[Series]A Story of Hurting and Healing, Chapter 12
Author : freedomthisway
Rating : Various, up to NC-17, still PG13 for now
Character/Pairing : Siwon, Hankyung, Kangin, Hyukjae, Heechul, other made up characters/SiHan, KangHyuk, very minor SiChul.
Word Count : 3082 words
Genre : AU and angst like whoa!
Warning: Underage, rape/non-con, younger!Hankyung, a lot of swearing.
Summary : When Hankyung was 7, his mother was remarried to Choi Min Woo, the head of the rich and famous Choi family. The marriage brings Hankyung to the position of Siwon's younger stepbrother.
Their closeness as child changed after they grew older and Siwon found out his feelings toward Hankyung. Not wanting to ruin the family, Siwon chose to keep his love for Hankyung inside and avoid him like crazy instead.
While Hankyung was struggling to bear his own misery, he too realized his feelings for Siwon, but didn't act on it because he assumed Siwon hated him.
After 3 years of escaping from the family, hearing Choi Min Woo's death, Hankyung decided to come back, only to face Siwon's hatred towards him.
All Hankyung wants is a happiness and love with Siwon by his side. Can he reach it eventually?
Author’s note: Here it is: Chapter 12. And if I can proudly say, there have been lots of speculations that I found in the comments.
I love speculations~! It means my story isn't that unpredictable. xDD
Anyway, thank you for staying with me until now, and I hope you'll like this chapter too!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3 & 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 & 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Heechul takes a relieved breath when he finally finds Hankyung in the garden, sitting with a frown on his handsome face, and he approaches him carefully.
The younger man seems to be deep in thought because he doesn't notice Heechul until he's standing right in front of him.
“Hey, there.”
Hankyung looks up, his eyes widening at the sight of Heechul, but he gives him a weak smile anyway. “Hey.”
Heechul gestures with his chin at the empty seat beside Hankyung. “May I?”
Hankyung looks at him long, gaze assessing, before finally nodding at him.
“I’m sorry for my rudeness back there.” Heechul hears Hankyung say as he sits down on the bench, grinning in answer.
“Don’t sweat it, Hankyung.”
“But I’m serious about what I said.” Hankyung’s expression is hard and stubborn and Heechul doesn’t say anything. Heechul shudders as a cool breeze blows over his skin.
“You’re the lawyer, Heechul-sshi.” Hankyung continues. “Just tell me what to do or what to sign in order to legalize my intention.”
“Is it because of the things I said before?” Heechul questions. “You know, things about me and Siwonnie?”
Hankyung stares at him sharply. “No.” And Heechul can see Hankyung’s eyes cloud for a second before he looks away to break eye contact.
Heechul sighs. “Listen, Hankyung. Siwon and I… sure we were a couple once but it’s all in the past now and we’re simply just best friends. That is God's honest truth.”
But Hankyung doesn’t say anything. He didn't even know what he was expected to say in response to that.
He couldn't tell Heechul that he was relieved to hear that because even if he was, the knowledge that Heechul knew how it felt to be held by Siwon, to be kissed by him and wake up next to him and have Siwon smile only for him... that knowledge stung, and burned and Hankyung couldn't say that he was relieved when he was so horribly jealous of him.
Heechul sighs at Hankyung's silence before reaching to the side and grabbing an envelope. He pushes this envelope into Hankyung’s hand who shoots him a questioning look.
“If you already have your heart set then there’s nothing more I can do, Hankyung. But I still have one last thing to do and that's the envelope you have in your hands.” Heechul explains.
Hankyung frowns and looks at the envelope again.
“It’s for you. Mr. Choi Min Woo told me to give it to you after his will is read. So there you go.”
Heechul's words bring the clouded look on Hankyung's face back. He can see Hankyung pale; his hands shake a little as he gripped the envelope in a white knuckled grip.
Heechul has noticed it before but seeing Hankyung's reaction again he is more than sure that something horrible must have happened between Hankyung and Min Woo. And Heechul is so certain that he would bet all his belongings that Hankyung's leaving had more reasons than what met the eye.
