No Matter What (Chapter Eight)
TITLE: No Matter What
SUMMARY: What if you've found the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? And then your love, your soul mate suddenly turns tail and runs?
----
"Hello, hyung!"
Lee Sungmin smiled as he heard the familiar voice over the phone. "Good afternoon, Hyukjae."
"It's morning here, hyung!" Hyukjae's voice wasn't that clear but Sungmin could envision the smile on his brother's lips. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine. Kyu's doing fine too, you know." Sungmin smiled at his boyfriend, sprawled on the bed. "He's asleep now. He's been staying up late for business these past few days."
"Oh. That's good, hyung. I'm glad the both of you are doing great."
"What about you, Hyukjae? Did France really live up to your expectations?"
Hyukjae's voice became excited. "Like I've been saying for the past days, it's beautiful here, hyung! Really! Really! Beautiful!"
Sungmin laughed. "That's great, Hyukkie. I'm happy for you."
"I really wish you were here though. It would have been twice as fun. And the scenery is to die for!" Hyukjae sighed deeply. "I'm sure you'd love it here, hyung. So many possible subjects!"
"Oh, Hyuk, I'm sure it's wonderful. But you know I can't really leave Korea right now."
"Yeah. Yeah." Sungmin could almost see his brother rolling his eyes. "I know your big hotshot boyfriend won't allow you to go anywhere without him anyway."
The older man laughed but inwardly agreed. It was after all, true.
There was a lull in the conversation and Sungmin could feel that the usual question would come up. Not once did Hyukjae call that he didn't inquire about Lee Donghae. Considering the fact that Hyukjae had been calling almost every other day since he had left almost a month ago, Sungmin could say that he was getting bored with answering the same question over and over again.
"So, um, hyung..."Hyukjae cleared his throat before continuing, "How's Donghae?"
"The same as he was since you asked about a day ago, Hyukjae."
Hyukjae laughed an uncomfortable laugh. "Oh."
Another silence descended upon them until Hyukjae spoke in an awfully small sounding voice. "He's not going to look for me, is he, hyung?"
Sungmin sighed. "Hyukjae..."
"I honestly thought he would, hyung. That was part of the reason why I left that easily." Hyukjae sighed again. "Maybe I expected too much of him."
Sungmin didn't say a word.
Then again, the both of them weren't aware that at that moment, a certain someone had already started his plan of getting Donghae to France.
----
When he got to the living room, he's eyes widened at the sight of the familiar face smiling back at him.
Almost in reflex, Donghae bowed low and said, "Ni hao, gege."
The older man smiled, pleased with Donghae's Chinese, but responded still in Korean. "Hello, Donghae. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, hyung." Donghae glanced at Heechul and saw his hyung smiling and suddenly, he just knew.
The person standing before him was surely the person who had finally managed to capture his hyung's elusive heart.
"Um, Chullie-hyung, can you come with me for a minute?" Donghae asked before he slipped away to the kitchen.
Heechul winked at Han Geng before following his dongsaeng. "Be back soon, Hannie."
The Chinese smiled back. "It's okay. We have all the time in the world."
Heechul left after another heartfelt smile.
----
When he entered the kitchen, Donghae was pacing back and forth. The younger man pointed an accusing finger at him. "It's him, isn't it?"
Heechul smiled a very self-satisfied smile. "Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Tell you what Hae-yah? And why are you so angry?"
Donghae all but screamed. "That the person you had fallen in love with was the one and only heir to China's biggest and most successful company! Hyung! He's practically royalty! From what we had seen when we met him two years ago, his whole appearance just screams money!"
"Hankyung's more than that, Hae." Heechul laughed at Donghae's description, using Han Geng's Korean name. "Much, much more than the cold-hearted, unreachable prince I made him out to be during that first meeting years ago."
Donghae took a deep breath. "Yes, of course he is, hyung. But seriously..." He took another deep breath. "What happened then? Why'd you leave him and why is he here?"
"You keep on asking me that question!" Heechul rolled his eyes heavenward. "Listen closely and listen well, Lee Donghae, because I am not going to repeat this, ever."
Heechul breathed in deeply before speaking. "I left him because I knew you needed me. We agreed that it was selfish for me to leave you all the responsibility and it would be selfish for him if he left their company. So we reached a compromise, we decided that we could make a long distance relationship work. Besides, in our time today, it doesn't matter how far you are, we have the internet and numerous other means to communicate." The older man paused as his expression turned thoughtful. " As for the reason why he's here, I'm not really a hundred percent sure. Why don't we go and ask him ourselves, hm?"
