Crave You Forever
Chapter 94: I’ll try my best to be a better man

Chapter 94: I’ll try my best to be a better man

As Yeongsoo’s footsteps faded down the hall, Haeun stood frozen, tears finally spilling over, blurring his vision as he looked at the door in front of him. His heart ached with each beat, as if it were tearing itself apart. He had been so focused on his own pain, his own fears, that he hadn’t seen the depth of Yeongsoo’s sacrifices, the silent battles he’d fought alone.

The door was right there, so close he could reach out and push it open. Yet something held him back, a weight in his chest that kept his feet rooted to the spot. The words Yeongsoo had thrown at him replayed in his mind, each one sinking deeper than the last. "I could give up everything for you, Haeun, but what about you?"

He clenched his fists, feeling the sting of Yeongsoo’s truth. He had always expected so much, he had demanded loyalty, trust, love... but what had he given in return? He’d built walls around his heart, letting Yeongsoo break himself against them, and then blamed him for every bruise.

The hallway was silent now, but his heart thundered louder with each passing second. He couldn’t picture a life without Yeongsoo in it—he didn’t want a life without him. Before he knew it, his feet had moved, carrying him down the same path Yeongsoo had taken. He was running now, ignoring the stares of the guards as he hurried to catch up.

"Yeongsoo!" he shouted, voice cracking. "Wait, please... wait!"

He saw Yeongsoo stop, his shoulders tense, back rigid as he slowly turned to face him. Haeun came to a breathless halt, swallowing against the tears and the apology that burned in his throat.

"I’m sorry," Haeun choked out, each word raw, painful, but carrying the weight of his heart. "I’m sorry, Yeongsoo. I... I was selfish. I thought I was protecting myself, but I didn’t see that I was hurting you. I was so afraid of being controlled, of losing myself... but I was the one pushing you away. I was so blind."

Yeongsoo’s expression softened, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through the hardness in his eyes, though he didn’t move toward Haeun.

"I know you’ve given up so much for me," Haeun continued, his voice shaking. "I was so focused on what I was afraid of losing that I never stopped to think about what you’d already lost for my sake. And the truth is... I don’t want a future without you. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to face it all with you, but I’m willing to try—if you’ll still have me."

Yeongsoo’s gaze softened further, his eyes darkening with a mix of pain and hope. He took a hesitant step forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you really mean that, Haeun? I know I’m not going perfect and my job isn’t perfect either....but if you’re willing to continue loving me then I will try my best to be a better person."

Haeun nodded, his tears falling freely now. "Yes. I mean it with everything I have. I love you, Yeongsoo. I was just too scared to say it... too scared to need you as much as I do."

Yeongsoo’s own defenses crumbled, and he took Haeun’s hand in his, holding it like it was both fragile and sacred. "I love you too," he said, voice thick with emotion. "I’ve always loved you. And I’m willing to give up everything for us, if it means you’re willing to walk with me, through whatever comes."

Haeun’s heart swelled, and he nodded, squeezing Yeongsoo’s hand tightly. "I’ll stay," he whispered, voice resolute. "I’ll stay with you. We’ll face it all together."

Yeongsoo’s gaze softened as he brushed a trembling thumb across Haeun’s cheek, wiping away a stray tear. But as he leaned closer, intent on kissing away each trace of Haeun’s pain, his touch stilled. A dark red mark marred Haeun’s face, trailing from his cheekbone to his jaw, bruises hidden beneath the faintest swelling. The fury in Yeongsoo’s eyes was immediate, a storm brewing behind his once-gentle gaze.

"Who did this?" he demanded, his voice cold, each word sharp as a blade. The tenderness was gone, replaced by a deadly calm that made Haeun shiver.

Haeun hesitated, glancing away. He hadn’t wanted Yeongsoo to know, hadn’t wanted to add more fuel to the anger already simmering beneath the surface. But the intensity in Yeongsoo’s stare left no room for lies, no space to deflect the truth.

"I don’t know his name," Haeun whispered, voice barely above a breath. "He... he confronted me. Told me to leave you or else he’d make sure we’d regret it. And when I didn’t listen..." His words trailed off, fingers unconsciously reaching to cover the bruised skin, but Yeongsoo gently caught his hand, moving it away to reveal the full extent of the damage.

Yeongsoo’s jaw clenched, and his entire frame seemed to tense with the weight of his fury. His grip on Haeun’s hand was gentle, but his voice carried an unmistakable edge. "He laid a hand on you... because of me?"

"It wasn’t your fault," Haeun insisted, a flicker of worry in his eyes. "He was... angry. And I didn’t back down. I didn’t let him scare me into leaving you. But I didn’t want you to know, Yeongsoo. I didn’t want you to carry more guilt because of him."

Yeongsoo’s expression softened for a moment, touched by Haeun’s resilience, but the anger returned swiftly, fiercer than before. "No one touches you," he said, voice low and laced with a promise. "No one gets to hurt you like this and walk away without facing the consequences."

Yeongsoo already knew it was Bai Youran, if he didn’t blow his head up tonight then his name wasn’t Cheon Yeongsoo.

"Let’s get your patched up, who did you leave Suho with?"

Yeongsoo asked as he scooped Haeun into his arms, swallowing his anger back for now.

"Ah! Wait put me down, I can walk by myself.."

"..."

"Stay put and tell me who you left Suho with?"

Haeun pouted and refused to speak, he pursed his lips and crossed his arms.

"Alright darling, can you please tell me where Suho is? You must be hungry too? What do you want to eat?"