Chapter 21

One year later

Wu Fan looked up from the stack of papers on his desk, stifling a chuckle.

“Suho?” He questioned, amused.

The person at the other end of the line grumbled.

“What’s wrong with it?” Junmyun sounded mildly offended at his friend’s mocking tone.

“No. Nothing’s wrong with it.” Kris shook his head even though he knew the other man couldn’t see him. “And it’d definitely amazing that you’re debuting as an actor…”

“But..?” The Korean insisted for an explanation.

“Well, don’t you think it’s a little… tacky? Protector Junmyun and all that?” Wu Fan smirks at the phone. (A/N: Suho means ‘protecting’ in Korean)

“It’s a stage name. It’s supposed to be a little tacky.” Junmyun pointed out matter-of-factly.

“Ok, ok. I got it already.” The Canadian muttered to his cellphone, as a knocking sound came from the door.

“Just a minute, Junmyun-ah.” Kris put the phone down.

“Yes?” He spoke in Mandarin.

A cute looking secretary apologized for interrupting and explained that it was eight already and they were planning to lock the office doors soon.

“Are you still busy, Wu Fan?” She asked, rolling her eyes as the blonde nodded.

“I’m almost done.” He shrugged apologetically to the girl who turned around to leave, muttering something about him having no life.

“They actually need to kick you out of work…” Junmyun laughed from the phone. “You haven’t changed at all Duizhang-hyung.”

Kris stiffened suddenly.

It had been a year since he last had someone call him that.

He wanted to say something quickly, make sure that Junmyun didn’t realize just how apprehensive he was to hear this name. He really wanted to act cool, to show exactly how fine he is with his life right now.

But all that came out was a heavy silence that could mean nothing but memories and regret.

“I’m sorry…” Junmyun should have heard it too. It was, after all, too obvious to miss.

“No. No!” Again Wu Fan shook his head. “I’m just busy with work. I working.” He tried to sound light-headed and cheerful.

“Besides, you didn’t really call to talk about me, did you now?” The blonde tried to change the subject.

“I did call to check on you.” Junmyun defended his motives. “It’s just that I’m also worried about that other idiot.”

“Sehun?” Kris didn’t need to ask. He just thought it was fun hearing his friend fret from over the phone.

Junmyun agreed that it was about Sehun as well. “He thinks he’s an adult now and can take care of himself, just because he’s studying abroad.”

The Canadian wanted to say, Sehun was, in fact, an adult, but he restrained himself. He knew it had been hard on Junmyun, what with both his dongsaengs moving away from him at the same time.

Jongin was on a dancing scholarship in Paris and Sehun had moved to Shanghai right after graduation to study and more importantly to be close to a certain dirty-minded hyung of his. So naturally, Junmyun was left with no one to smother with affection.

“He’s doing fine. Don’t worry too much, Suho.” Kris was starting to think that this stage name really fitted Junmyun.

“He’s ignoring my calls.” The Korean muttered angrily.

“That’s because you keep interrupting his ‘Luhan Time’. And, yes, he actually calls it that.” Wu Fan felt suddenly rather happy for being wrong about Sehun and Luhan’s relationship not lasting.

“At least it means he’s having fun.” Junmyun sighed.

“Oh, you have no idea. Zitao wants to move out, because they’re too lovesick to bear.” To be fair, though, Tao always nagged about one small thing or another, so maybe it wasn’t really their fault.

“You’re still staying with Yixing-sshi, right?” The Korean asked out of nowhere.

“Yeah. I mean it’s not like I could afford an apartment on my own, with the internship money alone.” Wu Fan looked at the clock and started gathering his things to leave.

“I thought it was one of the best companies in Shanghai… They don’t pay you well? Do you need help?” Junmyun just needed someone to worry about, Kris thought, as he tried to explain that even with a college degree in Business Management, he had to work as an intern for a while before getting a job which paid a lot.

