《Broken Is Beautiful》


 WHY?

    Minho POV:


    ¡§Minho! Where are you? Huh you worthless piece of crap!?¡§ My mother¡äs drunk voice came from downstairs. I was really hoping I would be able to escape I guess not. My bedroom door was banged on twice. ¡§Open this door you little twerp!¡§ Shakily extending my hands I open the door. A slap lands then another. A punch to the stomach and a hit on the head. Then it all goes black. The next morning I awake on the floor of my bedroom door, with a lot more bruises than when I went to sleep. I wince as I get up from the floor. I grab a towel and limp to the shower. After I''m done I check the mirror. Bruises decorate my left cheek. My lip is swollen and I have a scratch going from my lip to my right ear. There are bruises on my torso and my leg. Tears escaped my eyes, my body was so fat and ugly. I opened the vanity and pulled out a box of razor blades. Rolling up my sleeves I made cut after cut. Why did I have to look like this? Grabbing my concealer I cover all the marks on my face. Layers later the marks are no longer visible. Sighing I change into oversized clothes they hide my body and I''m thankful for that. I pull on my sneakers and grab my phone. My mothers passed out on the couch. Just a few more months and I?l be able to move out. The job I work pays enough and as long as my mother doesn''t find out about it I should be fine. As I walk to school I put on my headphones; The song Spring Day by BTS starts to play. If only I wasn''t ugly maybe people would like me. As I walk into school two people wrap their arms around me. Hyunjin and Felix are the only people on this earth who for some reason like someone like me. ¡§Hi Minho hyung!¡§ Felix giggles. His Aussie accent comes through in his Korean. Hyunjin does¨½t say a word. He usually talks the most. His cheeks are red and he''s playing with his fingers. I raise my eyebrows at Felix who just shrugs. I look at Hyunjin. ¡§Hey Hyunjin what happened to you? Where''s the talkative llama?¡§ He looks up at us and mumbles something. ¡§What?¡§ Felix questions. Hyunjin turns a deeper shade of red. ¡§Chan Hyung said I look cute today. Then he laughed and walked away.¡§ Hyunjin looked up at us. I knew who Chan was. He¡äs part of Han Jisung¡äs group, the boy I dread the most. He bullied me non stop. But I don¡ät have the heart to tell Hyunjin or Felix I know they¡äve liked Chan and Changbin from his group. I don¡ät want them to forget about their long time crushes just because of a few words and punches. The bell rings and I wave to them. Mrs. Choi begins her lecture, she drones on about the Korean war and I zone out. ¡§Lee Minho! You may be one of the top students but that does not mean you can daydream during my class.¡§ My face turns hot. I nod and look down. For the rest of the class I mostly pay attention. Its fifth period, the last period before lunch, the period I love and the one I hate. I love it because it''s right before lunch and I can be free after it. I hate it because everyone in Han Jisung¡äs group is in my class. I take my seat in the third row of class and look out the window. I wander through my past memories when we were a happy family, before my dad left. I continue to look out the window. Until I hear the loud voice of Mrs. Park. ¡§Lee Minho! Since you think the window is more interesting than my class. You can think about my lesson in detention!¡§ My eyes go wide. I can''t go to detention. If my mother finds out I¡äll be in so much trouble. But nonetheless I nod. I barely ever speak in class and I don¡ät wanna cause a scene. I hear snickers from the back of class where Han Jisung sits with his group of friends. Finally the class ends, hurriedly gathering my things I walk out of the classroom. But not before being bumped into by Jisung. Causing me to stumble forward. But I quickly collect myself and walk to my locker. When I close my locker door, the person I dread is standing there. Han Jisung. ¡§Hey twerp did you miss me?¡§ His tone makes me flinch. He chuckles and grabs my wrist. I wince the grip making the cuts from earlier hurt. The halls are empty and I never go to lunch with my friends. I rather spend my time in either the music room or the small dance studio our school has. So my friends don¡ät come looking for me, when I don¡ät come to lunch. Jisung drags me through the halls and to the roof. Where Changbin and Chan are waiting. He throws me to the floor and I land on bruises. I wince as Jisung bends down and grips my chin. I silently pray none of the concealer rubs off on his fingers. Something flashes in Jisungs¡ä eyes when I wince I can¡ät tell what it is though. It''s gone as quickly as it comes. He looks my face over again. Before letting go and walking away with Chan and Changbin. I¡äm left in confusion. Usually he would curse and slap me. But he didn''t. I¡äm not complaining though. There¡äs still a few minutes before this period ends so I walk to the dance studio. I change my clothes into a long sleeve oversized shirt and sweatpants. I start the song The Truth Untold by BTS and start to dance to it. The song describes my life. I dance it in freestyle, I feel eyes on me but I brush it off. Dance takes me to another world. The bell rings too soon and the euphoric feeling ends. I still feel eyes on me but I''m sure it''s just my imaginationThis tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Jisung¡äs POV:


