Messed Up (8/8)
Title: Messed Up (8/8)
Author: velvet_vietta
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: myungsoo/hoya, sunggyu/hoya, sunggyu/woohyun
Disclaimer: I do not own them...not in a million years, that is.
Summary: Second Part Of The Story. Takes place a few years in the future.
A/N: I'm so sorry for the totally late update..i was busy with school and etc etc....this is the end everyone.../sobs.
thanks so much for your time reading this fic and commenting. i'll be writing a new story soon!!! thank you!! *kisses*
lol and a cameo from BEAST's Junhyung x Hyunseung
::CHAPTER 8::
“Get her!” the head nurse almost screamed when the little girl ran out of her bed as soon as she came in. Hyekyung didn’t like taking medicines. Everytime, the nurses would come in with that all too familiar ‘it’s time for your medication’ look, Hyekyung would give such excuses. At first, it worked really well but then the nurses got suspicious and Hyekyung had to take the medications. But, now she had a better plan. It was all thanks to her Sungyeol-appa.
“Go, Go...I’ll distract them for a while,” Sungyeol gave a small walkie-talkie to her and pushed the girl who was hugging her teddy bear out of the room.
“You’re such a bad influence,” Sungjong narrowed his eyes and shook his head at his boyfriend.
“What? It’s just fun to see them running around in here. Hospitals are so boring,” Sungyeol grinned. “Teddy Girl, this is Sungchoding. Over.”
Sungyeol began talking to his walkie-talkie. Some strange noises were heard on the background before Hyekyung’s voice was heard.
“Sungchoding-appa, this is Teddy Girl weplying. I’m near the elevator. What do I do now? Over,” Hyekyung was whispering as to not get caught.
“You are to ascend to the next floor. Do not use the elevators. The enemies shall be using it. I repeat, do not use the elevator. Over.” Sungyeol said to her.
“Seriously...you two,” Sungjong rolled his eyes.
---
Hyekyung hurriedly ran upstairs as Sungyeol had told him. She hid behind a wall before making a mad dash to Myungsoo’s ward. From behind her, she could hear the nurses’ footsteps.
“L-gun! Quickly hide me!” Hyekyung climbed onto Myungsoo’s bed, surprising the man who was sitting on it. She pulled the blanket over her head and laid still.
“Teddy Girl, what is your position?” Sungyeol’s voice was heard from under the blanket. Hyekyung replied with a whisper telling Sungyeol, she was hiding under the covers. Myungsoo chuckled a bit. He lifted the cover a bit to see her face.
“Running again, I see.”
“I don’t like taking medications,” Hyekyung pouted. Myungsoo brought his hand to her cheeks, pinching them gently.
“There you....are-e...” the head nurse appeared at Myungsoo’s room. Hyekyung whined. “Hyekyung-ah, the day when you’ll be discharged from here is the day I’ll be crying for independence. Here,” the lady placed the small tray which includes all of her medicines onto Myungsoo’s receiving hand.
“Thank you and sorry for all the troubles. I’ll make sure she takes it,” Myungsoo smiled. The nurse nodded her head and left the room, still gasping for air. Myungsoo looked down at the still body under the covers. “Come on, Hyekyung.” The man pulled the girl up. Hyekyung looked away from him, shutting her mouth tight when Myungsoo brought the spoon to her mouth.
“If you eat this, I’ll give you a present.” Myungsoo reached over to take out something from the bedside table. Hyekyung had peered over, looking curious. “I wanted to save it until the day you leave the hospital, but since making you take your medicines are far more important, so I’ll give it today. But, you have to promise you’ll take your medications until you leave the hospital.”
Hyekyung looked from the spoon that had the red liquid to the box in Myungsoo’s hand simultaneously. Myungsoo raised an eyebrow at her when the girl reached for the box. He slowly pulled it away, making Hyekyung to lean closer, trying hard to land her hand on the box. She opened her mouth gradually and Myungsoo took the chance to feed the remedy into her mouth. At the same time, Hyekyung managed to take a hold of the box.
“See, it’s not that bad right?” Myungsoo patted her head and burst out laughing when the girl scrunched her face in disgust. Why does she have to be so cute? Myungsoo thought as he wiped the girl’s mouth with his thumb. Hyekyung was now excitedly shaking the box.
When Hyekyung opened the box, Myungsoo’s mom walked in. She was surprised to see the girl. She never saw her before. “Myungsoo?” his mom looked at him questioningly.
Myungsoo looked up at her. “This...is Hyekyung.”
“Really?” Myungsoo’s mom went over to the bed. “Hi, Hyekyung.”
Hyekyung quickly stood up onto Myungsoo’s bed and wobbly gave a deep bow. “Hello, my name is Park Hyekyung.”
“So adorable..” his mom pinched her cheeks as Hyekyung was back to open her gift.