“I see.” The actor sounded thoughtful. “Well, even if it takes a while, I’m sure you’ll make it.”

The blonde knew that even without Junmyun saying it.

He was going to make it. He was going to do it right, this time around. No fake scholarships, just hard work and honesty.

“Of course I will.” Kris assured. “My internship is ending next week and the company has already proposed to make me a full-time employee after that.”

 “That’s great.” He heard Junmyun clapping from the other end of the line. “I mean I thought you’d be having a really hard time when you left Seoul so suddenly, after breaking up with-”

The Canadian closed the door of his office, nodding goodbye to his co-workers who were probably whining about him being a workaholic and the rest.

Junmyun was apologizing on the phone. He was too tired with shootings for the drama, the lead actress was really snobbish and annoying, so he had a headache now and kept saying stupid things.

He apologized for the third time, as Wu Fan crossed the road to get to his apartment.

However, that time, instead of just saying it was ok, Kris decided to do some stupid-talking himself.

“How is he?” it was one of those simple things that would mean nothing to someone who didn’t know the Canadian. The actor understood, though, the gasp coming from Wu Fan’s phone proving that point effectively.

The blonde had asked because he wanted to know how Chanyeol’s life was. Yet, he was dreading those words more than he was ever willing to admit.

Kris was the bad ex-lover in this story. He was the person who had done something wrong and was left to suffer through regrets after their relationship was over.

And to be honest, regardless of the answer, he knew he was going to get fresh scars from asking this.

If the boy was sad, Wu Fan would worry and hurt as well. On the other hand if Chanyeol had found someone new and was happy, he’d feel miserable and pathetic.

Because even though Kris had changed jobs, changed apartments, changed countries and lifestyles, he was still the person who only knew warmth in Chanyeol’s arms.

While the boy was probably living peacefully somewhere, trying and possibly succeeding to forget everything about him, Wu Fan was miles away, in Shanghai, making sure no one sat on the empty side of his bed.

The Canadian was aware that Chanyeol would never come to request that empty side. He knew Chanyeol of the present was no longer the same person as the Chanyeol he had loved a year ago. Still, he was thinking about him, wondering about him and nurturing his absence. Because absence meant that he was once there.

“He’s okay.” Junmyun finally said after a long pause, obviously uncertain about what answer he was expected to give. “He’s happy. Not at first, but now, I think he’s happy.” 

Kris forced himself to smile, despite the fact that his friend couldn’t even see it.

“Good. That’s good.” He mumbled, clutching his bag of papers till he couldn’t feel his fingers.

“You shouldn’t have left like that.” Junmyun seemed to have regained his courage. “You could have found a solution. He wanted to-”

“He’s not taking over his father’s business, is he? And he’s still friends with Baekhyun and the others, right? He’s not spending all his time alone, is he?” There were a million questions that Kris wished to ask.

“No, he’s not working with his father. Actually, he’s still studying in college. And he has even more friends now.” The actor probably realized how much it pained Wu Fan to hear all the details, so he spoke slowly and carefully, in a low tone that came kind of rugged through the earpiece.

The Canadian stopped in the middle of the side walk and leaned against a wall, for support. He hadn’t reached his apartment yet. Which meant he couldn’t just drop on his bed and stare at the ceiling that wasn’t exactly white and didn’t have words written on it.

Home was too far away and he needed somewhere to lean on to.

“And has he found a nice, rich and caring boyfriend, like I told him to?” It was meant as a joke and Wu Fan hated himself for hoping it would be nothing but a joke that never came true.

No one laughed, though, and only after he spoke the words, did the blonde see just how hurtful jokes could be.

“I don’t know Wu Fan-hyung…” Junmyun sounded like someone had just put a heavy load on his shoulders. “A lot of people like him, I- I really don’t know.”

“Right. That makes sense. I’m sure everyone loves him.” Wu Fan stared blankly at the cars passing by, their lights flashing in front of him for seconds, before disappearing in the darkness.