---00o00---
In his room, Hankyung is sitting on his bed.
The texture of the envelope is soft as he brushes his palm over it. And there is almost no sound when he tears it open.
Hankyung tries to still his suddenly trembling fingers, takes a deep breath and starts to read.
And by the time he is finished, he can't stop the tears falling from his eyes.
Apparently Min Woo can hurt him even beyond the grave.
Hankyung wipes his tears unsuccessfully. Gritting his teeth, he knows that what he had planned to do earlier would be the best way to go about things for now. So he reaches over to pick up the phone by his bed and punch some numbers.
If he’s going to go with his plan, first he has to tell Kangin and Hyukjae about it.
---00o00---
Siwon hasn't stopped frowning since this morning... not since after Hankyung told everyone that he won’t accept his inheritance and then stormed out of the common room with Heechul at his tail. Hankyung's reaction had thrown Siwon for a loop, confused him because Siwon's plans for Hankyung are based on the impression that Hankyung is a selfish gold digger.
But Hankyung's actions earlier have ruined that image enough that Siwon is confused. He can feel the dull throb of a headache forming from all the questions forming in his head now.
Suddenly enraged by all of these doubts, Siwon is close to slamming his fist on the table in front of him. Because so what if Hankyung said all that? It could’ve been a facade.
Maybe it’s one of Hankyung’s sneaky ways to earn his trust.
Siwon won’t be fooled anymore because what reality had showed him was that Hankyung had abandoned this family. Hankyung owes his father’s life to him. And nothing in this world can change that.
Actually his father's will turned out to be a little unexpected. And no, it’s not the fact that even if Hankyung had left his family in the past, his father was still going to share his wealth with him that surprised Siwon.
Siwon knows his father loved Hankyung too much, unfairly so, to do anything else.
Therefore Siwon’s plan was pretty simple, though for his gold-digger brother, Hankyung, the plan would be highly unpleasant.
Siwon had been planning and studying ways to take away Hankyung’s inheritance. Some are legal, some aren’t. But the conditions in the will that followed the inheritance are the one thing that is unexpected for Siwon, and it means he has to start to make some adjustments to his plan.
Siwon has no clue whatsoever on what made his father set this kind of condition. The only reason Siwon can think of is that maybe his father thought this condition could help mend Siwon’s relationship with Hankyung.
If that's the reason then Siwon knows he’ll disappoint his father this time because now that he thinks about it, his father’s will is actually going to make Siwon’s plan go smoother than he had expected. Right now, all he has to do is just make sure Hankyung won’t be able to stand living together with him under the same roof for 6 months.
Siwon smirks, feels satisfied, because in one way or another, he’ll make sure Hankyung lives through same hell as he did.
---00o00---
It takes six rings until finally somebody answers the phone at the bar Hankyung used to work with Kangin and Hyukjae at.
“Gil Dong Bar, can I help you?”
Hankyung smiles when he recognizes the voice belonging to Kim Yong Ae, Gil Dong’s friendly bartender. “Hey, Yong Ae-hyung. It’s me, Hankyung.”
“Hannie! It’s been ages since I heard your voice.”
Hankyung laughs. “Tell me about it. Sorry for not contacting you sooner. Things have been kind of hectic lately.”
“Nah, it’s okay. Things are starting to get crazy in this hell hole as well. Without Hyukjae, these customers are going berserk. Hell, dealing with these bastards is not in my job description!”
Hankyung frowns. “Hyukjae doesn’t work there anymore?”
There is a moment of silence on the other end of the line and Hankyung suddenly has a bad feeling.
“Oh, you don’t know?” Hankyung can hear the doubt in Yong Ae’s voice.
“Hyung,” Hankyung’s grip on the receiver gets tighter. “What happened?”
“I don’t think I’m the best person to tell you this, Hannie. Hold on a minute, will you?”
