Devastatingly horrid, unedited.

Taekwoon rolled around his bed lazily, a pout played on his lips as he pulled out the device hidden under his bed. He sighed for the umpteenth time in the past ten minutes when he saw no calls or text messages from Wonsik, tapping his thumb on the side of his phone nervously.

Should he call him?

He went to their messages, re-reading the others words of, "I'll see you later, Woonie. Leave the window unlocked! Don't wait up."

Despite what the other had said, the elder had been up waiting for almost two hours, lazing around on his bed and playing games that Wonsik had downloaded for him.

Biting his lip with a nod, he pressed onto Wonsik's name in his call log and put it up to his ear.

Once, twice, thric—

"H-Hello?" An unfamiliar voice trembled, "Taekwoon?"

"Hello? Who is this?... Wonsik?"

"Oh my god, Taekwoon!" The voice cried out, "T-Taekwoon, listen. Listen, okay? It's J-Jaehwan. You probably don't know me but... fuck! I-I'm a good friend of Wonsik's and, a-and..."

"Jaehwan? What's wrong?" Taekwoon sat up stiffly as he heard a screeching sound on the other side of the phone, "Where's Wonsik?"

"L-Look, I-I-I..." There was a sob on the other side, "Pull yourself together, Jaehwan! Fuck!" Deep breathes were taken, "Taekwoon, I'm on my way driving Wonsik to the h-hospital."

"What?!" Taekwoon gasped out, tears forming in his eyes as he held a hand against his lips. "What's wrong? What's wrong with Wonsik? Why're you taking him to the hospital?"

"Y-You know he fights, right?" Taekwoon noddedly numbly, choking out a yes as he realized Jaehwan couldn't see it, eyes glancing over at his door as lights were turned on, shining through the crack. "Well, I should've known he wasn't in a g-good shape to fight but, shit, I trusted him too much. I-I don't know what was wrong with him but he kept spacing out and... a-and... oh god."

"No, no, no, Jaehwan. You can't just stop, what happened? What happened to Wonsik?" Taekwoon let out a whimper, cupped his lips more tightly as he realized how loud he was being.

"Taekwoon?" His father called, "Taekwoon? Open up your door."

"He's bleeding out so much... there's so much blood. I-I don't know. L-Look, I'm ta-aking him to Gangnam Yonsei Sarang Hospital, okay? I'll call you when I can." His voice was trembling and with that, the line cut short.

"No, no, no! No!" Taekwoon shouted as he quickly dialed Wonsik's phone once more, praying that it was just one sick joke the two were playing on him, that Wonsik would pick up with a chuckle and tease him, that everything was fine.

"Taekwoon! You unlock this door right now!" His father pounded on the door, making him jump as he realized the mistake he had made. He sat on his bed, vision a little blurry as sobs wracked his body, pressing his lips together tightly as he tried to stay silent.

Wonsik was hurt.

"Taekwoon!" His mother's voice sounded as the door clicked, signaling that his parents had indeed used the spare key they kept.

He was too numb to think clearly, merely sitting there with the phone held tightly in one hand as another pressed into his eyes.

"What is this? Where did you get this?" His father tried to snatch the device from his hand but he yanked it back with twice as much force, cries escaping his lips louder as he held it above his heart.

"Sweetheart, that's not the issue at hand." His mother's voice chided, "What's wrong? Why're you crying, Taekwoon-ah?You're making us worry."

He took in a deep breath as he tried to calm himself, his heart racing with pain pumping in his veins. Everything was so numbing as he stared at his parents. "I-I-I'm so s-sorry." his voice cracked as he apologized, shaking his head as his eyes shut tight, hanging down in shame.

He opened his eyes as he felt his mother's hands on his own, his fingers subconsciously gripping at the phone tighter. She crouched down in front of him, worry etched in the wrinkles of her forehead.

"Honey, for what? What's happening?" She cooed softly, a hand caressing his hair gently before her thumb wiped away streaks of tears only for new ones to be made.

"I-I'm so sorry." He grabbed her hand, holding it to his cheek as he cried. "I broke our promise. I s-should've told you when I did, but I-I was so scared."

"Broke our promise? You went outside? Did you meet someone? Is that why have this? Did they hurt you?! Taekwoon, answer me. Is someone behind the reason why you're crying?" His mother stood up, towering over him and never had he felt so small.