“You’re not over it, are you hyung?” The blonde frowned at the question.

“How could I be?” He replied earnestly. “Since I was asked to leave, since it was all my fault, how could I forget so easily?”

The times he had spent with Chanyeol felt like yesterday, yet it had already been a year.

“Are you waiting for something? I know he said to go until he calls you back, but I don’t- It’s-It’s already been too long… Are you still waiting?” Junmyun answered the question with another question.

Kris considered it.

“I am.” He admitted. Because he was, against all odds, waiting. For what he didn’t know. And Wu Fan had told himself a million times, there was no reason to wait; no point to it.

Still, he waited.

“I’m waiting. Not because I believe something will change –if I believed that I wouldn’t have left in the first place- but rather, because that’s all I can do. I cannot not wait.” A stupid excuse, to be honest, yet he couldn’t describe it any better.

“Chanyeol wouldn’t want you to-to suffer like this. Even if things ended like that, I’m sure…” For an actor, Junmyun sure stuttered and paused a lot, Kris thought, trying to relax a bit.

“I’m living well. There’s no reason to worry.” The Canadian retorted quickly, making sure his voice came out steady and calm.

“Just because you’re working and you have money to rent an apartment, it doesn’t mean you’re doing well.” Junmyun snapped back, childishly pushing for teary confessions of unresolved feelings.

“Everyone lives their lives with scars and problems and memories. I’m not that special, to have famous actor, Suho, shout at me from over the phone.” Thankfully the Korean let out a chuckle at this and stopped interrogating.

“Acting like his problems are no big deal. As expected of Duizhang-hyung.” The phone rang with laughter and then a group of muffled voices reached Wu Fan’s ear.

“What? Oh! Ok, I got it!” Junmyun was saying to someone who was not Kris.

“Do you need to hang up?” The blonde asked smiling again.

“Aish! Yes, sorry hyung, we’re shooting for the drama posters right now. They’re calling for me…” The actor apologized and quickly bid hid friend goodbye.

Yixing was waiting for him back at the apartment, announcing that he was starving and that Kris should cook something already.

They ended up ordering Italian, which the blonde forced himself to eat quickly and say as little as possible about his conversation with Junmyun earlier that evening.

He wasn’t going to let Yixing fuss about his lingering feelings for a certain curly-haired Korean, Wu Fan had promised himself that. So it took over three cans of beer to finally spill the beans to his best friend.

“Actually, I’m surprised you hadn’t asked about him earlier.” Yixing surprised him by saying.

“I just thought I had no right to ask… I don’t know what came over me tonight.” Kris confessed picking an empty beer can from the floor and preparing to throw it in the trash.

“The weather’s changing, so it makes everyone act differently.” Yixing hiccupped a little, looking out from the window.

“What is that supposed to mean?” The blonde turned to take a glance at the night sky as well.

A week later, Wu Fan called Yixing to let him know that he should become a fortuneteller, cause his words were prophetic. And when his friend had inquired further about it, Kris had only said the weather was changing.

He hadn’t been sure about this letter and its origins.

Not one bit really.

To his defense, the Canadian had contacted the post office immediately and already made sure that the envelope was indeed meant for him and hadn’t ended up on his doorstep by accident.

Other than that, it could have all been a joke, or a misunderstanding. Though Kris couldn’t imagine who would send him an airport ticket as part of a joke.

On the other hand, if he dared let himself hope, he could think of one person in particular that might want to send him a plane ticket for Seoul with a yellow post-it on top of it.

‘This is a business deal.’ Was all it said.

And frankly, Wu Fan didn’t need more. If this was really Park Chanyeol, he was just happy that he still remembered him and had bothered to ask him to come back. In case it was someone else, Kris would agree to meet them and see what they had to say anyway.

The blonde repeated the plan in his head as he walked out of his plane and into the vast space of the Incheon Airport in Seoul.

“Wu Fan-sshi?” A suited, slightly short man, with glasses bowed in front of Kris.