“Wooooaaahhhh~~~~” she pulled out the big snow globe from the box.
“Here, you shake it like this,” Myungsoo did a demonstration of shaking the globe to her. She clapped her hands happily when the snow inside the globe mixed around and fell back to the base. She examined the teddy bear which was sitting on a bench with two large teddy bears that looked like it parents.
“It must be gweat to have both appa and omma..” she said with a sigh, tapping her small fingers to the glass. Myungsoo exchanged looks with his mom. Myungsoo’s mom sat down on the bed and caressed her hair.
“Hyekyung is such a good girl. I’m sure your parents will be proud of you no matter where they are.” Myungsoo’s mom said to her.
“They’re in heaven. Appa says my pawents are watching over me from heaven. I never met them in my life. They died in an awful accident. Omma died giving birth to me. My uncle left me at their doorstep. Halmoni and Howon-appa, they are my family.” Hyekyung said, brushing away the tears from her eyes.
“Howon? Lee Howon?” Myungsoo’s mom looked up at her soon. Myungsoo gave a weak nod. “Myungsoo, how did you become friends with that rascal when I-I---”
“Don’t call my appa like that!” Hyekyung glared at Myungsoo’s mom. Her eyes filled with tears again. She got down from the bed, left the snow globe but took her teddy bear and ran out of the room.
“Hyekyung!” Myungsoo grabbed the snow globe and ran after her but not before giving a disappointed look at his mom. He saw the girl ran down the stairs quickly and guessed she would be running back to her ward.
---
Hyekyung entered her ward. Sungyeol and Sungjong were gone but Howon was standing in the middle of the room. Howon looked around when he heard the door burst opened, revealing a crying Hyekyung.
“Hey, hey. What’s up?” Hyekyung hugged Howon’s legs, breaking down. Howon lifted up into his arms, calming the crying girl by gently patted her back.
“Hyekyung!” Myungsoo arrived at the door, gasping. Their eyes met. Hyekyung was tightly hugging Howon’s neck and was sobbing endlessly. Myungsoo approached them. He touched Hyekyung’s hair lightly. “I’m sorry, Hyekyung. She doesn’t mean what she said.” Howon just stared at him. When the girl had finally calmed down, she turned at Myungsoo with a smile but turned back to hug Howon and slowly falling asleep in his arms.
Myungsoo turned to leave but Howon caught his wrist. “She’d like you to stay.” Myungsoo felt his heart fluttered but he kept calm and laced their fingers together. Much to his relief, Howon didn’t pull away and maybe Myungsoo must be dreaming when he felt Howon tightened his fingers around his.
From the slightly ajar door, Myungsoo’s mom watched them silently. She wiped the tears with the back of her hand.
---
Sora watched as the woman got out of the building to her car. When she was about to go inside her car, Sora charged. Before she could say anything, Sora had slapped her. The girl glared at her.
“I can’t believe you’d do this to your own sister,” Sora screamed. “You must be happy to know he left me. I know you onni, you waited for him all your life. You were disappointed when I was the one getting married to him and not you. Do you not care about how I feel? Do you think I really wanted to marry him? The wedding was arranged for dad’s business, for God’s sake. I never get to decide anything in my life. Never. Do you know how pathetic I am? I think I’m going to die. And hurting Sunggyu? And the innocent little girl. I’ll tell you what, do you even know who I had in my heart all this time? It’s not Woohyun. It’s Sunggyu. But, did I ever do anything to break them apart? You can’t just force love, onni. Let them be together. Please.”
Sora got down to her knees, begging.
---
“Remind me again what this reunion is about?” Howon asked, fixing Sunggyu’s hair in the tall mirror in front of him. Sunggyu straightened his shirt trying to look as casual as possible.
“Well, it’s supposed to be a school reunion. Sungjong and Sungyeol would be there so---”
“Woohyun too?” Howon said suddenly. Sunggyu avoided his eyes.
“I-I don’t know..” the older stammered a bit, feeling himself blush lightly.
“Are you sure, I don’t have to come with you?”
“What? No, I’ll be fine. Besides, if you’re always with me... what about him?” Sunggyu pressed on the word him causing Howon to blush just as much as him.
“What about him?” Howon asked him, looking away. Sunggyu smirked.
“The way you stare at him is as if you’re going to swallow him up alive,” the older said.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“It is time you do, Hoya. Myungsoo’s too hot for his own good.” Sunggyu whispered the last few syllables, causing the tiny hairs on Howon’s nape to stand. He exited the room, leaving a blushing Howon.When Sunggyu came downstairs, he smiled at the sight of Hyekyung who was sprawled on the carpet, lying on her stomach, and doing her homework.
“Are you going now, appa?” She looked up from her book to her stunningly handsome Sunggyu-appa. “Wooaaahhh!”
