Thursday After Afternoon XD

Kai stuffed everything back into the little green box except the photograph of him, Kyungsoo, and Joonmyun. A lot of hell had just broken loose. And he had a lot of things to figure out. 

Tucking the box under his arm like a basketball, Kai ran out of the attic, dropping down through the trap door and sliding down the rail of the stairs. Jonggu was sitting at the foot of them, and as soon as the pup saw Kai, it immediately started wagging its tail. Kai scooped Jonggu up and raced back to his room. He had to show this to Kyungsoo.

He knew he should have followed his 'mother's; instructions and initally opened the box with Kyungsoo at his side. But the curiousity had been eating him alive. And he was sure that if Kyungsoo saw it now, after almost burning himself again, the boy would suffer from an ultimate emotional trauma. He was weak in more ways than one.

Leaping up the stairs, Kai managed to slam into someone on the way. He almost sent himself and the other person flying down them to their dooms. Holding onto the railing for dear life with one hand and Jonggu and the box with the other, Kai looked up to see Mr. Kim. He glaring back at Kai as if he were the most absolute nuisance. Kai straightened himself out .

"Have you seen Joonmyun?"

"No," Mr. Kim answered, already recommencing his descent to the living room. "I gave him the rest of the day off. Poor boy overworks himself."

Kai set Jonggu down and continued up the stairs. Opening the door to his bedroom, he found Kyungsoo gingerly combing the hair of D.O. It was...freaky to say the least, and Kai had no idea how to respond. Was he seriously this crazy before Joonmyun smashed his first doll?! 

Kyungsoo turned around, giggling nervously. He hid the comb behind his back and stood in front of D.O as if he didn't exist. Kai's eye twitched. He could ask what the hell Kyungsoo was just doing. OR he could show the boy what was in box. Kai opted for Plan B.

"I need you to sit down," Kai told his doll. Kyungsoo cocked his head in confusion then sat down onto the floor. 

Kai sat down beside him, and just as he did, Jongdae entered the room. A siren went off in Kai's head. Jongdae would certainly know where Joonmyun was. And Joonmyun had to be here. To see this. This...he couldn't even find a proper word to describe it.

But Jongdae didn't know when Kai asked him. Out of all the times that Joonmyun could be missing, this was the worst possible time. Kai needed him here. This absolutely affected the older much more than him. As soon as Kai told Mr. Kim he knew the truth, his entire life would turn upside down. And he wasn't sure if it'd be for the better or for the worse.

Maybe he could show both Kyungsoo and Joonmyun what was in here on seperate occasions? Like two seperate appointments with different clients? No. They had to both be here. Screw Joonmyun for ruining everything.

Kai sighed and stood up, telling Kyungsoo to forget it. With the little green box under his arm, he went off in search of Joonmyun. Kyungsoo bit his lip as he watched Kai leave, jumping when the younger slammed the door behind him. He looked at Jongdae, clueless. The young butler simply shrugged, his face sad from the absence of his lover.

Kai made his way down the stairs, ignoring the maids like always and this time Jonggu too. The little dog nuzzled his ankles with its nose, trying desperately to get his attention. Kai looked down once to give the dog a small shove with his foot. He didn't need this right now. So much was going through his mind and dogs were irrelevant to any of it. One thing struck him for a second though. Would he lose Jonggu since this wasn't really his home? He looked at the dog again, through different eyes. It was staring off into space, lonely.

The young man ran a hand through his hair and went into the kitchen. The maids were preparing something in a quick rush, and Kai could only assume that they were expecting company. One by one, he asked each maid if they knew where Joonmyun was. None of the girls knew. Where could he be?

As Kai asked the last maid, he felt desperate to get a 'why yes, I do know where he is.' She was the youngest out of all of them, appearing no more than twenty five. Her auburn curls fell around her face as she listened to Kai's question attentively, and Kai suddenly remembered that as a kid, he used to have a crush on her. Well those feelings flew out the window...

"Why yes, I do know where he is."

Kai almost exploded. She wasn't just telling him what he wanted to here though, right? She really meant it?

"Really?"

"Yes, sir." She wiped away a spot on the plate she was washing by hand. "I just saw him walk into the guest bathroom downstairs. I'm afraid he didn't look so good, Jongin sir. He could be sick with something, and you know you can't get sick."

Kai smiled at her. Now he remembered why she was his favorite. Ever since his adopted mother had died, this particular girl had been a mother figure to him, taking care of him more than the other maids. With a small military like salute, he marched off for the guest bathroom. Standing in front of the door, he knocked on it. Why was it so quiet inside?

Joonmyun opened the door a few moments later, paper towel pressed to the bottom half of his face. His cheeks were puffed out as if he were about to throw up. With wide eyes, Kai helped him back into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. Joonmyun automatically turned back around towards the toilet, and just like that, vomited entirely into it. Kai blinked a few times.

"So, um, Joonmyun. You ok?"

The said boy turned around, eyes gloomy. He wiped his face. "No. I've been vomiting for days. I think I should probably see a doctor or something."

