Yoh yanked Yohan's arm so forcefully that he fell onto his lap, but then shoved him away contemptuously until Yohan hit the floor of the car. Yohan landed hard on the ground and lay there, gasping for breath. He felt a sharp pain in his scalp as his hair was grabbed tightly, forcing his head to snap up and meet with Yoh's cruel gaze.
"What have you been doing all this time?! I saw from the video footage that you were flirting with men? I didn't know you were such a slut who likes to play around..."
Despite the pain coursing through his body, something within Yohan found humor in these words, as if everything was happening exactly as he had intended it to be. He gazed calmly back at Yoh with a steely expression - one that Yoh had always despised because it didn't show fear or helplessness.
"You already know they were the ones who helped me when Sean almost pulled out my teeth." Yohan replied, his voice surprisingly composed despite the tense situation. "If not for them, I would've been injured even worse and you would've had to deal with the consequences. Your bodyguards did nothing when it happened."
Yoh's cold stare never wavered as he glared at Yohan's face that looked so much like his own. It was rare for Yohan to respond back to him, which made this situation all the more infuriating for him.
"You should have left them immediately after that. What were you thinking staying there and chatting with them? Was it because they seemed powerful? Did you think they could help you?" Yoh sneered condescendingly, looking down upon the man beneath him with contempt.
Yohan had indeed thought about asking for help from Kian and Kane, but he couldn't bring himself to involve people he barely knew in his troubles. What if the people backing his uncle were more powerful than them? He didn't want to drag anyone else into his own suffering.
Moreover, their meeting was only brief, not enough time for genuine bonds of friendship or trust to be established. Yohan simply smiled faintly at Yoh's sarcastic words, choosing not to respond. This seemed to infuriate Yoh even more as he tightened his grip on Yohan's hair.
Yoh leaned in close, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke into Yohan's ear, careful to keep their conversation hidden from the servant driving them.
"Did you forget something? Do you want the consequences to fall on 'someone' else?"
The tension in the air shifted palpably, Yohan's expression flickered with alarm before he managed to mask it again, forcing a facade of composure even as dread settled heavily within him. He understood the stakes all too well as Yoh continued speaking, this time without lowering his voice.
"Do you think you can easily escape us? And do you honestly believe that these so-called helpers would offer their aid without expecting something in return?" His tone dripped with malice. "They must have some ulterior motive... Maybe they'll sell your organs or even sell your body into prostitution. I heard that beautiful men are highly valued by the upper class now..."
The words sent shivers down Yohan's spine as he contemplated what might happen if he did ask for their help. He didn't believe that Kian or Kane would ever stoop to such lows, but he couldn't deny the possibility of being exploited.
Despite his hesitation, Yohan knew that life with them might be better than what he was currently experiencing. Regret washed over him briefly before he quickly pushed it aside, there was no use dwelling on what had already happened. Especially there was one reason why running away from Yoh's family wasn't an option for him.
Yohan's face betrayed no hint of pain, despite the painful grip on his hair. Instead, he gave Yoh a withering smile in response to his insulting words.
"Well, well... I had no idea you thought your face was fit for a high-class prostitution..." he quipped back.
The servant behind the wheel was left momentarily stunned by Yohan's brazen retort and wondered at how foolishly reckless he was being. It was clear that this night would be one of the worst for Yohan, facing down Yoh's wrath because of an insulted ego which nearly landed him in the hospital.
But even as he suffered from those physical blows inflicted upon him, there remained a steely determination within Yohan, unwilling to cower or submit any longer.
*
*
*
The bar was still in a state of disarray, with only a handful of people remaining, including the five men who had been left behind by Yohan. Tao let out an awkward and uncomfortable laugh.
"What happened to him? Why did he suddenly act like that?" He asked.
Axel ran his hand through his hair and tried to smile. "Honestly, it felt like we were dealing with Cinderella." He said with wry smile. "He realized that his magical time was coming to an end at midnight and he needed to return to reality. He seemed hesitant about interacting with us, almost as if there was some sort of secret involved."
Gio stared at Axel with fascination and awe. "You noticed all of this about him? I thought he was just playing hard-to-get for Kane."
Kane stood motionless as anger mixed with confusion on his face. Meanwhile, Kian listened intently as Yohan's words echoed in his mind. Without saying another word, Kian made his way towards Kane.
"Let's go home."
He said simply before walking out of the bar, leaving his companions behind. Though he appeared calm on the outside, inwardly Kian was consumed with curiosity about what had happened.
Yohan had been full of energy and enthusiasm until he caught sight of something behind the wall, his demeanor suddenly shifted, causing Kian to take notice. Though it was only a fleeting moment, Kian could tell that there was more to Yohan's behavior than met the eye.
Forgetting about Yohan was not an option, especially now that they knew something unusual had taken place. Although Kane may never utter those words aloud, Kian knew without a doubt that his younger brother would be determined to find out what exactly transpired within those walls.
But who would have thought, as they delved deeper into Yohan's past, the more disappointed they became. It was a bitter pill to swallow, perhaps Yohan had been right all along, that it would be best to forget about him entirely.
Their search for answers had only led them down a path of disillusionment, with each new revelation painting an even bleaker picture than before.