Howon appeared behind Sunggyu with a small frown. “Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”
“Yes, Hoya. Stop worrying!” Sunggyu muttered urgently.
“Well, at least let me send you there,” Howon demanded.
“Okay, okay!” Sunggyu raised both hands in defeat.
---
“Is it here?” Howon looked up at the big building in front of him. Sunggyu nodded his head. This is where Sungjong had mentioned to him in his text earlier. Sunggyu was about to enter the building but Howon stopped him.
“What?” Sunggyu asked him impatiently.
“I..don’t feel right,” Howon said, eyebrows furrowed. Sunggyu heaved a sigh and held Howon’s shoulders with his hands, squeezing them.
“I’ll be okay,” he assured his best friend. Howon gave a heavy sigh before nodding his head unwillingly. The older gave another reassuring squeeze to Howon’s forearms before making his way into the building. Howon waited for a few minutes if Sunggyu changed his mind and probably runs back to him but the other didn’t so he got into his car and drove away, his heart still not feeling any better. Every interval of 2 seconds Howon would look through his rear-view mirror. There was this tiny hope in him that Sunggyu would somehow ran back outside. But, he didn’t. I hope no one hurts him tonight, Howon thought.
---
“You’ll be attending the university this Fall.”
Myungsoo dropped the apple and knife he was holding into the bowl on his lap. He looked up at his mother who was knitting a scarf and to Dongwoo who was taking a sip of coffee. The older avoided his eyes immediately, but they landed on his bleeding finger. Dongwoo went over to him, taking Myungsoo’s hand into his and examining the cut made by the sharp kitchen knife.
The younger pulled his hand away from Dongwoo’s grasp and stomped upstairs to his room. He sat on his bed with his head hung low. He heard Dongwoo entering his room but didn’t look up until the older knelt in front of him, taking Myungsoo’s bleeding finger and cleaned the wound for him.
“I can’t go, Dongwoo. You know I can’t,” Myungsoo said weakly, tears falling. “I can’t stand another day being far from him anymore.” Dongwoo wiped those tears from Myungsoo’s eyes with his thumbs.
“I know,” he said with a feigned smile. As much as it hurts him to see these tears coming out from the eyes of the person he loves, but it hurts more when Myungsoo’s heart never belonged to him. It has always been Howon. Forever and always.
---
“Hyung!”
Sungjong made his way passed a few people to Sunggyu who was standing awkwardly at the grand entrance, looking around worriedly. As soon as he saw Sungjong, he gave a relieved sigh.
“You made it safe and sound,” the younger hugged him. Sunggyu saw Sungyeol squeezed himself through the growing crowd towards them.
“Hyung, Sungjong was worried you wouldn’t come,” the tall man hugged him too.
“Why wouldn’t I?” the older grinned. “This place looks classy.”
“Yeah, Woohyun sponsored it,” the tall man replied. “Come, he saved a seat for us.” Sungyeol lead Sunggyu to the table, pulling Sungjong along with him. He ignored other men calling out Sungjong’s name, resisting the idea of shutting the men up the Sungchoding way.
When they arrived at the round table which was placed at the very front, Sunggyu paused when he saw Woohyun talking to a few men. As if on cue, the other glanced back at him giving him an unmistakable wink before continued talking to the men.
Sungjong made him sit on the empty seat before sitting beside Sunggyu with a smile. He mouthed an ‘It’s okay’ before lost into a deep conversation with Sungyeol and a few girls. But, it didn’t last long when Woohyun stood up on the small stage with a microphone in his hand.
He caught Sunggyu’s eyes before started to talk. For once, Sunggyu felt the same feeling when they were still together when their eyes met. Sunggyu didn’t really hear what he was saying because he was too absorbed in staring at the other. All he knew, Sungjong nudged his elbow when they were doing a toast. He clumsily lifted his glass, earning a smirk on Woohyun’s lips.
“May I sit here?” a man asked politely. Sunggyu only shook his head. “No?” he asked again. Then, Sunggyu nodded. As the other pulled the chair and sat beside him, he stole a nervous look to the man. He looked young.
“You’re Kim Sunggyu, right?” the man asked. Sunggyu gave a vague nod. From afar, Woohyun watched as the man started pulling his chair closer to Sunggyu. He did not realise he was grasping the glass a little too tight until his friend nudged his elbow.
He looked to his friend but turned his gaze towards a clumsy Sunggyu leaving the place to the man who scratched his head at his fail to win Sunggyu over. Woohyun’s attention directed back to the other’s retreating back. He shoved his glass to his friend’s chest, ignoring the amount of inappropriate words that he received and ran to get Sunggyu.
