❀ ⋆˚｡ Chapter Nine: Hope Hurts the Most ｡˚⋆ ❀

“Maybe this time… they’ll be glad to see me.”

It was late evening when Youngjae saw him.

He had wandered too far.Beyond the convenience store, past the second bridge, tucked near a bus stop where no buses came after 6 p.m.

Kyungmin was sitting on the curb. His legs were drawn to his chest, arms wrapped tightly around them. His hoodie sleeves covered his hands. His face was pale under the streetlight. He looked like a paper doll left out in the rain — thin, quiet, and fragile enough to tear.

“Kyungmin?” Youngjae called out softly.

Kyungmin flinched at the sound of his name.

He looked up — startled. But then his face softened, just for a second.As if a small part of him believed:Maybe they came to find me.Maybe they missed me.Maybe they care after all.

Dohoon, Jihoon, and Hanjin came running after.

“Dude,” Dohoon muttered, breathless. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

Kyungmin blinked slowly. “I… I didn’t think anyone noticed I was gone.”

“That’s the problem,” Jihoon snapped. “You didn’t think. Again.”

Hanjin grabbed his arm. “Come on. Before Appa finds out we were late.”

Kyungmin didn’t resist.But the softness that had bloomed in his chest wilted again.

⋆˙⟡⭑⋆˖ ࣪

When they got home, Shinyu was waiting.

He stood in the living room, his coat still on. His jaw was clenched. His eyes sharp. His hand gripped his phone like it was a weapon.

The moment Kyungmin stepped through the door, the air snapped.

“You little brat—”His voice thundered. “Where were you?!”

Kyungmin opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

“I asked you a question!”

“I—I was just—”

A blow to the side.

“Do you think I have time to worry about you disappearing?! After everything this family does for you?!”

Another strike. Harder.

“You go off without a word like some kind of stray?! You don’t get to do that!”

The brothers didn’t move.

Jihoon looked away.Dohoon bit his lip.Hanjin stayed frozen.Youngjae… just watched.

“I wasn’t trying to—” Kyungmin tried again, voice cracking.

“I don’t care!” Shinyu roared. “Stop acting like the world revolves around your pathetic feelings!”

He shoved Kyungmin backward. The boy stumbled, landing hard on the floor.

Shinyu turned and stormed away, cursing under his breath.

The room was silent again.

Then Jihoon spoke. Cold. Careless.“This is why you should never go missing.”

Dohoon added, quieter, but just as cruel:“You’re really a burden to the family.”

Kyungmin didn’t respond.Didn’t cry.Didn’t even flinch.

He just lay there.

Eyes open.Heart closed.

And something inside him — the last piece of belief — died quietly in the dark.

No tears.No sound.Just silence.

And the silence stayed.