Chapter Twelve

Yoseob and Junhyung were preparing for the moving into Beast condominium. Junhyung took out things that he needed from his bedroom and bathroom to the living room while Yoseob would arrange those things into the boxes. The things were clothes, books, notebooks, accessories, skincare products, cat toys and foods, and more. Yoseob would arrange them according to the types, sizes and usages.

Junhyung stopped for while, stood leaning his back at the entrance of his bedroom, with one of his hand in his pants pocket, facing the living room, watching as Yoseob was folding clothes properly before he placed them into a box. Junhyung smiled. Yoseob was childish usually but he could be reliable when needed. 

Then, something caught Yoseob’s attention and Junhyung was startled, it felt like he was caught doing something that was not him. It was a book, a motivation book. It was a Korean translation of ‘As a Man Thinketh’. Yoseob grasped the book and gently wiped the dusty hardcover of the book.

“Hyung,” Yoseob called, still looking at the book. Yoseob loved books and still loves them.

“Hmm?” Junhyung hummed, replying to the younger man. He still stood at the same spot, not trying to hide the fact that he was watching the little guy.

Yoseob turned to Junhyung with a large and cheerful smile of him. “You read it?”

Junhyung gave out a small smile and nodded.

“I thought you would never read,” Yoseob lost his smile after saying those words.

Now we all have changed

The voice echoed, reminding him that Junhyung too had changed. Yoseob returned back his sight to the book. “People change,” he softly whispered, only to be heard by himself.

Junhyung noticed the change in Yoseob expression. It was obvious and Yoseob was oblivious about it. That elfin guy did not know how transparent he was.

“Have you read it?” Junhyung asked, making steps to approach the shorter guy. It should be obvious that he was trying to make the conversation alive after it was paused but Yoseob was too oblivious to notice that.

Yoseob shook his head. “Never has the chance to,” said Yoseob, still looking at the book sullenly.

Junhyung squatted as he was now right beside Yoseob. Then, he patted Yoseob’s shoulder. “Read it,”

Yoseob instantly turned to Junhyung to be greeted by the older man sweet smile. Yoseob beamed. “Thanks hyung,” cheerfully he said as his eyes quickly went back to the book, ready to devour it.

Yoseob was about to open the book when Junhyung stopped him by placing his hand on the book, restraining the hardcover to part from the first page of the book.

“Not now. We are moving out today and so many things to be packed,” Junhyung explained when Yoseob turned to him with a frown and pout.

“O-kay,” Yoseob replied weakly as he put the book aside. He completely understood why Junhyung did that but it still made he felt bad. It’s okay, Yoseob. You’ll have time to read it later. Yoseob thought as he tried to comfort himself.

“Good boy,” Junhyung smiled, ruffling Yoseob’s hair as he stood up, going back to his bedroom. There were two main reasons if Yoseob stayed up late when they had no schedule. Whether he was updating his fancafe or he read a book and he would sleep early in the next morning if it was the later. No one would be able to gain his attention at that time unless it was really urgent. That was why Junhyung prevented Yoseob from reading the book.

Junhyung was sitting on the floor of his living room. He had started helping out Yoseob with the box packing when his phone rang. Junhyung placed back the hats he held on the floor, taking out his phone from his pants pocket and slid the screen before he placed it right beside his ear.

Yoseob continued packing, ignoring the call Junhyung was having.

“Yes, Papa Hong,” Junhyung greeted politely.

Yoseob instantly steered his attention to Junhyung, curious, wondering. He was thinking if it was related to the songs Junhyung presented to Papa Hong yesterday.

“It’s urgent. We need you to come to my office now. Is it possible?” the voice at the other line informed and asked. It sounded more like an instruction to Junhyung.

Junhyung pupils diverted to Yoseob, reluctant to leave the guy alone. Junhyung saw how Yoseob eyes widened, showing how curious that guy was. Then, he saw a smile curved, a comfortable one. “Sure,” he said after a moment of silent. “I’ll be there right away,” he managed to say before the line was cut by Papa Hong.