Sunggyu leaned his back to the wall, his head hitting the wall lightly. Then, he heard footsteps nearing him. He looked around to find a woman holding a half-empty wine bottle. “Sunggyu-sshi.” The woman stopped a few metres from him with a sly smile. She seemed drunk by the peculiar way she was standing.
“I’m Bae Nayoung. Sora’s sister. How was your cafe?” she said with a hearty laugh. But then, those laugh turned into sobs and the woman leaned to the wall for support. “Do you know how it feels when the person you love, the person you tried hard to get his attention was stolen away from you? Do you? ”
“You don’t right? You’re the Cinderella in a fairytale whose Prince loves you whole-heartedly. But, I’m just the Prince’s maid who gets to see him everyday but DON’T EVEN GET A SECOND GLANCE FROM HIM!” as she screamed those words, she slammed the bottle to the wall and charged to stab Sunggyu with the remaining piece of glass.
“Leave him alone!” Before she could even reach him, she was pushed hardly backwards and fell to the floor. A woman stood in front of Sunggyu, breathing heavily.
“Sora-sshi,” Sunggyu whispered. The woman turned around to him.
“I’m sorry, oppa.” Sunggyu looked down to the blood that rushed out from the cut on her stomach and caught her body before she met the floor.
“SUNGGYU!” Woohyun came into the scene, and looked surprisedly at the glasses on the floor to the unconscious body of Bae Nayoung to Sunggyu who had a bleeding Sora in his arms. Woohyun knelt beside both of them, shaking. Sunggyu’s hand was pressing on top the open wound in attempt to stop the flowing blood.
“We need an ambulance!” Sungyeol’s voice was heard amidst all the whisperings and gaspings from the crowd.
“Help onni,” Sora said hardly.
---
Sunggyu sat outside the operation room, staring at the white floor. Nothing matters more than the safety of the woman who risked her life for him. He felt a certain weight beside him and didn’t bother to turn but only let himself being pulled into a comforting hug. Sunggyu felt Woohyun’s arm around him securely and the latter whispered words of encouragement in between soft kisses to his temple.
When Sungjong informed Howon about what happened, the man made a mad dash to the hospital but when he saw Sunggyu was safe in Woohyun’s arm, he was relieved and made a mental note to thank the other later.
---
"Appa, what kind of bird that?” Hyekyung who was straddling Howon’s shoulders pointed at a large bird soaring across the sky.
“It’s an eagle,” Howon answered.
“It’s weally big!”
“It sure is. Want me to summon it?”
“No, it might snatch me up.”
“Hahaha...you’re too heavy. The wings might break.” Hyekyung protested by pulling at Howon’s cheeks. Howon laughed and began swinging her around. Hyekyung’s laughter emitted throughout the silent neighbourhood that morning.
“Appa..” Hyekyung called him when she had calmed herself down.
“Hmm?”
“I like him.” Hyekung signalled for Howon to put her down.
“Who? Sunggyu?”
Hyekyung shook her head. “L-gun.” Howon was taken aback by his daughter’s answer. He stared at her for some time, before continued to walk back to their house.
“I knew about you and him..” Hyekyung said. “Halmoni told me. I weally wanted to find him because halmoni said that he is the person who owns appa’s smile, heart and soul. When I met him for the first time, I was vewy happy. I thought I could help fix this together. When he saved me, I knew he was weally meant for you.” Howon only stared at his daughter in disbelief.
“You’re too young for all this,” Howon swooped down to kiss her forehead and lifted her up into his arms.
“I just want my pawents to come during pawent’s day in school,” the girl leaned her head to Howon’s shoulder, closing her eyes.
---
Sunggyu rolled over to the edge of the bed but his body met with warmth. He snapped his eyes open to see a sleeping Woohyun by his side. Then, it downed upon him. He left the hospital that night after the doctor pronounced that Sora was stable after a 3-hour surgery. Woohyun brought him home, to his home of course.
It’s not like they did anything. Just cuddling to sleep and here he was, watching over his past lover’s peaceful sleeping face. Sunggyu inched over the other edge and brought his legs down on the floor. He might as well prepare breakfast for the both of them to thank Woohyun for taking good care of him.
Sunggyu was busy slaving around the small kitchen that he didn’t even realised the other had already came down and was leaning comfortable on the doorframe, arms crossed. When Sunggyu doesn’t seem to bother Woohyun opted on standing behind him as he was brewing coffee.
“You smell good,” Woohyun breathed in Sunggyu’s scent.
“Excuse me?”
“The coffee...it’s good..” he changed the topic almost abruptly. Sunggyu gave him a weird stare for a while and almost fell backwards if not for the arm supporting his waist, as Woohyun was leaning in to his face.
