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Chapter 35 - Breakdown

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He wasted one good week for nothing. He realized that he was still scared. What if he did not want to go with him? What if he did not know him anymore? What if he hated him for abandoning him? He had these thoughts when he passed by that house again minutes ago while he was on his way to the studio.

"Kyuhyun, please do it properly! Everyone, let us take a break first."

He sighs. After the shoot. For real.

"You were spacing out, Kyuhyun. Is there something wrong?" the photographer asks.

Kyuhyun drinks from the bottle of water given by the assistant and gives it back after drinking. "Nothing."

"Is it about you love life? Wow, I think you need to tell it to Ms. Jang," he laughs. He is referring to the writer of Kyuhyun's article in a magazine where popular Inhwan guys are featured. "She's going to love it."

Kyuhyun does not speak. The assistant retouches his makeup.

"Tell us what's bothering you, Cho Kyuhyun," Ms. Jang, who just came in, says. "You know, your fans would love to know your love life. If you are interested in someone right now."

Kyuhyun looks at Ms. Jang. "Will that make you double my pay?"

Ms. Jang laughs. "Seriously, Kyuhyun. You're too young to work and earn money. You need to enjoy your life like others."

Kyuhyun shrugs as he maintains a blank face.

Juhee Jang is already thirty years old with a husband and one child, yet she looks like she is in her twenties because of her baby face. She can actually be a model herself if only she likes modeling more than a writer.

 She works for that magazine as a writer.

"But if we double your pay, would you tell us about your love life?" Ms. Jang asks. "I am serious about this. I am even going to take my money out if you tell us."

"Okay," Kyuhyun agrees without thinking about it. "I'll tell you about my love life, but I'll not mention any names."

Ms. Jang grins and taps Kyuhyun's back. "Deal."

○●○

"I am actually considering someone from Daehyun University," Ms. Jang says. They are currently in a burger chain. The photo shoot has just finished and Ms. Jang borrows Kyuhyun for the interview. As part of the deal, she will also buy food for Kyuhyun. "I think you know him. Because I've seen you together."

"Huh?" Kyuhyun's eyebrows meet as he realizes that she is talking about Sungmin. "Why are you changing your topic?"

"Well, he is a pretty boy, you see. Daehyun University has pretty guys too," Ms. Jang explains. "For a change. And besides, I can't find anyone in Inhwan anymore. You set the highest standards for me. That friend of yours is pretty interesting too. I think someone from another magazine covered him a year ago. Does he accept this kind of work?"

"I advise you not to go after Sungmin," Kyuhyun drinks his soda and looks away. The person in front of him smiles and observes him. He notices it so he asks, "What?"

"So... his name is Sungmin," Ms. Jang replies. She is still looking at Kyuhyun. "Well, you look alike at some point."

"Wait a minute. When did you see us together? Were you stalking us?" Kyuhyun suspiciously asks.

"Well, I just happened to pass by another burger chain where you two were eating together. Are you close? Can you tell him that I want to interview him for a magazine?"

"Why are you investing too much on us?" Kyuhyun asks again as he bites on his burger.

"Because I think that you're good together."

Kyuhyun nearly spits the burger out. "W-What!?"

"Your reaction was weird! I mean, you're good together in magazine," Ms. Jang clarifies. "If I put you both in one page, then fans would love to compare you both. It's like a versus strategy!"

"No, I don't want Sungmin to be involved in this whole strategy thing. He won't like it," Kyuhyun wipes his mouth as he puts the burger back to the table. "And he's scary! Do you know the famous black sheep of this city? It's him!"

"Oh, Cho!" Someone just calls his surname and he immediately knows who he is.

Sungmin, why now!? He whines in his mind as he looks away.

"Oh, you have a date?" Sungmin asks as he approaches them. "I didn't know that you were secretly dating that was why you took a leave."

Ms. Jang looks at Sungmin and smiles at him as she stretches her arm for a handshake. "Hi, I am Juhee Jang. I am a writer. We were talking about you. You just came on time. We were in the middle of discussion."

Sungmin shakes her hand then he looks at Kyuhyun who is not looking at him. "Eh? Why were you talking about me?"

"Take a seat first," Ms. Jang offers a seat beside Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun just sighs as Sungmin obeys her. "I would like to ask you for-"

"Aren't you supposed to be helping at Manager Han's ice cream parlor?" Kyuhyun asks Sungmin. "And where is Donghae?"

Sungmin replies, "Manager Han tells me to have my lunch first. But I left my lunch box and I had no money so Manager Han gave me money to buy lunch. Donghae didn't come to work. I really wonder why. Should I visit him at home or-"

"You're shameless," Kyuhyun comments. Sungmin stares angrily at Kyuhyun but he chooses not to talk. "Why would you visit him at home? Are you sure he's sick? What if he's not home?"

"What kind of a best friend are you? Are you not worried about Donghae?"

"There is nothing to worry about. Donghae can take care of himself so stop worrying about him," Kyuhyun tells Sungmin who is not amused at all. "Why don't you just leave and buy your lunch?"

"Hmph! You're really a loser! Your temper is the worst!" 

Sungmin stands and tries to leave, but Ms. Jang stops him.

"I'll be asking an apology in behalf of Kyuhyun. I actually pissed him off because I turned down his offer to be my boyfriend so-"

Kyuhyun glares at her. "What are you saying!?"