And Hankyung has to pull the phone away from his ear for a moment as Yong Ae calls out Kangin’s name loudly.
“Hey, Hyung.” Kangin’s voice is heard a moment later and Hankyung frowns deeper because Kangin, the hyperactive-bouncing-all-over-the-place-Kangin, sounds tired and spiritless.
“Hey, Kangin. I’m sorry for not calling you for a while. Where’s Hyukjae?”
Another silence stretches over the phone and now Hankyung feels dizzy with fear because something bad has happened for sure.
“Um,” Kangin speaks softly. “Yeah, well. I’ve been meaning to tell you this, but the job gets demanding here and I need the money. So…”
Hankyung grits his teeth. “Skip the small talk, Kanginnie. Where’s Hyukjae?”
“He’s in the hospital.” Kangin says finally, and his voice cracks a bit at the end.
“What?” Hankyung gapes. “Why? When? How?”
Hankyung can hear Kangin sighing. “You know he has a weak heart, Hyung. And I don’t know what caused it, but the day after you left, he had a heart attack. Probably the job got too much for him.”
“What?!”
“It almost made me have one too, you know? Seeing him sprawled on the bar floor like that in the middle of our shift, for a moment I didn’t even know what to do. Then Yong Ae-hyung and I brought him to the hospital right away, and after a couple of hours, his condition was stable.”
Hankyung can hear that Kangin isn't finished so he waits, worrying his bottom lip.
“He’s fine now. But he still needs to be hospitalized for further treatment and the doctor said that his heart has reached its limit. If he doesn’t get operated to fix it soon, then…” Kangin’s voice wavered.
“Then?”
“Doctor said he only has three months left, give or take.”
Hankyung’s legs suddenly feel rubbery and he decides that he needs to sit down.
“How much?” Hankyung asks, voice trembling, and he almost can’t hear Kangin’s answer because it’s mixed up with Kangin’s crying.
“I’ve tried, Hyung. Hell, I even work double shifts now and I’ve begged Yong Ae-hyung to allow me to cover Hyukjae’s shift. But you know the pay at the bar sucks big time and I’m not sure I can find another job if I quit. At this rate, I can never afford the operation cost.”
Hankyung can feel tears starts to form in his eyes and he rubs it away. “Kangin, how much?”
“10 million won.” Despair is clear in Kangin’s voice, “Fuck, Hyung. How can I get ten million won in three months?”
Hankyung closes his eyes tightly for some seconds before opens it again. Strong will in his voice as he is asking Kangin. “Which hospital is Hyukjae in?”
For a second Kangin doesn’t answer. “He’s in East General Hospital, room 203. The treatment is better there.” Hope and doubt mix in his next words. “You’ll come?”
Hankyung starts calculating. “I’ll leave tonight by bus, and if the trip runs smoothly I figure I’ll meet you guys there tomorrow night?”
“I’ll see if I can get off my shift faster, but yeah. We’ll see you there.” For a moment none of them say anything.
“Hyung,” Kangin breaks the silence finally. “Thanks.”
Hankyung smiles a bit at that. “See you tomorrow, Kangin.” He says before ending the call.
Sighing, Hankyung stands up to start packing for the trip. He doesn’t feel like meeting Siwon right now so maybe he’ll just leave him a note, inform him about his leaving for a couple of days which is probably unnecessary because Hankyung doesn't think Siwon even gives a damn.
So, Hankyung thinks sadly as he zips up his duffel bag, looks like there won’t be any new plan for me.
---00o00---
Hyukjae looks so pale, even paler than he used to be. Hankyung looks at all the tubes running from Hyukjae's arms into machines that beep quietly through blurry eyes, and he tightens his hold on Hyukjae's hand, reminding himself that Hyukjae is sick but he's still here, and there's still time to help him.
“I don’t believe it.” Kangin sounds awed behind him. “That bastard passed on half his ridiculuously massive wealth to you?”
Hankyung shrugs a bit. “I was surprised too.”
