Chapter 11: The Aftermath

Est.

The door clicked softly behind him, and Est stepped inside, pulse still racing behind his ears from all that had unravelled.

He paused by the door and his eyes fell on the figure standing across the room, wondering if the earth beneath him still spinned normally, or if the sky was ready to give way and crash land on him.

William stood in the middle of the living room, hands buried deep in the pockets of his sweats— Est's sweats. His posture was loose, his movements relaxed, at ease. As if he didn't have a bullet hole in his gut, as if he didn't murder people for a living.

The way he scanned the room made it obvious he was observing, maybe even memorizing.

He didn't spare Est a glance when he returned, just kept his eyes away, as if he was of little or no importance.

Est's chest tightened— maybe with anger, maybe with fear. But it did, as it always was in William's presence, and the air seemed to narrow in response.

There was a heaviness that came with being around William— an almost physical weight pressing down in the room. Every object, every shadow, seemed to pause, waiting for him to speak, to move, to decide its fate.

William's eyes settled on the bookshelve by the far wall, and he tilted his head slightly, studying a book. When he finally spoke, it was low and casual. "Is he your boyfriend?" He asked, eyes still fixed on the book, his expression one of profound boredom.

Est froze for second.

But only for that second.

A scowl formed on his face as he moved to the couch, scooping up the blanket and bundling it in his arms before smoothing a pillow with too much care. "It's none of your business." He answered, voice cold.

"Hmmm." William still didn't look at him. Just hummed— the sound low, a bored rumbling sound that Est swore vibrated through the floor.

It wasn't a word. But the sound cut something in Est, lighting a flare in his chest. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, dropping the blanket back on the couch. He stepped closer then, jaw tight, his voice carrying more heat than reason.

"I didn't say anything..." Came William's blank reply, eyes still fixed on the books, as if Est's presence was bothering him.

That stirred a mix of fury and irritation in Est."No, you never say anything..." He shot back, stepping forward, fists clenched at his sides. "You just stand there and brood, and act like you're above the rest of us. Like you already know how everything ends."

For a moment, the room went quiet, as though everything in it was holding its breath.

Est stood... waiting.

William didn't move. Then slowly, he turned, eyes meeting Est's. His expression was unreadable— cold, detached, but somehow still... bored. 

It infuriated Est.

"Are you done?" William asked.

Est's chest rose and fell quickly. His hands itched to reach out and strike, to lash out, but he kept them planted at his sides, trembling slightly with rage. "You just asked if he was my boyfriend. Why? Are you planning to kill him too? Add him to the list of people who'd have been better off if they never met you?"

There was a flicker in William's eyes, but it was gone almost immediately. However, it was enough to make Est halt, just for a moment.

"You don't know what I've done..." William answered quietly, tone calm. However there was a cutting edge there too.

"I know enough!" Est snapped. "You destroy things. People. You rip your way into our lives, leaving nothing but chaos behind, and you... you expect everyone to just— just survive you!"

William's jaw ticked, but he stayed silent, still, like a heavy storm gathering. His quiet was heavy, pressing down on Est, making it harder to breathe.

Est's voice rose, trembling with fury. "Tui's better than you..." He leaned in slightly, voice cutting, laced with disgust. "In every fucking way possible."

William chuckled, low and unbothered, giving him an amused look. He walked towards the kitchen island slowly, hands still buried in his pocket. Each step was calm and measured, very unbothered.

It burned something hotter in Est's chest.

"I must have struck a nerve..." William finally said, voice laced with mock humor.

"Yes, you did..." Est snapped, moving forward, closer. "You don't know him... or me."

"I know enough..." William said flatly, though his eyes darkened, just slightly.

Est's breathing grew faster, almost frantic. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, you look like you don't know shit but ruin."

William didn't blink, didn't move. And his smile didn't shift either. He just stared at Est like he was an insolent child.

But Est had had enough. Seen enough.

He wasn't going to back down now. He just kept going. "You walk around like you're inevitable. Like the damage you do is just... natural. And the worst part is, you look bored by it."

William's brow twitched slightly, the only movement betraying any reaction.

That shot a thrill though Est, gave him the satisfaction, the push to keep going. William would hear him today, all the anger he'd been holding down from the start.

