"Seungri!" Jiyong almost shouts. 

Now his eyes are wide open.

"W-What're you doing here? It's four in the morning," he says, and he tries his hardest to remain, or at least appear calm.

"..Hyung.. Earlier.. I.."

The boy stammers, bites his lip and Jiyong watches him break out in cold sweat. Alcohol must've worn off, Jiyong figured. Seungri was now aware, and somehow, he feels sorry for him.

"I.. was a bit drunk earlier and.. I realized that.. I'm horrible and I wanted to apologize," he said, eyes fixed at anything but his way.

Jiyong felt uneasy. Why was it so difficult to see him like this? He feels bad, but he's also too muddled.

"..Can you forgive me?" Seungri asked, finally looking at him.

And now Jiyong finds it hard to look into his eyes.

"Don't worry about it," he says. "Go home and rest for now, okay? Let's talk tomorrow."

Seungri's face then brightens up like a blithe beam from a rainbow. Jiyong couldn't help but smile. His chest definitely feels lighter now. He tousles the boy's hair like it's the most natural thing to do, caressing the soft strands of silver in the mildest way, and Seungri's smile that's as innocent as a child melts his heart. 

"Oh, it's you, Seungri."

Jiyong's heart plummets.

"Oh.. Kiko.." the boy uttered softly. Stiffness on his expression, as well as his posture were all too visible to Jiyong, he couldn't take seeing it.

"Uh, I didn't know you were here. S-Sorry, did I disturb you guys?" 

He feigns being fine, and Jiyong knows it. He knows it, and there's a twinge in his heart. He wanted to do something---something that would possibly fix this---but he couldn't. There isn't anything he could do.

The boy smiles, but his eyes still gives him away. "I'll.. I'll get going now." and he rushes away with a parting smile.

"Is he okay?" Kiko asks, eyes squinting from the lights. Her hands held on to the door, head poking out.

Jiyong gives a light shrug before running to the hallway, and now Kiko's left there with a frown. Seungri was fast, already on his way to the elevator. Jiyong then sprints as if adrenaline rushed through him. He had to catch Seungri---he didn't know why, but he knows he has to. Seungri, he exclaims, but the boy won't stop on his feet. Nonetheless, he catches him, pulls him, and takes him to a corner.

"Just leave me alone!" the boy yells, tears coursing down on his cheeks. 

Jiyong felt like a vile, heinous being. Such a horrid view, and he knows it's all his fault. 

"I.. Kiko.." he breathes out, grasping on the fragile shoulders. "I.." 

"What? Are you trying to explain?" Seungri utters, and Jiyong could feel every bit of anguish in his voice. "What for? Isn't she your girlfriend? Why explain to me?"

A dire time, he knows. He knows but he couldn't help but worry over people seeing them. He grips onto Seungri's arm, pulls him, and takes him to the desolate staircase. Just then, forceful lips pushes against his---Jiyong's eyes widens.

"What the hell are you doing?!" He shoves the boy away. 

Another yet feisty force pressures against him, and now he's trapped against the wall. Seungri presses his lips on his with great might, and he pushes him---rougher this time.

"What the !" he exclaims.

Seungri's now on the ground, and Jiyong expects him to get on his feet any time. But then, a whimper. Seungri's breath hitches, and now Jiyong's feels a stitch inside his chest. He stood there frozen as Seungri snuffles, crying.

"A-Are you disgusted?"

Jiyong couldn't possibly answer.

"I-I can do what she does for you too.. You can use me anytime," he says, voice breaking. "I can do a better job than her.. Can't you give me a chance?"

His eyes, so desperate and so forlorn, it hurts just to see it staring into him, begging and pleading.

"..Can't you try? I-I promise I'll do anything.." he says and Jiyong looks away.

With a huff, Jiyong closes his eyes.

"I don't think I can.. I'm sorry."

 

 

 

---

 

 

Jiyong stirred his cup of coffee whilst staring blankly from afar. His eyes were bloodshot-red, and the bags underneath his eyes were so apparent, it looked as if he didn't sleep for days. It was still so early in the morning, but it felt like a tiring, whole day just happened before him. He couldn't help but feel exhausted. He didn't even have a wink of sleep last night all due to what happened.

He could still remember the look on Seungri's eyes, begging for him. Everything was still so clear in his head---even the warmth on his lips that had always longed for him. It all happened so bizarrely, Jiyong couldn't grasp it anymore.

