Until Whenever

Chapter Sixteen:

“I want this changed here,” Ji Yong said, his eyes taking in the design of the outfit he was more than excited for. It was a dark, and a bit feathered, with a face piece that he himself wanted to wear. It was already coming to fruition—this part of his job, he could not deny that he enjoyed. Witnessing something that he had designed on paper come to be something real, and tangible--which he could hold and even wear if he so much pleased, is what made his job bearable. The seamstress, Mina, nodded her head, making notes on her notebook about the new changes. “Can you make it be a little more monstrous, but not in the horrifying way,” he said, making her laugh.

“I got you,” She said, “Don’t worry about it,”

“Thanks, Mina,” He chuckled, knowing that no one else was going to understand what he was saying the way that she would. They had been working together for the few years that it took for his career to take off, he knew she was going to do a great job.

“No problem,” she grinned, moving to bring out more of what she had finished. She explained what she had done, and allowed Ji Yong to voice his thoughts on what needed to be improved. Even if half the clothing she was working on now were just for the show, she knew that every piece was important to Ji Yong. That everything had to be perfect.

Once his meeting with Mina was done, Ji Yong headed over to his office to pick up a few documents, before going into a meeting. He had been busy ever since he returned back to work, and had not been able to meet with Seung Hyun. While the thought was always in the back of his mind, Ji Yong knew that what he really needed right now was some balance in his life. He didn’t want to let his sister down and he definitely wanted to prove to Seung Hyun that he could do this.

Work, sadly as he had to realize, was something that was going to stick around. He couldn’t up and quit on his sister like that—and amazingly, he found that a part of him didn’t want to stop working. He really did like what he did.  But could his two worlds balance out and work well together?

The question remained unanswered as Ji Yong presented, and managed to push for a large sum budget for his new line. His patrons and supporters seemed willing enough to give him this chance, as long as they also got to start the advertisement process between a month or two before official release.

Ji Yong, of course, never failed to point out that their investment on him was never going to be something that they would regret. Yet as his meetings came to a close, phone calls were released, and he found himself in a snowball position for his new line—he had to stop for a second and stare at Young Bae.

Young Bae was now working alone, in his own line and struggling to push forward the idea with the board. Although, Ji Yong knew that Young Bae could do it, he still felt bad for pushing him away when they had planned to work together at first.

Grabbing their original plan, he slotted it into Young Bae’s mail box before making his way out of the office. He was softly humming to himself when someone ran into him just as he turned down the hall. Ji Yong stumbled, eyes blinking when the person started to quickly apologize and gather his things. “I’m so sorry, boss!” The man bowed his head repeatedly.

“It’s alright,” he looked him over, “Mister Lee Seung Hyun, right?” he asked, offering a small smile.

“Right, but you can call me Seungri,” the man smiled as well, a bit of a hesitant look was in his eyes. “There are so many Seung Hyun’s I wouldn’t want to get confused,” he uttered, fidgeting where he stood.

Ji Yong nodded. “Yeah, well, you look like you are in a hurry, I should let you go,” Ji Yong offered, moving to step aside.

“Wait,” Seungri hastily said, turning to face Ji Yong before the man could leave. “There was something that I wanted to ask you” The man hesitated, looking like he was going to regret what was going to leave his mouth, yet determined to be the one to put himself in the position.

“What is it?” Ji Yong asked, curiously tilting his head.

Seungri then blurted, “You and Young Bae look like you had something special once, you should make up and get back together!”

Ji Yong’s eyes widened, “What…”

“I mean, don’t you love him?” Seungri wasn’t even bashful, no; in fact his eyes were full of determination. “I know that Young Bae loves you,”

Ji Yong’s mind supplied that Seungri had been the one with Young Bae in his office not to long ago. His mind supplied just how Young Bae had laughed with this boy, and right now, he could probably see why.  He himself cracked a small smile, and shook his head as he looked at the blatant boy with mirth. “I’m sorry, but Young Bae and I are just friends,”

“You don’t have to lie!” Seungri was indignant, “There is nothing wrong with getting to fall in love, it doesn’t matter who, love is love, and you don’t have to hide it!” the anger in him was evident, as well as his passion about love, "Love is not something to be ashamed of, if anything, it's something that you should embrace and be proud of!" 

Ji Yong scoffed, Love? “What are you a child?” He asked, “Love isn’t real,”

“Yes it is!” Seungri snapped, “What would you know!”

“I could ask you the same,”

Both ended up glaring at each other. Who was this kid thinking that he could talk to him like that? Ji Yong turned, and started to leave. Yet he couldn’t stop Seungri from yelling at him, and he couldn’t even hope to block out his words.

