—TRIGGER WARNING FOR RAPE, MENTION OF SUICIDE AND ASSAULT—

Hyungwoon approaches Seokjin, walking almost glued to him.

They start their walk and shortly after find a rather big wooden cottage in the shades of purple.

"I can already guess what that retarded's secret is, being retarded." Jisung who was walking beside Minho laughs at his own joke. The Lee walks faster ignoring the other.

The bratty male doesn't give up though.

"He must be the disappointment of the family or something." He chuckles running after Minho.

"Can I ask who those people were?" He reaches the other's side as they approach the house.

"No you can't," Minho answers not paying the other much mind. The spoiled brat scuffs.

"And then you say I'm the bratty one." Minho stops in his tracks and points a threatening finger in front of the other.

"I'll tell you this once and I hope that minuscule brain of yours gets it on the first try. I am not your friend. We are a team, yes and I'll have to work with you to win this shit but the moment we find a way out I'm done with you. I hate people like you, attention-seeking bitches who think they are better than all the others. Guess what? Not everyone is daddy's favorite who gets whatever he wants from him by just being a 'good boy'." Minho was extremely angry, he just couldn't with these sorts of people who criticize people they don't even know. How dare Jisung think he's better than all the others?

The brunette shuts up instantly. Somehow the atmosphere changed completely, the tension could be cut with a knife. Both just stay like that, looking at each other, Minho still having his finger pointed at the other's nose.

I must have hit a nerve.

"Are you both coming? We are about to start." Seokjin shouts from inside.

Jisung gulps down his dry saliva and enters the house.

The inside was very cozy and warm. The scent of wood was dominant yet the mixture of the small fire inside made it all smell like Christmas.

There were two bunk beds at the far end. A fireplace vis a vis to the beds. At the back of the beds, there were two very large windows letting in the rays of late sunshine inside.

On the left side was also a wooden cupboard. To the right was a table with four chairs on top of it five sandwiches with the salad leaves looking out.

Jisung's tummy growls at the sight. He can't even remember the last time he ate anything.

Kihyun was already sitting on one of the lower bunk beds having Hwangwoon right by his side, Seokjin was sitting on the other one signaling for the boys to sit by his side.

Jisung sits beside Seokjin yet Minho decided to take the other side and not even catch sight of Jisung from his angle.

"Hello, my lovely purple participants! Let us all start with the leader! Tell us Kim Seokjin, what is your biggest secret?" The high-pitched voice utters going away again. It must be passing by each team so it can make sure everyone is following the rules.

The four participants stare at Jin, not wanting to pressure him but being curious nonetheless.

"Well ... This has been haunting me for three years now." The oldest fidgets with the hem of his sleeve, looking away from the others.

"My brother ... he's an officer and I'm an owner of a bar beside his station. It's only natural for his friends to come drink from time to time. One specific man ... Hyungseo ... would come each day after work. We started being really good friends and one day ... I got really drunk with him. It was so fun I didn't even notice the number of drinks I had consumed." Seokjin smiles remembering the older's beautiful dimples. The way his dragon eyes closed slightly each time he smiled. How he understood him in a way no other man had before.

He was his homosexual discovery, he made him realize why no other woman ever made him happy enough. Only a man could take that place.

It's rather difficult to stand in front of these strangers and admit the biggest mistake of his life but Seokjin just sees it as a peculiar way of playing truth or dare.

"I guess you can all assume what happened after." Kihyun smiles at Seokjin remembering his own love story.

Minho dares a glance at Jisung yet the other was looking at the ground with a black face not even blinking.

"After that ... it was amazing. We had a secret relationship since my brother would kill him if he knew. One day I went to the station to give them some cupcakes I had baked. Let's say from all the days to do so I choose the worst one. A murderer managed to escape his cell and took me as a hostage at the station itself, shielding himself with me from the other cops. I used the self-defense moves I know and managed to escape but the criminal took a gun from a table nearby and shot." Hwangwoon gasps.

"Did he shoot you?" Seokjin shakes his head and a single tear escapes his right eye, rolling down his rosy cheek.