"Sir," a voice uttered beside him.

"Huh?" he asked, turning to his side. A waitress crouching towards him was there. 

"Sir, your phone has been ringing," she said, politely.

Jiyong was too distracted, he haven't noticed the loud ringing of his phone inside his pocket. "Oh, right! Sorry about that," he said, reaching in for his phone.

"Incoming call: Yongbae"

"Hello?" he answered.

"Ji!" Yongbae said in an alarmed tone. "Where are you?"

"What? What's going on?" he asked, immediately sensing something was wrong.

"The ER just called to our manager's phone. Seungri's in the hospital,"

Jiyong felt like his knees had suddenly weakened. "W-What?"

"They said he was caught in an accident around five in the morning. Police says it was drunk-driving. I'll send you the address. I'm also heading off there. Come quick," he said before hanging up.

Jiyong felt weak all over. He knew this was all his fault.

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

Dead silence filled the whole room. Only the sound of Mr. Yang's index finger tapping the side table can be heard. Seungri gulped. He didn't know what's worse; the uncomfortable feeling of the stiffness his neck and back are suffering from, or the cold, terrifying stare he's receiving right now. The man is just inches away from him, sitting beside his hospital bed, making it even harder for him to rest properly. The tense atmosphere around them is just too overwhelming, it's unbearable.

Mr. Yang began to open his mouth. Seungri felt like his stomach is churning from too much nervousness.

"..You," he said in the coldest, most nerve-wracking tone.

Seungri's rapid heartbeat increased even more. "..Y-Yeah?"

"Do you have any idea how big of a trouble you had caused?" he asked, arms folded, legs crossed. "Driving on the highway, drunk. Have you lost your mind? You're lucky it was just you who got involved in the accident. Look at you, so pathetic. How are you gonna continue recording like that? You know you guys can't afford a delay."

"B-But this is just a minor injury, though," Seungri said, smiling awkwardly. "Just some minor bruises on my face, and a broken arm.." he said, using his pretend-everything-is-okay card.

Mr. Yang's expression turned even more furious. Seungri quickly takes off the smile off of his face. 

"Are you fooling with me right now?" he asked, eyes raging with anger. If Seungri wasn't injured, he would've hit him by now. "The doctor said it would take some time for you to heal. Do you know how much that is a waste of time? You're dragging everyone else with you. You're causing a delay for everyone." 

Seungri kept his silence. He had stayed quiet, taking in every scolding. Suddenly, Mr. Yang stands up, causing Seungri's reflexes to avoid him as if he's gonna get hit.

"I'm very busy," Mr. Yang said before walking away. "Follow every instruction given to you so you could heal as fast as you could." 

As soon as the door closes, Seungri releases the breath he had been holding in. It's as if his lungs suddenly expanded. Even though he often meets their CEO---given the fact that he's the number one troublemaker in their company---he's still terrified of him. No one could match up to how fearsome he is. No matter how many times he get scolded, he would never get use to it. Although it's ironic. He claims to fear him, but always finds himself getting into trouble after another. He himself doesn't even know why or how he manages to do that.

Seungri picks up his phone and opens the front cam. "It's not that bad?" he said, observing the bruises on his face. "It'll heal fast, the doctor said." 

"You er," uttered a deep voice coming from the door. 

Seungri flinched. It was Seunghyun, walking towards him angrily, along with Daesung and Yongbae.

"What the hell did you do?" he asked, furious. "What did you get yourself in this time?"

"Hyung," Seungri gulped. He's in it for another round. 

"Just when will you learn, huh?" Seunghyun continued, while the others just keep quiet beside him. "What the hell were you doing driving at such hour? You should've just headed straight home,"

"Hyung," Daesung speaks up politely, trying to calm him down. "I talked with the doctor. He said that we shouldn't stress him out, or else his condition might get worse."

"Mr. Yang just left here," Yongbae said. "I think he already got an earful. Let's give him rest for now."

In the back of Seungri's head, he's grinning widely. He's grateful for the other's suggestion. Seunghyun could get pretty scary whenever he's angry. He wanted to avoid that as much as he could.

"That's right, Hyung, let's make him rest for now," suggested Daesung, holding Seunghyun's shoulder.

Seunghyun stared at the both of them, slightly annoyed. He knows he had no choice. He couldn't argue with what they just said. 

"Tsch," he said out of disbelief. "It's because of you guys that this brat is like this. Always defending him."

