It's Just A Picture (BL)
Chapter 275: Family was family

Chapter 275: Family was family

Seojun got a good smack on his head from Seojin and was sent to the corner.

"Don’t mind him, Hyung. He was just bluffing." Seojin said, smiling to reassure Dongwoo but Dongwoo could tell that was more than a bluff. "Anyway, I’ll take it from here."

He sat on the bed next to Dongwoo and took his hand.

His hand was warm thanks to Seojin holding on to it so tightly. He interlocked their fingers and kissed the back of his palm.

"Hyung, since we don’t know the person behind this," he began, "I’m going to call the names of the last two people who came out of your office before you fainted."

Dongwoo nodded.

"Nod once if it’s Geum Jaeho and nod twice... If it’s Song Shinwoo."

Dongwoo paused. If he answered then wouldn’t they go further to ask why he was able to make him scared?

"Hyung," Seojin asked and Dongwoo nodded. And then he nodded again. "Nod once. Did he try to assault you or did he threaten you? Nod twice for that."

Dongwoo started trembling again. He didn’t threaten him or assault him but...

He shook his head and Seojin blinked, confused.

"I don’t understand. He didn’t do any of that?"

Dongwoo nodded.

"Then what did he do?" Dongwoo shook his head, meaning he didn’t do anything. "Hyung, are you... Trying to cover for him?"

Dongwoo’s eyes widened and he shook his head.

"He really didn’t do anything." He spoke. "All he did was talk."

"Then what did he say? Can you repeat it? There’s gotta be a threat in his words." Seojin said but Dongwoo shook his head.

"There was no threat." He said, "Even with the smallest things he says, I... I feel threatened. His mere presence haunts me. It... It’s not so simple." He turned his face aside. "When I see him, my body naturally reacts in fear and my mind, as well as my heart, gets so terrified that it almost seems like I’m standing in front of a beast."

He took his hand from Seojin’s grip and folded them. He felt like crying again.

"I’m just that much of a coward."

"No," Minwoo snapped. "You’re not a coward. Don’t say that."

"Then what do you call a person who gets scared for no reason?" Dongwoo asked, sadly. A single drop of tears rolled down his cheek and Seojun wiped it off.

Dongwoo looked up at him to see him smiling at him.

"I don’t believe you’re scared for no reason." He said. "He must’ve done something to you in the past, am I right? And I’m sure it’s not just one or two instances. He’s done a lot of things that left you scarred. It doesn’t have to be physical; it can be mental and emotional, so you’re not scared for nothing."

"But at times like this," Seojin added, "...when you ask yourself why you’re scared, also ask yourself, what can he do to me?"

"Huh?"

"When you ask yourself, ’what can he do to me?’, it would make you ponder if he ever posed a threat to you if he was ever really able to harm you in the past, and if he can harm you in the present and future as well." He brushed Dongwoo’s hair back. "If you think of it like this instead, even if it’s not very effective, I believe it will ease up your fears a bit."

"And remember," Minwoo decided to add his own little advice, "...you’re not alone anymore. You have these two big pieces of flesh guarding and moving you,"

(That was definitely personal)

"...and then there’s me. Your kind, reliable, and adorable younger brother." He smiled.

"You’re trying to push buttons, aren’t you?" Seojun asked but Minwoo feigned ignorance.

"Hm? There are buttons around? Where?"

Dongwoo chuckled and said,

"I understand." He looked up at them. "I just have to remember that I have a family that is willing to protect me."

They stared at him, astonished and Dongwoo did not know why.

"What? Was it... Was it something I said?" He asked, worried that he had spoken wrongly.

Seojun suddenly kissed his lips and let go. Seojin did the same and he honestly could not tell why.

"I’m so happy." Minwoo said and hugged him.

"Can someone tell me why all this?" He asked.

"It’s because you called us a family." Seojun and Seojin chorused.

"What they said." Minwoo said, nodding his head.

It honestly made them skeptical and happy that Dongwoo decided to use that term. Though the context of family was different between them it still meant one thing.

Family was family.

As long as he viewed them as his family, nothing else mattered.

"Hyung," Seojin clasped his face. "...I’m so happy. I hope you don’t get scared anymore." He said and kissed him more deeply this time.

Dongwoo closed his eyes. It was warm and he could feel his heart beating warmly. He loved the feeling when he wasn’t scared or troubled.

He wished he would never be troubled.

Minwoo, who was definitely not okay with the sight of them kissing, decided to go out and make sure there weren’t any paparazzi lurking around, trying to get pictures.

Because if they did, things would be really bad.

He could leave them to suck on each other’s lips for as long as they wanted while he stood guard outside.

But just before he got to the door, he paused and glanced back to make sure Dongwoo was alright, and in that single moment that he looked away from the door, the door opened quietly, and a small group from the crew walked in.

The first thing their eyes fell on was Seojun pushing Seojin away from Dongwoo so he could have his turn kissing.

And truly, that was something they did not expect to come across when entering Dongwoo’s ward to see how he was doing.

"Oppa is...gay?" Doha asked and they all turned to the door right away in shock.

They saw Eunwoo, Doha, Dooshik, Jaeho, staring at them with shock all over their fsces. They were in disbelief, honestly. Who would’ve thought.

Minwoo palmed his face.

And then there was Taiha who was just behind them and was a little late; if not, he would’ve made a noise to alert them in case they were doing anything intimate.

But seriously, couldn’t they keep their lips to themselves for just one minute?

Doha in front, stared at them, Dongwoo, in particular. She had this look of disappointment on her face. No, it was something close to heartbreak.

She... Was heartbroken. Why?

(Don’t ask me. I don’t know. In case you didn’t see the sign before. She was especially nice to Dongwoo and not just because he was likeable but because she had a crush on him)