    I don¡ät know why. But when he winced as I held his face I couldn''t bring myself to beat him up today. I¡äm probably just tired, though. Yeah that''s probably it. I see him walk down the hall. ¡§Hey Jisung lets go.¡§ Changbin says. I shake my head, ¡§Go on without me. I¡äm gonna do something first.¡§ He nods and gestures to Chan. They walk away and I''m left alone. Something compels me to walk after Minho. So I walk a few feet behind him so he can¡ät tell I''m there. Wow I sound like a professional stalker. He turns into the small dance studio our school has. Luckily it has a one way mirror so I can see him but all he¡äll see is his reflection. Music starts to play, he moves his body to the beat. The dance holds so much sadness and pain. The song ends just as the bell rings and he walks into the locker room. I cock my head who was the dance about? Brushing it off I walk away. I take my time walking up the stairs. I have math next and I don¡ät really care for it. The bell rings and I''m late. I walk through the door to be greeted by an angry Mr. Kang. ¡§Han Jisung finally decided to show up? You¡äre always late to my class. You can make up for the time lost during detention today. I roll my eyes and sit down. The class soon passes and so does the next. I meet up with Chan and Changbin in the hallway. ¡§Lets go¡§ Chan says. But I only shake my head. ¡§I got detention with Mr. Kang might as well go otherwise my parents will get called and you know how my mom is.¡§ Changbin snickers. ¡§Yeah okay c¡ämon Chan lets go.¡§ I watch there retreating backs and walk to the detention room. When I get there an already anxious Minho is sitting there. His leg bounces up and down and his eyes keep going back to the clock. Weirdo. The teacher looks at me. ¡§Finally decided to show up Han?¡§ My teacher asks. ¡§Well I thought why not grace you with my honorable presence?¡§ I smirk. The teacher glares at me before pointing to a seat, I sit down and take out my phone. I scroll through it, but Minho keeps shaking his leg and it irritates me. I move towards him and he flinches. ¡§Stop moving your leg or I¡äll make you stop.¡§ I growl he nods and looks away. The moment the clock hits three o¡äclock he dashes out of the room. Weirdo I think again and start my walk home.

 Empty Halls

    Minho POV:


    I reach my house and unlock the door. I really hope my mother is asleep or out of the house. But I know I won''t be able to escape when I see the alcohol bottle on the living room table, and a man''s shoes in front of the stairs. I put my bag down and make a desperate attempt to get to my room but I''m stopped by a pull on my shirt. I fall to the floor. I look up to see my mother and some man standing there. My mother bends down and slaps my face then delivers a punch to my stomach. That land on an already forming bruise. The man chuckles and grabs me by the hair  dragging me to my room. They continue to take turns with slaps and punches, smacks and scratches. Then they leave momentarily, I¡äm left alone. When I think it''s over, I get up but as soon as I take two steps; a sharp metal pierces through my stomach I fall to my knees and It all goes black.


    The Next Day


    Jisung POV:


    It''s 7:30 am when all of us are ready. We all live together. Me Chan and Changbin we moved out of our houses when we turned 18. Our parents aren''t bad people, we just decided we wanted more freedom. After breakfast we get out of the house and start our journey to school. We walk a few blocks before Chan sees a boy across the street. He nudges my shoulder and I nod. We walk towards the boy. Chan taps him on the shoulder and he turns to look at us. He cocks his head to the side and gives us a questioning look. ¡§H-hi C-can I help you?¡§ He says. Chan smiles. ¡§You sure can Jinnie would you allow me to walk you to school.¡§ He nods. ¡§Just quit bowing you look ridiculous.¡§ Chan laughs. The boy turns to us, ¡§Hi I¡äm Hyunjin.¡§ He gives a small wave. ¡§Jisung¡§ I nod. Changbin does the same. The boy¡äs phone rings and he puts it to his ear. He looks worried when he ends the call. ¡§I have to go and I don''t want to make you guys late so go on without me.¡§ Chan shakes his head. ¡§It''s fine Jinnie we don¡ät mind.¡§ Hyunjin looks at us and we nod. He smiles and turns around. Walking away from school and down another block. When he finally stops there''s a boy standing on the side of the sidewalk looking worried. He looks like a little kid so his deep voice shocks everyone, except Hyunjin. ¡§Hyunjin he''s not here yesterday he called but today I didn''t even get a message. I even left 25 missed calls.¡§ Hyunjin looks really worried. ¡§We¡äre going to his house.¡§ Hyunjin states and the boy nods. They start to walk further down the block and we follow. The boy turns around and looks at us. ¡§Hi I¡äm Felix.¡§ We give him the same introduction as Hyunjin and he smiles. Finally we stop at a small house. Hyunjin looks at Felix who nods his head. They walk onto the lawn of the house and I expect them to knock but instead they walk to the back of the house. ¡§She''s not home, her cars¡ä not here.¡§ Felix says and Hyunjin nods. ¡§Good one less problem.¡§ They lead us to a tree and start to climb it. They¡äre halfway up when they look down at us, ¡§Well?¡§ Felix says and we sigh and start to climb. They stop at a window. The curtains are covering the window so you couldn''t see inside. ¡§Whose house are we breaking into?!¡§ I question. Hyunjin looks at me. ¡§Minho Hyung something is wrong I know it.¡§ I give them a questioning look. I know they are Minho''s¡ä friend but what could possibly be wrong with the twerp? Felix moves towards the window and opens it. He pulls back the curtains and walks inside. We all follow him. We''re in a white room. There''s a bed pushed up against the wall, a desk in the corner and a closet in the far corner of the room. Other than that it''s bare. ¡§C¡ämon this is the guest room. We gotta get to Minho hyung¡äs room¡§ I nod and Hyunjin opens the door and walks down the hall. There are no picture frames in the hall, nothing its empty. If I didn''t know Minho lived here I would think it was vacant. They stop at the end of the hallway. There''s a door Hyunjin knocks once, there¡äs no answer he knocks again nothing. Felix goes towards the door. ¡§Minho hyung if you don''t open the door we¡äre coming in.¡§ There¡äs no answer. Felix sighs and opens the door. He doesn''t move from the doorway; he stays frozen there. Hyunjin walks forward but he stumbles back after looking inside. Chan catches him he''s crying. Hyunjin stands up and moves Felix out of the way. Giving us a clear view of the room.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

 Cuts and Backstories

    Third person POV:


    After seeing Hyunjin and Felix¡äs reaction the boys move to look inside the room. They¡äre shocked in the middle of the room on the floor is Minho. He''s lying in a pool of his own blood bruises covering his body and his eyes are closed. Jisung has tears in his eyes, although he bullies the boy he didn''t think it would go this far.


    Jisung POV:


    ¡§What happened?¡§ I look at Hyunjin and Felix for answers. Hyunjin speaks barely above a whisper but it''s there. ¡§His mom¡§ I walk towards the boy on the floor. Changbin looks at us. ¡§This is sick I''m calling an ambulance.¡§ I nod. Chan takes both Hyunjin and Felix downstairs, I sit next to Minho. What kind of mother would do this to her son? Soon there''s a siren coming and people are upstairs. Minho¡äs put on a stretcher and taken away. Hyunjin sits inside the ambulance and goes with Minho. We¡äre left alone in Minho¡äs house. I look at Felix. ¡§Care to explain what''s going on now?¡§ He nods. ¡§First let''s get out of here.¡§ I nod. He leads us out through the same way we came and we walk to his house. Felix leads us inside and has us sit down. ¡°Do you guys want anything to drink?¡± We shake our heads, he nods and sits on the couch across from us. ¡°What''s going on I mean we just saw a kid laying in his own blood in his own home.¡± Chan says. Felix looks at him, clicks his tongue and inhales a sharp breath. ¡°That place is not his home sure he lives there but that just means it''s his house, that place is anything but a home.¡± He looks over our faces which are urging him to go on. ¡°Minho hyung¡¯s dad left when he was ten years old at eleven he was diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety, and abandonment issues. When he was twelve his mom finally caved and turned to drinking, drugs and abusing her son rather than trying to be a good parent. She got a new boyfriend this year who has just as much as a drinking problem as she does. Minho¡¯s mom just gives him bruises when she¡¯s drunk but her boyfriend he likes to draw blood. That''s not the first time he was like that last time it was worse though.¡± Felix¡¯s voice cracks at the end and tears slip from his eyes. I try to register what he said. How can he still be so unbothered? He looks like a normal kid. Changbin moves to hug Felix and rub circles on his back he hiccups and speaks again. ¡°Last year on Minho Hyung''s birthday we went to surprise him. It was going to be so exciting since he didn''t have any plans we wanted to make it special. When we got inside his house the smell of blood was everywhere he was lying in the hallway his face was unrecognizable because of the amount of bruises his leg was broken and he was unconscious. We got to the hospital and when he woke up and saw us you know what he said? I¡¯m Sorry he said he was sorry that we had to see our hyung like that he was sorry that our hyung couldn''t protect himself he said we deserve better. How can someone hurt something so pure?¡± I didn''t realize I was crying until Chan handed me a tissue the rest of the day we spent talking and watching movies becoming closer as time passed.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The next day