Scoffing, he added. "Honestly, I don't even know what pit you crawled out of... like you're so fucked up you can't even pretend to give a damn." He said, eyes blazing with hatred. "Like who the fuck even raised you?! Who taught you to think this was normal? Because it sure as hell wasn't a loving home."

That landed.

William eyes flashed with anger. His voice came, low and edged with warning. "Careful."

"Or what?!" Est's voice rose, trembling with rage. "Did I strike a nerve? What the fuck do you think you can you do to me that you haven't already done, Will?" He spat the name with disgust, the word slicing through the tension.

William's fists clenched. His jaw locked. His eyes burned. "You don't—"

He halted mid-sentence, lids shutting tight. His lips parted, his breath caught.

Est froze, bracing himself. And just as he thought Will was about to strike, the sound ripped out of him.

ACHOO!

The sneeze cracked the air like a whip, sharp, almost alarming.

Est blinked, breath hitching, startled beyond words.

Another sneeze tore out of William— stronger, louder, and he groaned with the effort. He rubbed his nose then, cursing under his breath.

Est just kept watching him, feet planted in place, heart jumping in his throat.

'What the fuck just happened?'

William sneezed again, and Est flinched this time, dumbfounded, watching the way Will's shoulders hunched, the way his body jerked with the force.

And as he watched, for a brief moment, he thought Will looked something a little like... human.

Vulnerable. Almost... cute, in a strange, disarming way.

Est blinked again, stunned into silence.

Then, before he could stop himself, he laughed. The sound was small, involuntary, surprised both himself and William.

It wasn't mocking.

It was just a fragile relief, a shaky, human response at the odd sight, the reality that this unapproachable, dangerous man could still be ordinary... flesh and blood.

William looked up at him nose red, eyes wet and only slightly annoyed.

Before he could speak, another sneeze came out, even sharper, uncontained. "God... Is there a cat in here?"

Est's breathing stopped. He shook his head, heartbeats erratic. "No— I mean yes— but she's not here right now..." He said awkwardly, eyes still wide and startled.

Silence fell then, soft this time, almost fragile.

William stared at him for a long moment, rubbing his nose again, a faint flush creeping up his cheek.

Est stood there, waiting. He couldn't remember how to breath, his heart an unmoving lump in his throat.

Then William's gaze dropped, his expression softening, almost... sad. "You talk like you have figured me out... But you don't know anything about me." He said quietly.

Not in anger or threat. Just the truth.

Est didn't know what to say to that.

The quiet of the room seemed louder than ever.

He felt a warmth creep up his spine— subtle, confusing, but impossible to ignore.

William straightened at the island, pushing his hair back. "I need a phone..." He said, that blank, cold edge returning to his voice. Then softer, almost hesistant. "And I'm hungry."

He gave Est a final look, before walking back up the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the still house.

Est remained by the couch, fingers now brushing the headrest, mind reeling at the events of the day.

At what just happened.

Maybe... there was more to William than he thought.

The thought unnerved him.