Sunggyu nervously reached for a ladle from the kitchen top and shoved them to Woohyun’s mouth. Woohyun blinked at him at the sudden rejection for a morning kiss. “G-Go and stir the soup!” Sunggyu stammered a little. The rejected man sighed and snatched the ladle from Sunggyu’s hand brushing his way past the older to the stove.
“Sunggyu!”
“Huh?” When Sunggyu turned around, he was almost caught by surprise when he felt lips on his own. He immediately closed his eyes at the sudden contact but he did not respond. Only when Woohyun pulled his body closer, Sunggyu finally found the urge to kiss him back. He hasn’t been kissing anyone since they broke up, so his movements seemed unsure and insensitive. But, Woohyun guided him well. It was a slow kiss, enough to show how much they missed each other and that they’re really meant for each other. The boiling soup and coffee were long forgotten.
Sunggyu’s back met the fridge gently. By that time, Woohyun had his hands gripping Sunggyu’s shoulders lightly.
“Y-You’re...uhh..get-ting...m-marrieedd~~” Sunggyu broke both of them apart, meeting with Woohyun’s eyes. The younger let his head fell onto Sunggyu’s shoulder, breathing calmly. Sunggyu let the other stay like this for a while but he pulled away to cup Woohyun’s cheek and gasped when he saw the other’s tears slowly running down his cheeks. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he whispered.
“I just don’t know if I ever have the guts to leave you ever again.”
Sunggyu’s eyebrows furrowed in the most complicated way before he slowly pulled Woohyun into a tight embrace, rubbing his back gently.
“Then, don’t leave,” he said, so audible that it’s almost impossible for anyone to hear it apart from the both of them.
---
Howon entered the restaurant, looking around wildly until his eyes spotted a familiar figure looking outside the window, fingers fiddling with the camera on the table in front of him. When he approached the table, Myungsoo turned his head and stood up nervously.
Myungsoo frowned a little upon seeing the older’s tired self. He must be working hard. Those eyebags are too visible for Myungsoo’s liking. They sat down in silence until a waitress came and broke the awkward silence.
“Anything you wanna eat, Soo?” Howon’s voice woke Myungsoo from his short trance. The younger winced a little but shook his head slowly.
When the waitress had gone to get their orders which were just simple juices, Howon turned his attention back at the silent male in front of him. He watched as Myungsoo’s long fingers played with the camera in front of him and something caught his eyes. Myungsoo wasn’t wearing the ring anymore. The very same ring that Howon saw in Dongwoo’s finger as a sign of they were together.
They drank their drinks in silence; once or twice Howon would ask him questions to bring the younger back to reality. He would answer but then returned back to stare into spaces. When Myungsoo had called him for a meet up, Howon hurriedly left his office. A part of him was truly excited about meeting the younger one because it’s been almost 2 weeks since they last met each other. But another part of himself held him back. He shouldn’t be too obvious about his feelings, just yet. He needed to be confirmed by Myungsoo’s feelings before he showed him any affection. This will take some time but he had to be patient and Myungsoo had to be patient too.
Later that evening, Myungsoo asked Howon to accompany him to snap a few pictures around Seoul, which the older happily obliged, though he kept his serious face. Howon walked in front of Myungsoo while Myungsoo was downed by his obsession to beautiful sceneries. His eyes sparkled whenever he saw a group of birds soared in the evening sky.
“Hyung..” Myungsoo asked as they sat down on a park bench, sipping on hot coffee.
“Hm?”
“D-Do you really have no feelings for me anymore?”
Howon turned his head to his side, meeting the younger’s hopeful orbs. Obviously the answer was ‘my feelings would never change’ but his ego stopped him from saying anything so he just shrugged. Myungsoo’s shoulders dropped from the answer but he went back on to drink his coffee, tears welling up in his eyes.
---
Before they end the meeting that night, Myungsoo handed him a medium-sized bag. “There are a few things for Hyekyung, your mom and Sunggyu-sshi.” Howon took it with a small ‘thanks’. “I better get going,” Myungsoo looked up his apartment building. Howon nodded his head but almost fell backwards, not expecting the sudden hug from Myungsoo. He never changed. His Myungsoo never changed, always showing affections at the least expected time and place.
“I hope to meet you again soon, hyung. I really do,” he whispered, his voice sounded a little shaky. Howon brought his right arm around that slim waist, patting the younger’s back comfortingly. When they broke apart, Howon unknowingly wiped the small tears on Myungsoo’s cheeks and ruffled his hair with a sincere smile.
Myungsoo leaned in to peck on Howon’s lips and lingered his lips over the other, just to keep the taste for as long as he could. Then, very slowly he let go of Howon and disappeared into the building, not once looking back, because he did not want Howon to see the tears that streamed down his face fast and unstoppable.
---
“Waaahh~ Hyekyungie is a famous person now!” Sungyeol bent over Sungjong to read the magazine. Hyekyung who was sitting on Sungjong’s lap smiled happily. Her finger touched the small picture of the writer who she recognised by heart.
