Sungmin stirred in his sleep to the sound of a rumbling noise, like a groaning dragon in the movie his father used to make him and his brother watched when they were just little kids. He shifted his position and wondered why he was sleeping anyway.

In his drowsy state, he tried remembering all that had occurred despite the splitting headache, it was so painful it was as though an invisible hammer  was pounding all over his head.

The thing he remembered was that he was supposed to pick up the suit that he ought to wear next week and then, just as he was about to get out from his car, someone… someone…--god, this headache will be the death of him if not the man who unceremoniously entered his car and pointed a gun to his head, ordering him to drive away hadn’t yet.

He also remembered the said man had hit him in the head before covering his face with a cloth, that probably have a chemical that will make one unconscious. But that was just a theory of his, considering that he woke up with hands and feet tied up in a knot. He raised his head. Confusion was written all over his face when he realized that he was miles up to the sky and thousands of feet away from the ground the moment he looked out the window.

He was flying.

“Wha—“

“He’s awake.” He noticed the man beside him hissed-- probably to the one sitting in front of them. Sungmin looked at either of the two and figured he was the subject of the conversation. “I thought you said he wouldn’t move an inch until we arrive? God ing damn it, man. You had one job! One job and you—“

Sungmin felt a blow between his eyes and another strong one on his left cheek, making him unconscious once more but not before hearing the man in front sit back down to his position and hissed back to the guy beside Sungmin.

“You happy? Now shut it before I do the same to you.”

The second time Sungmin woke up, he jumped to the feel of ice cold water hitting his face. He winced when he felt the bruises throbbed which immediately sent him to hell. It was too ing painful to notice anything around him. But he did, eventually, when someone opened the door and closed it simultaneously.

“He’s coming.” A guy in an all-black suit said, panting.

Sungmin rounded his gaze. He was in a dim-lit room and not a single window was in sight to tell him what time it was. But he guessed it didn’t really matter now when he was tied in a chair, rendering him utterly hopeless in the situation he was subjected to.

All in all, there were three men inside the room beside him; two on both of his sides and the other one who just came in a while ago declaring that “he’s coming“, whoever he was. Moments later, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense, as the door was slowly opened; revealing three other men. Two of them wore the same suits as the rest of them, except for one. The one in between the two guys was the one emitting that aura. The guy was wearing a fancy silver suit, much, much more elegant than the others. The only thing that was out of place was the disheveled tie around his neck. Nevertheless, it only made him look ier than he already was. He lightly walked inside, his eyes were roaming the room until he stopped in front of the still Sungmin, who was admiring and looking at him with skepticism at the same time.

Sungmin’s breathing hitched the moment his hair was violently pulled upward by the mysterious man in front of him.

“Welcome to my humble abode, Mister Lee.” The guy mused with a voice that sent shivers down Sungmin’s spine, making the latter focus on nothing else but the sound of the sweet, lenient voice and the touch of his apparent dangerous fingers caressing his bruised cheek down to his jaw and then wrapping them around Sungmin’s neck, but never gripping too hard.

Sungmin threw him a confused glare, making the other laugh. The man, still chuckling, went closer and sat on his lap. Sungmin immediately squirmed, but not too much to provoke another act of violence. His face was uncomfortably close that he could feel the stranger’s breath hit his chin.

“Oh, I’m sorry. How rude of me to forget we haven’t been introduced properly to each other,” The guy said, now untying his tie completely and throwing it to the side. “The name’s Kyuhyun. And you, Lee Sungmin, would be the honorary guest of mine.” He finished off with a wink, making Sungmin scoff.

“Now, you must be wondering why you’re here,” Kyuhyun nodded to one of his men who just came in with a bottle of wine on one hand and a wine glass on the other. Then he looked at the ‘honorary guest’ once more. “You see, you have something that I want and I’m really, really pissed because I can’t have it. Not anymore.” The last word was heard with the pop of the wine cork. Kyuhyun didn’t wait for the guy to pour the wine on the glass. He grabbed the bottle and drank directly from it.

“What is it?” Sungmin managed to croak after swallowing dryly.

Kyuhyun wiped his lips with a smirk.

“The bride.”

Sungmin stopped breathing for a second; his heart thumped a thousand miles out of his chest as soon as the word came out from the guy’s lips. There were too many questions forming in his mind that he couldn’t pick one to actually voice out.

“Wh—what about her?” Sungmin finally asked, ignoring the throbbing pain in his head and focused on Kyuhyun whose face was now contorted into a dark frown, his eyes were shadowed by his fringe, making it impossible for Sungmin to somehow read what the other was thinking.

“You have her. And that’s the problem, Sungmin. You have her and I don’t,” Sungmin shivered. His name had never sounded that sinful from other people’s lips. “So I’m taking you away from her.”

Sungmin’s brows furrowed and looked questioningly at Kyuhyun, who took another gulp of the bittersweet drink.

“A wedding will never occur if there’s no groom to marry the bride, yeah?”

Sungmin let out a scoff.

“You do realize that we could reschedule the wedding, right?” He couldn’t believe it. After almost a year of preparation, something as stupid as this would happen. He would never even have imagined that he’d be kidnapped two weeks before the wedding day. God ing damn it.

