Sangwon turned looking at Leo who hid behind a wall. Leo waved his hand, motioning him to walk. Sangwon sighed, nervously chewing on his lips.
Anxin was spreading out the wet laundry when he felt someone touch him. He jumped in his spot, turning.
He saw Sangwon. He immediately moved back, bowing. "Young master"
Sangwon gulped nervously. He looked back looking to where Leo hid. Leo motioned him to continue.
Anxin stood, his head still low.
'How are you?'
Anxin's eyes widened in shock. He slowly looked at Sangwon. "I-I'm fine" He said. Sangwon nodded not knowing how to begin.
He then sighed.
'I'm sorry'
Anxin looked at him in shock. "Young—
Sangwon raised his hand stopping him.
'I'm sorry. For abandoning you. I was your only friend and you were mine. I'm sorry for distancing myself away from you.
When Mother died, It felt like my world ended.
She was the only in my family to care for me. Her death made me scared.
I was afraid you'd leave me too. So I left before you could. I'm sorry for the hurtful words I used on you. I didn't mean it.
I just wanted to be alone then. I didn't realise it would tear us apart. I know you hate me but.. Please forgive me'
Anxin looked at Sangwon, his eyes getting clouded with tears. He immediately hugged Sangwon. "H-Hyung.." His broken voice called.
Sangwon closed his eyes as he hugged Anxin. He had missed his embrace for years.
"I can never hate you" Anxin muttered as he cried, tightly hugging Sangwon. "I've missed you so much.. so much" He kept whispering.
Sangwon leaned out of the hug, wiping Anxin's tears. 'I'm sorry for hurting you Anxin'
Anxin shook his head. "It's okay. I understood why you did that. I never hated you. I can never. You'll forever be my friend. My first friend"
Sangwon folded his lips as he pulled Anxin in for a hug. He looked as saw Leo watching them with a smile.
"Thank you" He mouthed.
-
Leo wiped his sweat as he walked back into the house. "So hot outside–
He immediately kept quiet when he saw all the maids and servants lined up before Sangryeok.
He quickly moved joining the line.
"What's going on?" He quietly asked Anxin.
"I don't know. Master suddenly ordered the Head Maid and Head Servant to carry out a search. But it's not Saturday, that's when we have weekly searches"
Leo tilted his head in confusion. Their attention moved back when the head servant went to Sangryeok.
They couldn't hear what they were saying as they were at the end of the line. They saw Sangryeok stand up—an angry look on his face.
"You paupers. I brought you here to work. I feed you. I shelter you and yet you decide to be stupid and steal from me"
Leo and Anxin's eyes widened. "Someone stole? Are they stupid?"
"You have yet again proven why you'll forever be poor. Your greed has stripped you of your opportunities. Which servants stay in Room Fourteen?!"
Leo and Anxin's eyes widened as they looked at each other. They slowly raised their hands in fear. They immediately got yanked up by the guards, pushing them before Sangryeok.
They bowed their heads down in fear.
Sangryeok turned to the head servant.
"Amongst them, Who stays on the bed you found them?"
The Head servant pointed to Leo. The guards moved Anxin out, leaving Leo kneeling and bowing before Sangryeok.
"These were found under the bed you sleep. Care to explain?"
Leo slowly raised his head. His eyes widening when he saw Gold Bars. "M-M-Master h-how—
He immediately fell to the side when Sangryeok slapped him. A loud ringing blocking his ears.
He couldn't even recover as Sangryeok fisted his hair, yanking him back up.
"I see you have no fear. You dare steal from me"
Leo shook his head as his tears burned. He rubbed his hands together trying to speak but hissing as Sangryeok tightened his grip on his hair.
Sangryeok pushed Leo's head back and turned to the head servant. "Hundred strokes under the sun, he is to kneel out there till tomorrow afternoon. No food no water"
Leo's eyes widened. "M-Master please- I didn't do it! Master please!" He yelled louder when he felt the guards pick him up.
Sangwon walked down wondering what the noise was about. His eyes widened when he heard his Father. He got more shocked seeing Leo getting dragged out.
"M-Master please!" Leo kept yelling, his tears clouding his sight. "I-I didn't do—
He paused when his eyes caught Geonwoo from the side, A smirk on his face.
His face fell in realisation. His voice going quiet as he got dragged away.
-
"H-Hyung, please help Leo- he's bleeding"
Anxin fell on his knees clutching Junseo's legs as he cried.
Junseo folded his lips picking Anxin up.
"H-Hyung please.. he fainted but they still won't stop"
Junseo shook his head as he wiped Anxin's tears. "Go to Sangwon. Under no circumstance should he get to see Leo. Go"
"Hyung–
"Go" Junseo said slightly pushing him away.
He turned sighing.
-
Leo felt as good as dead. Death was better than this. He had screamed at the top of his lungs but they wouldn't stop. Feeling his blood trail down under the hot sun.
He had blacked out only to be pulled out of his trance by the whipping. His knees burning on the hot sizzling sand.
"How do you feel?" He heard a voice. He didn't even have the energy to look. He knew who it belonged to.
Geonwoo walked and crouched before Leo.
His eyes going over his face, seeing how lost and tired Leo's bloodshot eyes were.
"You pushed me to this. I warned you again and again, now look." He said clicking his tongue.
"But then it's deserved. You were being stubborn, stupid, putting Junseo hyung and Sangwon in trouble. Now you've gotten a taste of what they pass through...
I'm sure you'll listen now. This is nothing compared to what they go through. This is a feather if compared. You're lucky Uncle didn't shoot you.
But look at you. You're as good as dead. Then imagine how long they've had to endure worse than this.
You have no right in Sangwon's life. You're poor. A servant. He's a lord"
Geonwoo held his chin raising his head.
"Now let me tell you. I won't stop till you're completely crushed. If you're smart, Stay away from Sangwon"
He pushed Leo's head walking away. Leo felt his eyes roll back, feeling his body fall to the ground.