Flyway

17.4.2018 / 3,101 words

„The beak should be redder. That’s why it’s called red-billed.”

„Okay. What color the feathers should be?”

„Greyish brown. It’s a really soft shade, something like this… Just try to go for something like this and we’ll see.”

Joohyun nodded and continued working on the drawing found next to the description of the Red-Billed Starling. Sehun, standing next to her, shuffled through his notes, his expression solid.

As quick as the Kim brothers had come down with a cold, as fast they recovered. Junmyeon spent two days in bed, on the third he returned to the paperwork he has missed. For Sehun, it took five days to get back on his feet and when he did, he instantly told Joohyun they continue with the birdwatching journal.

Joohyun looked at the youngest Kim from the corner of her eye. Right then, he was reaching for a tissue. He still had a runny nose and occasional coughing. Although he got better, Joohyun couldn’t help but stay concerned.

„What are you looking at?”

Caught, Joohyun turned back to the drawing. She answered honestly nonetheless.

„I was looking at you.”

„Duh.”

„Well, you asked.”

„You know what I meant.” Sehun pressed. „Why were you looking at me?”

„I can’t look at you?”

„Not like that.”

Joohyun’s hand holding a maroon pencil stopped. She looked up at the boy again, this time her expression curious.

„How was I looking at you, Sehun? Tell me.”

It was such a stupid, random conversation… yet Joohyun thought it’s significant. She didn’t understand why Sehun reacted so vehemently about her looking at him. It was unnecessary. Then again, it probably wasn’t, otherwise Sehun wouldn’t have batted an eyelash about it. He never cared about her.

The air around them was tense and felt slightly different from before. Joohyun waited impatiently for the younger to respond.

At the end, Sehun reached into the front pocket of his hoodie and after using his inhalator, let out a long sigh.

„Nevermind. Finish the drawing, I’ll take a break.”

Joohyun watched Sehun leave the room worried. He was clearly upset. But why? Because she talked back? They have been going back and forth all the time since she moved in.

She completed the illustration in ten minutes. What now? Joohyun leaned back in her chair and let her eyes fall closed for a moment. Maybe she could take a break as well. The two of them have been working since the morning. It must have been around noon and she only had a cappuccino for breakfast.

While she was descending the stairs to look for edible in the kitchen, Joohyun already heard the voices from the dining room. One undeniably belonged to his boyfriend, it was light and gentle. The other two sounded unfamiliar.

Joohyun didn’t know what they were doing but thinking she probably shouldn’t meddle, she sneaked around and entered the kitchen from the other way. Too bad she couldn’t do it quickly enough and one of them caught a glimpse of her from the doorway.

„Hello!”

Joohyun froze at the deep, booming voice and walked back a few steps to tentatively wave at the two strangers.

„Hello.”

The shorter man out of the two grinned at Junmyeon.

„She’s cute.”

„Yeah and she’s older than both of you so pay some respect.” Junmyeon responded before stepping to his girlfriend. „I forgot to tell you some colleagues of mine are coming over. Sorry.”

„It’s okay. I don’t want to interrupt you.”

„You came at the best time, noona. We were just talking about a coffee break.” The taller man with a mess of black, curly hair grinned at her widely. „Why don’t you join us?”

The other one agreed with a hum.

„Please, do. These two are getting boring.”

Joohyun looked back at the men caught off guard. They seemed so easy-going and fun, she could hardly believe they worked along his sometimes too-serious-for-his-own-good, dedicated boyfriend.

„You don’t have to.” Junmyeon was quick to say, eyes looking panicky. Joohyun found that interesting. „I mean –”

„I want to.” She said then looked at the strangers. „Coffee, you said?”

ღ

Joohyun was munching on a slice of pizza as the drink started to brew. She carried her gaze around the cabinets. The Kim family heirloom seemed grand – porcelain pitchers, gold-lined plates, silver kitchenware and utensils… Joohyun felt almost dizzy looking at it. She picked up one of the cups in front of her. It had a little sunflower on it, very delicately painted and detailed. She preferred simple designs like this, honestly.

Her thoughts jumped from here and there afterwards but eventually they returned to that one topic that has disturbed Joohyun – she just couldn’t forget the things Sehun has said about her sick and delirious.