"Hyungseo got in between and saved me ... I ... I was such a coward and let my brother believe me and him had nothing together ... I didn't go to his funeral ... didn't bid my goodbye ... I ... I froze in place seeing all that blood on me ... those lifeless eyes staring at me ... I couldn't bring myself to do anting." Hwangwoon stands up and embraces the older in a tight hug.

"It's not your fault. You were overwhelmed and your body was only able to freeze." The smaller parts ways again and stares at Jin.

"Funeral or not you can always go say bye. Everyone has their time. If you weren't able to do it when his funeral happened you can go now. Anywhere really. The important part is that you let go of the guilt and enable Hyungseo to crossover without having anything holding him back." The blond wipes the other's tear with his shirt making the older smile again.

"Wherever he is, Hyungseo understands why you hesitated and sees your pain. Now all you gotta do is let him go Seokjin. What happened wasn't your fault and Hyungseo knows that." Kihyun stands up as well approaching them.

Seokjin looks up at the standing man and sniffs two times.

"We all walk around feeling guilty about something. Some with worse regrets than those and others with better. In the end, it's only human to make mistakes. In your case being disoriented and not knowing what to do is completely normal." Kihyun gives the older a reassuring smile.

"Enough of me! Let's continue with you guys so we can finally start eating." Seokjin smiles trying to hide the hard truth; he went back to a very bad place, the worst place he has ever been.

"I'll continue then." Kihyun adds sitting back again. He leans his head against the lather of the bunk bed, sighing.

"It's not technically my secret but ... I'm ... well ... I'm in a polyamorous relationship, with two guys." Jisung who had been paralyzed for the past ten minutes scuffs.

"You're so fucking narcissistic aren't you? Wanting it all for you. No wonder you're gay, using people as you please and want. What one hole to fuck wasn't enough?" The older stands up abruptly ready to draw a punch on the younger's face. Jisung on his end stands strong, puffing his chest.

"That's enough!" Seokjin screams putting himself between both males.

"Ki I know he's talking bullshit but you need to calm down. We still need him to complete the mission. We don't know the consequences of not finishing the task. And you ..." He points his index finger at the younger.

"You gotta apologize." Jisung rolls his eyes and smirks.

"And how do you think will you make me? Forget it." Kihyun waits for Seokjin to stand up and hits Jisung across the face, the hardest he can, leaving the flesh marked with his handprint.

The spoiled man gasps laying his hand on the hurt skin.

"YOU DID NOT JUST HIT ME!" He stands up in haste wanting to fight back but Minho grabs him steadily and makes him sit back.

"You deserved it, you disgusting homophobe." Ki adds and sits again.

Hwangwoon and Seokjin continue standing, half hugging each other.

"As I was saying, I'm in a relationship with two guys which is difficult enough as it is. But one of them is a military officer."

"Clarify Kihyun! Who are the people you are dating?" The voice is asking for too much. He can't expose his partners, not with the way Hyunwoo looked at him half hour ago.

"If you intend not to tell it I will inform them about your partner's secret."

Kihyun takes a deep breath and grinds his teeth. How he wished to kill her right there and then.

"You can tell us, Ki, it won't leave this room. Minho explains looking at Jisung dead in the eye. The younger was still perplexed at the slap.

"It's ... Minhyuk and Hyunwoo, they are other participants. One was the one I hugged earlier and the other ... is the one in uniform." Minho already knew his brother was having a homosexual relationship with Ki yet he didn't know there was a third member.

He doesn't mind it one bit but it did seem like that guy did.

"Congrats! Being in a three-way relationship is not always easy you know so I'm happy you're able to keep it together." Seokjin adds giving him a smile.

"Yeah, you're right. I love both of them equally and probably will continue loving until my last breath. What about you, little one? What is your secret." He points at Hwangwoon seeing how the other's cheeks heat up.

"He's retarded that's all there is to know." Jisung strikes again, still furious about the slap.

"You do realize that the 'retard' comforted Seokjin more than you ever could, right? He might be lacking some neuroplasticity, but he's still better than you could ever be." Jisung smirks again.

"I'm way better than him, I don't need my 'daddy'. How sick and disgusting to be so fragile and need a man to help you." Minho growls loud.