Donghae nodded and together, they headed back to the living room.
They found Han Geng looking through photo albums.
"Hey, Hannie."
The businessman looked up and smiled. "Have the two of you talked enough?"
"Yup." Heechul approached and sat on Han Geng's right. Donghae took the seat opposite them.
Han Geng took Heechul's hand in his, intertwined their fingers, before smiling at Donghae's direction. "You want to ask me something, Donghae. I can just feel it."
Donghae did not mince his words. "Why are you here, hyung?"
"Because Heechul is here."
"How could you leave just like that? I mean, you have so many responsibilities and I've known you to be a very responsible person. The last time we met, you couldn't even spare a minute of your time to have coffee with me."
The Chinese smiled again. "I was able to leave because of the simple reason that Heechul is here, Donghae. Doesn't that satisfy your question?"
Donghae sighed. "I suppose it should, hyung. But..."
"Donghae, tell me, why did you work so hard to make this company as successful as it is today?"
The answer came naturally to the young man. "Because I wanted to make sure that when the time comes, I'll be able to properly provide for my loved one."
"And once you've found that person?"
"I'd devote my whole attention to them."
Heechul smiled at the conversation. He had always known that his boyfriend had a way with words and he knew that Donghae was getting the answers to whatever questions he had. He just hoped that his dongsaeng would finally take the words to heart and go find his loved one.
Hankyung smiled widely. "And that's exactly what I'm doing, Donghae. I'm devoting my whole attention to the only person who had managed to throw me off of my feet." He squeezed Heechul's hand. "After all, what is the sense of working so hard if you don't have anyone to offer your hardwork to? Like I've heard so often before, life is only worth living once you've found someone to live for."
Donghae stared at the picture presented in front of him and found nothing but contentment, happiness, and everything he had thrown away when he had allowed Hyukjae to leave, when he had allowed himself to take such a long time before taking action personally.
"You're thinking of someone, Hae." Heechul slowly took out an envelope from his pocket. "Care to tell me about who that is?"
Donghae shook his head. "You won't know him anyway, hyung."
"Tell me his name."
Silence.
"Tell me, Donghae."
"Hyukjae." Donghae swallowed the lump in his throat. "Lee Hyukjae."
"And where is he right now, Donghae?"
Somewhere so deep in France that not even the three private investigators I have hired can find him. "Not here in Korea."
"And yet, you're still here in Korea. I don't get it, Donghae."
Donghae sighed. "I'm a jerk, aren't I?"
"No. You're not a jerk. It's just that sometimes you're not using that brilliant brain of yours, so you're not a jerk. You're just painfully stupidand blind at times." Heechul stood up and extended the envelope to Donghae. "But you're not going to be stupid or blind any longer."
Donghae raised an eyebrow but took the envelope.
Inside, was a one-way ticket to France.
Donghae stared disbelievingly at the ticket he held in his hands. "I-I...what...how...hyung?"
"I'm giving you a leave of absence. It doesn't matter how long. Just go find this person so that you can stop moping around and drowning everyone within a five-meter radius with your gloomy aura." Heechul sighed dramatically as Hankyung shook his head and chuckled. "Seriously, Donghae, you are getting pretty creepy."
"B-But hyung, what about business? I just can't----"
Heechul placed a hand against Donghae's mouth to keep him from speaking. "Yes. You. Can. Lee. Donghae! Do you honestly want to lose the most important person in your life just because of this company?!"
Donghae shook his head furiously.
"Good. Now go change your clothes." Heechul removed his hand from Donghae's mouth. "Your bags have already been packed and your hotel has already been booked. You can thank me after you've found him."
"Hyung..."
"Go, Donghae. Now."
Donghae stood up, hugged Heechul, bowed to Hankyung before rushing up the stairs to change into more comfortable and appropriate clothing.
Twenty minutes later, he was already headed to France.
He had just disembarked from the plane and had collected his luggage when he realized one very crucial thing.
If three professional private detectives were not able to find Hyukjae how was he ever going to?
----
A/N: I am a failure. Does this feel rushed? I supposed it does because it was rushed. I was supposed to make this chapter two parts but I just can't seem to finish the next part. Rawr!
So, yeah, I'm gonna leave this here and not really update for like a week (we're going home to the province). Still, I hope you like this and forgive me for the snail pace development. Really, really sorry.