“That is if you get out of here. You traveled via a helicopter. Good luck finding your way out this island.” Kyuhyun’s laugh reverberated across the room as he stood up to leave. As he reached the door, he turned to look at one of the men. “Give the honorary guest a more comfortable room.” He shifted his gaze back to Sungmin and gave him another wink before leaving completely.

As soon as Kyuhyun was gone, the men cut the ropes around his wrists and feet, hauled him up, dragged him along the enormous halls and forced him to go inside another room which was probably ten doors away from the room he was in a while ago. He lost count to be honest. He looked around the room he was in now and decided it was more than what ‘comfortable’ he had in mind. Whoever this Kyuhyun was, he sure was rolling on money.

“Bathroom’s right there, balcony’s in front with two trained golden retrievers waiting at the ground if ever you decided to escape,” Sungmin jumped at the voice from behind him.  He saw the man who was guiding—more like dragging him— a while ago to different directions. “There are six cameras in this room right now and they’re all focused on you and your every move.”

The man looked at him from head to toe and spoke, “Clean yourself up. There are clothes in the cabinet you can use. And if you need anything,” He said as he turned around and headed for the door. “don’t hesitate not to bother me.”

Sungmin sat on the edge of the bed as soon as the door was closed. What was he supposed to do? Stay here and wait for him to rot? Kyuhyun was obviously intent in keeping him. He pulled his jet black hair in frustration and screamed. This was all too much. He still needed to tell Eunhyuk to add another tier for the wedding cake. The kid that was supposed to be the ring bearer was caught with dengue fever and they had to find another one to take his place.

Over-thinking about all of this, Sungmin finally fell asleep, dreaming of the bride happily walking down the aisle and him smiling nervously in front. Everything was going perfectly, until someone appeared and stole the bride away.

Sungmin woke up with a start, chest heaving, head aching. He was sure. He was so sure the guy who stole the bride was Kyuhyun. Well tough luck, because he wouldn’t let anything ruin the wedding, especially not Kyuhyun. Anxiety enveloped him for the first three days, keeping one eye open as he slept, afraid that someone might come in and decide that it was the time to kill him.

Three knocks on the door then a lady appeared with breakfast. He was about to reject the food when the aroma of the brewed coffee reached his nostrils, sending his stomach into a fit.

“Thank you,” He mumbled while grabbing the mug and inhaled the heat from the rim.

“You’re welcome,” The maid said with a gentle smile and ought to leave when Sungmin reached for her hand.

“Hey, am I allowed to roam around the place?” He asked, pulling a charming smile that made the young woman blush.

“Th—that’s entirely up to Mr. Cho.” The lady squeaked.

“Who’s Mr. Cho?” Sungmin’s brows furrowed.

“Kyuhyun… Cho Kyuhyun.” Sungmin nodded, his brows still meeting at the center. Why did that name sound familiar?

The woman looked down, looked at Sungmin, and looked down again before mumbling, “Do you need anything else?”

Sungmin shook his head and smiled. The woman smiled back and left.

The next day, the lady brought a first aid kit, helping Sungmin heal his bruises to which the man had been grateful to.

Sungmin frowned though, when he saw the maid seemed to look uncomfortable at what she was doing.

“I’m sorry, I’ll do it.” Sungmin said, reaching for the cold compress when the lady held his hand.

“No, it’s ok. It’s just…” The woman trailed, blushing. “It’s just really intimidating sitting with a guy who is attractive as you are.”

Sungmin’s eyes widened. Was the woman sending him signals just now? He looked at the hand holding his own and had to cringe.

“I uhh—I’ll really just do it myself. I don’t mind.” He said before standing up and opening the door for her, making her leave in a polite manner.

The maid could only nod, dumbstruck at the immediate and direct reaction.

The routine lasted for three more days when the only human contact he had was with the maid.  He had difficulties ignoring the passive aggressive acts but he was glad it was all over when on the fourth day, Kyuhyun himself brought the food with a smile on his face. A smile that never really reached his eyes. It was more of a sinister one.

“Missed me?”

If he was annoyed, Sungmin made sure he didn’t show it. He remained silent for the rest of the time Kyuhyun was looking at him, and when he heard the latter sigh, Sungmin decided it was useless not to speak up.

“Where’s the lady?”

“Oh, you mean the maid? She’s doing something else now,” Kyuhyun grinned. “I admire your loyalty to your fiancé, Mr. Lee. Seth’s the iest woman I know.”

“Huh?” Sungmin asked.

“She’s not really a maid. I hired her to act like one and seduce you with a rather demure character.” Kyuhyun leaned down, meeting Sungmin’s eyes with his sinister ones. “You like those kind of girls, right? Haven’t you thought of cheating on her?”

The sound of the slap echoed across the room. Sungmin was heaving in anger. He would have done more if Kyuhyun hadn’t tackled him on the bed. Falling with a soft thud, in just one swift movement Kyuhyun was on top of him, still smiling.

Sungmin wasn’t able to register anything until moments later; he felt a rough tug at his bottom lips, and then a bite.

He was being kissed.

He wanted to scream, but all that came out was a failed attempt at letting his voice be heard. His arms were pinned above him with those of Kyuhyun’s lanky yet strong ones. He felt a movement inside his mouth; Kyuhyun’s tongue was exploring him inside that made him want to feel more. But just when he was about to close his eyes and succumb to the sinful act, he felt everything stop.

