Haeun’s steps were hurried, each stride a desperate attempt to escape, to leave behind the suffocating place he’d once felt safe in. But before he could even reach the exit of Red Phoenix, two of Yeongsoo’s n blocked his path, their faces impassive, eyes cold.
"Let through," Haeun demanded, voice tight as he tried to move past them. But they didn’t budge, instead stepping closer until he was forced to back up.
"Mr. Haeun," one of them said, his tone low and respectful, but with an edge of steel. "We have strict orders not to let you leave."
Haeun’s heart pounded in his chest, fury and panic flooding him. "Yeongsoo’s orders, I assu?" he spat, clenching his fists. "You can tell him this is over. I won’t be treated like so possession he can lock away and control."
He tried to push past them again, but the n didn’t move, their presence towering over him like an unbreakable wall. One of them reached out, his hand hovering just close enough to imply force but not quite touching. "Please don’t make this harder, Mr. Haeun."
Haeun laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and filled with rage. "Harder? I’m the one who’s been lied to, manipulated... and now you’re stopping from leaving?" He shot them a glare, his voice trembling. "Do you realize what he’s doing? Keeping here against my will?"
One of the n looked away, perhaps unable to et Haeun’s gaze, but the other didn’t falter. "Our orders are clear, sir. For your own safety... please co with us."
Haeun’s chest tightened as he fought against the wave of helplessness rising within him. He looked back toward the entrance, the freedom just out of reach, before turning his gaze back to the n blocking his path. "Safety?" he scoffed. "This isn’t about my safety. This is about Yeongsoo keeping under his control—trapping in his web of secrets and lies."
They didn’t respond, their silence infuriatingly compliant with Yeongsoo’s orders. He was about to argue further, his throat tightening, when he felt the familiar presence—the cold, unnerving weight of Yeongsoo’s gaze behind him.
"Haeun."
The sound of his na, spoken in that unmistakable voice, sent a chill down his spine. Slowly, he turned to face him, heart pounding as he took in Yeongsoo’s composed expression, though a storm brewed in his eyes.
"Let him go," Yeongsoo ordered his n quietly, and they imdiately stepped aside, giving Haeun the space he’d fought for. But sothing in Yeongsoo’s stance, his unyielding gaze, held him frozen in place.
Haeun’s chest rose and fell with the force of his emotions. "This is who you are, then," he said, his voice cracking. "Soone who’d rather trap than let walk away. Soone who’d rather keep as his prisoner than admit he’s hurt ."
Yeongsoo took a step forward, his expression tight with barely restrained pain. "You don’t understand," he said, his voice low, almost pleading. "Everything I’ve done... it’s to keep you safe, to protect what we have. I can’t just back out Haeun, we’ll all be in danger. Can’t you also see where I’m coming from? Why can’t you accept that’s what I do?."
"Safe? Accept?" Haeun’s laugh was sharp, filled with bitterness. "Do you even hear yourself? You say it’s about protection, but this—this is control, Yeongsoo. You’re keeping here because you’re afraid of losing , not because you care about my safety."
Yeongsoo’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second, but his determination didn’t waver. "Yes! I can’t let you go," he admitted, each word heavy. "Not when you an everything to . You can hate , but I won’t stand by and watch you leave."
Haeun’s gaze turned icy, a coldness settling over him as he took a step back. "Then maybe you never really loved , Yeongsoo. Because love isn’t supposed to feel like a cage." His voice dropped, filled with a sorrow that pierced the room. "I thought... I thought you were different. But you’re no better than the shadows you surround yourself with."
The words hit Yeongsoo like a blow, but he kept his face impassive, his grip on his emotions iron-tight. He wanted to reach for Haeun, to make him understand, but he knew, in that mont, anything he said would only drive him further away.
"Go ahead then," Haeun continued, voice growing sharper. "Lock up. Put in a room and throw away the key if that’s what it takes to keep in your life. But know that every mont I’m in there, every second I’m kept from leaving... my love for you dies a little more."
Yeongsoo’s hands clenched at his sides, his face pale. "You don’t an that," he said, almost desperately. "You’re just angry, hurt. Once you’ve cald down—"
"No, Yeongsoo," Haeun interrupted, his voice ice-cold. "I’ve never been more certain. You can keep here physically, but you’ve lost already." His voice cracked, and he took one last, trembling step back. "I don’t want a love that’s built on fear and control. I won’t let you make feel like a prisoner."
"..."
Yeongsoo bit his lips feeling angry, it was always about Haeun.
"I’m willing to give up everything for you Haeun but what about you? I’m the one who’s running around your feet, you need my pheromones, I could find another oga you’re not the only one but I choose to stay with you. You say you love but how deep is your love? What are you willing to sacrifice? Aren’t you being too selfish? I haven’t said it before and this wasn’t the situation I wanted to say it but I will. I love you Haeun, I love you so much it hurts I could give up everything for Haeun but what about you? What are you willing to give up?"
"..."
Haeun gulped unable to say anything if Yeongsoo hadn’t pointed it out. He wouldn’t have known.
"Let him go, if he wants to leave then let him go.."
Yeongsoo swept his hands through his hair as he walked away not daring to spare Haeun a glance.
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