“But, but…” Kangin starts to pace back and forth, annoyance clear on his face. “What’s with that stupid condition? And that cruel shit he wrote in his letter? He’s sick; I’ll tell you that, Hyung.”
Hankyung gives him a don’t-I-know-that?-glare.
Kangin stops his pacing and stands across Hankyung on the other side of Hyukjae’s bed.
“So,” His hands folded on his chest as he stares at Hankyung. “What’ll you do now?”
But Hankyung doesn’t answer. He just stares back at Kangin and it takes him a full minute to recognize the meaning of that stare and his eyes widen.
“Oh, no.” He says angrily. “No fucking way. Hyung, you can’t do that.”
“I have to, Kangin-ah.” Hankyung smiles sadly and turns his gaze to Hyukjae. “Hyukjae needs the money.”
Hankyung can see Kangin does the same and beeps of machines are heard clearly as silence fills the room.
“I’m sorry to say this, Hyung. But from what I’ve gathered from your story, he hates you even more now.” Kangin shakes his head. Hints of bitterness can be heard in his voice. “You’ll just be suffering again if you decide to stay.”
Hankyung looks at Kangin whose face scrunches with sadness. It scares him how Kangin looks so helpless. Kangin used to be a carefree guy and nothing could bring him down. But apparently the burden of Hyukjae’s sickness is just too much for him. Hankyung decides to use his last tactic.
“Don’t you want to see Hyukjae back on his feet again, healthy and smiling? Don’t you want to see his soft smile again?” Hankyung knows he's playing dirty. But it’s the only way he knows how to get Kangin to agree with his plan.
Kangin glares at him and Hankyung’s heart twinges in pain when he sees tears brimming in Kangin’s eyes.
“I do. Damn it, Hyung, you know I do.” Kangin hisses. “But I’ll be damned if it means making you go through that hell once again.”
Kangin wipes at his tears angrily and begins to pace again. “Screw this. Hyukjae’s condition needs to be stabilized more and the doctor said the operation can only be done one months from now.” He stops and looks stubbornly at Hankyung. “I’ll figure something out by then.”
“We both know it’s unlikely, Kangin, and I know you won’t have the heart to gamble with that idea... not with Hyukjae’s life at stake.” Hankyung says softly and at that very second, he can see Kangin’s defense crumbling down. Hankyung knows he's won the argument this time.
So he lets go of Hyukjae’s hand and walk towards Kangin. Raising his hands to grip Kangin’s shoulders, Hankyung gives him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be just fine, Kangin-ah.”
And Hankyung can see that Kangin doesn’t buy it but he says nothing because they both know it’s the only way.
Hankyung just has to make sure he’s ready for what’s to come.
---00o00---
“I’ll stay.” Hankyung says and he can see Siwon’s eyes slowly darkened beneath his raised eyebrows.
Siwon feels so stupid because the hidden hope in his heart, that Hankyung is actually different from what he has thought all this time, is suddenly crushed upon hearing Hankyung’s words.
“Why am I not even the slightest bit surprised?” Siwon snorts. His face is grim. “You almost got me when you said you don’t want any share of my father’s wealth, but I should have known better.” The sarcasm is thick in his words. “I bet right now you’re thrilled knowing how you’ve become so rich in just one night.”
Hankyung fists his hand, fingernails digging deep into his palm as he tried to bear all the hatred and disgust reflected in Siwon’s stare. “I meant what I said back then. But I have my own reasons to change my mind.”
Siwon doesn't say anything for a while... but when he breaks the silence, his eyes are dark with anger, his jaw tight with disgust and his body rigid with tension as he sits behind his desk, regarding Hankyung standing in front of him.
“Do what you want, Hankyung. But remember this.” Siwon leans forward, hostility coloring his every word. “I hate you. So much, and I will never let you have your peace.”
Hankyung walks out of the study soon after that because he doesn’t want Siwon to see even a single tear falling down his cheek.
TBC
PS: As usual, comments keep my muse happy~! ^^
You can also find my other Super Junior fanfictions here in archive post in my writing journal.
