Crying with a Smile Ch. 5
The difficult thing about meeting up with Kevin was that U-Kiss was international. Kevin wasn’t the only member who spoke English. And in his limited Japanese, their Kibum would be able to catch him. And anything else from any other place Shinee had gone, Alexander was sure to catch him.
Lucky for him, he ran a tabloid website. One people, fans, and celebrities alike actively contributed to.
Knocking on the door, he was met with the stern eyes of Kiseop. He wouldn’t admit it, but Kiseop kind of freaked him out. The boy had perfected the ‘I-don’t-care-about-you’ look to the L-Double-O-K. “Kiseop-ah, can I see Kevin?”
“Hello.” Kiseop stepped aside and Key walked in. Avoiding the question - he probably should’ve asked Kevin what he was saving him from.
“Ah, Key-ah! Help me!” Kevin hurried and hid behind the new arrival. “Hyungs are all drunk and…help!”
“C’mon Kevin!” Alexander suddenly appeared, a strange, brown concoction in his hands. “You drank it on TV. C’mon Kev!” Key maneuvered so that the drink cam not near him nor Kevin.
“So…” Key turned to English. “You called me to save you from drunks.” He believed that the drunk Xander wouldn’t understand him.
“Yeah; you’ve deal with Onew and Jonghyun.”
“They haven’t been badgering you about…me?”“Not at all. Why do you think I talked so much back then? I’ve had that conversation 7 times; myself included.”
Key turned on his heels and looked the blond in the eyes. “Kevin….Kev, I never knew.”
“Exactly; ‘cause I’m just like you.” Kevin smiled. “All better now.”
Key breathed for a moment and smiled back.
Turning right round, he swiped the drink from Alexander and downed it. And spat it back out. “UGH! What the hell is in there?!” The taste knocked his tongue back into its nativity.
“Tequila, barbecue sauce, onions, celery, and chicken broth.”
“And you actually drank this?”
“I drank something less disgusting.” Kevin smiled. “Now you know why I called. Help me.”
Key scoffed. “Where’s your precious leader?”
“Passed out on the kitchen table. Why?” Key’s smile deepened and he maneuvered around a fighting Eli and Soohyun into the kitchen.
Sure enough, Kibum was sleeping peacefully against a half-empty bottle. Searching through his pockets was easy work and he was quick to find his phone. On a guess, he dialed ‘Hyung.’
“Yoboseyo? Ki-ah?”
“How’d you guess?” Key chuckled.
“Eh? Who’s this?”
“Hyung Jun, this is Key-ah from Shinee. You’re one of the top sources for my tabloid; Under?”
“Ah, Key. Is everything okay? I mean…I he-”
“If you finish that sentence, I will find you and slap you so hard, your fans won’t recognize you.”
“Right, sorry.” Kibum’s sheepish features flashed past Key’s eyes.
“Anyways, I’m calling on behalf of your brother. He’s passed out in his dorm. Why don’t you come over and have a drink with his members in his stead?”
Even if it had been so long that Key had seen Hyung Jun’s face, he could almost see the evil smile. “That’s a very good idea, Key-ah. I think I will. I’m hanging up now.”
Key laughed and placed the electronic beside Kibum’s head. Leaning close, he whispered. “Don’t worry, Kibum. Hyung’ll take care of you.” He walked away, believing he heard some noise of recognition.
“Kevin, I’m leaving!” Key yelled from the door.
“But what if they make something worse? Help!”
“Have Hyung Jun drink it!”
“Hyung Jun-hyung’s coming over?!” Dongho screamed; it was evident he had managed to drink a little.
“Have fun, Kevin!” Key laughed and left the U-Kiss dorm. Three down; might as well visit the fourth.