Part Forty-One: Hoya
The Words Unsaid
Part Forty-One
Hoya
Reminder:
Hoya lied about his real name and he is going by Minwoo.
Sneaking out of my room was the easy part sneaking into Chunghee and Myungok room was hard no impossible. The party downstairs was still going on and I expected it to last till sunrise.
The cheering could have been heard from the moon but right now it just seemed like a faded memory. My mind was clouded with the boost as I pushed through the door of the Loft. Fighters were still celebrating and according to Matt I had just won them a bunch of money. But I didn’t care.
I was broken.
He had broken me.
“Minwoo do you want to come and hang out with us,” one of the newer fighters ask me but the pain on my arm still stung.
“Naw,” I shook my head. “I’m just going to go to bed”
I was happy that Matt had other business to deal with so I didn’t have to see his face tonight.
I pushed through the crowd to the staircase that led to the living spaces. My whole body felt weak but it was different from other fights.
I couldn’t help but wonder if this was an after effect of the boost. I had felt a surge of energy the minute I was injected with that needle. Up there on the ring I felt different I felt like a…beast. I would have killed that man if it wasn’t for the buzzer. I would have ripped out his heart if I had more time.
That wasn’t me.
That wasn’t me.
I open the door to my room and slammed myself down on to a smelly bed that was full of spoiled clothes. Most nights I would have to convince myself to fall asleep in this filth but not tonight.
I closed my eyes tightly as tears rolled down my cheek.
Woohyun didn’t show up.
I used the boost after declaring that I wouldn’t.
Sungjong was probably dead right now and he’s staring at me from heaven and shaking his head. I never wanted to fail and maybe that was the reason why I worked so hard. Because even if you fail at least you can say you tried.
But not this time.
I rolled over on the bed staring at the water damaged ceiling.
“Think,” I muttered to myself.
Sungjong.
Fighting.
The boost.
Okay what do I want to do?
To go home.
So what is stopping me?
Matt.
The blackmail.
I had to make a choice and it wasn’t going to be easy. The way I see it I either go home and say goodbye to my dreams or I could stay here and die.
I swallowed hard as I to my side.
What am I going to do?
What would Sungjong do?
I wished I still held on to my cell phone not so I could call my members no that would be too embarrassing. No I wanted to call my Appa. Even though we were fighting and even though we didn’t agree on everything I still loved him. I had wondered if I had given up on my dreams would we have the same relationship. Would he still love me like he loved my brothers and sister?
I took a deep breath letting the thought run through my mind.
No.
No he still loved me.
And even if I had a chance I wouldn’t have given up on my dreams.
No I wanted to be a singer since I was young and even though my dreams were now over I still treasure the memories.
Of singing on stage with my friends, winning trophies, making girls and even boys scream, changing lives…yes I accomplished all those things and I didn’t regret anything.
I swallowed hard as I sat up.
But right now I needed to do what is right even though it might be wrong. Even though I had lost more than the average person that doesn’t mean I will give up on my morals.
I was tired of fighting but I knew I had to do it one more time.
♦♦♦♦♦
Thankfully for me the hallways were clear but I still felt my heart pounding in my chest like a basketball. I reached Chunghee and Myungok door that was covered with half models and overly fancy cars. I slid my bag off my shoulder and placed it by the door frame.
I raised my hand to knock my fist against the hard wood but then I stopped.
I wasn’t here to be polite and ask for a cup of sugar.
No I was here to be a superhero and save my friend from a lifetime of torture.
My hand rested on the brass knob and I ready myself for the fight. There was no way that Matt would let me take back my blackmail without putting up a fight.
I clench my other fist ready for the fight. A scene played out in my mind where a hero kicks through the door and starts to beat up everyone in sight. But this wasn’t a movie so I turned the door knob and open the door.
The first thing I noticed was the smell that whipped up my nose and caused my stomach to lunged upwards. Then I noticed the lamp light that shinned brightly among the dirty clothes that littered the floor. But all of that didn’t matter what matter was the body that was lying on the ground in a tight ball.
“Joonshu,” I called as I ran to him.
I shook his body causing him to let out a moan as if he had been sleeping for years. The whole front of his face was covered with nasty black and blue bruises. He was still wearing the same dirty clothes making my heart drop.
“Joonshu,” I whispered once again pulling at his arm. “God damn it wake up.”
“M-Minwoo,”Joonshu open his tired eyes to stare at me.
“Come on we are getting ou-“
“Did you take it,” Joonshu asked me looking into my eyes for answers.
“Take what,” I asked pushing Joonshu into a sitting position.
“The boost?” he asked me as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“Yes Myungok made me,” I spitted out still angry about the situation.
“Your welcome,” Joonshu said smiling even though I didn’t know how this kid could be smiling in a time like this.
“What?” I asked looking at him confused.
“I switched them out,” Joonshu confessed to me.