Rating : Various, up to NC-17, still PG13 for now
Character/Pairing : Siwon, Hankyung, Kangin, Hyukjae, Heechul, other made up characters/SiHan, KangHyuk, very minor SiChul.
Word Count : 3082 words
Genre : AU and angst like whoa!
Warning: Underage, rape/non-con, younger!Hankyung, a lot of swearing.
Summary : When Hankyung was 7, his mother was remarried to Choi Min Woo, the head of the rich and famous Choi family. The marriage brings Hankyung to the position of Siwon's younger stepbrother.
Their closeness as child changed after they grew older and Siwon found out his feelings toward Hankyung. Not wanting to ruin the family, Siwon chose to keep his love for Hankyung inside and avoid him like crazy instead.
While Hankyung was struggling to bear his own misery, he too realized his feelings for Siwon, but didn't act on it because he assumed Siwon hated him.
After 3 years of escaping from the family, hearing Choi Min Woo's death, Hankyung decided to come back, only to face Siwon's hatred towards him.
All Hankyung wants is a happiness and love with Siwon by his side. Can he reach it eventually?
Author’s note: Here it is: Chapter 12. And if I can proudly say, there have been lots of speculations that I found in the comments.
I love speculations~! It means my story isn't that unpredictable. xDD
Anyway, thank you for staying with me until now, and I hope you'll like this chapter too!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3 & 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 & 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Heechul takes a relieved breath when he finally finds Hankyung in the garden, sitting with a frown on his handsome face, and he approaches him carefully.
The younger man seems to be deep in thought because he doesn't notice Heechul until he's standing right in front of him.
“Hey, there.”
Hankyung looks up, his eyes widening at the sight of Heechul, but he gives him a weak smile anyway. “Hey.”
Heechul gestures with his chin at the empty seat beside Hankyung. “May I?”
Hankyung looks at him long, gaze assessing, before finally nodding at him.
“I’m sorry for my rudeness back there.” Heechul hears Hankyung say as he sits down on the bench, grinning in answer.
“Don’t sweat it, Hankyung.”
“But I’m serious about what I said.” Hankyung’s expression is hard and stubborn and Heechul doesn’t say anything. Heechul shudders as a cool breeze blows over his skin.
“You’re the lawyer, Heechul-sshi.” Hankyung continues. “Just tell me what to do or what to sign in order to legalize my intention.”
“Is it because of the things I said before?” Heechul questions. “You know, things about me and Siwonnie?”
Hankyung stares at him sharply. “No.” And Heechul can see Hankyung’s eyes cloud for a second before he looks away to break eye contact.
Heechul sighs. “Listen, Hankyung. Siwon and I… sure we were a couple once but it’s all in the past now and we’re simply just best friends. That is God's honest truth.”
But Hankyung doesn’t say anything. He didn't even know what he was expected to say in response to that.
He couldn't tell Heechul that he was relieved to hear that because even if he was, the knowledge that Heechul knew how it felt to be held by Siwon, to be kissed by him and wake up next to him and have Siwon smile only for him... that knowledge stung, and burned and Hankyung couldn't say that he was relieved when he was so horribly jealous of him.
Heechul sighs at Hankyung's silence before reaching to the side and grabbing an envelope. He pushes this envelope into Hankyung’s hand who shoots him a questioning look.
“If you already have your heart set then there’s nothing more I can do, Hankyung. But I still have one last thing to do and that's the envelope you have in your hands.” Heechul explains.
Hankyung frowns and looks at the envelope again.
“It’s for you. Mr. Choi Min Woo told me to give it to you after his will is read. So there you go.”
Heechul's words bring the clouded look on Hankyung's face back. He can see Hankyung pale; his hands shake a little as he gripped the envelope in a white knuckled grip.
Heechul has noticed it before but seeing Hankyung's reaction again he is more than sure that something horrible must have happened between Hankyung and Min Woo. And Heechul is so certain that he would bet all his belongings that Hankyung's leaving had more reasons than what met the eye.