"Aish," Yongbae pats his back. "Enough of that, Hyung. For now, he needs to rest. But next time.." he glances at Seungri. Seungri gulps. "Next time, he'll be dead for sure."

"Yep. We'll beat him up ourselves next time," Daesung said.

Seunghyun nodded. "Sounds fair."

Seungri laughs nervously. "Aishh.. Don't be like that!"

Yongbae and Daesung then holds Seunghyun, dragging him towards the door. "We'll see you around. Doctor said we should leave you alone to rest," said Yongbae, not looking back. 

"Rest well!" Daesung shouted. But just then, the door opens. "Ah, Jiyong-hyung!"

Seungri's heartbeat stopped for a moment. There Jiyong was, rushing to get in with a sinister aura around him. His eyes had the daunting and menacing look to it, Seungri couldn't help but feel anxious. Another trouble he was in once more, he thought. 

"Leave us alone for a moment," Jiyong ordered to the other members. 

Seungri began to produce cold sweat as the members began to quietly leave. This was the first time he had seen Jiyong like this. It was as if he's facing an entirely different person. Such a foreign look in his eyes, he couldn't manage explain it. Terrified, Seungri didn't dare to look at his way. He stared at his blanket, lips trembling. He didn't know what to expect. It looks as if he's beyond angered. He never would've imagined that he'd be more frightening than Mr. Yang.

"You.." Jiyong said, voice shaking from being too enraged.

The hair on the back of Seungri's neck began to stand up. He remained avoiding eye contact. How could he not? Hearing his voice, it was too nerve-wracking.

"Why did you do this? How can you hurt yourself like this?" he asked, voice quivering. "Why would you do such a thing?"

Seungri's eyes widened. Those words weren't what he was expecting at all. He turns to look at him, and much to his confoundment, tears were rolling down on Jiyong's cheeks as his lips and hands tremble. Seungri couldn't believe his eyes.

"Did you do this on purpose? To take revenge on me?" he asked, voice and lips still trembling. "Why would you go to such extreme?"

"H-Hyung," Seungri stammered. He couldn't answer properly. There was such a pain in his chest from seeing Jiyong breakdown like this. "I.. I was-"

Seungri got stopped. In the blink of an eye, Jiyong's trembling hands were clutching his neck, tightly gripping it. 

"Don't you ing do that again," Jiyong threatened, eyes piercing right through him. 

Seungri was beyond appalled. He was frozen on his spot and couldn't manage to do anything. He couldn't breath and was almost choking. 

Jiyong quickly removes his hand upon realizing what he's doing. He stared at his hands, also shocked from what he just did. "I-I'm sorry," he said, looking at him with remorseful eyes. "I-I'm sorry, forgive me." Tears began to fall from his eyes once again. He leaned on his Seungri's chest, holding his hand tightly. "I'm sorry.. please, don't do that again,"

Seungri was perplexed. Jiyong was crying onto his chest like a child. "H-Hyung.." he said, reaching out to pat his head. "Please stop crying.. I'm sorry, I promise I won't do this ever again.."

 

 

---

 

 

 

Seungri quietly watched as Jiyong prepares a cup of coffee. Silence filled the whole room, but unexpectedly, it wasn't awkward at all. Rather, it was comfortable and lovely. There was a warm, fuzzy feeling inside of him as he watch Jiyong take care of everything he needs. He couldn't help but smile at the thought. Although earlier was an intense scene, somehow, it seemed as if nothing had happened at all. But he couldn't care less though. All he wanted to do right now is enjoy the rare moment.

"Here," Jiyong hands to him the coffee.

"Thanks," he replied, smiling to his ear.

Jiyong then sits down on the corner of his bed. Seungri furrowed his eyebrows, confused. There's the serious look on Jiyong's face once again. For a moment, he held his silence. He stared at the ground as if he's in deep thoughts. Seungri couldn't help but get a bad feeling about it. But then, finally, Jiyong began to open his mouth. Seungri gulps.

"I can try," Jiyong said, looking at him with a solemn look on his eyes.

Seungri furrowed his eyebrows at the vague words he had said. He had no idea what he was talking about. "..What?"

Jiyong paused. He stared at him for a few seconds, as if thinking carefully whether he should continue or not. "..I said I can try. I'll see to it if I can return your feelings."

It seemed as if Seungri had gone deaf for a moment. Was his ears deceiving him? "W-What did you say?"

"I'll try to also love you."