“Switched what out?”
I was really starting to get worried that Joonshu had injured his head during his time with Chunghee.
“I overheard Myungok and Chunghee talking about making you take the boost so I switched them out with saline solution that we use after fights,” Joonshu confessed to me.
I blinked a couple of times as my mouth fell open.
“No thanks,” he laughed as he smacked my arm weakly.
“But I felt it. I felt like a beast out there in the ring,” I confessed to him thinking back to the fight that was still fresh in my mind.
“Then that was all you Minwoo,” Joonshu pointed out as I pulled him up from the ground to his feet.
“How,” I said shaking my head because I felt like a different person.
“It was all in your head then. You know some people who are told that they are sick start feeling ill soon afterwards. It was all in your head Minwoo,” Joonshu told me.
“In my head,” I muttered to myself.
I should have been happy that the nasty drug didn’t touch my system but I also felt scared. If it wasn’t the drug that made me fight like a beast then it was me. It was me who was the monster.
“Hyung,” Joonshu called for me shaking my arm.
I looked up just in time to see a foot swinging right into my chest. Joonshu and I were sent flying back on to the dirty floor.
Joonshu let out a moan as he grabbed his head. I stood up to my feet facing Chunghee who was now red in the face.
“Where are you going Minwoo?” Chunghee said in a mocking voice.
“We’re leaving,” I told him as I pulled the weak Joonshu on to his feet once again.
“Sorry I can’t let that happen,” Chunghee smirked.
“Don’t be such a Chunghee,” Joonshu moaned from beside me.
“Shut up,” Chunghee scoffed as he walked towards Joonshu.
“Stop!” I placed up my hands. “I’ll fight you!”
“What?” Chunghee turned his attention away from Joonshu.
“I-I’ll fight you and if I win then you have to leave us alone,” I told him sternly.
Chunghee looked at Joonshu and I then back to the front door as if he was weighing his options.
“When else will you be able to punch the golden boy?” I pointed out with a smirk.
Chunghee smiled widely. “You knock me out then you are free to go. But if I knock you out then you have to stay here and be my slave.”
I swallowed hard staring at Chunghee then back to Joonshu.
“Fine,” I said as I took a deep breath.
I should have been ready for the fist that swung through the air and smacked me right in the stomach sending me to the floor. I only had seconds to roll my body to the other side as a boot smashed into the space I was seconds ago. I jumped to my feet only to receive a harsh kick to my shin that sent me tumbling to the ground.
I let out a groan as I felt Chunghee boot smashed into my rib cage. Chunghee placed his foot on to my wrist and placed all his weight causing me to let out a string of curse words.
I could hear Joonshu yelling in the background but it came out like a buzzing radio.
I closed my eye tightly as I felt another rough kick to my side.
Sungjong’s face racked my mind as I tried to think of the better memories. Chunghee was too strong and bigger than me. Why did I think that I could beat Chunghee especially with half my energy?
I was brought into memories as if I was trying to escape this nightmare. We were filming She’s Back the Japanese version. Sungjong was being picked on by Sungyeol and Woohyun. I felt as if I should have told them to lay off the young boy but we all knew that Sungjong could handle himself. Within seconds Sungjong had slapped both Woohyun and Sungyeol in the arms. Automatically the members whine to the managers about Sungjong’s abuse.
The next memory was after Christmas I was sitting in the dorm by myself. My family had invited me home but I lied and told them I was busy with schedules. Even though this year Sunggyu had somehow managed to get the company to allow us a couple extra days off. All the members were excited well except for me. I didn’t want to go home to my judgmental family. So instead I was stuck at the dorms resting and dancing when I wanted to. It was nice but yet kind of lonely.
Then the front door open and Sungjong and his parents walked in holding bags of brightly colored gifts.
“Merry Christmas Hyung,” Sungjong screamed throwing me a lightly colored box.
He had bought me new purple shoes that were laced with yellow.
They were beautiful.
“Get up!” Sungjong screamed in my face interrupting the nice memory from my brain.
“Sungjong?” I muttered out.
“OPEN YOUR EYES!” he screamed his face full of panic.
My eyes snapped open just in time to see another blur of Chunghee shoes hitting my side.
I let out a groan as I tried to stand to my feet but Chunghee was too fast and he was in the better position.
“Give up Minwoo,” Chunghee laughed.
“No,” I grunted out.
“You are losi-“
CHAABANNNG!
I looked up just in time to see the glass sliding down Chunghee’s face as Joonshu fell to the floor. Chunghee eyes turned white as he fell to the floor with a loud thud.
“Joonshu,” I groaned out.
“Take that you ,” Joonshu gave a weak laugh as he slid to the ground.
“You know you could have killed him,” I said as I shakily got to my feet.
“It would take more than a drinking glass to kill him,” Joonshu laughed as he pulled himself off the floor.