Junhyung sighed. His eyes were looking down while he kept his phone back into his pants pocket. “I need to go now,” he weakly explained to Yoseob as he slowly turned to the smiling guy.

Yoseob nodded excitedly, still smiling. “Good luck, hyung,” he wished.

“For what?” Junhyung asked as he stood up.

“Aren’t you going to meet Papa Hong? Isn’t it about the songs you compose and write?” Yoseob replied with questions, as he too was curious.

Junhyung shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t have a clue. He just asks me to meet him because of something urgent,”

“Owh,” Yoseob replied, blinking his eyes. He was confused. What was so urgent? He wondered. He pushed away the thought and gave a smile to Junhyung. “Go and quickly dress up. What kind of employee you are, making your CEO waits,” Yoseob nagged with a frown as he pointed to the bedroom.

Junhyung let out a soft chuckle. It somehow sounded childish and adorable instead of the usual annoying nag he would hear from his mom and it actually made the nag sounded cuter. “Arraseo,” he replied simply as he walked to his bedroom, searching for warm clothes for the chilly winter weather outdoor.

*****

Junhyung was currently standing right in front of the CEO of Cube Entertainment office. He was nervous as his heartbeat was faster than usual. Junhyung did not know why because he did not felt this kind of feeling the last time he met Papa Hong. Junhyung inhaled deeply and released it slowly before he knocked the door. He turned the door knob but startled when the door was opened from the inside.

“Hyung,” he softly called out of surprise, watching Kikwang’s manager was the one who opened the door.

“Come in,” the manager invited.

“Thanks,” Junhyung continued as he entered the office with humble steps. It was his employer office after all.

Papa Hong was sitting at his swivel comfy leather chair in front of the woody office table, as his hand politely pointed to the empty cushion chair right in front of him. Junhyung noticed Kikwang was sitting beside the empty chair, looking down, ignoring his presence. It gave Junhyung a frightening vibe. It felt like he was called to the principal office for doing something really bad. Overall, the situation was emitting bad aura.

Still, Junhyung sat beside him with a heavy feeling. Junhyung turned around to see Kikwang’s manager who was sitting at the other side of Kikwang.

“Have you seen the news?” Papa Hong asked bluntly.

Junhyung turned back to Papa Hong with a confused expression.

“You haven’t,” the oldest in the room claimed, noticing Junhyung’s expression. “A bad scandal arise, Junhyung,” he continued as he turned his sight to Kikwang. “Do you want to explain now?” A subtle sign of anger revealed in Papa Hong tone and that startled Junhyung.

Kikwang looked at Junhyung with that sullen expression. “Hyung, would you believe me?” he asked.

Junhyung knew it was not a question, it was a request. Kikwang was asking Junhyung to trust him. Junhyung nodded. There was no harm in trusting Kikwang. Kikwang might hide a lot of things but he was a trustworthy person.

Kikwang turned to Papa Hong, explaining.

“I was just walking around that night. I didn’t realize that I was actually in Hooker Hill area. In sudden, I was dragged into one of the shops by a girl. I was confused at that time. The moment I woke up from my daze, she already removed my scarf. I was panicked and quickly run out of the building. By the time I stopped running, I was out of the area but that was when I realized that my face was revealed. I...” Kikwang paused, he turned to Junhyung.

Junhyung noticed that moist eyes but Kikwang was not crying. He was holding it back. His eyes were depressed and asking for his help but Junhyung did not know what he could offer to help Kikwang.

“I didn’t know it will turn into misunderstanding,” Kikwang nodded down.

Junhyung frowned, wondering what kind of misunderstanding that Kikwang talked about.

As if he could read Junhyung’s mind, Papa Hong smacked a few pieces of papers on the table which surprised each person in the room, including Papa Hong himself. He was angry but he somehow tried to suppress it.

“Read this,” Papa Hong softened his tone, felt sorry for what he had just done.

