Taeyang knew that Pilseung would be so mad at him for even thinking of interfering, but he also knew that Jeon Iruk was NOT a friendly. There was no way he was letting Jeon Iruk do what he wanted with Pilseung. Nope nope nope. 

Over his dead body. 

(He learnt that from Rosie, bless her soul.)

And thus, the next morning had him trailing Pilseung. Enough crime movies had taught him to keep his pace similar and to act natural, even if he was wearing a cap that shielded Pilseung's eyes from him. 

Upon arriving at the location, Taeyang quickly hid behind a wall and poked his head out slightly to check on the situation. 

Pilseung had walked over to Jeon Iruk with a defeated look on his face, which did not go unnoticed as he smirked and had his goons hold Pilseung before he began punching. 

Again and again and again... 

Now it was clear to him why Pilseung always used long sleeves. He probably was beaten up for fun often...

He looked so resigned to his fate, as if the pain was a normal thing...

This was not the Oh Pilseung Taeyang knew. That Pilseung would have fought. 

But then again, you're no different. You do the homework for your upperclassmen all the time so they don't hurt your friends.

He bit his lip. It was because of that. He didn't want Pilseung, one of the most caring people he knows, to get hurt like he was. 

If he had to get dirty to stop it, so be it--

A flash and someone punched him into view, making the people he had been ready to beat up turn around. 

"T-Taeyang!" Pilseung yelped, but two of Iruk's henchmen held him back as Iruk smirked, "My cousin recognised you and him from yesterday." 

C-Cousin?!

And then it hit Taeyang. A trap. 

It had been a trap. 

He cursed himself out as he was pulled to his feet and punched again. 

"You got some nerve to try pulling this stunt on my cousin," ink-black eyes stared into his chocolate orbs, and their owner, Jeon Ilra, smirked at Taeyang, relishing the fear that was present. 

He should have realised. 

But of course, his heart had to win over his mind. 

Not for the first or last time, he hated his recklessness. 

"Let Taeyang go!" Pilseung hissed. "He has nothing to do with this--" 

He was punched to the ground by Jeon Iruk, sending him to the wall as he groaned in pain. 

"Pilseung!" 

Before he could do anything, Taeyang was tackled to the ground and his hands were forced behind his back, causing him to scream in pain. 

Iruk proceeded to kick him again and again.

Every scream destroyed him inside out. 

Was it all going to end this way? 

No! 

Pada trusted me to care for him!

I can't let this go on! He's my friend! Someone I have to protect!

With the renewed adrenaline in his veins, Taeyang forced a hand free, and he hissed as he felt some bones twist. 

(It was so so wrong, it hurt so much--) 

However, he pulled the other one free, and ignored the pain, instead choosing to set his palms on the ground before forcing the goon off his body. 

Holding the finger that really forced tears out, he forced himself to focus on the cousins and scowled hard, "Let him go!" 

"Taeyang! Just go!" Pilseung screamed. 

"NO WAY!" he argued heatedly, eyes burning as he stared at them. "You can hope, but I'm not leaving you with these two jerks!" 

"You're asking for it!" Ilra rushed forward and tried to punch him. 

A part of him, used to this and full of despair, whispered that it was best for him to just let it land. 

But what dominated his senses wasn't that. 

Never... No more will I let them win. Pilseung... Pilseung needs me to stand up to them so he can do the same!

He closed his eyes, and stepped back to let the punch hit nothing before he tightened his fist and swung his arm to hit him. Hard. 

"Ilra!"

Without wasting another second, he rushed to the goons and punched one to the side while kicking the other one down. 

(He had Rosie to thank for this. She enjoyed watching action movies and had gotten him to learn martial arts. Thank goodness for that.)

Pilseung crumpled to the ground, but he seemed to be fine. 

Hang in there Pilseung.

He turned to Iruk, eyes blazing as he cracked his knuckles, ignoring the pain that flared up. He would be fine. 

"You got some nerve!" he scowled. 

"You got some nerve hurting my friend," he shot back before he punched Iruk, sending him sprawling to the ground. 

He could hear the goons groaning all around him, but he didn't care as he rushed to Pilseung and got his phone out, calling 112 with shaky fingers. 

"Hello, this is the 112 Emergency Center. How can I help you?"

"H-Hello," From there, he found himself stammering out the details. How his friend was in critical condition due to bullying and how he needed help ASAP. He left out the details of his own condition at first, but it was detected and he had to give his own details from there. 

After he was sure they were done, he ended the call and took off his jacket so he could cover Pilseung. 

"T-Taeyang, w-why?" he choked out. 

"Is it wrong to..." he began to feel dizzy, but he managed to get it out. "Is it wrong to want to help someone you love? I won't... I won't let you suffer alone... Never again... t-that's... a promise..." 

His vision blurred, and went black as he heard Pilseung's shout of alarm. 

Well, at least he's safe now... That's all that matters...

A part of him wondered why he cared so much about him. Why he was willing to risk the pain and suffering for him. 

Was it his promise to Pada? 

No, he decided. That wasn't the case. 

It was because he cared for Pilseung. 

Not in the way that he cared for his family or his friends. 

He cared for Pilseung a lot. 

He couldn't bear to see him in pain.

In the days he had stayed with Pilseung in the house, he... he had fallen in love, hadn't he? 

With that, the fake smiles, the walls he had put up since it began when he was 7, it all fell apart... 

And he made a promise to himself that very moment; 

If, no, when he woke up, he would hug Pilseung and let him know that it was okay to not be okay. 

tuanhmyy294, it took a long while, but here! The plot twist!