“Do that again,” Kyuhyun said; a puff of warm breath hitting Sungmin’s wet lips. “And I’ll do worse.”

And just like that, he went up and left, leaving Sungmin still lying on the bed, trying not to think about what just happened. Yet he couldn’t stop the loud beating of his heart. The same feeling when he had when he was sent to the Principal’s Office in high school after beating up some guys who kept on picking on his little brother. He couldn’t believe he almost surrendered to that kind of bastard. It was stupid, irrational and… and… confusing.

He didn’t see Kyuhyun for the rest of the day. He thought it was better than facing him anyway. In here he was alone; he could even make himself believe that he didn’t exist anymore. He’d been gone for five days now. Was anyone even looking for him?

God damn it why was he being so weak?

Sungmin sighed. He couldn’t deal with this right now. He needed to find a way to get out of here. The wedding was eight days away and he’ll have to use whatever means to get back.

With a renowned confidence and strength, Sungmin sauntered toward Kyuhyun’s office, which was on the third floor of the mansion. Heading to Kyuhyun’s private domain felt like walking directly to a lion’s lair. But he went inside anyways, followed by one of Kyuhyun’s men, since it took him a lot of patience to finally convince the security that he needed to talk to Kyuhyun.

He was about to speak but the guy beside him, who he now knew as Yesung, raised a hand, signaling him to wait just one moment. Sungmin furrowed his brows and shifted his gaze to Kyuhyun, who didn’t seem to notice them even if they were standing right in front of him. The guy was too engrossed in doing all the paper-works that were piled up on his desk. If the room was covered with coffee’s scent, Kyuhyun’s shirt was covered with coffee stain. And based on the frown in his face, Sungmin was sure he was mad about something that the person on the other line said.

“What do you mean they hadn’t shipped the products yet?! Congestion? Are you ing kidding me? Are you… No. What?! Are you seriously arguing about that right now? With me? Do you know how many people are expecting their packages right now?”

“Is he always like this?” Sungmin couldn’t help but ask in a hushed voice, not that Kyuhyun would notice him anyway. If Kyuhyun was a bastard in his eyes, then right now he looked like a professional bastard. And he had to admit that it was such a turn on to see a man working so hard and—focus, damn it!

“Always.” Yesung nodded before clearing his throat, making Kyuhyun stop whatever he was about to curse at the person on the other line.

Kyuhyun regarded them with a blank face then nodded. The guy beside Sungmin left, murmuring to himself how people were so annoying these days. When the door closed, Kyuhyun gestured for Sungmin to sit opposite him.

“Make it quick. I’m busy.” Was the cold tone Sungmin received when he hadn’t spoken anything yet.

“I want to make a deal.” This seemed to pique Kyuhyun’s interest as he was now looking solely at Sungmin instead of typing away in his laptop.

“Go on,” Kyuhyun said, completely focusing on what Sungmin was about to say.

“I’ll stay here but only until the day before the wedding,”

“What’s the catch?” Kyuhyun raised one brow.

“I…” Sungmin drew a deep breath. “I’ll do anything you want.”

“Oh? What if I asked you to back out of the wedding?” Kyuhyun grinned, and Sungmin grimaced. The former was clearly enjoying this.

“I can’t do that.”

“Then the deal’s off.”

Sungmin bit his lower lip. Whether he was making the right decision or not, he’d curse himself later.

“…fine.” Kyuhyun smiled in triumph which immediately turned upside down as soon as he heard what Sungmin said. “But you’re the one who’s doing it. You stop the wedding.”

“Why?” Kyuhyun frowned.

“Why not?” Sungmin bit back. “You’re the one who wants to stop it, why not you then?”

“I…” From the first time he met Kyuhyun, Sungmin was convinced he had felt the discomfort of the other. “I can’t.”

“Wha—oh. I get it,” Kyuhyun stiffened when Sungmin grinned at the realization. “You can’t confront her because you’re afraid she won’t accept you. Does she even know you exist?”

“Shut up,” Kyuhyun hissed, palms forming into fists.

“Oh, you coward,” Sungmin narrowed his eyes. “You can’t even tell the girl you love her and you had the guts to bring me here.” That didn’t really made sense, what he said. But he was too pissed that Kyuhyun didn’t have any balls after all. Was he really serious about just waiting for him to waste away? Then what will Kyuhyun do? Was he even planning on showing himself to the bride?

“Hypothetically speaking, suppose the wedding did not occur, what will you do then? Are you gonna confess to her? Do you have the balls, Kyuhyun? Or you’re just going to stay here, too, wait for life to waste away while you look from afar, wishing you had done something—anything rather than kidnap me and hope for the best? I thought you were better than this.”

Silence filled the room for a while. Sungmin waited for a response but there was none. Not even a violent reaction from the person behind the desk. He’d expected Kyuhyun to lash onto him, grab him by the collar and punch him in the face but minutes passed and he didn’t even receive a single yell. It was as though Kyuhyun was frozen in his place.

When Sungmin thought he wouldn’t be getting any of what he thought of, he readied himself to leave, shoulders hunched. At least he tried.