"Why don't you go now?" Kai suggested, immediately bashing himself on the head for saying it. He needed to show Joonmyun the box and this would just be a delay. "Don't you have the rest of the day off?"

Joonmyun nodded. "But I don't feel like going right now. I don't feel like doing anything. Is it weird that I fell asleep in the middle of having with Jongdae yesterday?"

"I don't need to know what you do with Jongdae. Too much information. But yes, that is rather strange. People are usually hyper when they have ."

Joonmyun looked into the mirror. He sighed at his reflection, pressing his forehead against the glass. Kai pitied him. For the past eighteen years, Joonmyun had been living a lie. As a peasant boy. When all of this should have been his. And the question now remaining was why? Why had the Kims switched children? If Kai was even Joonmyun's parent's kid, that is.

"Did you need me for something since you were looking for me?" the boss' assistant asked, wiping his mouth. 

Kai looked at him solemnly. Yeah, boss. "Yeah. Come upstairs with me, will you? I'll help you up so you won't fall."

Joonmyun smiled gratefully as they walked out of the bathroom and towards the staircase. Joonmyun leaned on Kai as they made their way up step by step. There were thirty two steps in all, and with each one, it felt to Kai like an eternity would pass before they stood on the next one. They were crawling up them at a snail's pace! But he wouldn't rush Joonmyun. The boy was sick, after all.

Just as Kai got to the very top with Joonmyun, his father called him back downstairs. Kai groaned. Yep, he should have absolutely opened the darn box with Kyungsoo the first time. Then he wouldn't have to go through this. Ordering Joonmyun to go into his room, Kai ran back downstairs and presented himself before Mr. Kim. The boss narrowed his eyes.

"Didn't I tell you to be here in a suit, Jongin?" 

Kai mentally facepalmed. How could he forget about that stupid promotional conference? Smiling charmingly, he nodded then raced back upstairs. He needed to get dressed and get out of there. The sooner they left, the sooner they'd return.

But when he saw Kyungsoo, Joonmyun, and Jongdae in his room, Kai knew it was now or never. The dressing into a suit would have to wait. Locking the bedroom door, he sat down onto the floor amidst the other boys, placing the box in the middle. They looked like a sorority circle. The other three boys stared at the box, confused. Kyungsoo wide, doe like eyes stared at Kai, waiting for an answer. 

Kai tapped on the box's lid and took out the key from his pocket. He handed it over to Joonmyun. "I did the honors the first time, you can do them the second time."

"What is it?" Joonmyun asked, inserting the key into the key hole.

"Oh," Kai smirked, "you'll see."

Joonmyun eyed him suspiciously before turning his gaze back onto the box. He lifted the lid. And then, there was silence. Kai had placed Joonmyun's birth certificate on top with his real parents' names clearly visible. Joonmyun stared at the print, not understanding what was going on. Arching an eyebrow, Jongdae peered over his shoulder, only to gasp from what he saw. Kyungsoo was too scared to even look.

Joonmyun lowered the lid a little. "This is a joke. You're trying to get back at me for breaking D.O."

"I swear on my honor and my life," Kai began, "that in no way, shape, or form, did I contribute in the production of that document. It was all strictly the law, my friend. I, myself, saw it for the first time today."

Kyungsoo couldn't take being the only one not knowing what was going on anymore. He snuck his own glance into the box, only to stumble backwards into D.O's case. The doll inside shook violently.

"Oh, baby!" Kai groaned sensually. He reached into the pocket and pulled out the photograph from his eleventh birthday party. "I know you're dying to see this!"

He stuck the photograph in front of Kyungsoo's face. The older took it with two fingers gently, holding the corner. Squinting, he inspected the fading photograph. After a seconds of pure silence, Kyungsoo looked up at Kai. Kai looked back at him. They looked at eachother. And then more silence. And then, Kyungsoo spoke up again.

"It's me."

"So it is you," Kai breathed, "because I thought I lost my mind there for a second."

"But," Kyungsoo started, focusing on the photo again, "how? I don't remember knowing you or anything before meeting you here. And hehe, Kai, you even liked me back then~"

Joonmyun rolled his eyes. This was getting too mushy. He grabbed the photograph and took a long, hard look at it. His eyes widened when he saw Kyungsoo and himself. He didn't remember this birthday, nor did he remember being friends with Kai at such an early age. Kyungsoo, however, yes. He had known the young man since they were both in kindergarten.

Jongdae shook his head in disbelief as he looked at the photograph over Joonmyun's shoulder. He could easily identify who was who in the scene. He chuckled when he saw a thirteen year old Joonmyun, eyes wide as an eleven year old Kai kissed a twelve year old Kyungsoo on the cheek. Not to mention, there was cake clearly visible on the right corner of Joonmyun's little mouth. Jongdae giggled involuntarily.

"I still don't understand this," Joonmyun admitted, handing the photograph back to Kyungsoo for observation. "So, I'm my boss' son? Then who the hell are you, Jongin?"

"I have no idea." Kai ran a hand through this hair. "Your attendance to the party is pretty self explanatory. Umma wanted to see you. But you," he pointed at Kyungsoo, pinching his cheek, "how'd you get into my life just now if I knew you back then? Since when did I even know you?" He smirked. "I would have remembered."