"Y-Yes." He closed his eyes in guilt once more, "Yes, I-I went outside. Not because I wanted to!" He shook his head as he stared up at his parents.

"But you still did! A-And.. and you didn't tell us." His mother took her hand back as she stared at him in disbelief, stared at him like he was a stranger she just met, not the good boy she raised him to be.

"I met someone." He bit out.

"And they're the reason why you have this phone? Are they the reason why you're crying?"

"Mom... D-Dad.." He hiccuped, placing the phone in his lap as he gripped at the wristband that had been covering the black ink embedded into his skin.

K.W.S.

Just seeing those letters were enough to make the waterworks start again, pouring out of him in waves of sorrow.

"Taekwoon!" His father's voice was trembling in shock and anger. "You m-met... you met this, this, this person. And they're the reason?" His father was huffing, turning to his mother. "How did you not know of this sooner?"

"Don't blame this on me! I knew as much as you did, nothing!" She started, pointing an accusing finger but before they could start their banter, Taekwoon cut in.

"He's in the hospital." He sniffled as they quieted down, "He's.. H-He's hurt real bad a-and his friend is taking him to the hospital." There was a pause before he looked up at the two of them, desperation in his eyes. "Please.. Please take me there."

Taekwoon sat there, body trembling as he stared at the white wall across from him, feeling as blank as it was.

It was cold.

Everything was oddly cold.

The sterilized smell that surrounded him stung his nose, the scent being unpleasant and bringing a nauseous feeling to the pit of his stomachs.

He opted to slouching down in the more or less uncomfortable chair, digging his nose into the sweater he was wearing that wasn't his own, the familiar scent of spice giving him some peace of mind. He twirled his fingers together before pulling the sleeves passed his fingertips, warming them within the fabric.

His eyes felt puffy and swollen, his throat felt sore and his head was throbbing but he put it all aside; Wonsik was in a state much worse than his own. He had no place to complain about his own discomforts when the man he had feelings for were behind those doors fighting for his life.

A case of 2 broken ribs, punctured lung, busted lip, open cut on the forehead, and a black eye. A few other cuts scattered here and there, some worse than others but none needed as many stitches as the one on his face.

Taekwoon let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes as he remembered the sight of Wonsik. They had made it just in time to see the paramedics lift the bloodied man onto a stretcher, Taekwoon nearly collapsing into his father's arms in shock as Jaehwan ran over to them with tears of his own running down his face. Though they had dimly met each other, the despair of the state Wonsik was in was enough for the two to hold onto each other tightly.

"Coffee?"

Taekwoon opened his eyes to see a cup of steaming caffeine, Jaehwan offering a small smile. "Thank you." He grabbed the cup gratefully, blowing at it as the other took a seat next to him.

"I don't think I ever got to introduce myself. Lee Jaehwan, but you can call me Ken if you want. It's basically a Ravi for me." The younger male smiled his cheeky smile, though Taekwoon had a feeling it could reach much higher if they had met on better terms.

"Jung Taekwoon." He answered softly, bringing his hand out for the other to take.

"I know." Jaehwan laughed, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet finally meet you. Wonsik's talk about you."

"Good things, I hope."

"Nothing but." Silence ensued for a few seconds, Jaehwan looking torn between saying something or keeping it to himself. "You know... Wonsik... Wonsik's completely whipped for you. Came to my house crying over you just yesterday night."

Taekwoon frowned, pausing in his sip of coffee. "Crying? Did I make him cry?"

"No." Jaehwan chuckled a little, "He's just an emotional little bitch sometimes even though he tries not to."

"Why was he crying than?"

"Because he liked you more than he can handle." Jaehwan hummed,"He's scared."

Taekwoon didn't respond, merely staring at his cup.

"You know why?"

"Because he thinks he's ruining me." Taekwoon answered, getting a nod of approval from Jaehwan, a look of surprise and impressment on the others face. "He thinks I don't like him as much as I say I do. Doesn't want to believe it because he thinks I can't tell the difference between like and like-like."

"You're a lot smarter than he's let me in to believe." Jaehwan murmured as he stares at the male his friend is completely head-over-heels for.

"Not really, I do struggle on a daily basis when experiencing new feelings with him. But I know the butterflies I get in my stomach and the way my heart skips two beats when he says my name is not the effects of a friendly like." Taekwoon paused, "Plus, he's a lot easier to read than he'd like to be when he's with me."