---00o00---
In his room, Hankyung is sitting on his bed.
The texture of the envelope is soft as he brushes his palm over it. And there is almost no sound when he tears it open.
Hankyung tries to still his suddenly trembling fingers, takes a deep breath and starts to read.
And by the time he is finished, he can't stop the tears falling from his eyes.
Apparently Min Woo can hurt him even beyond the grave.
Hankyung wipes his tears unsuccessfully. Gritting his teeth, he knows that what he had planned to do earlier would be the best way to go about things for now. So he reaches over to pick up the phone by his bed and punch some numbers.
If he’s going to go with his plan, first he has to tell Kangin and Hyukjae about it.
---00o00---
Siwon hasn't stopped frowning since this morning... not since after Hankyung told everyone that he won’t accept his inheritance and then stormed out of the common room with Heechul at his tail. Hankyung's reaction had thrown Siwon for a loop, confused him because Siwon's plans for Hankyung are based on the impression that Hankyung is a selfish gold digger.
But Hankyung's actions earlier have ruined that image enough that Siwon is confused. He can feel the dull throb of a headache forming from all the questions forming in his head now.
Suddenly enraged by all of these doubts, Siwon is close to slamming his fist on the table in front of him. Because so what if Hankyung said all that? It could’ve been a facade.
Maybe it’s one of Hankyung’s sneaky ways to earn his trust.
Siwon won’t be fooled anymore because what reality had showed him was that Hankyung had abandoned this family. Hankyung owes his father’s life to him. And nothing in this world can change that.
Actually his father's will turned out to be a little unexpected. And no, it’s not the fact that even if Hankyung had left his family in the past, his father was still going to share his wealth with him that surprised Siwon.
Siwon knows his father loved Hankyung too much, unfairly so, to do anything else.
Therefore Siwon’s plan was pretty simple, though for his gold-digger brother, Hankyung, the plan would be highly unpleasant.
Siwon had been planning and studying ways to take away Hankyung’s inheritance. Some are legal, some aren’t. But the conditions in the will that followed the inheritance are the one thing that is unexpected for Siwon, and it means he has to start to make some adjustments to his plan.
Siwon has no clue whatsoever on what made his father set this kind of condition. The only reason Siwon can think of is that maybe his father thought this condition could help mend Siwon’s relationship with Hankyung.
If that's the reason then Siwon knows he’ll disappoint his father this time because now that he thinks about it, his father’s will is actually going to make Siwon’s plan go smoother than he had expected. Right now, all he has to do is just make sure Hankyung won’t be able to stand living together with him under the same roof for 6 months.
Siwon smirks, feels satisfied, because in one way or another, he’ll make sure Hankyung lives through same hell as he did.
---00o00---
It takes six rings until finally somebody answers the phone at the bar Hankyung used to work with Kangin and Hyukjae at.
“Gil Dong Bar, can I help you?”
Hankyung smiles when he recognizes the voice belonging to Kim Yong Ae, Gil Dong’s friendly bartender. “Hey, Yong Ae-hyung. It’s me, Hankyung.”
“Hannie! It’s been ages since I heard your voice.”
Hankyung laughs. “Tell me about it. Sorry for not contacting you sooner. Things have been kind of hectic lately.”
“Nah, it’s okay. Things are starting to get crazy in this hell hole as well. Without Hyukjae, these customers are going berserk. Hell, dealing with these bastards is not in my job description!”
Hankyung frowns. “Hyukjae doesn’t work there anymore?”
There is a moment of silence on the other end of the line and Hankyung suddenly has a bad feeling.
“Oh, you don’t know?” Hankyung can hear the doubt in Yong Ae’s voice.
“Hyung,” Hankyung’s grip on the receiver gets tighter. “What happened?”
“I don’t think I’m the best person to tell you this, Hannie. Hold on a minute, will you?”
And Hankyung has to pull the phone away from his ear for a moment as Yong Ae calls out Kangin’s name loudly.
