Woonhak descended the stairs, the bag slung over his shoulder and the box clutched tightly in his hands. The moment he reached the bottom, he glanced up - and his blood turned to ice.

Standing in the middle of the living room was his aunt. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers digging into her sides as if barely containing her rage. A sinister smile curled at her lips, but her eyes burned with fury.

"Oh, look who dares to show up here after a week of disappearing," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom.

Woonhak's mind went blank, panic surging through his veins like a tidal wave. His feet moved instinctively, aiming for the door, forgetting about Jaehyun, a desperate urge to escape overriding all rational thought. But before he could reach it, his aunt swiftly stepped into his path, blocking his way like a predator cornering its prey.

"Oh no, Woonhak." Her voice was a chilling whisper. "Did you really think I'd let you walk out of here so easily?" Her eyes flicked down to the box in his hands, and her smile twisted into something cruel. "What's this? Trying to steal your worthless junk and run away? Where do you think you're going to go? Who would ever want a useless, pathetic kid like you?"

Her voice escalated with each word, the scorn in her tone cutting into him like shards of glass. "Don't even think about it, you little shit!" she spat, the words ringing out like gunfire.

She took a step forward, her eyes blazing with uncontrollable rage. Woonhak felt his heart pound against his ribs, fear crawling up his throat. He ducked his head, tears burning in his eyes, his breath hitching. He clenched the box tighter, trying to steady himself.

"We took you in after no one wanted you!" she screamed. "We fed you, gave you a roof over your head, let you go to school. And what do you do in return? Cause trouble, day after day. You ruined everything the moment you came into our lives! My brother should've never had you. You're a mistake - a disgusting, worthless mistake! Just looking at you makes me sick!"

Her hand shot up, fast and unrelenting. Woonhak flinched and tried to pull back, but she was quicker. The slap landed hard across his face, the sting exploding through his cheek and sending his mind spinning. He staggered, dizziness overtaking him, tears slipping down his face.

She raised her hand again, eyes wild and unhinged, ready to strike once more - but a sudden, furious shout froze her in place.

"Stop!"

The word rang through the room like a thunderclap. Woonhak's aunt turned toward the voice, her expression flickering with shock. Woonhak spun around too, blinking through the tears.

Jaehyun stood on the last step of the stairs, his body tense, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. His eyes, usually warm and bright, were blazing with an anger Woonhak had never seen before. He looked like he was barely restraining himself from lunging forward.

Jaehyun's voice trembled with fury as he stepped off the stairs, each movement deliberate, his eyes locked on Woonhak's aunt. "What kind of person are you?" he spat, his voice low and dangerous. "How can you treat someone like this - someone who's done nothing wrong? You call yourself generous, but you're nothing but a monster."

He advanced toward her, his shoulders squared, his whole being radiating protectiveness. "Don't you dare lay a hand on Woonhak again. Ever." His voice cracked with emotion, eyes glinting with unshed tears. "You're the pathetic one. You're the one no one should want. Woonhak is worth more than you'll ever be."

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but the rage trembled in his voice. "You think you're strong? You think you're in control? Hurting a kid doesn't make you strong - it makes you weak. It makes you a coward."

Jaehyun reached out, his hand finding Woonhak's arm, his touch gentle despite the fire still blazing in his eyes. He turned back to his friend, voice softening. "Come on, Woonie. We're going home."

He tightened his grip on Woonhak's arm, helping steady the box in his hands, and without another glance at the aunt, he pushed past her. The venomous words she spewed as they passed blurred into meaningless noise.

Jaehyun's only focus was getting Woonhak out of that place. The door swung open, and they stepped into the sunlight, its warmth a stark contrast to the coldness they'd just escaped. They didn't look back. They didn't stop.

They ran, leaving the little hand cart behind.

***

After they ran for a while, Woonhak suddenly tugged on Jaehyun's arm, pulling them to a halt. Jaehyun turned around to look at him. Woonhak's chest heaved, tears streaming down his cheeks, one of them bright red, as silent sobs shook his frame. His eyes were red and filled with pain.

Jaehyun's heart clenched at the sight. He gently took the box from Woonhak's trembling hands and slid both bags off their shoulders, setting everything down on the pavement. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around Woonhak, pulling him close. The younger boy melted into the embrace, clutching Jaehyun's back tightly as though afraid he might disappear.

Woonhak's sobs broke the quiet air. Jaehyun held him tighter, one hand moving up to softly cradle the back of Woonhak's head. His own throat tightened, but he stayed strong, whispering soothing words.

"It's okay now. You're safe. I've got you. I promise, I've got you."

Gradually, Woonhak's cries began to subside. The tension in his body eased as the storm inside him slowly passed. When his breathing evened out, he leaned back slightly, looking up at Jaehyun with tear-stained cheeks.

"Thank you, hyung," Woonhak whispered, his voice hoarse. "Thank you for standing up for me."

Jaehyun swallowed the lump in his throat and gave a soft, reassuring smile. He brushed a strand of hair away from Woonhak's forehead. "You never have to thank me for that. I'll always stand up for you."

As they picked up their belongings and started the walk back home, Jaehyun's mind raced. The protective fury he'd felt back in that house, the desperate need to shield Woonhak from any harm, was still burning in his chest.

***

At home, Jaehyun guided Woonhak to sit on the couch. He retrieved an ice pack from the freezer, wrapped it in a cloth, and gently pressed it to Woonhak's reddened cheek.

"Here, this should help," Jaehyun said softly, his fingers lingering for a moment before he pulled away.

Woonhak winced a little but nodded. "Thanks, hyung."

Jaehyun sat down across from him, his eyes never leaving Woonhak. The younger boy clutched the ice pack, his small figure curled up on the couch. His cheeks were still damp, and his eyes, though tired, held a fragile innocence.

Jaehyun thought back to the house, to the surge of anger he'd felt watching Woonhak being hurt. It wasn't just anger-it was something deeper, fiercer. He looked at Woonhak now, sitting there like a vulnerable little bear cub who needed to be protected at all costs.

And that's when it hit him.

He wanted to protect him. Not just because he was a friend, not just because he needed someone, but because he was Woonhak. The boy who laughed with his whole heart when he let his guard down. The boy whose quiet strength amazed him. The boy who trusted him enough to share his pain.

The need to protect the younger, the ache in his chest, the way his world seemed to orbit around Woonhak's smile-it was more than... friendship. The realization settled over him, warm and unshakeable.

He liked Woonhak.

---

Word count: 1297

Ugh, I hate the ending.. sorry guys, I'm really not good at writing this kinda stuff. It's the first ever story I wrote involving romantical feelings and I've never been in a relationship myself😅🥲🙈