    Jisung POV:


    I wake up to the sound of arguing. Where am I? Groggily I rub my eyes and walk towards the door. I see a picture of Felix and it all comes rushing back to me. I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. Changbin and Felix are both yelling at each other about how much butter to put in the pancakes, and Chan is sipping coffee while watching the scene unfold with an amused face. I clear my throat and Changbin and Felix turn to look at me. ¡°Good Morning Jisung!¡± Felix cheers. I cock my head to the side. ¡°What happened to Minho?¡± Felix smiles brighter. ¡°The cut wasn''t that deep and it''s not fatal but it is still bad. Most of his scratches healed and they gave him lotion for the bruises he¡¯ll be at school tomorrow. He went back to his house even though I told him not to though¡± I nod. ¡°Does Minho have a phone?¡± I question. Felix looks up from the pancake dough he¡¯s mixing. ¡°Yep he does!¡± I nod again. I don¡¯t why but I have a sudden urge to get his number. ¡°His numbers on the fridge with Hyunjins if you guys want to call any of them.¡± Felix says while hitting Changbin with the spatula to keep him from eating the dough. Changbin starts whining and I copy the number on the fridge into my phone. I label it under ¡°Minho'''' and grab a plate of pancakes from the counter. ¡°I¡¯m going to go pick up Hyunjin. I wanna spend the day with him.¡± Chan says as he gets up. Felix looks at him. ¡°Does Hyunjin know about this?¡± He asks. Chan smirks ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°How are you going to get there if you don¡¯t have a car.¡± He smiles at Felix. ¡°No I do, I just prefer to walk places. I asked my sister to drop it off this morning. I can¡¯t believe you haven''t noticed the gigantic car in your driveway.¡± Felix looks out the window and nods. ¡°Welp Bye.¡± Chan waves as he leaves, leaving me with Changbin and Felix who had started bickering about whether cereal is a soup or not.

 Princess

    Jisung POV:


    We had stayed over at Felix¡¯s house again last night. Changbin and Felix wouldn''t stop fighting and it was getting on my nerves eventually I ended up locking them both in a room and going to sleep in the one next door. But that still didn''t stop them. They kept arguing about who knows what so I opened the door of the room and taped their mouths shut. Eventually they fell asleep and my sleepiness had passed. I sat up scrolling through my phone. Maybe I should text Minho? Yeah just to ask how the twerp is doing though it''s not like I¡¯m worried about him or anything what gave you that idea? I told you right it''s just because I wanna see how he¡¯s feeling it''s not like I care though.


    Jisung


    Hey What are you doing?


    Minho


    Hi I¡¯m fine whose this?


    Jisung


    Someone a friend


    For some reason I didn''t want to tell him my name it''s not like I care what he thinks or that he¡¯ll stop answering my texts if I tell him It''s not like I care but I still didn''t want to tell him who I was


    Minho


    Thats a weird name y¡¯know


    I don¡¯t think I have any friends


    Called someone how do I know your not just an


    Old man named Joe hmmm?


    Jisung


    Well how do you want me


    To prove to you that I¡¯m not an old man?Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Minho


    Hmmm? I dunno


    O.O I got it!


    Send me a picture


    Actually wait no you could just find one off the internet


    We should meet up!


    No wait you could just Kidnap me!


    Jisung chuckled at Minho¡¯s response ¡°cute¡± he muttered before shaking his head and typing out a response


    Jisung


    What if your an old dude called Kevin


    Who just stole my friend''s phone?


    You should send me a picture so I can be sure


    Minho


    Aah you¡¯re right!


    What if I am an old man called Kevin


    I swear I¡¯m not don¡¯t call the police I¡¯ll send you a picture


    Thats me!


    Jisung


    How do I know that''s you?


    For all I know you could¡¯ve taken a picture of someone


    From the street!


    Minho


    Aish! You¡¯re right gimme a sec


    I¡¯ll take a selfie!


    Better?


    I know I¡¯m really ugly


    Jisung was shocked how could the boy look so pretty. Why hadn''t he noticed it before?


    Jisung


    What no!


    You¡¯re so beautiful


    Like a princess


    Minho


    Stop!


    My You¡¯re making me blush


    I¡¯m tired sleepy


    Jisung


    Sleep Princess I¡¯ll text you tomorrow


    Sweet dreams princess


    Minho


    Night someone


    Jisung smiled at his phone screen and changed Minho¡¯s contact to Princess and Minho? Well Minho fell asleep with a smile on his face.