“Hey, Hyung.” Kangin’s voice is heard a moment later and Hankyung frowns deeper because Kangin, the hyperactive-bouncing-all-over-the-place-Kangin, sounds tired and spiritless.
“Hey, Kangin. I’m sorry for not calling you for a while. Where’s Hyukjae?”
Another silence stretches over the phone and now Hankyung feels dizzy with fear because something bad has happened for sure.
“Um,” Kangin speaks softly. “Yeah, well. I’ve been meaning to tell you this, but the job gets demanding here and I need the money. So…”
Hankyung grits his teeth. “Skip the small talk, Kanginnie. Where’s Hyukjae?”
“He’s in the hospital.” Kangin says finally, and his voice cracks a bit at the end.
“What?” Hankyung gapes. “Why? When? How?”
Hankyung can hear Kangin sighing. “You know he has a weak heart, Hyung. And I don’t know what caused it, but the day after you left, he had a heart attack. Probably the job got too much for him.”
“What?!”
“It almost made me have one too, you know? Seeing him sprawled on the bar floor like that in the middle of our shift, for a moment I didn’t even know what to do. Then Yong Ae-hyung and I brought him to the hospital right away, and after a couple of hours, his condition was stable.”
Hankyung can hear that Kangin isn't finished so he waits, worrying his bottom lip.
“He’s fine now. But he still needs to be hospitalized for further treatment and the doctor said that his heart has reached its limit. If he doesn’t get operated to fix it soon, then…” Kangin’s voice wavered.
“Then?”
“Doctor said he only has three months left, give or take.”
Hankyung’s legs suddenly feel rubbery and he decides that he needs to sit down.
“How much?” Hankyung asks, voice trembling, and he almost can’t hear Kangin’s answer because it’s mixed up with Kangin’s crying.
“I’ve tried, Hyung. Hell, I even work double shifts now and I’ve begged Yong Ae-hyung to allow me to cover Hyukjae’s shift. But you know the pay at the bar sucks big time and I’m not sure I can find another job if I quit. At this rate, I can never afford the operation cost.”
Hankyung can feel tears starts to form in his eyes and he rubs it away. “Kangin, how much?”
“10 million won.” Despair is clear in Kangin’s voice, “Fuck, Hyung. How can I get ten million won in three months?”
Hankyung closes his eyes tightly for some seconds before opens it again. Strong will in his voice as he is asking Kangin. “Which hospital is Hyukjae in?”
For a second Kangin doesn’t answer. “He’s in East General Hospital, room 203. The treatment is better there.” Hope and doubt mix in his next words. “You’ll come?”
Hankyung starts calculating. “I’ll leave tonight by bus, and if the trip runs smoothly I figure I’ll meet you guys there tomorrow night?”
“I’ll see if I can get off my shift faster, but yeah. We’ll see you there.” For a moment none of them say anything.
“Hyung,” Kangin breaks the silence finally. “Thanks.”
Hankyung smiles a bit at that. “See you tomorrow, Kangin.” He says before ending the call.
Sighing, Hankyung stands up to start packing for the trip. He doesn’t feel like meeting Siwon right now so maybe he’ll just leave him a note, inform him about his leaving for a couple of days which is probably unnecessary because Hankyung doesn't think Siwon even gives a damn.
So, Hankyung thinks sadly as he zips up his duffel bag, looks like there won’t be any new plan for me.
---00o00---
Hyukjae looks so pale, even paler than he used to be. Hankyung looks at all the tubes running from Hyukjae's arms into machines that beep quietly through blurry eyes, and he tightens his hold on Hyukjae's hand, reminding himself that Hyukjae is sick but he's still here, and there's still time to help him.
“I don’t believe it.” Kangin sounds awed behind him. “That bastard passed on half his ridiculuously massive wealth to you?”
Hankyung shrugs a bit. “I was surprised too.”