Maybe because he knew if it was true, he didn't know if he could accept the outcome.

~~~

Hong.

The doors of the station pushed opened with a metal creak, and Nut and Hong stepped into the dimly lit office.

The air in the room was heavy, thick with an undeniable tension that seemed to press against their shoulders.

They both moved slowly, bodies weighed down by exhaustion and... frustration.

Nut's eyes flicked toward his desk as he walked, his usually confident strides replaced by stiff, weary steps. Hong followed behind, head lowered slightly, shoulders hunched, a quiet disappointment brewing inside him.

The office fell into silence as they walked in.

Conversations halted mid-sentence, the click of keyboards stopped.

Even the soft hum of the air conditioning seemed to cease, leaving only the faint smell of coffee and sweat-dried bodies perfuming the air.

Lego, who was sat at his desk, turned in his seat towards them, his voice a mix of concern and curiosity. "Hey... what the hell happened? Where were you guys?"

Hong made a slicing motion over his throat, before dropping to his seat. Lego caught it quick and nodded.

There was no point in explaining it. The words wouldn't carry the weight of the aftermath.

Not yet.

Nut glanced toward the chief's office, voice taut. "Is the chief in?"

Lego shook his head, the motion slow. "No, he's out. Trying to clean up the mess..." He said, each word heavy.

Nut muttered something under his breath, the tension in his jaw visible. "I'm going to pee." He said, moving away quickly, though his movements were stiff and unnatural, like the action itself required effort.

Lego watched him move, until he was out of sight. Then he leaned towards Hong, lowering his voice until it was barely a whisper. "The DSI's stepping in."

Hong's eyes widened. "What?!" He whisper-screamed.

"The shootout was a mess Hong. Five officers died... this whole case might get shut down." Then his eyes flicked around, making sure no one else was listening. "The Naga manor..." Lego's voice dropped even further, barely a hush against Hong's skin. "...it got gunned down."

Hong's heart dropped, the blood drained from his face. But he blinked slowly, forcing his expression back into neutrality.

He had to remain calm, stay composed.

Most of the officers knew bits and pieces of his double life, but none of them knew about his connection with William. They didn't need to. It would mess everything up.

He simply nodded, before leaning back his seat, his posture rigid, face unreadable. Then he pretended to get back to work.

Nut soon returned and slid in across from him, not sparing him a glance.

Hong pretended not to notice.

The hours passed by slower then usual.

Around him, the office hummed with quiet tension. The air felt thick, like dust settling over a battlefield, but somehow the battle wasn't over yet. The uncertainty still hung heavy.

Hong had to force himself to remain calm, to hide the storm inside.

The door slammed open with a force that rattled the walls. All heads lifted, all breathing ceased the moment Chief Sapang strode in, his sharp presence commanding the room, filling it with authority.

"Nut! Hong! My office, now!" His voice was sharp and cutting.

Nut and Hong exchanged a quick glance, before getting up and walking to the office. Each step was heavier than the last, dragging with the weight of anticipation.

Hong already knew where the conversation would head, could already feel the tension, and he braced himself for the impact. He looked over at Nut and from his rigid posture, he knew it too.

Inside the office, the chief wasted no time. His words was sharp and precise, each syllable landing like a hammer on nail.

He reiterated what Hong had already heard from Lego.

The shootout had been disastrous and there was now public uproar and mounting political pressure.

When he spoke, his tone left no room for debate. His decision was cold and final.

The case was close.

But Nut, stubborn as ever, wasn't ready to give up.

His hands shot up instinctively. "But Chief, we still have a shot—"

Sapang's eyes snapped toward him, sharp as steel. "A shot?" He asked, voice low. "Five officers are dead, Nut! Five!" His voice cracked like a whip.

The words sank into Nut's chest, twisting something in him and shattering it. He went silent.

Sapang ran a tired hand across his weary face. "The DSI— your people— are crawling all over this place like files. Internal Affairs is on my ass every ten minutes, asking questions I don't have answers to!"

He took a step forward then, jaw tight, eyes blazing with anger. His voice dropped, low and lethal. "Five officers are dead Nut! I'm the one who's going to have to go to their houses. I'm going to have to look five widows in their faces and tell them their husbands aren't coming home. I'm going to have look at their kids and tell them they don't have a father anymore."

Nut's eyes lowered, flickering with guilt.

"So tread lightly, the both of you..." Chief Sapang growled. "Because this mess? This fallout?" He pointed a finger at them. "It's on all of us."

A tense silence settled.

"The case is closed." Sapang added, cold and final.

Nut didn't argue any further.

He stormed out the office, slamming the door behind him, leaving behind a wake of tension that seemed to linger in the air like smoke.

The chief's gaze stayed on the door until the rattle quietened. Then it shifted to Hong, giving him a look that was subtle, but clearly approving. "Take the day off... Keep an eye on him, Hong. Make sure he stops." The order was low but firm.

Hong nodded, understanding immediately.

They both knew Nut wouldn't accept this. He wasn't the type to accept defeat easily.

But Hong knew he had to be careful.

Not just with the Chief, but with Nut. If he attempted to interfere with Nut's decision, he would only draw suspicion to himself.

He left the Chief's office quietly.

Outside the office buzzed with its usual chaos.

Nut wasn't in his seat.

That wasn't surprising.

Lego cocked a brow, signaling he was outside. Hong gave him a grateful nod, before leaving the squadroom.

Outside, the city air hit him, cool and sharp, a contrast to the suffocating tension inside.

Nut was inside the car, head pressed against the wheel, frustration burning through him like heat from a furnace.

Hong unlocked the passenger seat and slid in, before shutting the door.

Then he sat, posture rigid, letting an uneasy silence pass between them.

Then just at the right moment, the worse possible moment, he said drily. "You look like you're about to explode."

It wasn't the words itself, it was the way he said it, the off timing of it that landed. The way he deliberately refused to read the room.

Nut couldn't hold it in.

A short, breathy laugh slipped out of him, spreading warmth through the car. "I'm really not in the mood to laugh..." He said, still laughing, despite himself.

Hong smiled then, a small, quiet thing, tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Nut looked up then, eyes falling on Hong— dazzled at how Hong's light words lifted the weight off him.

Hong watched him, eyes drifting over Nut's face, breaths stolen at how Nut didn't look away— how he kept his gaze steady on him.

The moment hummed between them, soft and alive, almost tender.

When Hong finally spoke, his voice matched the warmth in the air. "You don't have to let the Chief's words get to you."

Nut's face dropped, pulled from his brief utopia, roughly dragged back down to earth. "It's not..." He said, voice rough. He drew his gaze away, lying to himself.

Hong pretended to believe him. His features softened then. "Well, that's good then." He said, voice low but earnest. "Because even with this mess, you can still do something."

Something in Hong's words shifted... something in him. His anger dissolved into determination. "Shouldn't you be telling me to let it go? To stay away?" Nut asked, eyes lighting up, glinting with humor.

Hong's smile widened, brow cocked. "Would that stop you?"

Nut's eyes flickered, and a small, stubborn smile appeared. "No..." He said defiantly. "Not at all."

Hong nodded then, still quiet, though his silence was approving.

He couldn't help the small hesitation welling in him, the instinct to protest, to tell Nut to just let it go.

Because if Nut dug deep enough, Hong could get buried with him.

But he knew arguing would only make Nut suspicious. So all he could do was stay close, lead him astray.

He gave a tight, careful smile. "So... where do we begin?"

Nut's smile returned, brief and rebellious.