He stood up with a sigh when Kyuhyun finally made a reaction, the latter lightly staring at the blinking cursor in his screen. And to his shock, he heard Kyuhyun burst into a fit of laughter. Not the ominous kind of laugh he heard when he first got here. This was something else… like, like a laugh you’d here in a sitcom. Something you’d enjoy hearing. Relieving. It was still worrying, though. How a man would laugh in the middle of an argument.

“Fierce as ever, Sungmin.” This made Sungmin’s brow rise as high as the ceiling of the room. What did he mean by that? He wanted to ask, but he didn’t even open his mouth yet when Kyuhyun cut him off.

“It’s about dinner time. Go ahead and make yourself at home since you’re going to stay here for the longest time,” Sungmin felt a tinged of disappointment at the implication of the words. So he didn’t make anything out of this, then.

“And about the deal,” Kyuhyun called out to Sungmin when the latter was being guided by the guard who was waiting outside. “I’ll consider it. It’s high time I show myself to my former schoolmates, no? See if anything changed or if they’re still the same old s who like to pick on the weaker ones.”

It took a moment for Sungmin to register what Kyuhyun had just meant. He wanted to ask just that, but the door was shut right in front of his face and he was already—always being dragged away.

He ate in silence in his room. So Kyuhyun was not a complete stranger after all. Somehow, sometime, in some place else, they have met or at least Kyuhyun had met him. The man said something about his schoolmates. Did he, perhaps, come from the same school as he did?

Sungmin hated this, he hated puzzles. He hated Kyuhyun for throwing him into this maze of confusion and undecipherable wool of cognitive. He hated it when someone tries to mess up with his head. And he hated that Kyuhyun seemed to enjoy doing it. Once he was allowed to roam the garden because he was so sure he was so close to driving himself into insanity if he couldn’t go out after days of being captive. There were men surrounding him, standing at different parts of the enormous garden but he paid no heed to them. He was sitting at the edge of a Victorian fountain at the center of the garden, staring wondrously at the sight of a human size maze and he couldn’t help comparing it with Kyuhyun. Because lately, even if he admit it to himself or not, Kyuhyun had been the only thing in his mind. Not the wedding, not his situation he was in, not the safety of the bride, and not the people who would be waiting for his return. This was the reason why Sungmin hated puzzles.  Sungmin would do anything to put the pieces together, even if it was beyond his capability to do so, he’d still try until it was the only thing that’s on his mind. What had been the source of his anxiety few days ago became the center of his thoughts now.

“Okay! I give up,” Sungmin said on his eighth day of staying there. “Will you please tell me what’s going on, who you are, where we are, why haven’t you killed me, and why the hell has no one found me yet?!”

Kyuhyun took his time in sipping his wine while looking up from the paper he was reading before Sungmin interrupted his moment of peace. Sungmin nearly pulled his hair out of his scalp.

Kyuhyun grinned, something Sungmin had been seeing more and more when he tried to be y about anything just for the hell of it. See, he was really, really bored.

“What’s going on is that you’re being held captive for an indefinite amount of time. Where we are, of course I can’t tell you that. All I can assure you is that we’re far, far, away from the wedding hall which answers the question why no one has found you yet. Now, for my identity,” Kyuhyun sighed. Sungmin could see the reluctance, the uncertainty of whether it would be right to tell him. Sungmin couldn’t believe it. It almost seemed Kyuhyun looked embarrassed to admit it. Sungmin wondered why though. It’s not like he has to answer it if he didn’t want to. He was the captor.

“Wine?”  Kyuhyun offered. Sungmin scoffed.

“Quit stalling.” He ground out, aware of what Kyuhyun was doing.

“Am not.” Kyuhyun grumbled like a child while reaching for the wine glass in the shelf where he kept the rest of the wines.

Sungmin’s face softened a little, he could never really figure Kyuhyun out. He took the glass filled with wine in his hand and looked suspiciously at Kyuhyun who rolled his eyes.

“Not poisoned.” He said. How could Sungmin take his word for it? But he took a sip anyway.

“Who are you, Cho Kyuhyun?” Sungmin tried, to which Kyuhyun replied with a snort.

“Wait ‘til I get drunk. I wouldn’t tell you this sober.” Again, he had a choice of not telling Sungmin at all. Why was Kyuhyun forcing himself too much? Kyuhyun furrowed his brows, having not found any answer to his own question and so he swallowed a mouthful of his drink. In his peripheral view was Sungmin gaping at him.

“You’re really determined in telling me, huh.” Sungmin managed to croak out and drank.

“No point in hiding,” Kyuhyun shrugged and drank some more.

“Why?” Sungmin was genuinely curious. Kyuhyun smiled at the thought. Since when did a human being have bothered asking him what his thoughts were? Kyuhyun shook his head. Sungmin was the first one. Well, after… after her. No one tried. He looked at Sungmin who was looking back with more intensity this time, as though he was trying to figure him out. Kyuhyun chuckled. He’d noticed this before. Even when Sungmin wasn’t aware of it, he’d catch him glancing his way whenever they happen to be in the same room.

