That boy was meaningless to him—utterly irrelevant—because he didn't know the truth.Now, he was heading toward the garden.
Yeo-jun was still seated inside the gazebo.He had been thinking about going back inside,but the sight of the blooming roses held him in place.Something about them made it hard to leave.
Still, thinking Tae might be getting worried looking for him,he finally stood up to head back.
But then—he froze.He saw someone standing in his path.Without a word, Yeo-jun took a few slow steps back and moved behind the gazebo.
His eyes met Beast's.The man was staring directly at him—smiling.
Yeo-jun felt an uncomfortable chill crawl up his spine.Beast's eyes terrified him now.They weren't just looking—they were haunting.There was something menacing in them.Yeo-jun forgot how to breathe.
His gaze was fixed, his presence commanding—blocking the only way out.Yeo-jun lowered his head instantly.Nervous tension overtook him.
His fingers started digging into his palms,his short nails pressing against skin already too familiar with pain.They weren't long nails, but sharp enough to draw blood if needed.And sometimes, pain helped him stay grounded.
Joon Hyunk noticed everything—his hands, his fidgeting, the fear written all over him.Yeo-jun was terrified of him.Deeply.
Even today, he wore a full-sleeved t-shirt,just enough to hide the old scars that marked his arms like fading memories.His bangs fell across his forehead,giving his delicate face a softer, almost innocent look.
Joon Hyunk wanted to touch his hair,but something told him that even the smallest contact might shatter the boy entirely.He was breakable.
Beast kept watching him—so intently.He hadn't realized before how beautiful Yeo-jun's eyes were.Tonight, those eyes were filled with fear—and that fear was directed at him.
Maybe speaking would make him ease up.
"What's your name?"Joon Hyunk's tone was gentle now,a rare softness in his voice.There was even a faint smile on his face.
Yeo-jun lifted his head slowly,his throat completely dry from the panic.
He'd always had trouble being around strangers.Even the presence of unfamiliar people made him freeze up.Words didn't come easily in moments like these.His mind would go blank, and his voice would stumble.
"Y-Y-Yeo… Y-Yeo-j-jun…!"He stuttered hard,his voice shaking like his knees.
Joon Hyunk hadn't expected that.He didn't know about this part of him.
Repeating slowly, he asked again,"Y-Y-Yeo… Y-Yeo-j-jun… so what are you doing in my garden?"
Yeo-jun's heart sank.He thought the man was mocking him—making fun of his stammer,his fear.
Whatever little courage he had was fading fast.His heartbeat slowed.He looked at Joon Hyunk with half-lifeless eyes,barely blinking.
Then Joon Hyunk casually slipped his hand into his pocket.
Yeo-jun's eyes followed the motion.
A knife.
He could see it. Clearly.
Terror struck him like lightning.His body tensed, his breath hitched.
He was scared.Terrified.Of that blade.Of the man.
And Joon Hyunk saw it.He noticed the exact moment the fear shifted from subtle to paralyzing.
Yeo-jun's already weakened heartbeat slowed even further.
Yeo-jun stood frozen, his eyes anxiously tracking the subtle movements of Beast's hand.Joon Hyunk, on the other hand, smiled quietly—amused by the flood of emotions rushing across Yeo-jun's delicate face.
But when he finally pulled out a cigarette pack from his pocket instead of a weapon, it was as if life returned to Yeo-jun's body.He inhaled softly—an attempt to calm the storm in his chest—and gathered the little courage he could to answer the question Joon Hyunk had asked earlier.
"I... aa... I-I'm sss...sorry... I-I-I w-w-was just... just looking... a-at the f-flowers. I-I didn't know... th-this was... y-y-your g-garden…"
Joon Hyunk's lips curved again, this time more gently."Do you like flowers?" he asked softly.Yeo-jun lowered his head again, nodding faintly, unable to meet his gaze.
Joon Hyunk just wanted to keep talking to him.He wanted the moment to stretch—something simple, something soft.
But then he reached toward his pocket again.
Yeo-jun's breath caught.He thought—this is it.This time, he's going to pull out the knife.This time, he'll attack.
Outwardly, Yeo-jun stood still, but inside him a storm had broken loose.No one could feel the panic ripping through his soul.
His heartbeat didn't just slow—it stopped.Just like a child terrified of monsters under the bed,he stared helplessly at a man who looked like one.
All he wanted to do now was run—run from everything.
But again, it was just a lighter in Joon Hyunk's hand.His heart resumed its beating, though still heavy with fear.
"I hope you don't mind if I smoke?" Joon Hyunk asked, lighting the cigarette.
Yeo-jun shook his head—no.Even if it had bothered him, he wouldn't have said a word.Who was he to tell him what to do?
After all, he was nothing to him.
Time had passed unnoticed between them.Meanwhile, Tae had grown worried.He wanted to take Yeo-jun back home, knowing all too well how anxious he could get in unfamiliar places like this.