"I'm trying to be patient and stay cool but if you don't shut that mouth I'll have to beat you up, and this time not just a slap." Jisung nears his face on the other's, staying mere inches away from him.

"I would like to see you try."

"And I would like for both of you to stay quiet and hear him out." Seokjin demands seeing as both boys quiet down shortly after.

"Well ... I ... I'm not retarded ... I'm quite normal actually." Hwanwoon plays with the hem of his shirt. Will they understand him when he tells the truth about his baby talk?

"That's new, since when is being a fucking child and gay normal?" Jisung adds, a smirk not leaving his face.

"I swear if you don't shut the fuck up there will be consequences." Kihyun says and magically it worked. It seems Jisung learned to respect the older because of the previous slap.

"Please continue sweet cheeks." Seokjin nods for him to continue.

"Well ... I've had ... a lot of bad experiences when I was younger ... and when I went to therapy, I told my psychologist about some strange behavior I was experiencing. I thought it was all due to the trauma but seems like it's not causality but rather a coping mechanism. He told me it was all fine ... that I had what they call little space. It's when due to constant stress, a trauma in the past, or triggers that make you relieve that trauma you slip into a different mindset, an age of a child. You will be practically the equivalent of a child. Sometimes it happens without me being able to control it like today. And other times I slip consciously to release the stress myself." The males listen attentively as the smaller one looks down.

"So, you aren't little space all the time?" Seokjin asks going to his side.

"No, I usually just slip when I get triggered or when I feel extremely bad so I induce it to feel better." Kihyun approaches them as well messing the blond's hair.

"Let's make sure you don't get triggered, okay?" Hwangwoon nods leaning to the touch.

"Why don't you tell us your big secret tough guy?" Jisung asks Minho with the biggest of smirks.

"I hate you Jisung, I hope you never forget that." The trio sits in front of the duo and look at Minho, nodding for him to start.

"Do you know what happened to Min? Before you two met?" Minho asks Kihyun. The older doesn't understand what all of it has to do with his secret but he nods.

"I do. He told us all about the therapy." Minho sighs furiously messing his hair.

"Who's Min?" Hwangwoon questions looking alternatively from one brunette to the other.

"Min is my brother and also Ki's lover." Jisung scuffs.

"Well, that explains why you support fags so much." Minho sees red reaching with his right hand to the younger's throat, choking him.

"I won't allow you to speak anything, ANYTHING about my brother. Do you understand?" Jisung nods and Minho retrieves straightening his clothes.

As he let go of the other's throat the younger coughs rubbing his neck gently.

"When I was younger ... Min was the brother, I had more contact with. We were inseparable. So one day he had a play at school. I ... I wanted to cheer him up before the show, sneaked in from the back and saw something I didn't quite understand. I was too innocent to really comprehend that it was completely normal. Min ... Min was kissing another actor and I was overwhelmed." He looks up at Kihyun holding his gaze as punishment for his mistake.

For this to be a penalty he needs to look him in the eye and admit his failure as a brother.

"I screamed and he knew ... his eyes ... his whole aura changed. He knew it was too late to explain or do anything against it. Min knew I was gonna tell our parents. So he smiled, he ... smiled." Minho balls his hands to fists.

Kihyun nods for him to continue. He already knows that part of the story and he understands just like his boyfriend that Minho is innocent. He was naïve and wanted to help his older brother.

"I told my parents that night after the show ... and they ... they made him go through a lot of stuff until one day it was too much ... he ... he tried suicide to evade his fate ... and it's all my fault."

Kihyun looks at him with a serious expression.

"Look Minho. What happened is not your fault, not in the slightest. You were a kid ... your parents were the adults who should have handled the situation. Look at your brother Minho, he's free now. Min can finally be himself even if there are some restrictions he can be gay with us and with you. I would call that a win to our side." Minho doesn't seem convinced.

"If I was old enough to tell them I should have been old enough to ask him first." Jisung interrupts his thought.

"You really think a child is capable of understanding that? Don't you think not telling your parents would have been worse? You wanted to help your brother who in your eyes was sick or being forced to do something he didn't wanna do." Minho gets angry again, his eyes almost popping out of his head.