“Love is something worth keeping, because when you lose it, there is no way of getting it back! You’re lucky he still loves you!” SEungri sighed, "So lucky," 

He couldn't get away from there fast enough.

For a moment Ji Yong felt like he was free as he rode down the streets to Love Club and far away from any childish and foolish naive views like Seungri's. The cold air filling his lungs felt great! While Seungri’s words weight in the back of his mind as he left, for right now as he was heading to the Love club, he couldn’t help but feel alive- trying his best to leave it behind. He had not felt this alive for a long time now, because although he liked his job a lot he certainly loved this part of his life just a bit more.

Walking in, he looked around at the swaying bodies, the heat, the strong pulse of the music making his blood sing. Catching glimpses of couples grinding against each other on the dance floor had his mind momentarily flitting towards thoughts about Seung Hyun. The curve of his mouth as he smirked, the playful spark in his intense eyes, and the sound of his voice had him wishing the man was there with him to share this moment. He paused for a second, looking at the entirety of the club before turning to the bar, where Hyun Seung was serving up refreshments.

“Hey,” he said, a slight smile coming over his face.

“Yo boss! I heard the great news,”

“News?”

“About the stage that is being built down stairs, it’s got everyone on edge right now,” He said, grinning widely.

“It’s just to practice in the games,” Ji Yong’s smile nearly faltered, after all, he didn’t want to give any false sense of hope.

“That means our club is back into it right?” Hyun Seung asked, that hope Ji Yong didn’t want to give shinning in his eyes anyways.

Ji Yong found himself actually hesitating. He knew that this could give great prestige once more, that they could start a new rebuild for their club. That they could go back to the underground that brought about a place of release. But for a second, he found himself wondering if he really wanted to do that all over again. He was so sure that he loved it, but he would be lying if he didn’t feel  himself hesitate a bit, “We’ll have to see how it goes,” he found himself saying- and there was the hope that lit Hyun Seung’s eyes. Ji Yong took a step back, “Is Dong Wook here?” he asked, wanting to get away.

“He is, he’s in his office,” Hyun Seung shooed him away and Ji Yong turned, leaving him.

For a moment he wondered what his hesitation was about. His mind ran through all possibilities about the club. Ran through the fact that he had missed this kind of life- That earlier today he was sure that he wanted to make his double life work out.

“Oh sorry,” his thoughts came to a halt as he found himself bumping into someone. The person turned and apologized before even he could—even though it was Ji Yong the one that should have watched where he was going.

“No, sorry, I should be the one to apologize,” Ji Yong offered a small smile to the handsome man in front of him.

“Wow, really, you look so cute, I don’t mind you bumping into me.” The man flirted, winking at him. Ji Yong blushed a bit, flattered by the words. “Anytime, anywhere, really, are you here alone?”

“Oh, yeah, for the moment,” Ji Yong said, looking away from the man, and shrugged his shoulders, “Well, nice to meet you, but I have somewhere to be,” he said, making a move to leave, but the  man moved to block his path. Ji Yong felt his throat close up a bit, and his heart squeezed a bit with something he couldn’t name, eyes turning sharply to keep the man in sight.

“Who would leave a cutie like you out of their sight, really,” The man gushed, “Please, may I at least have your name and number, I really think that you and I can vibe.”

“Oh,” Ji Yong understood what this man wanted. For a moment regaining his breath back and forcing his mind to calm a bit. He looked him over, taking in how handsome he was. He was definitely easy on the eyes and everything- and he didn’t really have anything else to do. He had just wanted to stop by and ask Dong Wook about how the preparations of the club were coming along. His mind flitted to messing around with this guy, and smirked, reaching for the guy’s hand. “If you just want to around, just say so.” He said, pulling him along.

The man stuttered, shocked, but he followed along—no one could resist ing around. Ji Yong knew that as one of the first things that he learned. And there was no one who could resist him.

Going into the restrooms Ji Yong pushed him into one of the empty stalls. The man gasped, and then threw him a smirk. “You’re a dirty little cute aren’t you,” he said the words with such sneer in his tone, that Ji Yong found himself momentarily freezing in his moves. This was not uncommon for him, to find someone to get off with.

It was a life style that came with the club. Even if deep inside it was grilled into you that you had to be careful with your partners, the tests, and everything issued for you to be safe and healthy- to only be with partners that were clean. Ji Yong on the other hand had always been a bit of a rebel, and liked to sample different partners. He didn’t them, that was against club rules, but he liked to have fun. As he moved to kiss this guy, he couldn’t help but feel something in his chest that told him that this is not what he wanted.