“Because you’re the bridegroom,” Kyuhyun answered simply. Sungmin was silent for a moment, contemplating his reply.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Everything,” Kyuhyun smiled wistfully. He could tell that Sungmin was wracking his brain again. “It wouldn’t be fair if you don’t know anything about me when I know everything about you.”

“Don’t be so sure about that.” Sungmin snapped but recovered moments later. “And you’ve never been fair in the first place.”

Kyuhyun hummed in agreement, pouring more wine in his glass. Silence enveloped the two of them inside his office.

“High school was a nasty place, wasn’t it?” Kyuhyun started.

“Not really,” Sungmin replied quietly, carefully, afraid of Kyuhyun changing his mind.

“Of course,” Kyuhyun smiled bitterly. “Of course not to you. You were the star back then. Had the entire school bending to your will.”

Sungmin looked confused.  He looked so… lost that Kyuhyun had to laugh.

“You were that one person who gets to have everything he wants,” Kyuhyun’s voice cracked in mid-sentence. “Even now, you still get what you want. Tell me, Min. How do you do that?”

If Sungmin’s heart skipped at the sound of his nickname from Kyuhyun’s lips, he concealed it fervently. He didn’t speak, did not dare. And he guessed Kyuhyun wasn’t expecting any answer from him.

“You had many admirers, Sungmin. To them you were the ideal guy. A senior, MVP, Officer of the student council,” Kyuhyun went on. “She’s one of them, looking so hopelessly in love with your quirks. I know… I know because she was my friend--used to be. She left me behind because unlike her, I couldn’t keep up. A nerd like me didn’t have a place to anyone in the school. I was stepped on. I felt alone not because I actually was, but because she wasn’t there anymore.”

Kyuhyun’s eyes were reflecting his emotion, as betraying as that sounded to him. He was hurt. Still was. How she let their friendship—them drift apart.

“Do you… love her?” Sungmin asked tentatively. Kyuhyun looked at him, eyes wide at the question.

“What do you think?”

“You do,” Sungmin concluded.

“And she doesn’t.” Was Kyuhyun’s quiet reply. It was so stupid to confess it now, when she’s about to marry the guy in front of him.

“But what if she does? I mean, you were friends, right? Maybe she had loved you back, but not in the same way you want her to?” Sungmin suggested.

Kyuhyun laughed bitterly. Sungmin fumed all of a sudden.

“You know what I’m so sick of?” Sungmin asked, tone much harsher than what he was using when conversing with Kyuhyun a while ago. “People wallow in self-pity. You wallow in self-pity. What, you think it’s cute how you victimize yourself to those who step on you? Did you bother fighting back? People hurt you because you let them.”

“You think I enjoyed it?” Kyuhyun asked, bewildered and enraged at how he understood the other’s implication.

“I don’t think you tried to fight back, you only ran away. Just like what you’re doing now. You’re running away. But this time, you’re dragging me into it, into your maze.” Sungmin answered with the same level of animosity.

Kyuhyun stood up, wine spilling from the glass he was holding carelessly.

“How dare you?!” Kyuhyun cried, eyes burning with anger. “How dare you judge me?!”

Sungmin hadn’t drink that much, so he knew Kyuhyun was asking without the presence of sobriety. Still, he couldn’t hold himself back.

“Aren’t you being a hypocrite?” He stood up, meeting Kyuhyun’s eyes reflecting them on his own. “How dare you judge me? You think I was happy?! You think I actually enjoyed being the center of attention then?” He challenged. For once, Kyuhyun didn’t have the answer to that.

“My parents died when the team won the game. I got mad at them for not being able to attend and watch me play when in fact; they were fighting for their lives in the ambulance only to be defeated by death at the end. The whole school knew about it—well maybe not, since you apparently had no idea. And they… they all looked at me with pity. My brother hated it more than I did. So no, Kyuhyun. They were not looking at me with love. They were looking at me with shame. Because every ing time they look at me, all I could hear is ‘Oh, that boy. He won the game but he lost his parents. Tsk tsk.’ And I’m sick of it, Kyuhyun. I was so sick of it. I raised my brother myself. We finished high school and I never got to college. I had to work my off just so I could put enough food for the both of us. I didn’t pity myself. I didn’t blame anyone for the ed up life that I had because honestly, it’s not. And I most certainly did not run away.”

Sungmin was panting. He didn’t know if he was understood by this drunkard but he didn’t care. He felt relieved, shallow at the thought that he had to let loose sometimes. Something his brother, Sungjin, said to him before he made his way out of the apartment to get the suit few days ago.

He tried to get a glimpse of Kyuhyun. He shouldn’t have flinched when Kyuhyun wordlessly stepped closer but he did. Kyuhyun grabbed him by the shoulder, gaze unreadable, and then all of a sudden he pulled Sungmin against his chest, hugging him awkwardly.

“I—“ Kyuhyun wheezed. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Sungmin.”

“Shhh…” Sungmin gently stopped him from speaking any further by putting a finger on his lips.

“Do you need anything right now?” Kyuhyun asked softly. Sungmin’s whole body sagged, melting. This was what he hated years ago. But it was what he also missed. He’d been depending on his own for the longest time that he actually forgot how it felt like to be asked if he needed anything. Sungjin was a professional in that department. But even though he didn’t point it out, he knew things somehow shifted now. It’s been years anyway, both of them grew up.