"Are you calling my brother sick?!" Jisung holds his hands up in a defending matter.

"As much as I hate this guy's guts Jisung is right. You did what child you thought was good. You wanted to help your brother and were too overwhelmed to do it yourself so you ask who you thought could help him." Minho leans back and scuffs, crossing his arms.

"Let's see your secret." Jisung shakes his head.

"I have none."

"Must I remind you about the punishment of not participating in the tasks?"

Jisung chuckles. "What will you do woman? Make me?"

His smile fades away fast as a sharp pain breaks out in his upper arm.

He touches the hurting skin and feels a warm liquid on it. Swiftly he looks at it realizing its blood.

"What happened?" Seokjin asks looking at the younger who was bleeding strongly from his left arm.

"I cut his arm as a warning. Do not test my patience Jisung. I am not going to be this kind again. Refuse once more and I will cut your arm."

Jisung nods hissing from the pain. Minho unbuckles his belt and takes one layer of his clothes to serve as cloth for the wound.

"He must speak before you take care of him Minho." The older doesn't even hesitate to stay still and wait for his answer.

"When I was three ... my parents divorced." The spoiled male takes a short break before continuing.

"Continue Jisung or I will punish you for your insolence."

The others simply stayed there quietly waiting for the cat to get out of the bag.

"M-My mother is the best she never let anything get to me. She made the whole separation bearable." He pushes against the wound distracting himself from the memories arising.

"When I was six my mother found another man. He was the most enthusiastic and playful man you could ever find. Before they settled together he was an extraordinary person, always ready to help me with homework, take me to the playground and cook delicious meals for us." Minho was getting a bit upset at the other's life.

How come they all have trauma, an extremely stressful situation as their secret, and this guy can even have the luxury to have an amazing stepdad?

"When they started living together ... mom ... mom really trusted him. She left both of us alone for long periods of time." The stinging pain couldn't keep up with the memories in his head making him go back to that place.

He could feel the tears forming yet he could let them roll and show his weakness in front of all the others.

He gulped down dryly clearing his throat after.

"I ... I was very young and couldn't clean up properly yet so I called for him to help me out in the shower. I trusted him a lot and felt super comfy since he was a man as well. But ... he couldn't be trusted." Jisung takes a break and doesn't talk for a good amount of time.

The others showed no empathy whatsoever for him at this point, why should they? They simply stay there waiting.

The brunette takes small hitching breaths, pressing hard against the wound to make the thoughts go away.

"He ... he touched me ... even when I asked him to stop. He told me he had to do it so I got clean. Then after the bath ... he took me to his and mom's room, closing the door shut. He ... he took of h-his cl-lothes off a-a-and p-p-p-pinned me a-against th-the bed." His hands were shaking.

As the words echoed in the room realization soon hit the others. Guilt washed over them, for jumping to conclusions.

"H-he r-r-r-raped me! Again and again and again and again. I was bleeding and he still wouldn't stop. Not until it was mom's time to come home. He cleaned me up real nice and told me it was my fault. I was asking for it ... that I had begged him since I was asking him to join in the shower. I – I stayed silent and kept it hidden from my mom. S-she found out eventually and kicked him out sending him to prison ... but I ... I just can't understand how fags can be so fucking cruel!" He stands up angry, blood rolling down his hand.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO A KID?! A DEFENSELESS KID? BLAMING IT ALL ON HIM?!?!? AS IF I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG?!" Jisnung is screaming, his agonizing shouts filling the otherwise quiet room.

Minho stands up and embraces him yet the younger pushes him away.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He fights his own urge to just let go and be embraced. He hates it to be weak and let another man take advantage of his weakness.

Minho doesn't give up hugging him from the back, not minding the forming stain on his clothes.

"Don't ... touch ... me ..." Jisung gives in sobbing and letting the tears wet his pale cheeks.

He is still fighting his urge to punch Minho in the face and leave yet somehow this man is making him feel a certain safety he hasn't felt in a long time in the arms of a man.

Since last time ... he was raped.

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