It wasn’t that she felt hurt by his words – for one thing, she couldn’t be sure he said the same if he was sober. It's just that for some reason, Sehun’s speech has ignited something in her, something which has been pushing her to do something… but she didn’t know what she was supposed to do so she stayed frustrated silently.

Joohyun poured the steaming liquid into cups and grabbed the tray with sugar and cream already placed on it. She was pressing too hard on this, wasn’t she?

She was almost out of the kitchen when the girl suddenly turned around and marched back. She filled the teapot with hot water and dropped a teaball filled with chamomile in it. Joohyun hoped Sehun will discover it before it runs cold.

The three businessmen around the table lit up one by one as they saw the tray coming towards them.

„Sweet, sweet caffeine!” The light brown-haired exclaimed with a hum and took the cup Joohyun reached out towards him smilingly. „Thank you, noona.”

„I haven’t put anything in it. I figured, it's easier if we all handle ours.” She warned them, just when the tallest took a sip and grimaced. Joohyun bit her lip to hold back a giggle.

Junmyeon sighed and shook his head good-naturedly before coming up next to his girlfriend. He put a firm hand around her waist and gestured towards his colleagues.

„This is Chanyeol and Baekhyun. Two years your junior but mentally maybe more.”

Baekhyun stuck out his tongue.

„Look at you, hyung, trying to act all superior and manly when your girlfriend is present…”

„I second!” Chanyeol put up his hand like they were in school and the teacher asked something he happens to know the answer to. He flashed mischievous eyes at Joohyun. „You should have seen hyung when you went to the kitchen, noona. He was staring at your back all longingly and lovingly.”

Joohyun glanced at her boyfriend from the corner of her eye. Junmyeon’s neck was flushed and his Adam's apple bobbed nervously. He could be so endearing when he was nervous.

He cleared his throat.

„If that’s all you wanted her to stay for, we might as well continue working.”

Baekhyun and Chanyeol exchanged panicked looks.

Joohyun put a calming hand on Junmyeon’s shoulder.

"I stayed so you might cut them some slack." She had to chuckle seeing her boyfriend's stoic face. "I guessed it?"

"What? No. Not at all~"

"We're loving some extra work once in a while, aren't we, Yeol?"

Junmyeon rolled his eyes but he was smiling pleased.

"I would have bought your grand acting if you didn't blink so often, you fools... But thank you, I appreciate the effort."

"You can always count on us, boss." Baekhyun thumbed up, causing Joohyun to chuckle again.

She couldn't help but do so during the rest of the next hour too, because Chanyeol and Baekhyun remained entertaining. They told a few office stories, mostly about Junmyeon, because he was their boss and they loved seeing him getting flustered in front of his girlfriend whom he aimed to impress.

Joohyun took their ramblings with a grain of salt but overall was happy she wasn't of conversation. She liked staying in the back for a while.

That's why she almost choked on a sip of coffee when Chanyeol suddenly asked:

"… so how did you two meet, noona? Hyung only said you were at an exhibition or something."

Joohyun blushed at the memory and put down her cup. She saw Junmyeon watching her from the corner of her eye, but he didn't say anything.

"My friend in London is a painter. It was an exhibition out of her works... Oppa got an invitation to the opening because he had a friend who was also friends with Stephanie."

"Stephanie is the painter friend. And Noah is the one who invited me." Junmyeon added, his hand reaching for his girlfriend's resting on her thigh under the table. "I thought he was joking when he said he knows someone with a Korean acquaintance, but he was right."

Joohyun shuddered both because of the memory suddenly coming up to her and of Junmyeon's thumb slowly caressing the back of her hand. Stephanie and Noah were so awkward trying to set them up... who would have thought they eventually succeed?

"They totally set you up." Baekhyun commented not a second later, like he was reading her mind.

"Well, they deny it until today, but it was quite obvious."

Chanyeol grinned.

"Obvious? Like how?"

Joohyun lightly pinched her boyfriend's finger under the table as a sign of stop. It was too embarrassing to share.

Junmyeon fought down his own grin and gestured towards the pile of papers in the middle of the table.

"We should get back to work. I'm yet to see your report, Baekhyun."

At the mention of that, Baekhyun visibly gulped.

"Should we? I mean -

"Oh my God, I can't believe you haven't got that done yet." Chanyeol laughed, almost knocking over the tray in the process.