When Howon came down for breakfast the next morning, Hyekyung took the magazine and brought it over to her appa. “Appa, appa. Look! It’s me!” she shoved the magazine into Howon’s face.
Howon took the magazine and brought it away from his face to read it.
‘THE SMILE WHICH LIT UP THE WHOLE TOWN- PARK HYEKYUNG by L Kim’
Before he could react to anything, the front door burst open, a gasping Sunggyu arrived, with flush cheeks and slightly sweating. “Why are you still here?” he asked Howon.
“Hoya, you should stop him! He’s leaving the country today!”
By the end of the sentence, Howon was already half way out the door, grabbing his car key and a jacket.
---
“Call me when you get there, honey,” Myungsoo’s mom hugged him tight.
“I will. Take care.” Myungsoo said to her with a smile. He turned his attention to Dongwoo, who kept looking at his watch and switching to look around them.
“Dongwoo!” Myungsoo called him. The latter jumped a bit in surprise.
“W-What?”
“You looked nervous.”
“M-Me? No, no. I’m fine.” Dongwoo laughed a little, but continued looking around for something.
“Okay. Take care of my mom, will you?” the younger said to him.
“Of course. I always take care of her, remember?” Dongwoo laughed again. Myungsoo grinned and hugged Dongwoo too. “I’m gonna miss you, kiddo!” he put his arms around the younger tightly.
“Me too,” Myungsoo whispered. “And I’m sorry...for everything.”
Myungsoo stepped back and gave one last look towards the two persons he treasured the most in his life. His mom and his forever best friend. Myungsoo’s mom had started to cry into Dongwoo’s shoulder. With a wave, Myungsoo walked into the departure gate.
Take care, Howon.
---
Take care, Myungsoo.
Howon watched the other’s retreating back, while he stood behind a large wall, a few metres away from them. He had to fight the urge to run to him and begged him to stay but he stopped himself. When he was gone, Howon leaned back to the wall, shutting his eyes; letting two huge tears escaped his lids.
---
“Is this okay, hyung?”
Myungsoo looked into the tall mirror, fixing his necktie. A doe-eyed man appeared behind him and helped Myungsoo to fix his necktie.
“Whoa..you look awesome, hyung,” Myungsoo said to his roommate, earning a glare by another man who sat on the bed.
“Gosh, Junhyung. Help me fix Myungsoo’s necktie,” Hyunseung pouted.
“Why do I have to do that? He’s not my boyfriend,” Junhyung answered coolly.
“Can you please not start this?” Hyunseung groaned. Myungsoo looked nervously at the two of them.
“It’s okay, hyung. I’ll just do it myself,” Myungsoo distanced himself a bit from Hyunseung but Hyunseung just pulled him closer. Feeling annoyed and jealous, Junhyung got up from the bed and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
“Sometimes, I always wondered if I should have dated you instead of him. So grumpy,” Hyunseung sighed.
“I heard that, Jang Hyunseung!” came Junhyung’s voice from the door. Hyunseung rolled his eyes while Myungsoo tensed a little.
The door opened again and without looking up, Hyunseung muttered, “If you’ve come to apologise, I’m not accepting any of it.”
“Err..no.”
Hyunseung looked up to the voice and raised an eyebrow. Myungsoo looked around to the same direction. “Dongwoo!!” Myungsoo ran happily to greet the other man.
“Hey, congratulations on your graduation!” Dongwoo said, handing him a bouquet of flowers.
“Thanks!”
Before Myungsoo could ask anything, he was called to get ready because the ceremony would start soon.
---
Throughout the ceremony, Myungsoo couldn’t help but smile when he saw Dongwoo and his mom sat on the seats, smiling back at him and waving. Dongwoo snapped a few pictures of him as he got onto the stage to receive his scroll proudly.
When he got to the back of the stage, he was pulled into a hug by Hyunseung and to his surprise Junhyung too. “Congratulations, kid!” Junhyung punched his arm lightly with a wide grin.
Hyunseung smiled fondly, his hand entwined with Junhyung’s. They stared at each other before drowned in a kiss, earning a blush on Myungsoo’s cheeks at the sight of his two roommates making out. It wasn’t something new, but he can’t avoid feeling embarrassed having to witness the affections between them.
“Soo,” he thought his mind was playing games on him when he heard that faint voice. He looked around and was almost blinded by the sudden flashlight from a camera and it took him a few seconds to focus on a man holding a DSLR camera.
The couple who was making out behind Myungsoo also broke apart at the flashlight. “You! The person in Myungsoo’s laptop, his phone and camera!” Hyunseung pointed at the man in front of him.
