When they got to Jaehyun's room, the air was thick with a quiet, fragile tension. Woonhak walked in first, his shoulders hunched, like he was carrying the weight of the world. He silently sat down on Jaehyun's bed, his back pressing against the headboard. His eyes fixed on his hands, fingers twisting together restlessly.

Jaehyun followed, sitting beside him, their knees barely touching. He didn't say a word. Instead, he watched Woonhak carefully, his eyes full of concern and patience, giving the younger the space he needed. The silence stretched between them, heavy yet delicate, like glass that might shatter if either of them spoke too soon.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Woonhak took a shaky breath and whispered, "I need to tell you something... the truth."

Jaehyun's heart stuttered in his chest. His eyes widened, and his throat felt tight. "You- you don't need to, Woonie," he murmured, his voice soft but desperate. He didn't want Woonhak to feel obligated, to think he owed him anything.

But Woonhak lifted his gaze, eyes brimming with a determined sadness. "No," he said firmly, his voice trembling, "I want to tell you. You've done so much for me, Jaehyun. You're the kindest, most caring person I've ever met. You deserve to know everything."

Jaehyun's cheeks flushed, his heart thumping harder, but the shyness was quickly swallowed by the worry clawing at his insides. He reached over and gently took Woonhak's cold, trembling hand in his own, squeezing it just enough to let him know he was there. "I'm here," he whispered, his thumb brushing over Woonhak's knuckles.

Woonhak swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and then he began. His voice was quiet, fragile, like he was unearthing words he'd buried long ago.

"It started two years ago... when my parents died in a car crash." His voice broke on the last words, and he closed his eyes for a moment, as if the memory was too painful to face head-on. "I was in the car too. I survived, but..." He paused, his free hand clutching the fabric of his pants so tightly his knuckles went white. "That's why I panicked that day at school... I'm afraid of loud noises. The crash... it was so loud. I can still hear it sometimes."

Jaehyun's grip on Woonhak's hand tightened. The thought of Woonhak-a fourteen-year-old boy-trapped in that wreckage, surrounded by chaos and noise, knowing his parents were... it made his chest ache. He wished he could erase that memory, that pain, but all he could do now was hold onto the youngers hand.

Woonhak took a shaky breath and continued. "After the accident, I had no one else, so I was adopted by my aunt and uncle." His voice hardened with bitterness. "They don't love me. They never did. They took me in because they had to, because no one else would, and probably for the extra money they get from the government."

Jaehyun's jaw clenched, anger bubbling just beneath his skin. He didn't interrupt, though. He knew Woonhak needed to let it all out.

"They don't hit me all the time, and they never, like, beat me up," Woonhak said, his voice hollow, "but when they do slap me... it's bad. That bruise on my cheek from the other day?" He let out a humorless laugh that sounded more like a sob. "That was my aunt. She slapped me so hard I couldn't feel my face for hours."

Jaehyun's stomach twisted into knots. Those fucking bastards.

"They give me the basics-food, a place to sleep-but they don't care about me. They just scold me for everything and treat me like I'm a burden. Like I'm... worthless." Woonhak's voice cracked, and his eyes shimmered with tears. "That's why I was so scared of people. I thought... I thought everyone would be like them."

Jaehyun's heart shattered at those words. He wanted to scream, to curse the world for being so cruel to someone who deserved nothing but love and warmth. But he stayed quiet, his hand steady in Woonhak's, his presence a silent promise.

Tears slipped down Woonhak's cheeks, his sobs now breaking free. But he kept talking, even as his voice trembled. "The day I ran to your house in the rain... that was the second anniversary of my parents' death. I begged my aunt and uncle to take me to their graves, only once. Or just buy me a ticket to let me go on my own. It's way to far to walk... But they said it was pointless. They told me to stop whining and finally get over it." His face twisted with pain. "When I got mad and started crying, my aunt hit me. Hard. She called me an ungrateful brat."

Jaehyun's vision blurred with tears, fury mixing with heartbreak. He couldn't comprehend how anyone could treat Woonhak-his Woonhak-like that.

"I couldn't take it anymore," Woonhak whispered. "I ran out of the house. I didn't know where else to go, but my feet took me to you." His eyes met Jaehyun's, desperate. "You were the only person who ever made me feel safe, ever since..."

At that, Jaehyun couldn't hold back his own tears. They spilled down his cheeks, hot and angry, as he pulled Woonhak into his arms. He held him tight, one hand stroking his back, the other still clutching his hand. Woonhak's sobs shook his small frame, and Jaehyun could feel every tremor, every ounce of pain.

"I'm so sorry, Woonie," Jaehyun choked out, his voice thick with tears. "You didn't deserve any of that. Not a single freaking bit of it."

Woonhak buried his face in Jaehyun's chest, his tears soaking the fabric of Jaehyun's sweater. "Thank you," he whispered between sobs. "Thank you for being here. For... for caring."

Jaehyun pressed his lips to the top of Woonhak's head, his own tears falling freely. "I'm here, Woonie. I'm always here. And I swear... I swear I won't let anyone hurt you like that again."

They stayed like that for what felt like hours-wrapped in each other's warmth, the youngers broken heart finding solace in the quiet promise that he wasn't alone anymore.

When Woonhak finally calmed down, he looked up at Jaehyun, his face red, tear-streaked, and exhausted. Jaehyun cupped his cheeks, wiping away the tears with his thumbs, his eyes soft and full of unwavering determination.

"I'm going to make sure you smile freely again," Jaehyun whispered. "You deserve to be happy, Woonie. And I'll do everything I can to make that happen."

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Word count: 1102