Please drop me some comments. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
SUMMARY: What if you've found the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? And then your love, your soul mate suddenly turns tail and runs?
----
"Hello, hyung!"
Lee Sungmin smiled as he heard the familiar voice over the phone. "Good afternoon, Hyukjae."
"It's morning here, hyung!" Hyukjae's voice wasn't that clear but Sungmin could envision the smile on his brother's lips. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine. Kyu's doing fine too, you know." Sungmin smiled at his boyfriend, sprawled on the bed. "He's asleep now. He's been staying up late for business these past few days."
"Oh. That's good, hyung. I'm glad the both of you are doing great."
"What about you, Hyukjae? Did France really live up to your expectations?"
Hyukjae's voice became excited. "Like I've been saying for the past days, it's beautiful here, hyung! Really! Really! Beautiful!"
Sungmin laughed. "That's great, Hyukkie. I'm happy for you."
"I really wish you were here though. It would have been twice as fun. And the scenery is to die for!" Hyukjae sighed deeply. "I'm sure you'd love it here, hyung. So many possible subjects!"
"Oh, Hyuk, I'm sure it's wonderful. But you know I can't really leave Korea right now."
"Yeah. Yeah." Sungmin could almost see his brother rolling his eyes. "I know your big hotshot boyfriend won't allow you to go anywhere without him anyway."
The older man laughed but inwardly agreed. It was after all, true.
There was a lull in the conversation and Sungmin could feel that the usual question would come up. Not once did Hyukjae call that he didn't inquire about Lee Donghae. Considering the fact that Hyukjae had been calling almost every other day since he had left almost a month ago, Sungmin could say that he was getting bored with answering the same question over and over again.
"So, um, hyung..."Hyukjae cleared his throat before continuing, "How's Donghae?"
"The same as he was since you asked about a day ago, Hyukjae."
Hyukjae laughed an uncomfortable laugh. "Oh."
Another silence descended upon them until Hyukjae spoke in an awfully small sounding voice. "He's not going to look for me, is he, hyung?"
Sungmin sighed. "Hyukjae..."
"I honestly thought he would, hyung. That was part of the reason why I left that easily." Hyukjae sighed again. "Maybe I expected too much of him."
Sungmin didn't say a word.
Then again, the both of them weren't aware that at that moment, a certain someone had already started his plan of getting Donghae to France.
----
When he got to the living room, he's eyes widened at the sight of the familiar face smiling back at him.
Almost in reflex, Donghae bowed low and said, "Ni hao, gege."
The older man smiled, pleased with Donghae's Chinese, but responded still in Korean. "Hello, Donghae. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, hyung." Donghae glanced at Heechul and saw his hyung smiling and suddenly, he just knew.
The person standing before him was surely the person who had finally managed to capture his hyung's elusive heart.
"Um, Chullie-hyung, can you come with me for a minute?" Donghae asked before he slipped away to the kitchen.
Heechul winked at Han Geng before following his dongsaeng. "Be back soon, Hannie."
The Chinese smiled back. "It's okay. We have all the time in the world."
Heechul left after another heartfelt smile.
----
When he entered the kitchen, Donghae was pacing back and forth. The younger man pointed an accusing finger at him. "It's him, isn't it?"
Heechul smiled a very self-satisfied smile. "Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Tell you what Hae-yah? And why are you so angry?"
Donghae all but screamed. "That the person you had fallen in love with was the one and only heir to China's biggest and most successful company! Hyung! He's practically royalty! From what we had seen when we met him two years ago, his whole appearance just screams money!"
"Hankyung's more than that, Hae." Heechul laughed at Donghae's description, using Han Geng's Korean name. "Much, much more than the cold-hearted, unreachable prince I made him out to be during that first meeting years ago."
Donghae took a deep breath. "Yes, of course he is, hyung. But seriously..." He took another deep breath. "What happened then? Why'd you leave him and why is he here?"
"You keep on asking me that question!" Heechul rolled his eyes heavenward. "Listen closely and listen well, Lee Donghae, because I am not going to repeat this, ever."
Heechul breathed in deeply before speaking. "I left him because I knew you needed me. We agreed that it was selfish for me to leave you all the responsibility and it would be selfish for him if he left their company. So we reached a compromise, we decided that we could make a long distance relationship work. Besides, in our time today, it doesn't matter how far you are, we have the internet and numerous other means to communicate." The older man paused as his expression turned thoughtful. " As for the reason why he's here, I'm not really a hundred percent sure. Why don't we go and ask him ourselves, hm?"