Sungmin smirks and looks at Kyuhyun, teasing him. "You're really a loser, Cho Kyuhyun. Good thing, Ms. Jang knows how to judge guys like you who are total s!" Sungmin turns to Ms. Jang. "You made a right and wise decision, Ms. Jang."

"Wait, that's not true!" Kyuhyun says. Sungmin just shows his tongue and goes to order at the counter. Kyuhyun glares at Ms. Jang again. "Why did you tell him that!?"

"Because you're such an for making someone like him angry," Ms. Jang answers. "Don't be too obvious, Cho Kyuhyun. You're in love with him and you're just jealous with Donghae."

Kyuhyun denies it. "No! I am not! Please stop speculating."

"No, no, no. You should stop denying it to me," Ms. Jang giggles. "It is very obvious!"

"Well, not to him," Kyuhyun rants as he impliedly admits that he is in love with Sungmin. "Sometimes I wonder if he is just playing dumb or something but he is really slow and dense about these!"

Ms. Jang laughs. "So you admitted it!"

"Fine! But as I said, you should not mention names!" Kyuhyun warns.

Ms. Jang raises her hands up. "No names! But seriously. Is he really that slow? He seems pretty wise for me. Maybe because he never experienced something like this. If he is really that famous black sheep then he must be wise enough to read people. I've heard about him. He's kinda scary for people who do bad things, true, but he does it to help others. Maybe we're thinking about the same thing. He's wonderful."

"He's the most wonderful thing that happened in my life because he made me smile again," Kyuhyun confesses. "But again, no names!"

"No names!" Ms. Jang repeats. "But can you give me his number?"

○●○

I hate him! I really hate him!

He cannot decide on what to buy. He keeps on thinking about how Kyuhyun reacted that way until it is his turn to order. The clerk asks him twice but he is just staring at the menu. It is the third time when he snaps back to the reality.

He gives a final look at the couple before going out of the chain. They sure look cute together - that's what he realizes as he leaves the burger chain.

What am I thinking? Kyuhyun is a jerk while Ms. Jang is very pretty. They're not a perfect match! Sungmin thinks. Ryeowook will really feel upset about this, so I better not tell him.

To be honest to himself, he is still feeling something that is stabbing his heart. Kyuhyun took a whole month leave for one woman who just turned him down. It must have been very painful for Kyuhyun.

Or maybe, it's painful for me because he already has someone special, that was why he wanted to stop him from pairing Kyuhyun to Ryeowook.

Why will he be hurt? For Ryeowook? Maybe, but not really. It is bothering him because...

Am I jealous?

"Hi! Care to try your luck?"

He stops from walking. He suddenly remembers how he blushed whenever Kyuhyun would say to or do something for him. He remembers how he anticipated that he would confess. He remembers how he became embarrassed at times in front of him. He remembers how he felt something unknown towards him. Perhaps it is now easier to admit it.

"Sir! Try this raffle draw! You have a chance to go to any Asian country!"

I have a crush on Kyuhyun!? Do I have a crush on him? No... it's your first time to have a crush on someone, so you don't know. No.... Or maybe yes? Ugh! He closes his eyes tightly as he rubs his face to get rid of the thoughts. "Ugh! Please, I can't have a crush on him!"

His phone suddenly rings. Good timing. It is a call from an unknown number.

He hesitates to answer it, but he still does, "Hello?"

○●○

He ends up modeling for a magazine.

Ms. Jang called him while he was on his way to the ice cream parlor and asked him to become a model for a pay. At first, he didn't want it, but he decided to go. It had a pay, too.

He asked Manager Han if he could go, and the man said yes.

Good thing, Kyuhyun was not there. He would feel really awkward because of his realizations.

He is on his way home. The shoot took him two hours and the interview took him an hour. Ms. Jang admitted that she lied about Kyuhyun asking her to be his girlfriend and that she is already married with one son. It is a fishbone out of his throat.

Fate is really tricking him. He sees Kyuhyun standing in front of one house. Sungmin plans not to show himself to Kyuhyun and just avoid him. But something makes him want to approach him.

He looks so gloomy. But why?

He changes his mind again. He will just walk by. He will not let Kyuhyun notice him.

But the latter turns to him. Their eyes meet as Sungmin stops from walking. The coldness in his eyes disappears. And it makes him worry about Kyuhyun. He approaches him and asks him if he is alright.

"Are you alright?" He asks.

"I-I'm fine," he answers and tries to walk away as he looks on the ground. "P-Please... leave me."

"No! I don't think you're fine! Tell me what's wrong, Kyuhyun!" Sungmin insists.

Sungmin is shocked when Kyuhyun kneels down and cries. Sungmin does not know what to do so he takes Kyuhyun up, but the latter pulls him into hug - a tight hug that absorbs all Sungmin's strength. He tries to break free, but he can't.

"K-Kyuhyun..." he whispers as he tries to pull himself.

"Y-you're right. I am not fine and I need your help. Sungmin, please... don't leave me..." Kyuhyun embraces him more as he utters those words. "S-Stay with me, just this once."

His face flushes red when he hears those words. He hugs him back and let Kyuhyun's face bury on his shoulder.

Maybe he can break free, but he just won't.

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《Sorry for the misunderstanding. I was not yet finished writing the latest chapter so I originally planned to save it as a draft first by hiding the chapter. However, I clicked Update Chapter without ticking the Hide Chapter, so it turned out that I updated. I am finished writing the chapter now. Sorry for the trouble!!! :( It won't happen again I promise. XD But I hope you enjoyed this chapter.》