“Yes. That’s me.” The Canadian bowed in return, awkwardly putting his small suitcase behind his back.

“Oh good!” The older man wiped some sweat off his forehead and sighed in content. “Hwejangnim would kill me if I didn’t find you.” (A/N: Hwejangnim means President)

“Hwejangmin?” Wu Fan’s eyebrows furrowed in thought. Was it Park Sukjin Hwejangnim the one who wanted to see him after all, he wondered, berating himself for even considering the possibility it might be Chanyeol.

He got no answer though, as the man in the business suit and the glasses hurried to push him out of the airport and into an expensive looking car.

“Hwejangnim is paying for the room, so stay comfortably.” The suited man who also worked as Wu Fan’s driver and probably babysitter, explained while handing the blonde a card for room 3121.

“I could find a hotel on my own… Isn’t this too much?” The Canadian gulped, trying not to look very impressed about the marble floors and the chandeliers and what looked like a Jacuzzi from where he was standing.

“It’s only for a night, do not worry about the cost.” The babysitter slash driver shrugged it off easily.

However, at that point Kris was too busy managing the aching in his chest to notice.

He assured the man that he would be ok on his own, while he was feeling like a complete fool for ever thinking that Chanyeol wanted to see him.

Only for a night.

That was it.

Not even a week. Just one night.

It was probably just a settlement about the money Kris had gotten as part of the deal with the President of Sang Cha Rim. He thought he had paid back everything, but perhaps he still owed Park Sukjin Hwejangnim something.

Tomorrow they would ask him to meet at the company building and give the rest back, before they would ship him back to Shanghai once and for all.

Wu Fan dropped on the king size bed heavily, shutting his eyes and wishing he had never hoped in the first place.

The morning sun came unexpectedly and even after the suited babysitter asked him for the third time, he still couldn’t tell how he had fallen asleep with his clothes and shoes on.

“Hwejangnim asked me to leave this to you.” The man, whose name turned out to be Jang Hyunmin, or simply Secretary Jang, announced to Kris.

It was a black, formal suit, paired with an equally black and formal tie. There was also a pair of black pants and a white shirt to go with it. And right under the suit’s lapel another post-it paper.

‘This is only a business deal.’ It read, confirming the blonde’s suspicions about the sender not being Chanyeol.

“If you are interested in the deal, Hwejangnim said you should come to the hotel’s sushi restaurant in the top floor, tonight at seven.” Secretary Jang repeated his instructions and even wrote them down for Kris.

The Canadian sighed. He had decided to meet whoever it was that sent the ticket, yet the more he stayed the less willing he became.

“I’m sorry, but you keep saying ‘Hwejangnim’, ‘Hwejangnim’ and you haven’t explained to me who that is. Are you referring to the President of Sang Cha Rim?” In the end it was better to know what he was going to face tonight, the blonde reasoned.

“Exactly! That’s him.” The secretary nodded enthusiastically and bowing, he left once again.

Wu Fan spent the rest of his day working up scenarios about the meeting in the evening.

In some of them he met Park Sukjin Hwejangnim and they discussed calmly about the money Kris still owed him, while the man offered him a plate of expensive sushi.

In other scenarios, the blonde was met with a group of bodyguards who threatened to beat him to a pulp if he didn’t stay away from the President’s son forever.

Nevertheless, in none of these scenarios did Wu Fan open the door to the private room of the hotel’s restaurant to find a group of middle-aged men sitting down and talking about stocks and merchandise distribution.

Now, Kris regretted not asking Yixing to predict which way the wind would be blowing that night.

A/N: I think now is a good time to say I have no idea what I'm writing anymore. 

I was told a flash-forward was not a good idea, but honestly, I have a plan about this and it kind of only makes sense with a one-year gap. 

ALSO next week will be the last update T_T. 

We're close to the end guys! And I will miss you SO MUCH! *sobbing*

Please let me know what you thought about this. 

I love you all !!