“Hyukkie!” Sungmin exclaimed.

“Monkey!” Donghae exclaimed as he slammed his palm into his face in exasperation.

“What are you doing here?” both Sungmin and Donghae exclaimed in unison. 

Eunhyuk stepped forward and hugged Sungmin which caused some eyebrows to raise – Kris’ and Kyuhyun’s.

“I said I would come, didn’t I?” Eunhyuk said as he released his grip on Sungmin.

“Did you?” Sungmin stammered. “I don’t remember...”

“Well, I just wanted to make sure that you’re fine and are well taken care of,” Eunhyuk raised his voice as he eyed Donghae, “and that no one is taking advantage of or bullying you.”

Sungmin stared at Eunhyuk in disbelief, “But Hyukkie, I told you that everything would be fine. My co-workers have been really nice to me.”

“Ya! Monkey-face! What are you trying to imply?” Donghae hissed. “Are you trying to say that we at Younique treat our contract workers badly?”

“Well, you look like that sort,” Eunhyuk grunted.

Sungmin switched glances between Donghae and Eunhyuk with a look of exasperation on his face.

Eunhyuk who felt rather chirpy then grabbed Sungmin by his arm, “Let’s get your check-in done and we can go out for sightseeing and food.”

“Ya! Ya! Ya!” Donghae hollered. “We booked the hotel room for Sungmin-ssi only. It’s a single room. You had better not think of bunking in with Sungmin-ssi free on the company’s account!”

Eunhyuk fished for his wallet and took out a credit card to wave it in front of Donghae. “I can pay for the room myself.”

“Hyukkie,” Sungmin said gently in order not to disappoint his friend. “I’m sorry.  I won’t be able to have lunch with you. I am going out with some of the crew for a meal. But you’re most welcome to join us.”

Eunhyuk who was a little disappointed tried his best to look cheerful. “Well, if you don’t mind, I would like to…we could have dinner tonight...just the two of us...”

Sungmin hesitated, “Hyukkie, your coming is a nice surprise, but it was unexpected. I have made dinner plans with Kris. I’m sorry.”

“I guess I’m really not important to him. He’s starting to mingle around with others. At least he’s stepping out of his grief. I should be happy for him, right?” Eunhyuk lamented inwardly. “When will he be able to see me?”

Seeing Eunhyuk becoming silent, Sungmin felt really guilty and sorry, and thus apologised to Eunhyuk profusely until Eunhyuk told him that he was fine.

“But you came all the way here...” Sungmin sighed.

“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have surprised you like this,” Eunhyuk shrugged.

“But still...why don’t you join Kris and me for dinner...?” Sungmin burst out.

“Hyung...” Kris stepped forward to cut in, feeling unhappy that his date with Sungmin might be ruined by the sudden inclusion of a third party.

“But Kris...Hyukkie is a good friend of mine. He came all the way here because he was worried about me. “It wouldn’t be too nice for me to leave him all alone.”

“But...” Kris spluttered, trying to find an excuse to Eunhyuk out from his date with Sungmin. “I’ve already made reservations for two.”

“Oh,” Sungmin face fell in disappointment. “Perhaps we can have dinner somewhere else instead?”

Eunhyuk decided not to put Sungmin in a spot. “Why don’t we go out after we have completed our check in? We can come back in time for your dinner with Kris.”

“But what about your dinner? You came all the way here. I can’t possibly let you have dinner alone,” Sungmin sulked.

“I could always have dinner alone. It’s not like I never had dinner by myself before. There are a lot of restaurants here in Sapporo,” Eunhyuk reassured. “Don’t worry about me. Go enjoy your time with Kris.”

“Or maybe,” Kris spoke up, “if Hyukkie hyung knows anyone here, they could always have dinner together, or he could have dinner with the staff.”

“It’s fine. I don’t like to impose,” Eunhyuk declined.

“But you don’t know anyone here well enough. Wait, we did have dinner with Kyuhyun once. Perhaps you could have dinner with him.”

“I’m having dinner with the staff,” Kyuhyun said. “Donghae won’t be joining us though. I think Donghae knows Eunhyuk-ssi. Maybe they could go have dinner together.”

“No way!” both Eunhyuk and Donghae objected in unison as they stared into one another.

“I won’t go out with a fish.”

“I won’t go out with a monkey.”

And then they turned their faces away from one another to the amusement of the onlookers.

“I’d rather eat by myself,” Eunhyuk huffed.

“Same here.”

“But Hyukkie, why don’t you have dinner with Donghae-ssi? He’s really a nice person,” Sungmin urged. “Won’t you do it for me?”

“Sungmin-ah, please don’t ask me to have dinner with this stuck-up person,” Eunhyuk moaned. “It’s just so wrong.”