“But, but…” Kangin starts to pace back and forth, annoyance clear on his face. “What’s with that stupid condition? And that cruel shit he wrote in his letter? He’s sick; I’ll tell you that, Hyung.”
Hankyung gives him a don’t-I-know-that?-glare.
Kangin stops his pacing and stands across Hankyung on the other side of Hyukjae’s bed.
“So,” His hands folded on his chest as he stares at Hankyung. “What’ll you do now?”
But Hankyung doesn’t answer. He just stares back at Kangin and it takes him a full minute to recognize the meaning of that stare and his eyes widen.
“Oh, no.” He says angrily. “No fucking way. Hyung, you can’t do that.”
“I have to, Kangin-ah.” Hankyung smiles sadly and turns his gaze to Hyukjae. “Hyukjae needs the money.”
Hankyung can see Kangin does the same and beeps of machines are heard clearly as silence fills the room.
“I’m sorry to say this, Hyung. But from what I’ve gathered from your story, he hates you even more now.” Kangin shakes his head. Hints of bitterness can be heard in his voice. “You’ll just be suffering again if you decide to stay.”
Hankyung looks at Kangin whose face scrunches with sadness. It scares him how Kangin looks so helpless. Kangin used to be a carefree guy and nothing could bring him down. But apparently the burden of Hyukjae’s sickness is just too much for him. Hankyung decides to use his last tactic.
“Don’t you want to see Hyukjae back on his feet again, healthy and smiling? Don’t you want to see his soft smile again?” Hankyung knows he's playing dirty. But it’s the only way he knows how to get Kangin to agree with his plan.
Kangin glares at him and Hankyung’s heart twinges in pain when he sees tears brimming in Kangin’s eyes.
“I do. Damn it, Hyung, you know I do.” Kangin hisses. “But I’ll be damned if it means making you go through that hell once again.”
Kangin wipes at his tears angrily and begins to pace again. “Screw this. Hyukjae’s condition needs to be stabilized more and the doctor said the operation can only be done one months from now.” He stops and looks stubbornly at Hankyung. “I’ll figure something out by then.”
“We both know it’s unlikely, Kangin, and I know you won’t have the heart to gamble with that idea... not with Hyukjae’s life at stake.” Hankyung says softly and at that very second, he can see Kangin’s defense crumbling down. Hankyung knows he's won the argument this time.
So he lets go of Hyukjae’s hand and walk towards Kangin. Raising his hands to grip Kangin’s shoulders, Hankyung gives him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be just fine, Kangin-ah.”
And Hankyung can see that Kangin doesn’t buy it but he says nothing because they both know it’s the only way.
Hankyung just has to make sure he’s ready for what’s to come.
---00o00---
“I’ll stay.” Hankyung says and he can see Siwon’s eyes slowly darkened beneath his raised eyebrows.
Siwon feels so stupid because the hidden hope in his heart, that Hankyung is actually different from what he has thought all this time, is suddenly crushed upon hearing Hankyung’s words.
“Why am I not even the slightest bit surprised?” Siwon snorts. His face is grim. “You almost got me when you said you don’t want any share of my father’s wealth, but I should have known better.” The sarcasm is thick in his words. “I bet right now you’re thrilled knowing how you’ve become so rich in just one night.”
Hankyung fists his hand, fingernails digging deep into his palm as he tried to bear all the hatred and disgust reflected in Siwon’s stare. “I meant what I said back then. But I have my own reasons to change my mind.”
Siwon doesn't say anything for a while... but when he breaks the silence, his eyes are dark with anger, his jaw tight with disgust and his body rigid with tension as he sits behind his desk, regarding Hankyung standing in front of him.
“Do what you want, Hankyung. But remember this.” Siwon leans forward, hostility coloring his every word. “I hate you. So much, and I will never let you have your peace.”
Hankyung walks out of the study soon after that because he doesn’t want Siwon to see even a single tear falling down his cheek.
TBC
PS: As usual, comments keep my muse happy~! ^^
You can also find my other Super Junior fanfictions here in archive post in my writing journal.