Pain That Can’t Be Understood

It was nearly 2 a.m. in the morning.

After putting Yeo Ri back to sleep, Hyuk searched for his keys.

Without saying anything to the rest, he stormed out of the house.

He needed to get out. He needed to clear his head.

"Hey, Hyuk, where are you going?!" In Guk called out.

"Hyung?!" Gun echoed behind him.

Hyuk did not turn back. Instead, he slammed the entrance door open and immediately got on his bike. Without a pause in his movements, he ignited the engine and drove out of the driveway and onto the road.

Jin Goo hastily grabbed his car keys and a coat, "I'll go after him! You two stay behind and look after Yeo Ri," he instructed. A look of concern crossed his face. He hoped that Hyuk was not going to go and do something reckless or stupid.

The night road was virtually empty with no one in sight.

Hyuk raced through the empty roads, speeding without a care in the world. He seemed to have no destination in his mind as he sped away.

Jin Goo was right on his heels, manoeuvring through the twisting and turning paths to catch up with Hyuk.

Finally, after driving for some time, Hyuk finally stopped. He got off, deactivated the engine, and threw his helmet to the ground roughly.

Jin Goo arrived at the riverbank only half a minute after him. When he got there, he saw his friend leaning against the waist-length metal railings that barred people from entering the river, looking as if he was about to throw himself into the water.

Jin Goo hurriedly got off, thinking to stop Hyuk before he did something crazy. But just as he closed in on the other man, he could hear the sound of his agonised scream.

"Why?! WHY?!" Hyuk roared, his voice full of sorrow and pain. Hyuk continued to yell and shout out the injustice in his heart. "Just why?!"

His heart felt as if it was being ripped apart as he thought of Yeo Ri. Just what did she do to deserve such a terrible life? Just what did they do?

All he wanted was for her to be happy.

It didn't even matter if he was in the picture or not; all he wanted was for her to be able to smile.

"AAAAAHHHHHH!" Hyuk let out a roar, fuelling it with all the emotions he had pent up inside him. His hands clenched the railings tightly until his knuckles turned white.

"..." Jin Goo lost his desire to drag Hyuk back with him. He sighed, turning away from the pitiful sight. He turned a blind eye to what Hyuk was doing and returned home.

"Where's Hyung?" As soon as he arrived at the door, Gun approached him, an apprehensive look on his face.

Jin Goo shook his head, "Leave him be. He'll come back by himself later."

True to his words, Hyuk came back merely fifteen minutes after and headed straight to bed. After clearing his head for a bit, he fell asleep as soon as he lied down.

.

.

.

The next morning.

"Good morning," Yeo Ri says, her usual smile plastered on her face.

"Yeo Ri-ah!" In Guk raised from his seat, rubbing his bleary eyes. He was unable to sleep peacefully after yesterday's episode.

"How are you, Yeo Ri-ah?" Jin Goo got up from beside his friend, slightly smiling. He didn't get enough rest as well, but he hid it better than In Guk.

"I'm fine, Jin Goo-oppa, In Guk-oppa. Sorry about yesterday," Yeo Ri flashed an apologetic smile towards them.

"No, it-it's fine," In Guk stuttered. "It's not your fault."

Yeo Ri lowered her head, continuing to smile apologetically. She felt ashamed that they had to witness such a thing.

"Let's go; we're going to be late," Gun says, saving them from the deadlocked situation.

"Mm," Yeo Ri nodded quickly. "Where's Hyuk-oppa?"

"Still asleep," Jin Goo said. Hyuk had the roughest night among all of them. After putting Yeo Ri back to sleep, he had ran out of the house. Jin Goo had followed him just in case he tried to do something reckless. Luckily, he had only went to the riverbank to vent. Hyuk had spent nearly twenty minutes screaming and venting into the empty waters. It was also lucky that he had chosen a place ways away from civilisation, so they didn't get any noise complaints.

The sight was heartbreaking.

Jin Goo shook himself out of his thoughts.

"Why don't you have breakfast before you go?" Jin Goo gestured to the meal that was spread out on the table. The housekeeper had made some breakfast and he was just about to dig in.

Yeo Ri shook her head, "No, thank you. I'm not hungry."

She bowed her head in farewell, then reached out to hold Gun's hand. The two walked out of the house together.