“Come on lets hurry up,” I told him as I carefully walked over Chunghee who was in pain. I didn’t know how long it would take for Chunghee to wake up but I didn’t want to risk it.
Joonshu grabbed my arm and we limped out of the doorway.
“I knew you would come and get me,” Joonshu pointed out smiling.
“I couldn’t leave you. Plus who would get me into trouble,” I laughed as I led him down the staircase.
“Well I promise that as soon as we get out of here I will cause you a ton more trouble,” Joonhsu laughed.
“I’m looking forward to it,” I laughed.
Once we made it to the foot of the staircase I knew we were in trouble. There was no back door to the loft where we could sneak out quietly. We had to go through the front door that so happen to be surrounded by drinking fighters.
“Come on,” I told Joonshu as I pulled him closer to me.
“Hey what happen Minwoo?” someone asked but I kept on walking towards the door that seemed to be miles away.
Luckily most of the fighters were surrounded by the television watching drama as they screamed commentary at the screen. Most of them were so drunk that it just came out as grunting.
“STOP RIGHT THERE!” a voice screamed behind me.
I whipped my head around to see Myungok and Jaehawn holding up a now awaken Chunghee who was looking very angry at the moment.
“Ehh Minwoo,” Joonshu whispered in my ear.
“I know,” I told him.
“Woah Chunghee what happen to your face,” one of the fighters asked.
“I’m going to kill you,” Chunghee snapped.
All of the fighter’s eyes were now on Joonshu, Chunghee, and I.
“What’s going on,” one of the fighters asked as he stand up from his seat.
“They stole something,” Chunghee said with an evil glint in his eyes.
“No we didn’t,” Joonshu shouted back. “They won’t let us leave!”
“What did they take?” someone asked and I was starting to panic that they were all believing Chunghee lies.
“I ehh,” Chunghee sputtered.
“He stole money,” Myungok snapped pointing to me.
“No he didn’t,” Joonshu argued. “They beat me up when Minwoo wanted to leave the pact. We just want to leave fair and square.”
“Then why did you lie about your name Minwoo?” Chunghee pointed out.
“Minwoo didn’t lie about his name!” Joonshu defended me.
“Are you sure about that Joonshu?” Myungok laughed.
I took a deep breath because I knew that the time had finally come to tell the truth.
“My name is not Minwoo,” I told the crowd of fighters. “My name is Howon but most people call me Hoya.”
“What,” Joonshu choked out.
Many of the fighters were now staring me up and down like fresh meat.
“I didn’t want to lie to you guys but it just kind of turned out that way,” I told them truthfully. “I’m not Minwoo the fighter with no past. I’m Hoya apart of a boy group called Infinite.”
The fighters started at me with wide eyes and I thought for a second they were going to kill me.
Then all sudden they started to laugh.
“What the he-“
“You are a idol!” Chunghee laughed as he pushed Myungok and Jaehawn away from him.
“I’m a singer,” I told them truthfully.
“If you’re a singer then I’m G Dragon,” Chunghee laughed as he tried to strike a pose.
“I am!” I shouted then I noticed the drama that was playing on the TV. “I can prove it!”
I leaned the tired Joonshu against a wall.
“Stay,” I told him.
“What are you going to do? Fight us all?” Chunghee snapped.
“I’m going to prove the truth,” I told them all as I sprinted towards the couch and grabbed the remote off the table.
“Hey I’m watching that,” one of the fighter argued.
I fast forward the drama hoping to god that this was the right episode. I hadn’t seen the drama since it ended last year so there was a huge possibility that I was wrong and I was about to get my beat.
But I must have saved the country in my past life because there it was the scene that would hopefully save me.
“Watch this,” I told the fighters.
“But you’re skipping ahead,” one of the fighter complained.
“This will prove everything,” I told them then I pressed play.
I honestly didn’t know if this would save me from my death but I had to try. If they knew the truth then Matt wouldn’t have anything else to blackmail me with. If I laid the truth out in the open then I wouldn’t have to hide.
The scene began to play bring me back into my old memories. Five teenagers stood with their backs turned waiting for a yellow bus to come to a stop.
“The bus is here. The bus is here!,” one of the male actors called out.
As it came to the stop one of the characters called Trash came into view.
“What is this going-“
“SHH!”Joonshu shushed Chunghee then gave me a thumbs up but he still held a look of uncertain.
The camera angled turned so the audience could now see the front of the bus. Then suddenly Jung Eunji came into view trying to juggle her magazines in one hand and food in the other. The men surrounding the television screamed and let out loud hooting sounds.
I wanted to smack each one of them but I knew it would be the worst thing to do in a time like this.
It had been a while since I saw Eunji’s face and I couldn’t help but wonder what she had been up to. Was she promoting right now?