More than that—Tae didn't want to wait any longer to tell him what he felt.
He had gotten caught up in conversation with his brother Min,never realizing when Yeo-jun slipped away.Now he was searching, worry clawing at his chest.
The house was huge—where would he even begin to look?
Frustrated, he pulled out his phone and called Yeo-jun.But the phone was lying right there, beside him.Untouched.
Regret filled him. He clenched his fists and started climbing the stairs to search upstairs.
But as he reached the landing, he paused.
From the window to the left, he saw something.
Outside, in the gazebo—Yeo-jun was standing stiffly.And Beast stood before him, blocking his way like a wall.
Tae may have always been afraid of Beast,but today—he was furious.
He wanted nothing more than to rip Beast away from Yeo-jun,to pull him back, far from his trembling form.
But instead, Tae stood where he was—his fists clenched tightly, eyes burning.
Meanwhile, Joon Hyunk's gaze had never left Yeo-jun.He studied every line, every shadow on his face.
His fair skin.The soft bangs that fell across his forehead.The gentle pink of his lips.Those deep, expressive eyes.
Even with the faint marks left by scars,Yeo-jun looked perfect in Joon Hyunk's eyes.
Flawed—but beautiful.Wounded—but ethereal.
Joon Hyunk wanted to touch him.He wanted to trace every feature with his fingertips.But he held back.
But he knew—He couldn't do it. Not yet.
Because if he dared to touch him now, Yeo-jun might just faint from fear.His trembling, his panic—it was oddly captivating to Beast.
Joon Hyunk: "What happened to your face?"
The question hit like a stone.Startled, Yeo-jun lifted his head and looked at him.
If Joon Hyunk had been in a movie at that moment, he would've easily been the lead—the one every heart would fall for.He looked that stunning.
But it didn't matter.
No matter how handsome he looked,Right now, to Yeo-jun—he was nothing but terrifying.
His throat and lips had gone dry from fear.He licked his lips to moisten them, and Joon Hyunk caught that tiny action immediately.
Now his eyes were fixated—stuck on Yeo-jun's lips.He couldn't look away.
"A-a... accident,"Yeo-jun finally managed after a few attempts.
Joon Hyunk's eyes darkened.He hated lies.And this one? He knew it wasn't true.
The softness in his gaze began to fade, replaced slowly by silent fury.Not many people dared to lie to his face.And those who did... well, not all of them had lived long enough to regret it.
But this time—He held himself back.
He knew.It wasn't really Yeo-jun's fault.
There had to be a reason—a big one—behind this lie.So instead of challenging it,He chose to believe it.
Not because it was true.But because the world—the people close to him—had made it easier for him to believe in lies than truth.
He flicked his lighter open again, playing with it between his fingers.Yeo-jun now stared at him, nervous, watching the rage still simmering in his eyes.
The lighter spun skillfully from thumb to pinky and back again.It almost danced in his hands.Like it belonged there.
"What kind of accident?"The question came again—his voice low, his anger simmering.He didn't believe the answer, but he asked anyway.
"Car accident," Yeo-jun said this time without stuttering.Finally, something came out clearly.
"When?"
"F-four years ago…"
The moment those words left Yeo-jun's mouth,Joon Hyunk abruptly closed his lighter with a loud snap.His jaw tensed.
Yeo-jun didn't quite understand what he was feeling.But he knew one thing—he needed to get away.
He took a step forward.Just one.
Hoping—praying—that Joon Hyunk would step aside.But of course not.He was Joon Hyunk after all. He didn't move. Not even a little.
Yeo-jun felt the last of his courage drain from his body.He lowered his head again.
"P-p-please... l-let m-me g-go…"His voice cracked softly.
Joon Hyunk hesitated.Then shifted slightly to the side.Just a little.
But the space he left—it was too narrow.There was no way Yeo-jun could squeeze through it without brushing past him.
Yeo-jun looked up at him, eyes wide and pleading, like a frightened rabbit.And just as Joon Hyunk slipped his hand back into his pocket again,
Yeo-jun's heart nearly stopped.He was terrified of that knife.
But this time,It wasn't a knife.
Just another cigarette.
Yet his heartbeat didn't slow—it thundered now, louder than ever.So loud, he felt it might rip through his chest.
Beast had noticed something.Every single time he reached toward the pocket with that knife—Yeo-jun flinched.Froze.
Why?Why was he so terrified of that one object?
What had happened to him?What pain did it hold?
Yeo-jun stood there, still wanting to leave,eyes wide, blinking rapidly like a nervous little animal.
Joon Hyunk sighed and finally gestured with his hand,"Fine. You can go."
He stepped aside ever so slightly.
The space he left was still tight—barely enough.But Yeo-jun didn't care.He just wanted to escape.
And so, swallowing his fear like a bitter pill,he squeezed through, holding his breath.