“Just keep hugging me like this.” Sungmin gasped when more than a hug was given to him by the man.

The feeling of the slick muscle felt too familiar for Sungmin to cause alarm. But instead of pushing him away like he was supposed to do, he closed his eyes, put both his hands behind Kyuhyun’s neck and pushed him harder against him, feeling more of that exploring tongue inside him. He felt Kyuhyun bit his lower lip, eliciting moans from his throat. It was wrong. Oh, he knew it was wrong. But what can he do? He tried reasoning to himself. He was a man. A man with urges who happened to be unusually attracted to another man who seemed to be having urges of his own.

But it was still wrong. Kyuhyun’s mind was probably still clouded with alcohol, and it’ll feel like taking advantage of him.

Well, he kidnapped him, though, wasn’t that taking advantage of Sungmin?

Sungmin wasn’t able to ponder over it any further for Kyuhyun had reached for something Sungmin would have never imagined Kyuhyun would touch—well, actually, that’s a lie.

Sungmin moaned once more, choking on air as he felt Kyuhyun fumble with his pants and pulling them downward, exposing him in a tantalizing way. He looked at Kyuhyun and couldn’t help but feel a bit smug at the look on the other’s face of admiration.

In just one swift movement, Kyuhyun had pulled Sungmin’s shirt and he too was almost , his torso exposed, the zipper of his pants open.

“Mmhh…” Sungmin moaned out as he was being led at the door going straight to Kyuhyun’s bedroom. His lips were wandering against Kyuhyun’s, feeling hot at every touch the young man would make. “Play fair,” Sungmin rasped out when he noticed Kyuhyun hadn’t taken off his pants yet.

Kyuhyun chuckled and did what he was told. The next moment, both of them were and only Sungmin was the only one in a hurry.

“What’s the rush?” Kyuhyun asked as he trailed Sungmin’s neck with his lips.

“Ahh… you’ll be sober soon,” Sungmin said honestly, and was surprised to hear Kyuhyun laugh at his shoulder.

“Baby, I was sober the moment you started shouting at me a while ago.”

Sungmin froze. He looked at Kyuhyun with bewilderment which made Kyuhyun laugh even louder.

“What are we doing?” Sungmin asked when he felt the faint friction Kyuhyun was making between them, making him moan with want but also groan in confusion.

“I… don’t know…” Kyuhyun admitted before biting Sungmin’s lip, feeling accomplished when Sungmin’s breathing hitched at the action. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

Kyuhyun doubled the pace and rocked his body against Sungmin, addicted with the sound the smaller man was emanating.

“What is the plan, anyway?” Kyuhyun wanted to laugh; it seemed Sungmin couldn’t be stopped from being curious, not even at a time like this, when they were both , and when he happened to be with the most attractive guy he knew.

Kyuhyun smiled, reached for a bottle of lube and dipped his fingers in its mouth and smeared some of it on his own. “The plan,” He said, before inserting one finger at a time, not meaning to but overwhelming Sungmin just the same. He was so, so, at the thought of touching Sungmin inside, feeling him through his fingers as they pushed further inside, preparing him for something more of what Kyuhyun was willing to offer. He took his fingers out and positioned himself between Sungmin’s delicious thighs. “Is to take you away. And I’m about to do just that,” He said with a smirk before entering Sungmin who had to bite his own shoulder with a muffled cry, afraid that someone might hear if he scream.

Few moments later Sungmin finally found the strength to nod, giving Kyuhyun the go signal, the latter was considerate enough not to rush everything else.

They were surprisingly in sync, considering they were shouting at each other at the top of their lungs just a while ago, and Kyuhyun couldn’t help but wonder why it felt so right to hold him against his chest the morning after.

Kyuhyun’s eyes fluttered open as soon as he heard his phone ring. He reached for the device on the bedside table, careful not to wake Sungmin up.

“What?” Kyuhyun asked in a hushed tone. He stood up; picking his clothes up and wore them as fast as he could.

“There’s two days left before the wedding day,” Yesung’s voice resounded in the speaker. Kyuhyun frowned, he knew that already. “People are still looking for him back in the city. They’ve reached Jeju and other provinces near Seoul. What do we do with him?”

Kyuhyun’s blood ran cold at the question. He looked at Sungmin peacefully and sighed.

“No one is to touch him unless I say so. “ He said, emphasizing every word.

“Sure,” Yesung sighed before ending the call and while Kyuhyun felt the need to take a deep breath. What Sungmin said was right. The wedding will still push through. He was just prolonging it if he didn’t return Sungmin. He’d be prolonging the pain.

Kyuhyun still wanted to stop the wedding. He just wasn’t sure if it’s for the same reason anymore. Especially after last night, he wanted to lock Sungmin here, to prevent him from marrying anybody, but just as what the man said, that’ll be just running away again, and he’d be dragging Sungmin along with him.

He sat on the couch chair just beside the bed, quietly admiring the beauty that was lying in it. He hadn’t thought things through that much he’d admit. Hell, he didn’t even imagine Sungmin marrying his first love. But when he thought about it now, it wasn’t as painful as it used to be. Now he just felt anxious, because any moment Sungmin would wake up, and he was afraid the man would be hysterical, he’d go ballistic once he realized what Kyuhyun had done to him, what he had done with him. He was afraid of losing Sungmin.