I didn’t have time to think of anything else because next came Siun wearing his school uniform that made him look even more out of place. Most actors playing the role of students usually had an air of youngness to them but Siun just looked odd.
Maybe that was why he got the part because he was different.
Beep beep.
Siun jumped up and down and looked down at his key chained.
“Did you poop!?”He shouted to his virtual pet as he ran to his seat.
Next came Soyul who looked so different with her black wig on her head. She was holding up a blue mirror as she checked herself out. I once asked her how she managed to walk while checking herself out and her reply was that she was just that good. I had forgotten how much Soyul had made me laugh on screen. She saw Trash looking at her and she placed down the mirror and smiled at him then she ran to her seat.
Oh god here it comes.
My heart was beating quickly as I knew who was coming next.
Kang Joonhee.
Maybe I should turn off the TV and run away but I couldn’t find the strength to turn it off.
There I was walking up the bus steps wearing my school uniform with headphones in my head. I handed the bus driver money and started to walk down the aisle with my hands in my pockets.
“What a good looki-“
“Holy ,” Myungok shouted.
“That’s not him,” Chunghee said but he was losing confidence in his words.
“I’m sorry I lied,” I bowed to the fighters.
“I don’t understand,” Joonshu said as he scanned me up and down.
“We are going to leave and we won’t tell anyone what happen here,” I told them as I backed away slowly.
“Is that why he looked so familiar?” someone muttered to themselves.
“I don’t understand why didn’t you tell us?” one of the fighters asked anyone.
“I needed to get away from my life but when I wanted to go home Matt threaten my career,” I told them. “I love you guys but I don’t belong here anymore.”
“But why didn’t Matt tell us about you?” one of the fighters asked the trio.
“He keeps a lot of things from you guys,” Joonshu spoke up.
“Like what freak,” Chunghee snapped.
“Like how he is going to leave all of us and go to America,” Joonshu told the group. “He promised to take you three and leave us here to get taken away by the police.”
“You’re lying,” Myungok snapped.
“Am I! I heard you talking to Matt about leaving with him and I even have the plane tickets,” Joonshu snapped as he pulled out three pieces of paper from his pocket.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Myungok shouted taking a step back.
“Matt was going to leave us,” Joonshu shouted.
“That’s not true,” Chunghee yelled. “What Min-Hoya did was unacceptable!”
“But you were going to betray us,” one of the fighters shouted.
“YEAH!” someone else screamed.
“At least Minwoo told us the truth!” someone shouted.
Then it happens so fast that I didn’t even think the three bullies had time to think. Fists were thrown their way as a riot began to start.
People who were once friends with the trio were now holding up their fists. The betray must have stung them the worst.
But now was the perfect time for our escape.
“Go go go!” I screamed in Joonshu ear as we pushed through the crowds of people.
I swung open the metal door to be met by a cold wind that sent a smile to my face.
Freedom.
I wanted to scream and shout but I knew that passersby would fine that strange so I just stuck with a giant smile on my face.
I turn to Joonshu who was limping next to me. “How did you know that Matt was going to betray them?”
“I didn’t” Joonshu shrugged as he pulled out the same piece of paper that he held up just minutes ago.
“Wait what?” I asked him with a raised eyebrow.
“I was just making it up,” Joonshu laughed. “I knew they wouldn’t be smart enough to check.”
“You crazy bastard,” I laughed as I smacked him on the shoulder.
“So Minw-I mean Hoya,” Joonsu mumbled out looking at me.
“It’s Hoya,” I answered him.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were famous I mean I kind of knew you were different but…” Joonsu voice trailed off.
“Hey,” I turn to look at the young man. “I only lied because I had to Joonshu. I’m the same person I just go by another name an-“
“And you have millions of girls screaming your name,” Joonshu laughed.
“I wouldn’t say millions,” I smiled. “But it’s getting there.”
Joonshu went quiet and I wanted to ask him millions questions but I knew that I shouldn’t prod. I need to give him time to digest the news and hopefully he wouldn’t ru-
“I think it’s cool,” Joonshu shrugged.
“Wait what?” I asked him raising an eyebrow.
“I mean you’re right you are the same goofy person you’re just better known,” Minwoo laughed.
“You’re cool with this?” I asked scanning his face.
“If you ask me again I’m going to punch you,” Joonshu scoffed then he stared up at me. “So where are we going to go?”
“We?” I asked him raising an eyebrow.
“What else is there for me here?” Joonshu shrugged. “Plus you need a sidekick.”
“To do what?” I asked as I patted his head.
“Aish don’t touch the hair,” he said as he moved away from me. “I could beat up some of your crazy fans!”
“We’ll see about that but come on we have to hurry up or else we are going to miss the train,” I told him as I finally made up my mind.
“To where?” Joonshu asked as he took bigger steps to catch up to me.
“It’s time for me to go home,” I told him. “We’re going to Seoul.”
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