"I almost have! It's just, with Taeyeon and her examinations..."

"Good excuse. I'll let you slide." Junmyeon patted his junior's back with a kind smile before turning to his girlfriend to explain. "Baekhyun's wife is pregnant."

"Congratulations."

Baekhyun scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Thanks, noona... Um, hyung told me you're an illustrator. Taeyeon is doing graphic design. You should come over sometime, you would have a lot to talk about."

Joohyun, packing the cups and coffee away, smiled at the man.

"I might. Thanks for the offer."

Junmyeon turned to Chanyeol, eyebrows raised.

"You're single."

Chanyeol gasped and went red from the base of his neck to the tip of his ears.

"Hyung."

"Yes?"

"Just because I'm... I'm not in a relationship right now, you think all I do is work?"

"You could. A deadline is on us. Did you finish that presentation I gave you on Monday?"

Chanyeol stared back at his boss for a long second then reached for his suitcase and pulled out a flash drive.

Baekhyun sent his friend a funny look.

"You really don't have any social life."

"Shut up."

With that, the topic became the project the trio was working on. Joohyun thought it's time for her to depart so she grabbed the tray with the now empty cups.

When she faced away from the table, she caught glimpse of Sehun coming back from outside, with an arm put around someone much smaller than him, hidden by a red coat and a white beanie.

Junmyeon quickly laced his fingers with her girlfriend's when he saw she's about to escape.

"You're going?"

"Yes. I don't want to hold you up." Joohyun smiled at him before looking at his colleagues. "It was nice to meet you."

"Same here." Baekhyun said.

Chanyeol waved at her enthusiastically.

"Bye noona!"

ღ

She was lucky. As Joohyun emerged from the kitchen, Sehun and his visitor were still in the living room. The younger Kim startled in the middle of hanging up the red coat.

"What is it?"

At the words, the visitor looked up from getting rid of her shoes. Joohyun recognized her as the girl who delivered them pizza throughout the sick days of the Kims. She didn’t have her hair up in a ponytail now; it was falling on her shoulders and her cheeks were rosy, probably from the cold.

"Hi. Seulgi, right?"

"Yes, you're right." Her lips pulled into an awkward smile. "How are you, Joohyun-ssi?"

"I'm great. How are you?"

"I see you've met. Hm, at least I don't have to introduce you to each other." Sehun spoke up before Seulgi could answer. He sent an intriguing look to Joohyun. "What can I help you with?"

Joohyun froze. In all honesty, she just wanted to check if Sehun came with the person she was thinking of (he was). She couldn't respond with that, of course, but at the same time she had to say something because Sehun was waiting for it.

Seulgi looked back at between his friend and the older girl.

"Actually, Joohyun-ssi, Sehun and me are about to watch a movie. You could watch it with us if you want."

The boy turned towards her surprised.

"Huh?"

"Well..." Joohyun hesitated, thinking of everyone whose e-mails she swore to answer soon. "It depends on what Sehun thinks. If I'm interrupting your -

"You're not interrupting anything, noona." Sehun cut her off at lightning's speed. "Just decide quickly because I have something planned for today."

Joohyun glanced at Seulgi. She wasn't sure if it's a good idea to join the two. Are they dating? Or just friends?

She had many questions but one look at Sehun's tense face and Joohyun thought it's not the time to find answers to them. She backed away by lightly shook her head.

"I just remembered I have something to tend too. I'll see you guys later. Have fun!"

Sehun visibly relaxed. Seulgi smiled at her understandingly.

"See you later, Joohyun-ssi."

ღ

In lack of anything else to do, Joohyun eventually did answer some e-mails – thankfully none of them were pressuring, if anything else, her mailbox was seemingly less busy than before.

Joohyun fixed her glasses somewhat unsatisfied. She was used to have a mailbox full. This agency calling for this, that magazine reminding her of their thing… and now all she got was a short but quirky e-mail from Stephanie, a long-long e-mail from Wendy (with photos of her new house in America and of Joy with a rather grumpy looking cat), some newsletters she could hardly remember when she subscribed to, and of course, spam.

"Spam… spam… and more spam. What is this?" Joohyun muttered under her nose; selecting and deleting each and every one of them bored. She felt relieved when someone knocked on the door. "Yes, come in."

Jongin showed up a tired smile as he entered the room.