“Cho Kyuhyun, just stick to being the editor-in-chief. Don’t give stupid ideas anything outside editorial matters,” Donghae rebuked.

Sungmin and Kyuhyun exchanged exasperated glances at one another. Sungmin then turned to Kris with a pleading look.

Deep inside, Kris was cursing at Eunhyuk’s untimely appearance as he forced a smile, “Alright, I’ll cancel the reservation. We can find another restaurant where we all can have dinner together.”

“Kris, thank you so much,” Sungmin gushed.

“Sungmin-ah, don’t worry about me,” Eunhyuk interrupted. “I’ll be fine on my own.”

“Hyukkie...”

Eunhyuk tried his best to be gracious: “No buts. Go ahead and have a great time with Kris. I remember that you worked with Kris a long time ago. It’s been a while since you two have met. I guess you two might want to take the time to catch up. It would be awkward since I don’t have any common topic with you guys.”

“Hyukkie...”

“Sungmin-ah, I’m really fine. Come on, let’s get the check in done and we can go out.”

...............

Sungmin went out with Eunhyuk after the check-in. They headed for a tour of a local chocolate factory before they stopped at a cosy cafe for cake and drinks.

“Sungmin-ah, tell me honestly, do you like Kris?” Eunhyuk suddenly popped the question in the middle of their conversation.

“I do,” Sungmin replied casually.

“Oh.” Eunhyuk felt his heart sink when he heard Sungmin’s affirmative reply.

“Kris is a gentleman. He’s a warm and friendly person when you get to know him. And I admire his diligence and work attitude. But most people misunderstand that he is a difficult person because he looks serious. But when he smiles, he lights up the room. He is just so handsome, mesmerising and charismatic. He’s really one of the few male models out there who are really good in their work,” Sungmin gushed.

“It seems that you like him very much,” Eunhyuk forced a smile as he groaned inwardly that he has no chance against Kris.

Sungmin nodded as he took a sip of coffee.

“So would you consider him?” Eunhyuk prodded gingerly.

“Consider him? What do you mean?” Sungmin quizzed. He was feeling puzzled. “I do consider him one of the best male models working at the moment if that’s what you mean.”

But Eunhyuk shook his head.

“That’s not what you mean?” Sungmin asked.

“Sungmin-ah, Siwon has been gone for almost a year. I mean don’t you want to move on? I don’t know this Kris this much, but he seems to be a good person from what you had just described. Why don’t you give him a chance? I’ll give you guys my fullest support and blessings,” Eunhyuk urged.

Sungmin shook his head. There was a look of horror on his face.

“Hyukkie, how could you? How could you even make this ridiculous suggestion? Kris isn’t gay. He’s not interested in me. He just sees me as a friend.”

“But Sungmin-ah,” Eunhyuk countered. “My gut feeling tells me that he is interested in you. Otherwise, he would have welcomed me to have dinner with you guys.”

“He said he only made a reservation for two.”

“Sungmin-ah, are you really that oblivious or are you just trying to avoid the issue?” Eunhyuk broke down in exasperation and raised his tone a little.

Sungmin lowered his head down and said softly, “Hyukkie, I know that you’re concerned for my well-being and happiness, but you can’t just lump me with any guy. Furthermore, who are we to interpret Kris’ intentions? And even if he is gay and interested in me, I don’t see him as a date or potential boyfriend. He’s just a dongsaeng to me.”

“But Sungmin-ah, he’s really a catch. He’s just as good-looking as Siwon.”

“Hyukkie, we have been friends for so many years. Am I that shallow to you?” Sungmin frowned.

Eunhyuk was rendered speechless by Sungmin’s words.

“I’ve only worked with Kris a few times. We might have had some drinks before. But I don’t know him well enough. Yes, I did say that I like him, but that’s from a professional point of view. I wouldn’t mind knowing him more as a friend...but as a date...and future boyfriend....that’s too early...”

Eunhyuk drummed his fingers on the table as he hesitated a little. “Is it because you still can’t get over Siwon? He’s been gone for...”

“I know...Hyukkie...I know...” Sungmin whimpered. “Please don’t...”

Eunhyuk sighed and decided not to say anything more about Sungmin should be dating Kris or the likes. “So tell me how the shoot went? I’m waiting to hear your stories about all the models. I think I spotted Yoona earlier right?”

Sungmin perked up a little as he recounted the details of the shoot to Eunhyuk.

......

“Kris, you shouldn’t have,” Sungmin gasped as they took their seats at a rather upmarket seafood restaurant. “We could have easily gone to a cheaper place or to a ramen shop.”

“Well, I want a good dinner after my hard work. So I don’t mind splurging a few bucks extra for a good seafood meal. The crabs in Hokkaido are known for their freshness. I am salivating thinking about the crabs. Hey, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not a spendthrift.”