~~~

When Hong returned home that day, it was with bone-deep exhaustion.

The house was quiet, but it didn't seem... peaceful. The air pressed against him like a familiar, unwelcome weight.

The events of the past few days weighed on him like stones in his chest, and even sitting down offered little relief.

He moved to the fridge and poured himself a glass of water, drinking it in one long, dehydrated gulp, but the cold liquid did little to ease the tension in his shoulders.

Then there was a firm knock at the door.

Hong froze, instinctively reaching for his holster, the cold metal pressing against his palm.

Slowly, silently, he moved towards the door, every instinct in him screaming caution.

The knock came fiercer this time, but so did a voice, inpatient, anxious. "Hong, It's me... Open up."

Tui.

Hong exhaled slowly, trying to release the tight coil of worry that had wound in him.

He walked the rest of the way and opened the door carefully, just enough to peek outside.

Tui's eyes met his immediately, sharp and insistent, concern etched into every line of his face.

He pushed himself inside.

Hong took another peek around before quietly shutting the door.

Tui turned then, gaze falling to the hand still clutching the holster. "What's wrong?" He asked, voice curious with concern.

Hong shrugged, forcing a casual tone, though it felt brittle, artificial. "Had a long day..." He answered, keeping it short.

It wasn't a lie, but it was only a fraction of the truth Tui was better off not knowing.

A small silence stretched then, heavy and almost suffocating in its presence.

It had been a... while.

Hong took in Tui, the worried eyes shielded by his glasses, the brown locks mussed by the breeze.

His best friend.

But even just a few feet away, Hong still felt the small distance that had grown between them.

After an uneasy moment passed, Hong finally broke it, voice softer. "It's been a while... want a drink?"

Tui shook his head sharply, before crossing his arms. Hong didn't know why, but it looked like a protective gesture, as if Tui was trying to shield himself from him.

It made him a little... upset.

Tui's gaze didn't waver, it lingered on Hong's, studying him, as if he was trying to read him from the inside out.

Then finally he asked, almost hesitantly. "Do you... do you still talk to William?"

Hong raised a brow, suddenly curious, though he masked it with practiced detachment.

Tui never spoke of William.

When Hong had spoken of him, or brought him up in the past, he always brushed him off or changed the subject.

So him asking now seemed... off.

And it wasn't just that he asked, it was the way he asked. His tone seemed... different. Urgent. Alarmed. Something he couldn't ignore.

"No..." Hong lied. "Why?"

Tui stepped forward, a small urgency in his tone. "The thing is, the guy i'm seeing, William has him under some kind of hostage situation."

