needed to protect Jeremy and control the situation before it got any more out of control. Even though Jeremy was often rowdy and a bit temperamental, he knew Jeremy. The young man he knew wouldn't just go out and do something so reckless without having nearly been greatly insulted. He didn't need a panicked call from his Manager and others in his behalf to realize it.

"I understand."

"That man got into contact with me. He says he doesn't want to press charges and doesn't feel the need to go to the press."

Suddenly he revolved around in his chair to face Jeremy. The expression was on his face was much softer than he expected. Almost as if he was worried? "Take a break, On Yu-ah. I I want you to use this time to rest and get your head clear, alright?"

"Yes, sir."

"You are excused."

"What do you think he's going to do?"

"We're lucky if he doesn't get kicked out of the group." Tae Kyung sighed, wanting a cigarette.

"Wouldn't that but harsh considering the situation? I mean it wasn't just any guy, hyung."

"While President Ahn does know about Jung Hwa," Shin Woo intervened. "It doesn't mean that Jeremy won't get a harsh punishment."

It was at moment Jeremy left the President's office, head lowered.

"So?" Mi Nam came up to him first, softly grabbing his arm. Jeremy gained the confidence to speak a little when he did so, his other bandmates came closer to hear the outcome.

He lifted his head ever so slightly, solemnly murmuring," I'm suspended from activities, indefinitely."

"What?" Mi Nam didn't expect his punishment to be of that caliber. Shin Woo and Tae Kyung were both disappointed, but at the same time expected it.

A heavy frown made its way on Jeremy's face as Mi Nam sprang into action, pulling him into his arms in for a hug. The younger felt his heart shake in fear at how stiff and cold Jeremy felt, almost mannequin like. After what happened yesterday with Jung Hwa he was surprised Jeremy even left his room. He knew that had sunk into the very core of his soul. Why did he appear now and cause so much ruckus when things had been going so well for Jeremy?

He held Jeremy tighter, and with his head resting in the crook of his neck he felt Jeremy began to sob. "Just cry." He crooned, rubbing circles on his back. "Don't let this get to you. It's going to be all right."

Tae Kyung and Shin Woo watch in both shock and awe at the sight of the youngest comforting Jeremy. Never had they seen him be so genuinely caring and comfortable with a person outside of his sister or his daughter. The eldest exchange looks of confusion. Tae Kyung was slightly glad that Mi Nam stepped up to comfort him because he would have simply told Jeremy to just to bear with it; but also confused because Shin Woo was usually the consoler. It seemed so out of character for Mi Nam.

Shin Woo studied Mi Nam and Jeremy's body language carefully as he stood beside his hyung, who without even speaking a word with him, expressed how strange it was to see the sight before them.

And Shin Woo knew for sure, then.

It was out of love. Nothing but pure, unabashed love.

"After today, none of us are to talk about this under any circumstance." Tae Kyung stated before cracking his neck. He honestly couldn't remember the last time things were this stressful for everyone, apart from when they had just debuted. "Go Mi Nam, I think it's best if you go ahead and tell President Ahn about your situation with Min Jee. He seems to be feeling merciful so tell him before his mood changes. Actually, you know what?" He stopped- putting his hands on his hips. He exhaled, gaze shifting downwards before looking back up to his band members again. "If there are any more things that are being held back that could potentially disintegrate this group I'd like to know right now. So at least if we burn I can burn not being an ignorant fool."

Mi Nam immediately froze. Should he tell his hyungs about his feelings for Jeremy, even though he had difficulty explaining them to himself? If he just kept it to himself it'd be okay, right? Nobody needed to know anyway, right? It wasn't as if he could act upon his feelings.