Howon gave a rather shy smile. “Come on, Seungie,” Junhyung pulled Hyunseung’s hand to follow him somewhere only he knew. Myungsoo stood in front of him, staring.
The older walked towards him, when the younger only stared, not really knowing what to do because he never expected he would come on his graduation day.
“Hey,” Howon waved his hand in front of Myungsoo. “Earth to Myungsoo!”
“W-What are you doing h-here?”
“I came to see my boyfriend on his important day. Is it wrong?”
“Your boyfriend?” Myungsoo finally looked into his eyes.
“Yeah, have you seen him?” Howon asked him. Myungsoo looked around him. “There are too many people. Maybe he’s somewhere-”
“Here,” Howon grabbed Myungsoo’s hand.
“Eh?”
“I found him. He’s right here. In front of me, looking so lost and blunt.”
Myungsoo raised his eyebrows, confused. But, it lasted only a few seconds because Howon had wrapped him into a warm embrace. Myungsoo gripped the back of Howon’s shirt tightly, his head resting on Howon’s broad shoulders.
---
Sunggyu grunted at the blindfold covering his eyes as Woohyun lead him out of the car. “Woohyun, I really don’t like this feeling.”
“Just wait. You’re gonna love it.”
When Woohyun stopped, Sunggyu did not get the signal and bumped onto his back.
“Woohyun....” Sunggyu whined, rubbing his nose.
“Sorry about that,” Woohyun gave a kiss on his forehead. “You ready?” he whispered in Sunggyu’s ears, already half way to unfold the piece of cloth from Sunggyu. The older nodded impatiently receiving another kiss on the shell of his ears.
When Woohyun untied the cloth, Sunggyu’s eyes opened slowly to adjust themselves to the sudden brightness. His jaws hung open at the sight in front of him. He looked at the building in front of him with awe.
“Do you like it?”
Sunggyu could not answer because his mind was too busy registering the new information he had just received. “Happy birthday...” Woohyun’s arms slithered around his waist and his chin rested on his shoulder.
“Sunggyu’s cafe will be starting its first operation tomorrow!” Sungjong and Sungyeol came out of the door with a birthday cake. Dongwoo followed in suit with a large banner and Hyekyung appeared behind him, riding Howon’s back.
“Say cheese!” Myungsoo came out of nowhere and snapped a picture of Sunggyu’s surprised face.
“Make a wish! Make a wish!” Sungjong said excitedly. Sunggyu was so happy he had tears in his eyes when he blew the candles. Woohyun wiped those tears away and hugged him tight. By that time, Sungyeol dipped his finger into the cake and smeared it onto Sungjong’s forehead.
“Hey!” Sungjong reached over to hit him, but stumbled on his own foot. Shocked, Sungyeol shoved the cake into Howon’s face just to catch his falling lover.
“Omo, Hoya!” Sunggyu was unsure whether he should laugh or not at the sight but it was surely funny to him until Hyekyung broke into a huge laughter.
“Appa is a cake man!” she laughed at her appa. The other boys followed in suit. Myungsoo came over to help him but cannot hide his own laughter upon seeing the older’s face.
Howon smiled when he saw Myungsoo’s laugh and finally laughed with him too. Woohyun’s fingers went to taste the cream and giggled. “It tastes good. Should we lick him?”
“You ass. Get your filthy hands away from me!” Howon tried to pry off Woohyun’s and Sungyeol’s hands that were grabbing his body.
---
Hyekyung gulped down saliva down her throat, looking over the audience. She gripped the hem of her uniform nervously. She looked over towards her teacher at the piano. The lady gave her a reassuring smile before hitting on the keys.
At first, she went out of the melody and the audience were whispering among themselves. She got a lot more nervous than she already was. Hyekyung’s eyes darted towards a familiar face seated on the rows of chairs in front of her.
Myungsoo mouthed a ‘fighting’ along with raise of his fist to the air. Then, she saw her classmates sitting between their parents, talking happily. Out of the blue, the little girl ran backstage. Myungsoo got up immediately from his seat worriedly.
“What happened?” Howon who had just arrived into the auditourium followed Myungsoo to the backstage. They stopped when they found Hyekyung sobbing into her teacher’s arms.
“My appa is not coming is he?” she cried. Howon and Myungsoo looked at each other.
“Hyekyung-ah,” Howon walked past Myungsoo to his daughter’s side.
“Appa?” she looked up with puffy eyes. “You came...I thought you were busy..”
“I-I’m sorry..I just wanted to make it as a surprise for you. I didn’t think you would cry. I’m sorry.” Howon knelt in front of her, taking her hand in his. Automatically, Hyekyung wounded her arms around his shoulder.
“I just wanted you to come and watch me pwoudly,” she wept onto his shoulders.
“I’m always proud of you, sweetheart,” Howon caressed her hair softly. “Now you go back there and make us proud!” Hyekyung smiled again and walked back onto the stage.
