'Min-ho' [Part I]

Rei was allowed to leave the room—for just that day. He had to make the best of it. He would make the best of it.

As Kai walked over to the door, his hands still buried in his pockets, Rei quickly grabbed a pair of shorts from the bed and slipped them on. No way was he walking out in just that oversized T-shirt.

Kai pulled out the keys and turned the knob, the sharp click of the lock breaking the silence. He pushed the door open.

"There."

Kai turned slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto Rei's face. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by something more serious.

"Just because I'm letting you out doesn't mean I won't be watching you."

With that, the alpha stepped out, leaving the door open behind him.

Rei hesitated for only a moment before following, adjusting the shorts he had hurriedly worn—he followed.

Kai moved through the dimly lit hallway, his posture relaxed, his movements unhurried. The corridor was narrow, leading to a modestly sized hall—just enough space for a few pieces of furniture. As he walked, he tilted his head slightly, a small, unreadable smile forming on his lips.

The hall stretched into a longer corridor lined with multiple doors on either side. At its end, two grand staircases curved downward in a sweeping C-shape, leading to the lower floors. The decor was pristine—white furniture, polished marble steps, a space so lavish it almost felt unreal.

Rei trailed behind him, taking in everything. His gaze landed on a massive glass wall at the side of the hall, stretching from floor to ceiling.

And for a moment, he forgot everything else.

The rain had slowed, the droplets now sliding down the glass, racing each other in an unpredictable dance. Rei found himself mesmerized. He let out a quiet breath, his fingers lightly touching the cold surface.

He smiled.

His life wasn't as easy as those raindrops, running freely with no obstacles in their way. He exhaled again, the warmth of his breath slightly fogging up the glass.

Then—

A soft giggle.

High-pitched. Innocent. A child's laughter.

Rei's body tensed. His head snapped toward the source of the sound.

A small figure dashed down the hall, their tiny feet barely making a sound against the polished floor as they ran straight toward the staircase.

Rei's heart skipped a beat.

Who—?

Rei hurried after the child, but before he could catch up, the small figure disappeared—slipping under the grand staircase like a shadow.

Frowning, Rei slowed his steps, his gaze drifting downward. That's when he saw it.

Nestled beneath the stairs was a massive door—easily the largest one in the entire house. But what truly caught his attention was the intricate carving on its surface.

It depicted a young boy, engrossed in a book. The details were striking—the boy's face, the soft curve of his expression, even the slight furrow of his brows. And oddly enough… he looked eerily similar to Rei.

Drawn in, Rei stepped closer, his eyes scanning the small yet meticulous patterns etched into the boy's hoodie. His fingers twitched as curiosity got the best of him.

Slowly, he lifted his hand and placed it on the large iron handle.

It wasn't locked.

With a gentle tug, the heavy doors creaked open, revealing something completely unexpected.

A library.

But not just any library—this was massive. Endless. Shelves stretched from the floor to the high, arched ceiling, packed with hundreds, maybe thousands of books.

"Wow," Rei whispered, stepping inside as his eyes widened in amazement.

"What the fuck is all this?" he muttered with a grin.

Rows upon rows of books lined the towering shelves, and spiral staircases led to higher levels packed just as full. The sheer scale of it left him stunned. And yet… despite its size, the entire place was spotless.

Immaculately clean.

As Rei ventured deeper, his footsteps silent against the polished floors, his gaze fell upon something else—something hidden.

At the very end of the long room, nearly covering the entire wall, hung a massive painting. But instead of being on display, it was concealed behind a long white cloth.

Rei's fingers twitched again. He reached out, drawn to whatever lay beneath.

But just as he was about to pull the cloth down—

The giggle.

That same quiet, mischievous laughter echoed through the library.

Rei spun around.

There—just peeking out from behind one of the towering bookshelves—was the child again.

Rei's breath caught in his throat.

The boy looked exactly like Kai. Same hair. Same face. Only the eyes were slightly different—softer, rounder.

Slowly, Rei knelt down, holding out his hands.

"Hey, little guy~," he cooed gently.

The child hesitated but eventually toddled forward.

"Hi~," Rei hummed, scooping him up effortlessly. The boy felt light in his arms, his fluffy hair tickling Rei's chin.

"You're so pretty~," Rei murmured, smiling as he took in the child's delicate features.

A boy. Clearly younger than Rei had expected.

"Where's your dad?" Rei asked, glancing around, suddenly uneasy about a child wandering such a huge house alone.

