At Your SERVICE (EN- JakeHoon)

14

My knees lost all their strength as I collapse on the floor.

What to do?

What to do?

Just then, my phone rang and I don't have the courage to answer it. I know my family don't know my new number but I'm just scared.

The phone kept ringing so I carefully took my phone and answered. Upon answering, Sunghoon's face poppped out the screen, oh it's a video call.

"Jaeyun? You ok? Hey. . ."

I can't even think of words to say just my mind kept screaming how I no longer cannot escape my family. Just thinking about stepping out of this unit is torture to me.

"You ok? Did something happen?"

I just look at his face on the screen as I try to calm myself to talk to him.

"I . . I met . . I met my stepfather a while ago . . he drove me home in a taxi . . ."

I don't even know what I'm saying.

Just then, there's a knock on my door.

"Hoon. .  someone's at the door. . I'm scared . . I just saw my stepsister outside. ."

My phone was placed by my pillow as I literally cried as I curled up like a ball.

"Jaeyun? . . . Jaeyun can you hold the phone up?"

I tilted the phone as I look at him again.

"Don't worry, just stay inside . . don't open the door. ."

Just then, I heard the door unlocked.

"Sunghoon, the front door is unlocked"

"Hello? Hello?"

It's the landlord of the unit I think.. I left the room and into the living room but what I saw made me frozen.

My mom is inside the unit.

"I'm sorry sir but I got a distress call from your mom about how you're not responding to her calls and not opening the door. .good thing you're alright"

"Jake . . son . . I was so scared you could hurt yourself. Don't make me worry too much"

She is a great actress. She made it look like I am about to take my life so the caretaker will open the door.

"I'm fine now . . please leave. . ma'am, I appreciate the concern but I'm not taking my life so please don't just enter because you have a duplicate. . . also, I don't authorize and have no right to authorize you to enter just like that. . in case you missed the memo, this unit is not mine and any concern regards this unit should be addressed to the owner. . mom please leave"

I am literally begging the landlord to which she did, taking my mom with her. I also insisted on keeping the duplicate key. If this unit is damaged, I can't afford to pay it.

That night, I packed my things and got ready to leave. I don't know where, as long as no one will know.

"Jaeyun where are you?"

"I'm sorry . . "

"What happened?"

"Sunghoon, you know somewhere I can stay for a while? I can't stay in this unit anymore or this building"

"I'm flying back . ... Let's talk when I got there"

Sunghoon

Damn it.

I know Jaeyun's family found out about where to find him and I'm not happy. He was clearly rattled that he malfunctioned and then he's asking to leave the place?

I immediately booked an earlier flight guaranteed to bring me back to Korea before morning to make sure Jaeyun will not be bothered. Unfortunately, the plane that was supposed to leave was delayed due to a storm by its route.

I quickly dialed Jay's number to hopefully ask for help but tough luck, an emergency happened with his company so he needs to be there ASAP.

Hyung thankfully is free so I asked him to immediately go to Jaeyun and get him out of there.

"Hyung? Can you do me a favor?"

"What's up?"

"Can you drive Jaeyun to my house? The keys are in my room. Let him stay there for a while. I will sort things out when I come back"

"What happened.?"

"It's not for me to tell you but please hyung . . . this is urgent"

"On my way"

Bringing him to the house will be a better option.

I then called Jaeyun asking him to be ready.

"Hey . . are your bags packed? Hyung will be there in a minute. . stay at my house for the meantime yeah?"

"Thanks Sunghoon. . . I promise to return the favor soon . ."

Now this situation is serious to the point where he didn't argue with me and just agreed. He's in danger I assume.

______

I landed and it is almost 10 in the morning and the first thing I did was to rush to the office to check on him but when I got there, I only saw Heeseung behind my desk.

"You're early?"

"Jaeyun? Where's he?"

"He called. . he said he won't be reporting to work today. Don't worry, he is in the house . . he looks so rattled tho. I plan to check in on him now. Come on"

We drove back to the house and when we got there, I immediately rushed inside unlocking the door with my keys.

I saw first thing were his things on the living room as he sat on the floor with his knees folded against his chest.

"Jaeyun?"

He raised his head and I almost want to hug him with how his eyes looked.

Scared.  .

"He's calmed down for a while. .
He's a wreck when we got here and almost had a panic attack"

"Like Jay panic attack or?"

"No . . different but still. He's shaking when I picked him up and when we got here, he kept checking the door. . . "

"Thanks for handling this . . "

"Thankfully he wasn't scared of me tho. . . but ever since he woke up, he's been on the floor. Didn't even bother to change. . Now when I tried to talk to him, he wouldn't respond. . . but something scary happened"

"What do you mean?"

"I hope you don't mind but I kept all sharp objects in your room . . I don't know but around 3 am, I saw him with a knife on hand. He seems to be in a defense stance but also he looks like he's about to slash himself"

Just what on Earth did the whole family did to him as he grew up?

________