Donghae nodded and together, they headed back to the living room.
They found Han Geng looking through photo albums.
"Hey, Hannie."
The businessman looked up and smiled. "Have the two of you talked enough?"
"Yup." Heechul approached and sat on Han Geng's right. Donghae took the seat opposite them.
Han Geng took Heechul's hand in his, intertwined their fingers, before smiling at Donghae's direction. "You want to ask me something, Donghae. I can just feel it."
Donghae did not mince his words. "Why are you here, hyung?"
"Because Heechul is here."
"How could you leave just like that? I mean, you have so many responsibilities and I've known you to be a very responsible person. The last time we met, you couldn't even spare a minute of your time to have coffee with me."
The Chinese smiled again. "I was able to leave because of the simple reason that Heechul is here, Donghae. Doesn't that satisfy your question?"
Donghae sighed. "I suppose it should, hyung. But..."
"Donghae, tell me, why did you work so hard to make this company as successful as it is today?"
The answer came naturally to the young man. "Because I wanted to make sure that when the time comes, I'll be able to properly provide for my loved one."
"And once you've found that person?"
"I'd devote my whole attention to them."
Heechul smiled at the conversation. He had always known that his boyfriend had a way with words and he knew that Donghae was getting the answers to whatever questions he had. He just hoped that his dongsaeng would finally take the words to heart and go find his loved one.
Hankyung smiled widely. "And that's exactly what I'm doing, Donghae. I'm devoting my whole attention to the only person who had managed to throw me off of my feet." He squeezed Heechul's hand. "After all, what is the sense of working so hard if you don't have anyone to offer your hardwork to? Like I've heard so often before, life is only worth living once you've found someone to live for."
Donghae stared at the picture presented in front of him and found nothing but contentment, happiness, and everything he had thrown away when he had allowed Hyukjae to leave, when he had allowed himself to take such a long time before taking action personally.
"You're thinking of someone, Hae." Heechul slowly took out an envelope from his pocket. "Care to tell me about who that is?"
Donghae shook his head. "You won't know him anyway, hyung."
"Tell me his name."
Silence.
"Tell me, Donghae."
"Hyukjae." Donghae swallowed the lump in his throat. "Lee Hyukjae."
"And where is he right now, Donghae?"
Somewhere so deep in France that not even the three private investigators I have hired can find him. "Not here in Korea."
"And yet, you're still here in Korea. I don't get it, Donghae."
Donghae sighed. "I'm a jerk, aren't I?"
"No. You're not a jerk. It's just that sometimes you're not using that brilliant brain of yours, so you're not a jerk. You're just painfully stupidand blind at times." Heechul stood up and extended the envelope to Donghae. "But you're not going to be stupid or blind any longer."
Donghae raised an eyebrow but took the envelope.
Inside, was a one-way ticket to France.
Donghae stared disbelievingly at the ticket he held in his hands. "I-I...what...how...hyung?"
"I'm giving you a leave of absence. It doesn't matter how long. Just go find this person so that you can stop moping around and drowning everyone within a five-meter radius with your gloomy aura." Heechul sighed dramatically as Hankyung shook his head and chuckled. "Seriously, Donghae, you are getting pretty creepy."
"B-But hyung, what about business? I just can't----"
Heechul placed a hand against Donghae's mouth to keep him from speaking. "Yes. You. Can. Lee. Donghae! Do you honestly want to lose the most important person in your life just because of this company?!"
Donghae shook his head furiously.
"Good. Now go change your clothes." Heechul removed his hand from Donghae's mouth. "Your bags have already been packed and your hotel has already been booked. You can thank me after you've found him."
"Hyung..."
"Go, Donghae. Now."
Donghae stood up, hugged Heechul, bowed to Hankyung before rushing up the stairs to change into more comfortable and appropriate clothing.
Twenty minutes later, he was already headed to France.
He had just disembarked from the plane and had collected his luggage when he realized one very crucial thing.
If three professional private detectives were not able to find Hyukjae how was he ever going to?
----
A/N: I am a failure. Does this feel rushed? I supposed it does because it was rushed. I was supposed to make this chapter two parts but I just can't seem to finish the next part. Rawr!
So, yeah, I'm gonna leave this here and not really update for like a week (we're going home to the province). Still, I hope you like this and forgive me for the snail pace development. Really, really sorry.
Please drop me some comments. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.