Hong's heart dropped. A chill crawled down his spine. His mind quickly pieced it all, connecting the dots together.

Tui. Books.

William. Hostage.

Est.

But he didn't react, didn't let it just show. Just kept his mask on. "What guy?" Hong asked finally, turning away towards the kitchen, trying to hide his panic. He kept his tone calm, oblivious, even though his pulse spiked.

Tui followed behind, the words rushing out. "Est. He's a writer... I don't know how, but he's tangled up with Will somehow."

Hong's mind raced.

"How do you know this?" Hong asked carefully, a note of suspicion threading his voice.

"I was at his'." Tui explained, standing by the island. "And William was there, wrapped in bandages."

Hong's eyes widened then, tension coiling in his chest. "When was this?" He asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Today." Tui answered without hesitation.

Hong didn't say anything more. He couldn't.

Not to Tui.

Their relationship was already fragile as it was, hanging on by a thread. He didn't need to make things weaker.

Tui's eyes narrowed at his silence, suspicion flashing. "Can you get William to back off?" He asked, but he already knew the answer.

Hong looked away, exhaling sharply, tension tightening in his shoulders. When he responded, his voice was low, careful. "Why do you think I have that much power?"

"You're the closest to him..." Tui said firmly, almost accusingly. "if anyone can get him to back off, it's you."

"I'm close to you too, Tui..." Hong said, voice tight. "That's why I'm begging you, please stay out of it."

The air went still. Silence stretched, waiting to snap.

Tui's eyes hardened. His face twisted with disbelief. "Do you even care?" His voice was low, barely concealing his disappointment.

Hong heart dropped then, pulled down by the guilt he carried.

'If only you knew...' He thought miserably.

But he steeled his jaw, and kept his voice even. "I care enough to tell you not to get involved."

The anger growing inside nearly Tui boiled over. He wanted to curse Hong out, call him a bastard, a disappointment.

But he held his tongue. Lashing out wouldn't change a thing.

Instead, he spun toward the door. "I'm leaving." He announced, convinced Hong didn't give a damn.

Hong's heart grew heavy.

"You're really leaving? Just like that? We haven't seen each other in months, Tui." He called, voice heavy with hurt.

Tui turned to him, arms spread, breathing slightly uneven. "Well yeah, Hong. Maybe because you not the same person I once knew... I can hardly recognize you anymore." He snapped, before turning back to the door again.

Hong panicked watching him go, his heart hammering.

He couldn't let Tui provoke William.

The consequences would be severe, catastrophic. He grew desperate. And the words slipped out before he could stop them.

"Est and William... they're fucking." Hong lied, hoping it didn't bleed past the way his voice shook.

Tui froze by the door knob, disbelief flooding his face, unblinking, unsteady.

Hong stepped closer, guilt beginning to sweep in.

But he had to do this.

He couldn't risk Tui's safety. Not against someone like William.

"Do you know about the scars on Est's forearm?" Hong pressed on, voice urgent, more insistent.

Tui faltered slightly, recognition flickering in his gaze.

He had noticed them.

He had seen the faint, poorly healed burn scars on his arm. Even grazed it once in a passionate embrace.

But he never asked about them.

He'd brushed it off as lingering traces of a dark, haunting past.

Like his.

And he'd hoped... maybe someday, Est would open up to him. And he would find the courage to open up to Est too.

But now this?

Hong's words, the implied meaning. It changed everything.

He knew of Hong's lifestyle. Knew of the debauchery he and William partook in.

And suddenly, everything made sense.

The bdsm books.

Est's sudden disappearance.

The way he could never explain it away.

The way he never met his eyes when he lied.

"Stay away..." Hong warned him, voice low, carrying the weight of his own fear and desperation. "Est belongs to William now."

Tui's hands curled into fists at his sides.

Hong kept going. "If you keep pushing, keep going after him, you're the only one who'll get hurt."

Tui's breath hitched, hesitating.

Then his fists slowly unclenched, almost reluctantly. He reached for the door, pulled it open and left, slamming it behind him.

The sound rattled the house, even shaking the foundation.

Hong's hands flew to his hair, tugging at the strands as he exhaled in frustration.

His chest felt too tight, too heavy, every nerve alight with worry. He paced around the small space, wondering what the fuck he'd just done.

He hoped— no prayed it wouldn't come back to bite him in the ass.

He slipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He dialed William first. No answer.

He tried again. Still nothing.

Then Est came next. No answer.

A sense of urgency coiled in his chest, constricting with every heartbeat.

Without another thought, he grabbed his keys and jacket, and left the apartment.

The roads outside were crowded and alive— people walking, cars honking, voices clashing. But somehow... Hong didn't notice. They all blurred behind everything that had unraveled over the last few days.

He drove with purpose, eyes scanning the area ahead, mind racing with every possible outcome.

He needed answers.

He needed to make sure no one got hurt, no one else would get hurt.

When he arrived at Est's house, he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Then he stepped out of the car and walked toward the door. He hesitated there, summoning the courage to face Est.

Bracing himself, he finally reached out and knocked gently.

Est opened it moments later.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but it dissolved just as quickly into something cold and distant.

"Hey..." Hong said, the word nervous and guilt ridden.

Est didn't say a word.

He simply turned, and walked away, leaving the door ajar.

Hong took that as a silent invitation.

He stepped in, shutting the door behind him, the house swallowing him in its intensity.

"William is upstairs." Est said, voice cold, almost indifferent, before returning to his computer.

Hong studied him carefully— the tired, weary lines of his face, the hollow eyes that had now seen too much it never asked for.

And his eyes dropped in shame, guilt tightening in his chest. He exhaled slowly, then moved towards the stairs, climbing them quietly.

The door to Est's room was open, the sunlight pouring into the room around the figure blocking it.

William stood by the window, shoulders pressed against the sill, staring out at the streets as if the asphalt held something in them, something captivating.

Light streaked across his face, catching the sharp lines of his jaw, the quiet intensity in his eyes. His body looked relaxed, untouchable.

Hong bit back a smile at the sight, oddly amused by how William always managed to look effortlessly cool and mysterious— even when he was dressed in ill-fitting sweats.

He deluded himself into thinking it was deliberate on William's part, an attempt to look like a formidable presence.

It mostly worked well, suited his dark personality.

But at the same time, it made it easier to tease him, rather than admit he admired him.

"Did you really crawl out of bed to stand by the window, just because you heard my voice, bullet hole?" Hong smiled, voice soft and teasing. He walked closer then, leaning slightly against the window sill. "Trying to look cool?"

William didn't move, but a small smile ghosted across his lips. "Bullet hole?" His brow raised at the new nickname. "That's new."

"Suits you." Hong teased.

William's eyes met Hong's, and for a brief moment, Hong saw the flicker of humour in them.

But only for a moment.

Then it quickly vanished.

His gaze drifted back outside. "Where were you?" William finally asked, voice low, carrying a weight beneath the casual boredom in his tone.

"Almost got killed. You?" Hong replied casually

"Same..." William replied drily, the word flat. But underneath it, there was heat there too, fury. It was the kind of simmering energy that spoke louder than any words.

Hong took a careful look around, as though the walls had ears, before asking, voice lowered. "What the fuck happened, Will?"

William's jaw tightened, eyes gone dark and distant with the memory. "Triads." He said simply, deliberately vague.

His tone was precise, controlled, almost unbothered. As was everything that came with William.

But Hong could still hear the burn underneath— something smoldering that he didn't want to get caught in.

"They know the snitch is working with the police..." William added, almost as an afterthought, eyes still fixed outside.

Hong swallowed, feeling the weight of that threat settle around him.

It frightened him.

Not them.

But him.

William.

He knew enough about William to understand the deadly calm in his tone.

"What are you going to do?" Hong asked cautiously, almost certain he didn't want to know the answer.

William was quiet for a long moment. Quiet but Hong could see his mind working, plotting, like a storm brewing, dark but inevitable.

Then, when he finally spoke, it was cold and certain, deadly. "I'm going to kill every single one of them."

There was no hesitation in his voice, no room for doubt. Only a promise, one Hong knew he would see to the very end.

Hong felt a shiver run down his spine, a mixture of worry, awe, and something else— something unnameable that wouldn't settle in his chest.

_________________________________

Hi guys. Hope you liked this one. If you did, i'm glad. However I have bad news. I'm putting this book on hold. Along with my other on-going fic. Life is too hectic rn and I unfortunately only have two hands. But i'll return soon. And hopefully when I do, updates will come more frequently. So take care my lovelies, i'll honestly miss you♥️