“Are you even listening to me?”
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Fight.
Junhong threw his bag onto the floor behind the check in desk before sitting down on the chair. He sighed softly and rubbed his forehead. He was honestly so sick of school and he'd only been back for three days. He wanted to stay in school for Yongguk but he didn't think he could handle it much longer. His classmates didn't seem so scared of him and it was frustrating to him. He was quickly becoming angrier and angrier as they continued to tease and mock him day after day. He wanted to put them in their places but he kept reminding himself the older man would feel so disappointed with him.
Yongguk had tried helping him with his homework but he wasn't willing to even listen. He knew he wouldn't be able to understand it no matter who taught him; he felt like he was just wasting the man's time. He knew the older was irritated with him but he just wanted him to stop. It wasn't worth the time.
He decided he would be dropping out of school after this week was over.
He glanced over his shoulder at the older man who was pacing back and forth as he dealt with an angry costumer on the phone. The man noticed him staring and gave him a small smile. He stared for a moment longer before looking away again. He watched as some guests in the lobby chatted with each other. He quickly learned the lobby was much busier at night.
Yongguk sighed loudly before dropping down into the chair next to his own. He closed his eyes for a moment to calm down some and regain his composure.
“What was their problem?” The younger asked quietly.
The man pursed his lips. “They didn't want to pay for their room.” He rubbed his forehead. “It's amazing the things they come up with.” He glanced down at the floor where the boy's backpack was. He silently debated on asking the younger if he wanted any help with his homework. His head was hurting too much to fight with the boy right now.
The last few nights he had been really trying to help him but the younger wouldn't listen to a word he said. It was irritating and more than just a little frustrating. He really wanted to help him but if Junhong wasn't willing to be helped then there was nothing he could do. “Get your homework out.” He watched as the boy rolled his eyes before leaning over to get his work out of the bag and Yongguk couldn't help but chuckle at his attitude.
He actually didn't mind the younger giving him an attitude; he liked seeing emotions other than anger and solemness on his face. What made him irritated was when Junhong would ignore everything he said.
Time seemed to pass slowly as the boy stared blankly at his homework. He had tuned the older man out a long time ago.
“Are you even listening to me?” Yongguk finally asked. He frowned deeply when the younger didn't reply. He stood up. “Okay. Fine.” He held up his hands in annoyance. “Quit school. I'm going to go smoke.”
Junhong had been expecting this but it still hurt. He had no one to blame but himself. He didn't expect it to hurt so much, if any at all. But it did. He wanted to apologize and tell the older man he would try harder but he knew he'd be lying. He had no intentions on actually trying when it came to school. He had already made up his mind to quit.
He started to throw his text books back into his backpack. He felt guilty; he knew he had let the older man down and it hurt. He didn't like this feeling. The boy chewed on his lower lip. He didn't want to feel like this. He wanted to feel relieved that he could finally quit school and Yongguk couldn't say anything about it.
He fidgeted with his pencil until the older man finally came back. He refused to look up from the floor. He felt too ashamed but he wasn't going to apologize.
“Get your school work back out.” When Junhong looked up in surprise, he smiled warmly and continued. “You're not going to win so easily.”
The boy stared at him as if he had grown two heads and Yongguk laughed, sitting back down in the chair next to his. He finally did as he was told and things went back to how they were earlier; Yongguk explaining things and Junhong ignoring him.
Yongguk suddenly trailed off hearing a very familiar voice. He looked over towards the entrance. It was no doubt, Himchan. He furrowed his brows; what was he doing here? His friend never came to the hotel. He stood up when the younger man started walking towards the desk, a girl on his arm. They were giggling and making a lot of noise, quickly gaining everyone in the lobby's attention. Junhong watched as the man quickly moved from behind the desk and hurried over.
There was no doubt in his mind that Himchan was wasted and high, judging by the way he smelled and was acting. He narrowed his eyes. “Go.” He hissed at the woman. His voice was so dark and unfamiliar; it sent a shiver down Junhong's spine.
“I paid for him!” The woman narrowed her eyes. “He's mine for tonight-”
“Leave.” He seethed underneath his otherwise blank expression. “Or I'll make you leave.”
It ended up taking three security guards to get the woman out of the building. Yongguk looked at Junhong. “I'll send down some money for you to get a taxi home.” He said before practically dragging his friend to the elevators.
Junhong wondered if Himchan did this often. He frowned deeply, remembering what that woman had said earlier. She. . . paid for him. He shivered at just the thought of ing. He tried to ignore his jealously as he stared at his school work. He threw everything into his bag and stood up. He decided he would just walk home; he didn't want Yongguk's money.
- - - - - - - - -
Himchan had made it a habit to come to the hotel drunk and drugged; always with someone on his arm. Junhong thought he was disgusting. Everything about him was absolutely disgusting and every night Yongguk would drop everything just to take care of that disgusting creature. It made him so angry how the older man would basically forget about him when the younger man would show up. He didn't understand why the man didn't just kick him out like he did with his. . . costumers.
It sickened him.
He hated himself for feeling jealous of that disgusting man. He hated the way Yongguk would immediately rush to his side and leave him alone at the desk. He sighed quietly as he walked closer to the hotel. His foster mother told him the older man had called and asked for him to come today; even though it was his day off.
He ignored everyone in the lobby, wishing he would have worn his uniform instead of his regular clothing as he walked towards the front desk. He didn't see Yongguk anywhere, only some other employees. He hesitantly spoke. “Where is Yongguk?”
