Chapter 125

Keeping his breath stored in his lungs, he nearly stumbled on his clumsy two-left feet while shoving the bushes to the side to make a clear path.

What did he do to the heavens above for them to hold grudges against him?

A clipped breath left his parched throat. His heart was racing inside him as he started running as if his life depended on it, which did.

After sowing the exhausting anxiety of the darkness in his heart, how ironic is it now that he had commenced to feel a strong sense of relief by being unseen?

Perhaps he was too tired that his tears could not stop.

He had turned his back from the light when he finally had the opportunity to be against the creeping and lurking creatures in the dark, the same darkness that once took away his hope to see the people he loved.

Or perhaps fate had finally had enough of him and refused him to put everything aside and allow himself to cry.

He did not bother to dwell on the sharp sting on his feet or the aching cramps stabbing harshly all over his beaten body. With the last bit of energy, he pushed himself to run back, back to where he had struggled to escape—towards the darkness, towards the person.

After a few seconds passed, his toes parted from the ground.

With desperate arms surrounding his shoulder and waist, his slender body was lifted from the soil by a familiar tight and warm embrace.

Tears streamed silently down his face without rest, and his shivering breath dominated his sense of longing.

He struggles to breathe.

Tears of melancholy filled his eyes and brought him to further ordeal. He could no longer manage to open them. Weeping soundlessly while feeling solace from the contrasting temperatures of their bodies, Jin acknowledges his heart has strained too much for him to deem happiness at the moment.

"Mianhe . . ."

A deep baritone voice gently cruised to his ears, and the moment he heard an afflicting sob followed, his heart shattered into two.

His mouth parted for words, but words failed him, and his hushed screams of pain, fear, and anxiety vent out of his pressed chest instead.

He buried his damp face in the firmest shoulder. For a moment, he forgot to breathe.

Hiro rests his forehead on him as his large palms clasp the sides of his face, holding him in place.

"Mianhe." (I'm sorry)

His lengthy fingers were shaking on his ears.

It is true.

Jin hiccups between his sobs.

He is real.

He is here.

"This is all my fault."

Hiro whispers, and in spite of his trembling, his warm thumbs tenderly wipe his tears clean.

"Mianhe."

Continuously listening to his voice relieved the troubles weighing his chest, but hearing him repeatedly apologizing for something he did not do torments him.

Jin glances at the clear night sky above them, thanking every star watching over them from afar.

His heart was once again in its rightful place.

The breeze around the area was warm. It brushes past one's cold tears and manages to take away any pain with the hues of the wind.

A grateful smile paints his lips, and he wraps his arms around Hiro after saying his prayers.

Thank you. Thank you for protecting this man he so dearly loves.

But why has it led to this?

Just how little Hiro sees himself by putting all the blame for everything that has conspired on his own? Meanwhile, the real villains still had to live without an ounce of such thing as remorse.

Just how kind can his heart be?

"I'm . . . I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Jin-ah."

And his body is still shaking.

Oh, Hiro.

Jin tries to distance his body and lift Hiro's face to meet his. He studied his handsome but rouged face and felt at peace again.

Well, temporarily.

He was unprepared to witness what was waiting for him to tame.

The very second Hiro's crestfallen eyes stare and meet with his, Hiro's pupils shook fervently while repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry. . ." They were pitifully fluttering in half as the man shed more tears in his presence.

Hiro's once straight and beautiful brows were now crooked upwards. More untouched and quiet tears had streamed down his face and now to his hands on his cheeks.

Dear lord. . .

"I'm sorry, Jin-ah."

"Shhh. Hush now. Why are you apologizing?" Jin whispers to him ever so gently and hurries to rub away the flowing tears under his eyes.

He could never understand what this man is really thinking.

When have the tables been turned?

"I . . . shouldn't have left your side."

And yet . . .

He could still look so lovely under the faint moonlight.

Leaning closer, Jin softly presses his lips to his, their tears colliding and hearts reuniting.

He could not bring himself to speak. His lips were trembling.

How can he purposely not love this man? When there is nothing not to love about him.

He rests his forehead against him, their eyes both shut closed.

"You were gone . . ." Hiro cried.

"And you found me." Again.

Jin pats and rubs Hiro's wide back. Aigoo, this big crybaby.

He was overcome with both senses of calmness and relief soon after his body had caught up with exhaustion. They remained in that position, and the serenity of the night had never been so soothing until now.

He peeks at his filthy clothes pressing against Hiro's.

Oh no. How could he forget?

They absolutely cannot stay like this.

"Hiro," whispers Jin.

However, Hiro refused to open his eyes, and his already tight embrace compressed around his waist even more. He was squeezing him.

"No one did hurt me."

He stroked the man's face with his fingers, but Hiro purposely avoided his eyes.

It seems his words were unbelievable to him.

Well, all his injuries were self-inflicted, although he did not intend to have them. Erm . . . But how can he persuade this stubborn man?

"An ahjussi helped me escape." Whose efforts would be crushed in vain if they stayed here for long. "Hiro, we have to hide."

They have to hurry.

It is Hiro whom they are truly after.

He could not ever forgive himself if he let those bad men see Hiro like this.

Like a defenseless and wailing puppy.

It would not take ten seconds for them to take advantage of Hiro's untypical self.

He locks his lips close when Hiro moves and carries him to the gleaming lake. They wandered around it and found a cavern behind a few sets of trees that could fit about five people.

A cave?