He saw Sungmin stirred, and he subconsciously held his breath and waited for the man to absorb everything that had happened.

“Kyuhyun, you are such a creep,” Sungmin said when he saw Kyuhyun staring. “Stop looking at me like that.”

Kyuhyun gaped, and all of a sudden bursted out laughing.

“Every piece of art is worth looking at, Min.”

Sungmin stopped in the middle of his stretching, and then looked at Kyuhyun dryly. Yet he could feel the swelling of joy when he heard Kyuhyun say it again. He couldn’t believe how much of a difference it was from the time Kyuhyun said his name when he first got here.

“C’mon, Min. Let’s go get breakfast. I want to show you something after that.” Kyuhyun picked Sungmin’s clothes on the floor and handed the clothes to man who was ogling at him.

“What?” He asked innocently.

“Nothing,” Sungmin looked away and went on putting his clothes, avoiding Kyuhyun’s questioning eyes.

“Really, Min. What is it?”

“My nickname,” Sungmin said quietly. “It sounds… different when you say it.”

Kyuhyun’s brows furrowed. “Is it bad?”

“No! No, not at all. It’s just…” Sungmin bit his lower lip, cheeks heating up and were suggesting a color of pink. “When you say it… it sounds like you’re reaching …”

Silence enveloped them for a few minutes until Kyuhyun almost choked himself from laughing too hard.

“What?!”

“Stop laughing! It’s true!”

“But Min—”

“See?! You’re doing it again!”

“Min, I’m not doing anything.”

“Stop it!”

“Min,”

“No!”

“Min, Sungmin,”

“Cho Kyuhyun!”

“Min, Min, Min, Mi—“

“You’re impossible. I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay, Min!”

Sungmin slammed the door harder than what was necessary. He could feel himself blushing when he heard Kyuhyun laughed from inside the room.

 

*

 

“Oh,” Sungmin gasped at the beautiful scenery before him. It was as if the landscape was meticulously painted just for him to see. They were at the top of a mountain, few meters to the left there was a falls directly going down to the vast body of water below them, surrounded by trees and other smaller mountains. “Kyuhyun, this is beautiful!”

“My grandfather and I found this when we were being chased by wild dogs. We hid right over there,” Kyuhyun pointed at the small cave to their right, concealed by gigantic trees and other rocks. “Where we will stay for a couple of hours or so. Let’s just make sure we get back before dawn, though.”

Sungmin smiled and nodded, already pulling Kyuhyun to the direction of the cave. When he got inside, he couldn’t believe how big its interior actually was, considering they had to duck down in order to get inside. There were asymmetrical arcs that lead to many different directions. Kyuhyun told him he’d already gathered tons of materials to improve the interior and explore the rest of the cave.

They stayed at the spot where they could still see the entrance. Blankets were laid, food and wine were prepared, candles were lit and so they had a feast.

“This almost looked like you’re taking me on a date.” Sungmin laughed as soon as they were done with the job.

 Kyuhyun smiled and pulled Sungmin to sit down beside him. They started eating their lunch the same time they began talking. Sungmin couldn’t believe how easy it was to converse with the man in a lighter tone. Then after that, they fell in a comfortable silence. Sungmin hadn’t even notice he was already sitting with Kyuhyun behind him, hands surrounding his waist, supporting his weight as he hummed an abstract tune.

In just a moment he had come to know Cho Kyuhyun. A man who had worked hard to be where he was now just to impress a girl only to receive a wedding invitation from the same girl who will be marrying another man. But that’s all there was to it, isn’t it? A puppy love that was never reciprocated because he had been too scared to see what could have been his.

“I wished I knew how to forget,” Kyuhyun whispered behind Sungmin’s ear, making the latter shiver. “Sungmin, please tell me how.”

Sungmin turned to look at him. In all of the days he had stayed here, he’d never seen Kyuhyun as helpless as this.  

“I don’t think it’s about forgetting, Kyu.” Sungmin brushed the fringe aside and slowly caressed Kyuhyun’s cheek. “I think it’s about letting go.”

“How do you do that? I mean… how do you know it’s time to let go?” Kyuhyun’s brows furrowed.

“Just a wild guess,” Sungmin shrugged. “But maybe it’s when you finally found something that’s more worth holding on to.”

Kyuhyun took a deep breath. He’d decided that if he was going to bear his inner thoughts to Sungmin, now would probably be the right time. He wasn’t sure when a time like this would happen again and the thought didn’t make him feel less restless.

“But what if I’ve loved too much that I can’t give the exact same thing to the one I’m holding now?”

Sungmin smiled, remembering something.

“Do you know Scott Fitzgerald?”

“I’ve heard of him in our literary class back when I was in college, why?”

“He said that there are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice. I remember reading it somewhere and it just automatically stuck. Don’t you think he’s right, Kyu? That it’s possible to love again, but not the way you love someone else before.”

Kyuhyun remained silent for a while, and slowly, very slowly, a smile formed its way to his lips, understanding Sungmin. He lowered his head and swiftly gave Sungmin a kiss, taking the man by surprise.

“Yeah, I think he is.”