The worker looked up from the computer. The worker picked up a piece of paper and handed it to him before silently looking back at the computer. Junhong furrowed his brows, wondering why the older man wanted him to come to his private room on the sixth floor. He silently stepped onto the elevator followed by a few other people.
He felt uncomfortable. He'd never really been alone with these people before. He watched them from the corner of his eye. They didn't seem to be paying him any attention as they stared at their cell phones but he still couldn't help but feel like they were judging him. He stepped off the elevator and walked down the long hallway to the older man's room. He took in a deep breath; suddenly feeling nervous. What if Yongguk was going to fire him? His heart clenched painfully and he shook the thoughts away as he knocked on the door.
The door opened up and to his surprise it was a maid that opened it.
He walked in and looked around; wondering where the man was. The maid told him he was supposed to just sit down on the couch and wait for a few minutes. She quickly finished up her work before leaving him alone in the room.
Junhong was suddenly feeling even more nervous than before. He gripped the hem of his shirt and chewed at his chapped lips as he waited. It felt like time dragged on as he sat there waiting. He looked up hearing someone clear their throat.
He couldn't help the look of disgust when he met eyes with Himchan.
The man stared at him for a moment before a smirk appeared on his lips. “Ah, why are you staring like that at me?” He asked in a fake hurt voice before walking closer.
Once the boy felt he had gotten too close for comfort, he stood up from the couch; his hands curled into fists as he stared at the older man. He could feel his heart beat speeding up as he came even closer. He didn't know what this man wanted.
“You really shouldn't look at me like that.” Himchan's voice darkened. “We're really not that different, Junhong.”
And he snapped. He punched the man in the face. “I'm nothing like you!” He screamed so loud it even hurt his own ears.
Himchan's tongue darted out to touch the wound before he laughed and the boy raised his arm to punch him again. It was like the older man knew it was coming as he quickly grabbed the boy's fists; his grip as strong as steel. They wrestled around with each other and soon they were on the floor.
Junhong kicked, screamed and punched trying to break free and get away as he was straddled to the floor. The man simply stared down at him.
“You're going to be just like me.” His voice was so calm as he spoke. “You'll drop out of school and the foster care will drop you.” Junhong swore his heart stopped for a moment. “You won't have anywhere to go or live and no one will hire you.”
“You'll get into drugs with what little money you have. You'll tell yourself it will only happen once but the drugs will take you into another world, a fake world that comes crashing down as soon as the high is over and you'll need it again and again. ” He slammed Junhong's hands down to the floor, holding them above the boy's head. “You'll start selling your body because, , you need those drugs.”
Junhong screamed and he kicked his legs wildly. “Get off of me!”
“You're going to be just like me!” Himchan shouted back just as loudly, the calmness in his voice was finally gone.
“I won't be like you!” He had tears pouring down his face as he shouted.
“Say it again.” The man's voice was suddenly calm again.
“I won't be like you!” He started screaming it over and over again. He didn't want to be like Himchan; he refused to be anything like this man.
“That's right.” Himchan broke the eye contact with him.
And suddenly the man was off of him. He left the room leaving Junhong dazed, confused and sobbing on the floor.
- - - - - - - - -
Yongguk rubbed his forehead as he stepped off the elevator and started down the hallway. He had thought that meeting would never end. He was so tired of dealing with his father. He tried, he really tried with this hotel but it felt like nothing he ever did would be enough for him. He looked up from the floor and furrowed his brows when he saw Himchan leaving the room.
He quickened his pace and his friend tried to walk past him. He quickly grabbed his wrist. “Himchan.”
Himchan turned his head slightly; just enough for the older to see his busted lip and already bruising eye. His mouth fell open. “What the -”
The younger man jerked his arm free. “Go check on your boy.”
Yongguk stood frozen for a moment; not sure whether to go after his friend or not. He shook his head and quickly ran into the hotel room. “Junhong!” He shouted when he saw the younger was on the floor crying, his knees pulled tightly to his chest and face hidden behind them.
He quickly ran over. “What happened?! Why are you here?! Are you hurt?!” His hands were shaking as the boy looked at him. He didn't have any bruises or wounds. Yongguk's heart clenched painfully; did the boy start a fight?
“He tricked me!” Junhong choked out.
“Who?” He got on the floor beside him.
Junhong didn't reply and it didn't matter. He knew exactly who the boy was talking about. But, he didn't understand why. He decided to wait until the boy calmed down to ask questions. He gently pulled him into his arms, soothing the younger by gently his hair. “Shh.” He whispered. “It's okay now.”
It took a long time before he finally calmed down.
- - - - - - - - -
Junhong felt exhausted and he could barely move as the older man helped him up from the floor and gently guided him to the couch. It took all that time to finally realize what Yongguk's friend was trying to prove. Himchan was trying to save him not harm him.
He knew he had punched the man multiple times in the face and body but not once did Himchan hit him. He didn't understand why the man had found it necessary to go to this length to prove a point and it took him some more time thinking to finally understand. If Himchan had simply told him what would happen then he wouldn't have listened. He needed this. He needed someone to scream at him; to make him listen.
He knew Yongguk was seething with anger and only holding it in for him but he couldn't get himself to speak just yet. He watched as the older man paced back and forth around the room, clenching and unclenching his hands.
Junhong finally found his voice and was able to speak. “I think Himchan just saved me.”
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