Sungmin nodded.

“Come on, let’s order,” Kris rubbed his palms in glee. “I’m starving. Anyway it’s my treat. So don’t stand on ceremony.”

“Kris...” Sungmin protested but Kris cut Sungmin off.

“Hyung, I insist. If you feel bad, you can always buy me dinner when we get back to Seoul.”

“But Kris, I really don’t deserve this – you spending money on me like this. I’m really thankful...but...money doesn’t come by easily...let me pay for my share of the meal, okay?”

“Hyung, I’m still doing fine. Just take it as I need someone to accompany me on this indulgence and you are the person I am most familiar and comfortable with. You’re my guest, so let me treat you. As I said, you could always buy me dinner when we are back in Seoul. Is that a promise?”

Sungmin felt rather cornered as he remembered Eunhyuk’s words to him that afternoon about Kris being interested in him. As much as he wanted to reject Kris’ offer, he could see that the model was being sincere. And he knows that Kris can be quite a proud person and he did not want to make Kris feel bad. Sungmin sighed and nodded. “It’s a promise.”

“Pinkie promise?” Kris broke into a rather childish and silly smile as he stretched out his hand asking Sungmin to form a pinkie promise with him.

Sungmin nodded and responded by stretching out his hand and taking Kris’ finger. “And sealed.”

Sungmin then broke into a chuckle, “I didn’t know you had this childish side in you.”

“So let’s order, shall we?” Kris asked.

Sungmin nodded.

The two of them had a leisurely dinner as they chatted about the modelling industry and about Kris’ life. Sungmin would rather hear Kris talk about his life. Sungmin was reluctant to talk about what went on in his personal life for the last year or two. When the conversation returned to Sungmin’s, he would just talk about his work life. Kris seemed to understand that Sungmin seemed to be avoiding talking about his personal life and he did not press on.

As Sungmin had another date with Kyuhyun later, Sungmin did not want to stay out too late and so he asked Kris if they could return to the hotel early. Kris was a little disappointed but he nevertheless agreed. And so they left the restaurant just before nine. They took the public transportation back and strolled to their hotel.

“Sungmin-hyung, so when would you be free?”

“I’m not too sure yet. I need to check my planner. Why did you ask?”

“Are you that forgetful?

“I...I...”

Kris pouted which Sungmin found rather cute and endearing. “Hyung, have you forgotten about the promise which you had made over dinner just hours earlier?”

“Oh!” Sungmin remarked. He stuttered sheepishly, “I’m sorry. It did slip my mind for a moment. But I’ll make time for you no matter what. That’s a promise.”

Kris nodded. “But would this be just a one-off thing?”

“I don’t get you.”

“I don’t want this treat you give me to be just a one-off thing and then we lose contact only to meet up many months later on another job that we mutually work on. I want to maintain frequent contact with you, go out and have drinks or meals or do some activities together,” Kris said.

“Kris...”

“Hyung, please don’t take it the wrong way. I’m just hoping that we could be friends. I’m sorry if say this would dredge some sadness within you. I know that you were good friends with Siwon-hyung and his death was possibly a big blow to you. I know you would have probably grieved for quite some time over this...”

“Kris, please...”

“I’m not trying to replace his place next to you or within your heart. I just want to be your friend.”

“I don’t know what to say. My mind is in a whirl now.”

“You loved him, didn’t you?” Kris asked.

Sungmin stared at Kris in shock.

“Hyung, I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be like this. It’s like I’m putting pressure on you.”

Sungmin nodded. As much as he was moved by Kris’ sincerity, something was holding him back from wanting to accept Kris’ offer wholeheartedly. He remembered Eunhyuk’s words that Kris is somewhat interested in him. And since Kris did not attempt to use the word date, he was unable to reject Kris completely. “I get it Kris. You just want to be a friend. Yes, I would like to have more friends. I definitely could do with more friends around. We could hang out together. I would like that.”

“Really?” Kris beamed as he grabbed Sungmin’s hand tightly surprising the older male. “Gomawo, hyung. Jeong-mal gomawo.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for not updating this for quite a while. Been busy with work. Feeling a bit lazy too. Lack of inspiration. Personal problems etc. Lack of motivation. 

I hope you guys are okay with this update. 

Seems like Kris is interested in Sungmin...but the feeling isn't mutual...

Do you think Eunhyuk would end up having a meal with Donghae? 

Stay tuned for the updates. 

Meanwhile, thanks for the comments, love and support. Please continue to shower me with comments. Thanks. 

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Heaven's Boys 

KyuMin: Almost a love story

KyuMin: 60 Days 

It's You (너라고) Neorago (a YeWook fan-fic)