Kyungsoo's cheeks flushed red. He looked down, a grin ghosting on his face. Kai laughed out loud. Oh, sweet, innocent little Kyungsoo. Kai leaned down and gave the boy a quick peck. He was adorable.

"Save it for later!" Joonmyun pleaded, covering his eyes. His hands then flew to his mouth as he tried to keep in the contents of his stomach. Jongdae's expression turned into one of worry. A crease formed in between his brows.

"You alright there, Suho?" Kai asked, using the nickname his mother had used for Joonmyun. The assistant shook his head and rushed out. Jongdae ran after him, tripping on his feet as he stumbled out the door.

Kyungsoo blinked at the couple. Was Joonmyun sick with something. He had told Kyungsoo he hadn't been feeling well before he had told Kai. The vomiting had started ever since the boss' adopted son and the doll came home from China. Did one of them catch a disease and pass it onto Joonmyun? Kyungsoo suddenly felt guilty.

Kai picked up the photograph and flipped it around to get another good look at it. This was incredible, and he still didn't understand. He usually remembers people he truly cares about. And by the looks of it, he had really cared about Kyungsoo since he was kissing him on the cheek. So, what happened? What had caused them to split up at such an early age?

It didn't matter right now though. What was important was that Kyungsoo was here--again, apparently--and they were together. Kai would have to ask Mr. Kim if he knew anything about the matter. But he wouldn't ask now...later. Yes, later.

Kyungsoo brought a hand to his lips, checking their smoothness for no apparent reason. Kai his own as he watched the older. Why did Kyungsoo have to do that? Kai knew he was teasing. He was always teasing. And the younger always had to restrain himself. He'd fight the urges. Be they strong or not. And they were strong as hell.

"I hope Joonmyun or Suho or whatever is alright," Kyungsoo breathed. "I wonder why you two got switched in the first place. I mean, I can only assume his parents are yours."

"That's highly unlikely," Kai replied, walking over to the mirror. He missed looking at himself. And damn, was he fine or what? He grinned cockily at himself. "I mean, I read in my mother's diary that I was adopted. And my birth parents' names aren't on my birth certificate. I'm a lost child."

He frowned. He had no parents. Did he? He didn't even know himself. Kyungsoo bit his lip as he watched Kai's usually smooth confidence wither out before him. The younger was changing even more since he found out about this at a rapid pace. Kyungsoo had made him less of a spoiled brat. So, how would this newfound information change Kai? Kyungsoo suddenly became afraid.

Kai was used to a wonderful lifestyle. Maids and a mansion and a personal assistant who also happened to be one of his closest friends. Now the assistant would turn into the boss and take over everything. If that happened, Kai, Kyungsoo assumed, wouldn't be able to handle it. He was a model in a very complicated industry, and even if he were some hobo living in a box on the street, Kai would still find a way to put himself back on top. But the way he could try to do it scared the out of Kyungsoo.

How far was Kai willing to go?

And what would happen to Kim Industries? Joonmyun was very attractive, but in a completely polar opposite way than Kai. Kai was , that fact was already established. But Joonmyun was the catalogue boy with the flowers. He was the one who'd take his date to the sweetest of places. But his mental state was weak. While Kai wouldn't be able to handle the pressure of being a pauper, Joonmyun wouldn't be able to handle the pressure of being a prince.

But even that fact wasn't what confused Kyungsoo the most. What would happen to him and Kai? That terrified him. If Kai suddenly disappeared from the industry as Mr. Kim's top model, people would get suspicious. They'd stalk him. And they'd find Kyungsoo with him. A scandal would be born on the spot. Kyungsoo shut his eyes, imagining the headlines in the papers about Mr. Kim's son being homoual. And then the scandal that Mr. Kim's son wasn't his son at all.

The same thoughts ran through Kai's mind. He was worried about Joonmyun. Or Suho. Or whatever the hell his name was now. Kai smiled. He liked Suho better. Shaking his head, the boss' adopted son turned to look at Kyungsoo. The older returned the stare, adding on a tiny, weak smile.

"Kai?"

"Yeah?" Kai walked up to him, his arms circling his waist. His head rested on top of his doll's.

"This won't change anything, won't it? With us?"

"No."

"So, we'll be together forever. Right?"

Kai scrunched his face. He felt as though he'd heard Kyungsoo say that before.

"Don't say that, doll face," he sighed, miserable. "Forever is a very long time. And time has a nasty way of changing things."

~*~*~

Thursday Afternoon

If there was anything that Lay hated about himself, it was how forgetful he was. Out of everyone he knew, he was the only one with a short attention span and the one with the smallest rememberance capacity. As Minho continued to scroll through every possible file there was, nothing sparked the young man's memory. And Minho was beginning to be impatient.

If Lay didn't have an 'aha!' moment in the next half an hour, Minho decided he'd kill him. He was on the edge right now. Everytime Lay said no to another file, a dam of emotions burst in Minho. They were releasing. His feels were getting too many blows these days. And he wasn't sure if he could contain his anger and not hurt Lay in the process.

But Minho was still nice. He