A deep, mature voice answered from behind him.

"He can't speak."

Rei turned.

A man stood there, dressed sharply in a suit with a red tie, his beige coat neatly pressed. He wore thin glasses, he was clearly handsome. He had to be some what in his forties—although he looked too good to be that old

The child reached out toward him, tiny hands grasping the air.

"He's mute," the man said simply, stepping forward to take the boy from Rei's arms.

The words sliced through Rei like a cold wind.

Mute?

Rei's lips parted slightly, but he said nothing as the man gently cradled the child, holding him close.

And just like that, Rei felt something heavy settle in his chest.

Maybe he wasn't the only unlucky person in the world.

The child smiled at him.

"Uh—what's his name?" Rei asked, glancing up at the man.

For a moment, something flickered across the older man's face—something sad. Rei could tell the sorrow wasn't about the child, but something deeper.

"His name is Yang Min-ho," the man finally said, his voice hollow, stripped of emotion.

Then, without another word, he turned away and began walking.

Min-ho, still in his arms, looked over his shoulder and waved at Rei with a bright, innocent smile.

Rei lifted his hand, returning the wave, though a subtle sorrow lingered in his expression.

Maybe I shouldn't be so greedy about everything.

The thought lingered in his mind as he exhaled softly.

Shaking it off, he wandered deeper into the library, letting his curiosity guide him.

That's when he noticed it—a window, accompanied by a cozy built-in seat beneath it.

It wasn't large, just enough to snugly fit against the wall, but it looked inviting.

Rei sat down, leaning against the cool glass as his eyes drifted outside.

There, in the open courtyard, he spotted Min-ho and the man.

The child was playing—completely carefree. Running, laughing, twirling in circles. Despite whatever hardships he faced, Min-ho still found a way to smile.

Unknowingly, Rei smiled too.

It was strange. It felt as if he knew that kid from somewhere.

"Guess you met Min-ho," a familiar voice stated from behind him.

Rei turned his head.

Kai.

The alpha stood there, watching him with a knowing look.

"Is he cute?" Kai asked, a soft, almost hopeless smile playing at his lips.

For some reason, it sounded like he genuinely cared about what Rei was going to say.

"Uh—y-yeah," Rei stammered, turning his attention back outside, watching Min-ho play.

A beat of silence passed before Rei turned his head again, eyes flickering toward Kai.

"Your kid?" he asked, his voice quieter this time.

Kai took a step closer, his gaze following Rei's as they both watched Min-ho playing outside, his laughter carrying through the air like a distant melody.

"Mmm," Kai hummed in response, nodding slightly.

Rei hesitated, a strange emptiness settling in his chest as he asked his next question.

"Uh—w-what about his mother?"

The air between them grew heavy.

Kai didn't answer right away. His expression didn't change, but the weight in his silence spoke volumes.

Then, he sighed.

"he's—" He started but stopped himself. The words felt too heavy, too difficult to form.

Rei immediately regretted asking.

"Uh—you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I-it's fine," he stammered, forcing an awkward smile.

Kai's lips twitched, almost as if he wanted to say something. But instead, he just exhaled, shifting his eyes back to the child outside.

The moment lingered, unspoken words hanging between them.

Kai didn't answer immediately. He stood there, staring out the window, his gaze following Min-ho as the child ran through the damp grass, his tiny hands reaching for the raindrops.

Rei shifted uncomfortably. Something about the silence felt... off.

"You know," Kai finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "Sometimes, people disappear before you even realize they're gone."

Rei frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Kai exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter." His tone was too casual—forced, almost.

Rei glanced at him. Kai wasn't looking at him anymore. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his shoulders slightly tense.

"Min-ho doesn't remember his mother," Kai continued, voice flat. "Min-ho was too young when… well, when he left."

Rei's chest tightened unexpectedly.

"he left?" he echoed.

Kai turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Yeah."

A strange feeling crawled up Rei's spine. He wasn't sure why, but something about the way Kai said it—like he was weighing every word—felt wrong.

"You're free for today," Kai suddenly said, stepping back, his usual smirk creeping onto his face. "Don't waste it thinking about my personal business."

Rei blinked at the abrupt shift. He could feel it—Kai was hiding something.

"Kai—"

"Enjoy your time while it lasts, Rei."

And with that, Kai turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Rei staring out the window—watching the child outside, the one with a smile so familiar it made his stomach twist.

For some reason, Rei felt like he was missing something important.

Something about Min-ho.

To Be Continued... ...