Junhyung took one of the papers. It was a printed online article with a photo attached. It was Kikwang who was seen going out of a building where the name of the shop was blurred. Then, Junhyung turned to the title and surprised.

Beast’s Kikwang accepts ion service

Then, it hit Junhyung. Hooker Hill. His mind whispered, thinking about that place. It was not a nice place and it was obvious. Real girls are displayed in glass box instead of mannequins.  How could Kikwang not notice that he was in such place? But, Junhyung knew Kikwang was not that kind of person. He won’t gamble with his career.

“I’m sorry,” Kikwang managed to say.

Papa Hong massaged his right temple as he said. “I’ve book a hotel’s hall. We’ll have a press conference to explain this next morning,”

Kikwang hands which were resting on his thighs formed into fists, squeezing them tightly as the veins on his arms started to appear. He was mad to no one but himself. He was always afraid if things would get worse the next day and the day had came. It was today and most probably tomorrow.

Junhyung was watching the act of Kikwang but he was frozen, not knowing what he could do. Should he pat Kikwang and say that everything would be okay? But he could not make that promise because he did not know if tomorrow would be okay. What should he do? What could he offer? Yoseob, what would you do if you’re in my place?  Junhyung thought.

****

It was late in the evening when Junhyung and Yoseob arrived at Beast’s house with the boxes and a cat carrier with Ray and Tiger in it. Dongwoon had a schedule in Japan and would arrive early in the next morning. So, the house was empty.

Yoseob opened the door and blocked it with a door stopper. Junhyung was carrying two boxes, stepping in the house and placed it at the living room. Yoseob followed, bringing the cat carrier and the routine continued until the all the boxes were safely placed in the living room of the house.

Junhyung was panting, resting himself by leaning at the wall of the living room while Yoseob was staring blankly at the living room. It reminded him of the dream he had this morning. Yoseob knew it was actually his memories. Yoseob touched his right hand, remembering the touch of the woman in his dream, a touch which reminded him of his own mother. How was she? He wondered. Was she alright? Was she healthy? How about his dad and his sister? How was the restaurant business? Yoseob kept wondering.

“Yoseob,” Junhyung called softly as he approached the smaller guy. “Are you okay?”

Yoseob slowly looked at Junhyung as he heard the call. His eyes were sparkling and moist again, at the beginning of tears. The smaller guy noticed how he would look like and nodded down. Junhyung doesn’t like it. He reminded himself. Still, the clear liquid gathered and burst, creating stream of tears to flow out of his eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Junhyung noticed the tear hanging at the smaller’s chin. He gently pushed Yoseob’s chin upward, forcing the teary eyes to look at him.

“I miss my family,” Yoseob answered honestly, closing his eyes as he cried even worse. He couldn’t control his tears yet he didn’t want Junhyung to see it.

Junhyung smirked. Do you know how adorable you are when you do this? Junhung thought as he hugged the younger man. “Do you want to meet them?” he asked kindly.

Yoseob nodded as he damped Junhyung shirt with his tears.

Junhyung eyebrows wrinkled as he was thinking. He could not promise to bring Yoseob to see his parents tomorrow because of the press conference. He was not sure if the issue would settle by tomorrow. Then, it was Christmas and he had promised Dongwoon to celebrate it in this house.

Junhyung sighed, not knowing when was the right time. Still, he did not want Yoseob to keep missing his family. “I’ll bring you to them one day,” he said.

Yoseob nodded silently. He was slightly happy to hear those comforting words but he knew Junhyung would be busy. Their life was always busy and busier when it was their comeback. So, Yoseob did not place much hope in meeting his parents and sister. He just hoped they would be fine and healthy.

Yoseob stopped crying after a while and they decided to unpack everything tomorrow after Junhyung returned from his schedule. Since Junhyung was tired, Yoseob decided to just order something from the nearest Chinese restaurant. Yoseob couldn’t cook and both of them knew it.