"Good evening, noona."

"Hi, Jongin. What brings you here?"

"I felt bad for not visiting Sehun once while he was sick; so I came over finally."

"It was doctor's orders. Don't feel too bad about it." Joohyun comforted the younger while turning away from the computer.

Jongin sat down on the pouffe right next to the table.

"I'm trying not to... Where is he by the way? Junmyeon hyung let me in but he was talking to Baekhyun and Chanyeol."

"He has a visitor."

"Who?"

Oh no, Joohyun thought reflexively. She didn't think there was anything wrong with stating a fact but there was something unsettling in Jongin’s eyes which was telling her otherwise.

"Is it Seulgi?" Jongin asked, somewhat tense.

The door opened again, this time revealing a nonchalant-looking Sehun.

Jongin stood up and went to him in haste.

"Hey, Sehun, why didn't you tell me you and Seulgi were hanging out?"

Joohyun quickly closed the browser and grabbed her planner. She needed to get out of here. Whatever these two were dealing with, she didn't want to partake in it. Too bad that before she could leave, Sehun signaled her to stay seated. Joohyun slumped back defeated.

"Hello to you too, Jongin."

"Ah, sorry. Hello. How are you?" Jongin asked, remembering why he came in the first place.

"I'm feeling great, thank you for asking." Sehun sighed. "I didn't tell you because she came over briefly. You know she has a shift in the evening."

"Funny. According to Mr. Kang she took her time off for the time being because of school."

Sehun's eyebrows lifted surprised.

"Really? She didn't tell me that."

Joohyun listened by the table silently. She couldn't decide whether Sehun is lying right now or is genuinely taken aback. As she got to know from Junmyeon, Seulgi has been a university student but was helping by at the pizza place her family owned on Sokcho's main square when she could.

Jongin brushed through his short, brown hair frustrated.

"Just... call me next time, okay? I still can't reach her, neither personally nor on the phone. I want to talk to her. Even if just briefly."

"Okay." Sehun answered and raised his fist. "There's pizza in the kitchen. Heat it up and then I'll beat you in Mario Kart."

Jongin bumped their fists with a snort.

"Don't be so sure of that."

Joohyun felt relieved as Jongin left. Thankfully no fight broke out. She would have hated to see the boys on bad terms. They seemed to have such a precious friendship... On the other hand, the fact she stayed alone with Sehun wasn’t too good either.

"Hey."

Joohyun looked up at Sehun startled.

"I didn't -"

"You didn't know. It's fine." He said before she could apologize for telling about Seulgi’s visit. "But please, next time Seulgi's here, just pretend like she's not. It's complicated enough."

How so, Joohyun wanted to ask. She was curious of what is going with the three friends... but just like before, she recognized from Sehun she won't get these answers.

Sehun stared at the girl for a long second in silence. When he spoke up, he sounded different.

"Did I tell you something when I was sick? Be honest. I’ve been told I sleep-talk."

Joohyun looked away.

"You didn't."

"Are you sure?"

What's the point if you don't remember, she thought disappointed.

"Yes."

"Alright, if you say so." Sehun went to the door but abruptly stopped. "One more thing – I'm finished with the bird watching journal for now. I don't need your services anymore."

The girl couldn't help but panic.

"Why? The illustrations aren't complete."

Sehun rolled his eyes.

"That journal was lying in the loft for years. It can wait next winter. Most of the birds are gone anyway."

Joohyun was left in the study speechless. It looks like Sehun forgot he won't be here next winter... didn't he?

Author's Note

Hi everyone! It's been a while, isn't it?... I sincerely apologize for going missing. *sighs* I've missed this story dearly and I missed your comments as well. On that note, I'd like to thank you all for reading & commenting while I was absent. Also for all the subscription and upvote. I feel incredibly grateful for the 3 upvotes & almost 1500 subscribers "Sketching Up Heartlines" has gathered! Writing this story is a reward itself but I think you understand, whether you're an author yourself or not, that it feels really gratifying when it's not only you who enjoy something but the others appreciate it just as much. I'm thankful for the all love this story gets and will do my best to keep it interesting for you. Speaking of, what are your thoughts about this chapter? New characters were introduced and a conflict has been revealed as well. I can't wait to read what you think in the comments! Subscription & comments are appreciated. ♥ See you next time!