It hurt.

The scalding pain cascading over his skin and trickling down his pores, hurt like hell. But he didn't flinch.

Hugging his legs that were pulled up to his chest, Jin cried atop his knees.

God! He deserved it. He deserved every single pain he felt in that moment.

At first, all he wanted was to ease the aching pain all over his body from the bumps and purples marks inflicted the previous night; at first, he wanted to make himself feel better. But the more he thought about it, the more he felt he actually deserved every pain he felt and turned up the temperature of the water

The hot steam had fogged the entire small bathroom, and the only sounds to be heard were the patter of the water against the white tiles of the bathtub and the soft sobs leaving Jin's mouth.

He deserved the pain. Why was he still with Hoseok? What exactly had he expected to have happened? All he had hoped for had failed, why didn't he take the cue and move along? Why did he have to be enslaved, subjugated to such emotional and physical torment.

'Just get the fuck out of that door and never turn back, you foolish coward!' He scolded himself; cussed himself.

It wasn't so hard, yet he there he was. Why wasn't he doing it? Why wasn't he saving himself? The pain was too much, why was he still bearing it?

He deserved the pain because he knew he didn't deserve any of what he was going through, yet he remained. Yet, he sat and took every blow in silence.

He was a year older than Hoseok, that should bring about an amount of respect.

He had paid for their houserent ever since they started to live together and bought every food stuff and household appliance; a little respect for that, right?

He treated Hoseok right. Made him into the only person he loved, cared for and adored. He had worshipped Hoseok more than he worshipped God; was that the reason he wasn't respected?

How much longer did he have to be so weak, so vulnerable to Hoseok? Was it until Hoseok's demon killed him? Was the demon holding him from running, doing it so Hoseok could work his way to killing him eventually? Was he too possessed like Hoseok.

Hoseok; possessed to be destructive, heartless and cruel. Jin; possessed to suffer in silence until time of death.

Even his poor family who loved Hoseok like their own had no idea what evil Hoseok had in his heart. Or what pain Jin had to go through everyday in the name of love.

He cried louder for having lied to his family. He had had to pretend and wear a mask just so no one would find out that the man of the house was a doormat to his boyfriend.

Embarrassement enveloped Jin like a robe. His hands covered his face in shame as he became ashamed before even inanimate objects that had witnessed the beatings he had had to endure in that very bathroom.

Was it enough that Hoseok was angry? Or that he was frustrated? Or he felt wronged by Jin? Or it was a family issue? Or from school? Or from the hostel. Or just any part of his life! But why did he have to torture an innocent person.

Jin's heart hurt for every time Hoseok's hand had come in contact with his face. For every time his fist had sent a blow to his chest or head. For every kick sent to his stomach or back.

He was stupid. He wasn't brave for taking all of those hits. For being able to tolerate.

He, Kim Seokjin, was a stupid person for letting it go on for so long. For feeding Hoseok's ego and giving him the chance to prevail over him.

Jin's hands rubbed down his body as chill ran up his spine. His body burned, it stung him as his shirt clung to his skin.

He shut his eyes, preventing the hot water from sipping into it. He had held unto the pain for so long. He waa tired of pretending it wasn't hurting. His body felt tired. His heart too.

He couldn't take the scalding anymore; neither could he take the torture.

But he couldn't move, from either of them. He sat rooted, to the bathtub as the hot water scalded his skin more, irritating it even worse.

All he needed was a little push, a little something to break him from his trance and open his eyes to reality. That would propel him to get to his feet and walk out that door, away from the scalds, away from Hoseok.

But where was that startling event? What would propel him- motivate him to move? What would kick back his reasoning and knock his senses back in place?

What?

Knock knock.

Jin's head snapped to the side.

The sound came again. This time he knew he wasn't daydreaming, but had actually heard the knock on the door.

Scrambling to his feet, Jin turned off the shower and climbed out of the tub. He pulled off his shirt, grabbing a towel and began to wipe his body.

It was unusual to have a visitor. If it were Hoseok, he would have used his keys, so Jin knew it was someone else.

The knock came again, followed by a faint, "Jin."

"Ye-" He cleared his cracked throat. "Yes? I'm coming."

Who was it? Jin tried to jog his memory for whom was likely to show up at their dorm door, as he rushed to change out into a sweatpants and a shirt.

"Seokjin, are you in?" The voice came again.

Jin could faintly pick the voice but not exactly pinpoint whom it belonged to.

"I'm coming. Please, hold on," Jin called as he rushed to the living room to open the door.

He flung the door open and his neighbor, Jackson Wang, stood outside the room.

"What's up?" Jackson gave a pursed smile.