They order two bowls of Jjajangmyeon and a box of fried chicken and were enjoying it in front of the television.

“I thought you don’t eat unhealthy food,” Junhyung started the conversation.

“I don’t have a body to stay healthy anymore,” Yoseob replied bluntly, not knowing how the words had pierced Junhyung heart. The younger eyes were on the bowl of black noodle, eating it deliciously.

Those words reminded Junhyung that Yoseob was dead and he still blamed himself for that. Junhyung sighed. He should apologize but he noticed that Yoseob seemed like he didn’t blame him. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe he never even thought of whose fault it was.

Junhyung smirked. Yoseob would never blame others but it didn’t hide the fact that smaller death was caused by him. This guy had a high trust that everything happened for a reason, a good reason and he never ever questioned what the reason was. Junyung wondered how he could still believe in the good reason behind everything that happened.  

“Hyung, would you believe me?”

Kikwang’s words echoed in his mind. How did he still believe in Kikwang? Was it because he knew that guy for years? Maybe. Junhyung sighed. He still didn’t know how he could help Kikwang. Would having trust in him was enough?  

“Yoseob,” Junhyung called softly.

“Yes, hyung,” Yoseob responded cheerfully, now eating the fried chicken.

“Someone I know has a problem but I don’t know how to help him. He asks me to trust him and I do but I feel like I should do more than that,” Junhyung explained, pushing the bowl away from him as he had finished it. “I want to tell him that everything will be okay but I can’t because I don’t know if it will be okay or not,”

Yoseob turned to Junhyung, putting his fried chicken back into the box. “You seem care for that person,” Yoseob spoke sarcastically, jealous.

“He is a good friend of mine,” Junhyung explained, noticing the change in Yoseob’s tone. “Nothing more,”

Yoseob looked away from Junhyung. He was jealous but he knew that he did not have the right to be jealous. It had been five years. There was a possibility that Junhyung met somebody during those times. “Keep trusting him and always be there for him,” Yoseob replied weakly. “If I were you, I will always ask him whether he is alright. You won’t know when he will suddenly need a person to talk to,”

Junhyung nodded and smiled. That was how he opened his heart to Yoseob. After the death of his cousin, Yoseob would always annoy him with questions asking if he was okay, had he eaten and more. “Thanks,” Junhyung softly spoke, almost whispering but were heard by Yoseob.

Then, it was silent.

“Hyung,” Yoseob called, breaking the silent. “Have you ever dreamt of me?” Yoseob asked, looking at Junhyung curiously.

“I have, always,” Junhyung replied, tried to smile.

“That means I miss you, always,” Yoseob smiled sincerely.

Junhyung knew that Yoseob was just trying to tell him that he always missed him. “I miss you too, always” Junhyung replied.

“We miss each other, always,” Yoseob grinned, started playing with the words.

Junhyung chuckled. “The moment we miss each other, always” joining the word play.

“The moment we miss each other?” Yoseob repeated, chuckling. He found it was amusing. “How do you come out with that sentence, hyung?”

“It just comes,” Junhyung replied, smiling. “And it’s not finish,”

Yoseob stopped his laugh and blinked curiously. “What the continuation?”

Junhyung shrugged. “I don’t know. That one doesn’t come yet,”

Yoseob grimaced, looking at Junhyung disapprovingly. But it turned into a small sweet smile after a moment. “Hyung,” Yoseob softly called again. “Do you cry when you miss me?”

“I do,” Junhyung replied softly, almost whispering.

The moment became silent, once again.

Author’s note:

I have a take home exam to be submitted tomorrow and I’m writing this. T_T
But, it’s because I’ll be busy this weekend with examinations. So, I write this earlier. ^^
Wish me luck.

This is the 2/3 part of the story. I do take a long time to explain the title.
I’m sorry.
I don’t know much about Hooker Hill, this is just a fiction so please don’t take the Hooker Hill part seriously.

Thanks for the subscribe, comment and upvote. ^_^

I love you, always~