Chapter 10 - World Crumbling 1

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Who?

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Urghh… bright…

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Wonho furrows his eyebrow, feeling the bright light slipping in from his lid. He had woken up before but did not had the energy to open his eyes and fell asleep again a few times. He can feel a gentle but firm grip on his left hand, and another on his thigh, encouraging him to try again. Despite being so tired, Wonho makes fists and focus all his energy on lifting his lids.

'-no?' He sees some colours. No, those are faces. Blurry faces, staring back at him.

'Unhh…' The intrusive light is really hurting his eyes, his temple throbs as a respond. It feels like electric pulse just travelled straight to his brain, he feels like puking. Wanting the stimulus to stop, Wonho closes his eyes again and turns his head away.

'Wono? You okay? You need anything?' The grip on his hand tightens. He recognizes the voice - Junjie. Nodding, still refusing to open his eyes, Wonho brings his free hand towards his mouth; hoping to suppress the urge to vomit. Unfortunately, the sudden movement only makes it worse and further induces his gag reflex..

'Wono-yah, bucket.' he hears a soft voice on the other end and turns his face towards the direction before finally spilling his gut out. He feels a hand rubbing his back, assisting him until he is done. Breathing heavily, Wonho manages to fully look around, no longer feeling nauseated.

'Clean your mouth… don't drink it…' the gentle voice continues while handing him a glass of water. Wonho nods, now able to relax. Waiting a bit, until he is able to put something in his mouth without triggering anymore vomit, he finally does as told.

'Is he okay? Should I call the doctor.' Junjie asks to the other person. Wonho glances over to the sight of a familiar pretty male – Haneul, Sangcheol's mate. He can't help but wonder why the other is here instead of one of his other friends.

'No, he's good. It's just the drug effect…' Haneul answers, very confidently. Gurgling the water handed to him, Wonho puts the glass away, ignoring the conversation he is not a part of. 'I'll let them know you're awake.'

Junjie thanks the eldest and both the friends sit quietly. Not knowing what to say to the other.

'Wono-yah…' Junjie breaks the long silence, voice the softest he ever heard. Wonho flinches involuntarily at the sudden sound, surprising even himself. The action somehow saddened the other, 'Oh Wono…'

'Shut up you're being disgusting…' he manages a reply, voice hoarse, trying to laugh. Trying to. He has no idea why he is in the hospital. The last thing he remembers is… finishing his exams. And going out to celebrate. Did he get into an accident?

Wonho looks at his hands, noticing the bandage on his left wrist, and a cast on his right. No wonder they felt weird and a bit heavy. There are two tubes coming out from his right forearm and other wires connected to his chest.

Heart monitor? Something bad must have happened if that is required. But he is awake now, and everything feels normal so he thoughtlessly pulls it off, throwing it away. Annoyed actually. The mere sight of the wires suffocates him. A pair of hands suddenly pull his shoulders into a warm embrace, the owner's face burying himself on his nape.

'I'm so, so sorry.' He feels Junjie shaking and warm tears falling onto his skin.

Why is he apologizing? What happened?

It took him a few minutes of confusion before realizing the pain on his lower neck, connecting to his right shoulder. How did he get-

Ahh…

That's right. He was violated. And he is now an omega. A claimed one, if that is what the bite meant. And to top it all off, his friends know. That he took the alleyway and got himself in trouble. That he is a mess of a failure. That he doesn't deserve their protection because he couldn't even defend himself. He probably put everyone in danger. He is a failure. And he deserves what happened because he is not worth it.

He is just a pathetic claimed omega now.

'Wono…' Junjie calls, alerted by Wonho's heavy breathing. But before he can proceed any longer, the broken man interrupts, not wanting to hear anything. Nothing can be said that can make him feel better. That can make everything go away. This is too much for him to swallow right now. He would rather sleep. And be left alone. 'It's… it's not your fault.'

'I can't…'

'Jun…' again, he stops the man from talking and stares at the floor. The wound on his neck is throbbing and Wonho bites his lips to distract himself from the pain. From the bite that showcases his weakness for all to see.

Wonho glares at his hands, so weak, covered in white bandages. He let the alphas do that to him. He did not fight for himself. He only begged. Like a pathetic human being he is.

'Wono…. I know what you're thinking but you're wrong. I let you go alone. I knew what they are capable of doing and I let you go.'

'And I didn't listen to you! I… I took another road when I should just went straight ahead.' He feels his tears falling and his voice is shaking. Shit. He doesn't want to cry. Stop crying you don't deserve to cry! 'I was so close to the main road yet I…'

Wonho cannot manage to finish his sentence, shaking so badly his voice got stuck in his throat. He feels Junjie shifting their positions so his shoulder is resting on Junjie's chest, and face buried in between his neck. He wants to push the man away, because he does not deserve him, his kindness, but he couldn't.

He wants this. He wants this warmth.

He remembers that cold pavement stones and the air blowing on his skin, and the cold stares and grins, and how he longed for the warmth and protection of his friends and family back then. And although he knows he doesn't deserve this, he decides to be selfish this once and take it.

Wonho feels the hug tightened and Junjie rocking them back and forth, making him cry louder until he falls asleep again.

When he wakes up again, it is already dark outside. Feeling a light shift behind him, he realizes it is his friend. They are sleeping together like they always do. Despite wanting to be left alone out of shame, Wonho found himself really thankful for this gesture.

For the hope that things might stay the same.

Despite everything that happened.

'Hey, Jun. You should go clean yourself first.' The tired male hears a whisper and pretends to still be asleep. The next thing he feels is the weight behind him gone and hears a door closing. Before he could open his eyes, he hears another creaking sound and opens his eyes slightly to see Haneul, taking his position on the bed opposite him with a book in his hand. The man has his glasses on and doesn't seem to notice Wonho staring thanks to his small eyes. He doesn't want to talk. Not yet.

'You sleeping here again?' Haneul asks softly, and Wonho almost gave himself a shock thinking the man noticed him peeking. That is when he door closes again, telling him that Junjie is back from wherever he went.

'Yeah. You?' Junjie replies back, voice half whispering.

'Already comfortable. You wanna sleep here?'

'Do you think the nurse will mind me sleeping with Wono?' Wonho feels the thumping of his heart, beating quickly from his nerve. He wants to sleep with Junjie. If only tonight.

'He's already stable so I guess it's okay as long as he don't mind… Did he show any sign of trauma?' Wonho buries his head into the blanket. He hates listening to this. He doesn't want to know. What if he did? Will the doctors keep him here and give him a bunch of medicines? Will he be asked to see a therapist? 'He… he didn't slap me or ran away when I touched him if that's what you're asking…'

'And he seemed okay with you being near him?' Haneul questions again and Wonho bites his lips. The only reason why the man would even ask that question in the first place is because he was assaulted by other males. Although he knows Haneul didn't mean to remind him of it, it did. He hates this.

He just wants Haneul to shut up.

'He… he seemed comfortable. I hope.'

'Then I'm sure they have no reason to say no.' Wonho releases the breath he is holding, relieved. A weight is felt on the bed and a hand rested on his stomach, his back against Junjie's warm chest. And like all those nights they sleep together in the bed at his house and back at the dorm, Junjie's chin rests on his head. Completely enveloping him. Telling him it is okay to sleep. That nothing bad will happen even if he closes his eyes.

Because he will be there protecting him.