“I’d like to dedicate this song to my parents wherever they are and also to my present parents,” she said as she smiled towards Howon and Myungsoo, and wiped the remaining tears in her eyes. The first time she stumbled over a few notes but this time, it all worked just like her practices.
“She’s wonderful,” Howon whispered. Myungsoo searched for his hand and laced them together.
“Like you,” Myungsoo whispered back. He grinned when Howon tightened his grip. When the song ended, Myungsoo was the first person to stand up and clapped his hands cheerfully, followed by Howon.
---
When they returned home, Hyekyung happily told her halmoni about how happy she was today. Over dinner, the loud girl didn’t stop talking and only paused to drink her water before talking again.
“I didn’t think you were going to come,” Howon’s mom said to him as she peeled apples at the dinner table and Howon sat across her, drinking coffee. He picked up this habit of drinking coffee late at night since he had to finish his work. Ever since he was promoted to another important post in the company, he was becoming really busy lately and rarely had time with his family. Myungsoo didn’t mind although sometimes he would pout when he had to sleep alone in their bedroom when Howon was in his office, working.
“You should stay home for a few days, Myungsoo seems really lonely,” his mom sighed. Howon turned his head to the living room, smiling at the sight of Myungsoo and Hyekyung sprawled on their fronts on the carpet, snapping a few pictures together.
“And Hyekyung seems lonely too. Don’t you think it’s time to have babies?”
Upon the question, Howon choked in his coffee, his mom gave triumphant smile. “Mom, Myungsoo can never get pregnant!”
“I’m not talking about getting him pregnant,” his mom hit his head with her hand playfully. “Maybe you could adopt another baby.”
“Is everything okay? I thought I heard you choke on something,” Myungsoo walked into the kitchen with Hyekyung trailing behind. Howon looked up at Myungsoo and blushed lightly. “Are you sick?” he placed his hand on Howon’s forehead.
“Myungsoo, I was just talking about having another grandchildren because Hyekyung needs siblings too, you know.”
It was Myungsoo’s turn to blush. “Huh?”
---
Howon tossed in bed. He couldn’t sleep. Dammit, the coffee is keeping me awake, he thought. He turned to face Myungsoo who had his back on him. “Soo?”
No answer.
“Soo!” he whispered a little louder, lightly pulling on the other’s shirt.
Again. No answer.
Howon lifted his head a little to peer over Myungsoo’s shoulder. “Soo, are you asleep?” he whispered so close to Myungsoo’s ears, causing the other to wake up so suddenly and fell off the bed.
“Oh my God!” Howon inched closer to the edge of the bed.
“Don’t do that, hyung!” Myungsoo rubbed his painful back sleepily.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you,” Howon pulled him onto the bed, rubbing the younger’s back gently.
“It’s okay. What do you want anyway?” Myungsoo turned on the bedside lamp and leaned his back on the headboard.
“I just can’t sleep,” Howon sighed, lying down once again. The younger ran his left hand in Howon’s brown locks. Howon put his arm across Myungsoo’s legs; burying his face in the younger’s stomach.
“Do you think we should adopt another child?” Myungsoo asked him.
“If you want. I don’t really mind though,” Howon answered against the thin fabric of Myungsoo’s pajamas. Myungsoo mischievously tugged at Howon’s hair, causing the other to whine half-heartedly. Myungsoo smiled but started to fall asleep again.
“Soo?”
Myungsoo opened his eyes once again and almost screamed when Howon was leaning too close to him causing him to unknowingly slapped the man full-palm on his face.
“Ouch!” Howon touched his red cheek.
“Look what you did! I told you to stop creeping onto me like that!” Myungsoo said angrily, searching for his cream in the drawer. He gently applied a small amount of the creamy-white substance onto his lover’s cheek. Howon stared at Myungsoo’s worried face. He liked how Myungsoo’s eyebrows would furrow and his lips turning into a pout.
“You really---” Myungsoo’s voice trailed off as Howon’s lips found his; the finger on Howon’s cheek was now clenched tightly in Howon’s fist. Howon smiled into the kiss and leaned closer to Myungsoo so the younger was fully lying on his back.
Howon’s finger unbuttoned Myungsoo’s pajamas but was surprised when Myungsoo broke away from the kiss.
“What are you doing?” Myungsoo’s eyes widened.
“Searching for warmth,” he claimed Myungsoo’s lips once again, proceeding to slide his hands on the other’s torso.
“Are you trying to-”
“Yes, so shut up.”
“But, we’ve never done this before. What if, what if something goes wrong? Ouch, hey no biting!” Myungsoo slapped Howon’s arm in a teasing way. From outside the door, Howon’s mom giggled and placed a hand on her mouth before returning to her room once again.
---
THE END