Shin Woo noticed the change in Mi Nam and was sure it had to do with Jeremy. And as much as he wanted to urge Mi Nam to be truthful with himself and with Jeremy about it, he couldn't. He'd be a blatant hypocrite- how could he drag something out of the maknae when he hasn't even admitted to his own members his pursuit of Chae Rim? The man fought the urge to let out any noise or drop his pokerface- as to not make it obvious to others he was holding something back. He took Tae Kyung's words very seriously, but was in no way prepared to tell him about his relationship. Especially after all that has transpired, regardless of Tae Kyung claiming to want it all "in the open", he was sure if the leader wasn't really prepared to hear it.

Actually, Shin Woo didn't know what time would be the right time, if any. But it bothered him immensely he couldn't just walk hand in hand with her anywhere they wanted, when they wanted. Even if she wasn't a coordinator, he knew they couldn't really go out, with the wilder of their fans throwing a fit and Dispatch all over them. It wasn't as if he hadn't been constantly thinking of these things or not aware, but it suddenly hit him with worry and guilt he hadn't felt before. He worried about Chae Rim, most of all he worried about President Ahn's reaction.

"There's something going on with you." Tae Kyung shook his finger at Shin Woo. "You've been acting different lately, smiling more. Who is she?"

"There is no one." Shin Woo openly lied.

"Why are you lying?"

"Why are you trying to sniff out something that isn't there, hyung?" The man replied, slightly annoyed at Tae Kyung's persistence. Usually, the leader would let up- realizing he'd tell him when he felt like it. But this was different, Shin Woo knew, and he probably wasn't going to get out of this one unscathed.

"Do you forget who I am? I can see right through you, Shin Woo." Tae Kyung retorted.

The tension in the room became so unbearably thick as Shin Woo and Tae Kyung's eyes were locked. Tae Kyung knew, and was becoming quite initiated at the bassist's actions.

"You wouldn't be making such a fuss at me pushing there wasn't someone. Answer my question now, Kang Shin Woo."

"You really want to know?" Shin Woo started, calmly. It was evident to him that he was not going to leave this room without an answer. And if his hyung wanted the truth, he'd give it to him. Telling him now would be the best option, he assumed. If he waited any longer, Tae Kyung would just be angrier and, quite honestly, Shin Woo didn't want to be the cause of his aneurysm or heart attack nor the victim of his rage. He wasn't going to be all that pleased either way, but at least if he told him now, he'd know.

Mi Nam's eyes widen as he realized what Shin Woo was about to do- and both Jeremy and Mi Nam both held their breath in anticipation.

"It's Chae Rim."

There is silence for a good couple of minutes, as Jeremy, Mi Nam and Shin Woo all watched the face of their leader freeze in shock.

"You..." Tae Kyung finally began, voice shaking with anger. "You're dating our Coordinator? Chae Rim? Wang Chae Rim?" Tae Kyung laughed, barely able to believe it. "So, I guess everyone in this group has finally lost every ounce of their common sense. Going out and just doing whatever they please!"

"Do people forget we're human? We fall in love and we mess up just like everyone else." Mi Nam interrupted. Jeremy looked at the youngest in surprise- saying anything in defense was an aimless endeavor. Didn't he know that?

"That's rich Go Mi Nam. You knew when you started this that we were going to constantly be in the public eye and under some sort of scrutiny. We're idols, we're not expected to 'mess up' Mi Nam- and we do it makes fucking headlines." Tae Kyung felt on the verge, not knowing what do to. "And I don't know what you two expect to come out of your respective situations, because if you can get past President Ahn it doesn't mean you can get past everyone else!"

"I like her, hyung. If you don't like it then, I understand, but I'm not going to stop or beg for approval." Shin Woo finally spoke up. Jeremy nearly choked on his spit upon hearing it; did his hyung just tell their leader to basically deal with it? The man had never been that ballsy, at least not in front of him. "Chae Rim and I will deal with President Ahn on our own."

Tae Kyung scoffed. "And just what do you expect him to say? 'I give you my support and blessings?' You what don't even answer that! I'm sick of seeing both of you right now!"

So yeah, this is a lot. Tell me how you feel about it though; leave a comment.

-L.C