"Amen to that." The other sighed. "You should tell him that. Reassure him before he makes a dumb mistake and lets you go thinking it's for the best."

"I think we both know even then he'll find an excuse to leave. It's not me he's scared of, it's the way he feels towards me." Taekwoon stared at his own reflection, feeling almost unacquainted with himself. When had he really began to catch on? Why couldn't he had just stayed ignorant to the things around him like he had grown use to? Things hurt a lot less than.

But nothing felt as good either. Sure, the pain and sadness he felt now was tenfold of what he's ever felt before but the happiness he felt outweighed everything. His knack for wisdom and urge to understand more and more was driving him more than ever. He wanted to know the good and bad, wanted to know all there was to be felt.

He wanted to know how Wonsik felt. All the loneliness he's felt under his facade of confidence and intimidation. He would never tell his lover about the countless times he had seen that broken look on his face when he thought Taekwoon wasn't looking.

"True." Jaehwan brought his own cup to his lips, taking a sip before settling it back on his lap.

"Where are my parents?" Taekwoon asked as he looked around for the pair that hadn't really said much to him after comforting his sobbing form that his fated would be okay.

"Cafeteria. I don't know what they were talking about but looked serious." Jaehwan shrugged. "I don't know much about your situation but I know just enough to come to the conclusion that they're keeping you from living. From truly living and experiencing."

He nodded in return, "They just really care."

"Do you really like him? Wonsik, I mean."

"Why? Do you doubt it too?"

"Mm... not so much doubt, just confirming."

"You're doubting me." Taekwoon looked over at Jaehwan.

"Just a little. I mean, Wonsik's got a point. You've never experienced friendship with anyone else so how do you know it's not like that?" Jaehwan stared back at him.

"Because what I'm feeling with you right now, could never compared to the feelings I felt when I first saw him." Taekwoon simply stated.

"You mean when you first saw him pin a man to the wall and threaten him?" Jaehwan rose a brow in amusement.

"Well, no." Taekwoon laughed. "That wasn't Wonsik. That was Ravi. Just like this isn't Ken, this is Jaehwan."

"And how are you so sure this isn't Ken?"

"Like you said, I know more than I let on." He shrugged once more, "I just get the vibe. All in all, you don't make me feel like I'm going to burn under a single look or touch."

"And Wonsik does?"

Taekwoon pondered for a moment, "Wonsik... Wonsik gives me the feeling that if I get too close, I'm going to be scorched. But, I wouldn't mind burning for him. If he was a literal fire, I'd still step into it and smile just as brightly."

"That's pretty masochistic of you to say." The two let out a chuckle.

"Not as sadistic as it is for me to want Wonsik burning. The world's been too cold to him, I'm glad he's learned to build his own fire."

"You could be a philosopher, you know that? You're the type to respond with Why when asked Why not."

Silence filled the air as they both drifted off into their own thoughts, waiting for the news of their friend and lover being safe and sound.

It was then that it hit Taekwoon.

Pain, pain, pain.

Pain.

"Hey, hey, hey. You okay?" Jaehwan leaned over as Taekwoon groaned out, gripping his wrist tightly as he doubled over.

Burn, burn, burn.

He's burning.

"Taekwoon! Hey, stay with me." Jaehwan grabbed onto him as his body slumped over, almost falling right off his chair. "Taekwoon?" Jaehwan patted his back, breathing a little more shallow as he looked around, about to call for a nurse as he spotted the couple coming back. "Hey! Something's wrong with Taekwoon."

Taekwoon ears rang as he stared down as his wrist, black ink scorching red as the pain got worse, his heart beating deafeningly in his ears as a hot arrow pierced right through it. He started gasping for air, grabbing onto his mother who was frantically cupping his face, his father next to her, finger snapping at his eyes to get his attention.

His eyes rolled back as the pain doubled, clenching his teeth together, his body temperature dropping as cold sweat rolled down his back.

He was burning but he's never felt so cold.

He tried his best to focus as his mother's and father's voice rang in and out, sentences mismatched as his body slumped forward. A terrible feeling overcame him, barely staying conscious as a single sentence finally made coherence.

"Something must be wrong with Wonsik."

Lmao, why is my writing so mediocre?

It's Thanksgiving, y'all deserve it. It's not my best work or my longest, but it's what I could come up with after a few months. Sorry I'm a little rusty but I hope you enjoyed!

Happy Thanksgiving!