Jin cleared his throat once again. "Hey," He replied, still puzzled as to why Jackson Wang was visiting.

"Um.. Is your roommate in?" Jackson asked his eyes briefly shifting to the room.

Jin shook his head. "No. He left for work a while ago. Do you need him for-"

"No, no," Jackson shook his head, waving his head. "Actually, I was hoping he wasn't in."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Jackson nodded. "Can we-" He gestured towards the room. "Talk inside?"

Jin nodded immediately. "Of course. Come on in." He moved away from the door, allowing Jackson into the room.

Water still dripped from his wet hair as he shut the door after Jackson and stepped into the room with him.

Jackson stood a few inches shorter as Jin turned to meet his gaze.

"Do you need anything to drink?" Jin offered.

He was friendly and open with his neighbors, but they never visited because Hoseok was always rude towards them. He felt a little nervous having Jackson.

"I'm good."

"Okay..." Jin mused, rubbing his wet palm, he had just combed through his hair, on his pants.

"You're surprised I knocked at your door, right?" Jackson asked, reading Jin's expression and knowing exactly what he was thinking. Jin was almost like an open book, very easy to read.

Jin shook his head hesitantly.

"Yes, you are. You're always indoors when you're around. I understand."

Jin bit his lower lip.

"The thing is I should have come sooner," Jackson stated.

Jin eyed him then the couch which was a few feet from them. He was aching to ask Jackson to sit down, but Jackson looked serious about what he wanted to say.

"For a long time I've been wanting to say this, to come over and talk to you. I see you in the hallway and the elevator and outside at school sometimes but I just always thought it wasn't my business to say anything or ask..."

Jackson shook his head. He had a scowl on his face, and creases had formed on his forehead.

"I thought I was being a good and polite person by keeping away from your affairs, but just as I sat in my room listening to everything, I figured I was a really bad person; a horrible neighbor."

Jin's heart jabbed furiously against his chest. His palms sweated at Jackson's words. What was he saying!?

"I just can't pretend that I don't hear it, that it doesn't bother me. You're such a good person, Jin. You're an amazing person. I hear everything and your fucking roommate, or should I say that 'boxer' you call your boyfriend doesn't deserve you. How can he beat you up over and over again!?"

Jin froze still.

His eyes glued to Jackson who was furious, veins popping in his head and neck.

"How can such a monster exist? Jin, I fear for you. The reason I came knocking today is because I can't take it anymore. You shouldn't take it anymore. Leave that bastard. Walk, Jin. Walk. That dude is going to kill you if you remain here. Your cries beckon to me. I can almost feel your pain. You're a grown ass man, not a kid that can be whopped. I can help you. I can. We can tell someone; the police, your family. Someone can help you. You don't have to remain here. You don't have to be a victim. You're too good to be subjected to this kind of wickedness."

Jin wanted to transform into a figurine size, jump into a hole and never come out. He felt like an idiot- like a clown whose wiseness was just revealed to have been foolishness all along.

"I know you feel you love him and it will be better. You might want to give him time. You feel you can change him by being patient and being diplomatic about all he does to you. But I'm sorry to kill your hope but people like Hoseok will not change. Jin, he's not going to change until he hurts you or even kills you! You don't have to wait for him or be patient."

Jin's eyes brimmed with tears.

Jackson eyed him sympathetically. "Jin..."

Blinking back his tears, Jin bit his lower lip to trap his sobs.

Jackson took slow steps towards him. "Let's go to the police station. This guy can be arrested for domestic violence. Let them put him behind bars, Jin. He's a monster. Hoseok doesn't deserve to move freely. If you only leave him, he'll come after your or feast on someone else- a new prey. He needs to be reported so he can be locked up- away from everyone."

A new surge of regret washed through Jin's body as once again, he regretted the day he met Hoseok. In fact, he cursed the day he met and fell in love with Hoseok.

With wobbly legs, he stumbled to the couch taking a sit. Carrying his head in his hand, Jin sobbed silently.

Jackson sighed. "I thought I should let you know. I'm not forcing you or trying to make you feel pressured. Whenever you're ready, Jin. But don't wait too long. Don't wait until it's too late, okay?"

Jin didn't respond. He sobbed more and more, heaving uncontrollably.

His heart throbbed.

"I'll leave now. Pull yourself together before he comes back, okay? Think about all I've told you. I'm just a few feet away if you need me," Jackson reassured.

Once Jackson left and Jin was alone once again, he let out his sobs and cried for himself.

He mourned the person he used to be; the strong, independent Kim Seokjin who had become a punching bag, a doormat... Hoseok's punching bag, Hoseok's doormat.

Seokjin pitied for himself; for the person he had lost and for the person he had become.