The guy moaned into his mouth, reaching for his hips and waist. Ji Yong could feel his skin crawl with a hint of disappointment, as well as he couldn’t let go enough to get in the mood. He was not going to this guy, but he had wanted to have a bit of fun. He had wanted to in his jeans by just ing this dude- but he couldn’t even get in the mood. His mind constantly wondered over to how he was not holding him right, or tight enough. How this guy couldn’t kiss right,  how his scent was wrong—and how his voice did nothing to get him excited.

For a second dark glaring eyes filtered his mind and  Ji Yong pulled away from the kiss, “You’re a ty kisser,” leaving his mouth cruelly as he moved to leave. The guy was left half standing over the toilet, confusion written all over his face, before it was replaced by embarrassed anger. He called out to Ji Yong, mad, spitting out names that Ji Yong could not be bothered with.

Ji Yong couldn’t bring himself to care as he walked away, making his way to where he had been going before he had been interrupted. If memory served right, getting to kiss others and tease them around had always been fun and exhilarating. Yet, all JI Yong could feel right now was frustration of how unsatisfying it had been this time around.

It was not until he was inside Dong Wook’s office, where the man was currently on the phone, seated in one of the chairs that his mind focused on something. Seung Hyun filled his mind, his eyes, voice, the very sight of him, and he felt his body shiver with excitement. Ji Yong frowned at that, his heart squeezing inside his chest as he looked up.

There must have been something on his face, because Dong Wook let the person on the line go to regard him, “Are you alright?” he asked.

“Fine, just tired,” he muttered, thinking that it had to be it again. He was just tired.

“Well I won’t keep you then, you should go home and rest, I heard from Seung Hyun that he had a couple of ideas on how he wanted to start training you, and I can only say rest as much as you can now before then.” Dong Wook said, a smirk coming over his face.

Ji Yong found himself welling up with anticipation, as he turned to look at Dong Wook. Seung Hyun’s name ringing in his ears, as if it were calling him- and he wanted to know—hear more, “How did Seung Hyun even get into this life?” he asked.

“Oh,” Dong Wook blinked, “That would be my fault,” he said. “But you really should ask him for the details, because even I am not clear as to how he came to be the way that he is now,”

Ji Yong blinked, “I see,”

“Are you sure that you are alright?” Dong Wook asked, “It looks like you are spacing in and out, maybe something on your mind bothering you?”

Ji Yong shook his head, “I’m fine,” he insisted. It was just Seung Hyun. And that was a strange thought. “I should go through,” he said, getting to his feet. Dong Wook nodded, getting up as well. He decided to walk Ji Yong to his car while at the same time discussing everything that had been going on in the club, and what to soon expect.

Ji Yong was amazed, it felt like just yesterday that everything had changed, and Young Bae had betrayed him. Yet, here he was, a few weeks later, completely back in the game and ready to take this challenge on.

“Drive safely,”

After that he yawned, and watched the phone, waiting for a response for what like felt like forever—not that he knew because sleep soon claimed him.  Ji Yong slept until he was wide awake, and full of energy. Remembering his text message earlier that morning, or was it noon now, Ji Yong searched for a response- and jumped out of bed when he found on. – Sure, come over anytime. 

Once he sent a text back that he would be over soon, he literally danced his way into his bathroom, showered, changed into some of his nice clothing, and hopped himself out to the kitchen. Young Bae was there, making lunch for himself. Ji Yong eyed him as he reached the fridge and pulled out a water bottle. Words that he had exchanged with Seungri filling his mind for a second, did Young Bae really still love him? “Hey,” he finally managed.

Young Bae tensed a bit, before turning to look at him. “Hey,” he said.

Ji Yong wasn’t sure what to say next. He certainly didn’t want to push for a fight nor an apology at this moment. He also didn’t want to think about any what ifs and what nots—because the truth of the matter was, he wasn’t sure he wanted that type of relationship with Young Bae again. Was it fear that he had of touching and hurting Young Bae, or was it that it was true and he never really loved Young Bae like that. “What are you doing?” he asked instead, going around peeking into the pan and willing his thoughts away.

Young Bae shrugged, “Just frying up some chicken tenders,” he said, and offered Ji Yong a small smile. His eyes roamed over Ji Yong’s body, feeling his heart dropped when he noticed that he was all dressed up. “You going out?” he asked.

Ji Yong nodded his head. “Yeah,” He said. An awkward air seemed to fill them and Ji Yong finally motioned that he was leaving. “Later,” he called as he ran out the front door. Young Bae stared after him, longingly. He then cursed when he noticed that his food had charred over and burned.

Damn Ji Yong for distracting him!

Ive missed this lol, hope you enjoyed the chapter!! I'm currently adapting to my new schedual and well I will update as I have time., Thanbk you for being patient with me. :)