Sungmin noticed something despite the dim surrounding. Kyuhyun’s eyes. They were not as blank as they used to be. He smiled. In this few days he had been given the honor to see a transformation of a boy becoming a man, and he couldn’t be more at the thought that it was because of him.

Sungmin easily slid up and sat on Kyuhyun’s lap, facing the man as he encircled his arms around his neck.

“You see Mr. Cho, you have something that I want and I’m really, really pissed because I can’t have it. Not right now.” Sungmin reiterated and smiled when he heard Kyuhyun laughed.

“What is it?” The other asked.

“Your heart,” He swiftly caught Kyuhyun’s lips, kissing it slowly, tentatively, and then gradually turned it into a more passionate one, wandering his tongue inside the sweet cavern. He felt Kyuhyun’s hands rising from his waist up to the back of his head, further pulling him in.

Sungmin gently pushed Kyuhyun to lie down; giving him light pecks on different spot of his face.

“You gave me a wonderful time last night, Mr. Cho,” Sungmin whispered in his ear, making the other shudder at the confession. “I want to do the same.”

In just a matter of minutes they were both , panting, gasping for air as they shared and consumed the fire within their body. They were like fireworks, exploding, sparks flying, and it was so beautiful they had to try and slow everything down just so they could appreciate it more. The fireworks may be gone but the happiness left them sighing in pure bliss.

 

*

 

It took them about five hours to return to the mansion the morning after. They didn’t notice anything else but each other and so by the time that they decided to leave, it was already dark outside. They both decided to stay for the night.

Somewhere in the middle of the thick trees they found themselves reaching for each other’s hands and they hadn’t let go of each other since.

Sungmin had never felt this peaceful before. Nothing was bothering him now. Not even the wedding. Which reminded him…

“Kyu, I—“

“I like you, Lee Sungmin.” Kyuhyun admitted as soon as they were in front of the gate. Two guards were standing at either side of them but he paid no attention to anyone but the person in front of him. “And I know it’s not the same as before. Not the same way that I liked her, but I believe Fitzgerald.”

Sungmin smiled, feeling proud of Kyuhyun. He was about to lean and give the man a kiss when the other spoke again.

“Which is why I have to return you to the person you truly belong.” Kyuhyun’s voice cracked, but he knew this had to be done. He didn’t want to be selfish with Sungmin. He’d done it before and it only caused him more pain and heartache.

“What?” Sungmin frowned.

“The helicopter will be here in the afternoon.” With that, Kyuhyun turned to leave and didn’t say anything more.

Pain shot across Sungmin’s chest when he saw Kyuhyun turned to the corner. He realized he just couldn’t follow Kyuhyun with his stare alone. He had bolted towards the man he was running after and almost knocked into him when the man was about to enter his office.

“What,” Sungmin started while still catching his breath, “were you thinking?!”

Kyuhyun entered the room with Sungmin following from behind.

“The wedding’s tomorrow, Sungmin. Aren’t you glad I’m setting you free?”

Sungmin was fuming. He was about to make a retort when he was interrupted once again. Only by another person who came in through the door.

“I’m afraid there won’t be a wedding happening tomorrow.” Yesung said as soon as he had closed the door.

Both Kyuhyun and Sungmin immediately widened their eyes.

“What?!” They exclaimed in unison.

“They cancelled the wedding.” Yesung shrugged. “You did it, Kyu.”

Kyuhyun looked at Sungmin, horrified. “I didn’t—“

“They can’t cancel the wedding! I’ve worked hard for it to finally happen, god damn it!” Sungmin scowled, frustrated. “They would have to carry on with or without me.”

“You’re the groom! How’s the wedding supposed to happen without a groom, Sungmin?”

“I’m not the groom!” Sungmin yelled in frustration, flailing his arms in emphasis.

Kyuhyun and Yesung gaped, mouths hanging open.

“You—what?” Kyuhyun started, he immediately rounded his office desk and opened the last drawer, reaching for a piece of envelope. “Then explain this.”

Sungmin got the wedding invitation from Kyuhyun’s hand and read. Sure enough, ‘Lee Sungmin’ was intricately written with gold font color as the groom of the bride. He knew exactly why it was so and had to let out a sigh.

“Donghae,” Sungmin breathed. Kyuhyun’s eyebrow raised and urged Sungmin to elaborate. “I assigned him to make the wedding invitations. He’s a friend, so I know how he works. He’s a good designer, really. He just confuses himself sometimes. But the printers had printed half of the invitations before we could even realize they’ve misspelled J to M. My name’s not supposed to be here. It should’ve been Sungjin’s. How did this even get to you?”

It took a moment for everything to sink in. Kyuhyun could hardly concentrate on anything but only one statement in head: ‘I’m not the groom.’ He felt like crying, really. It was as though a huge rock like those in the mountains they saw yesterday was lifted from his shoulders.

“So you’re not getting married?”  He asked, feeling nervous that Sungmin was just bluffing him.

“I don’t think gay marriage is legal in Korea, Kyuhyun. So nope, not gonna marry anyone until then.”

Kyuhyun let out a laugh before gathering Sungmin in his arms and kissing the life out of him.

Yesung groaned but was only ignored. “Uhh, guys. Shouldn’t we do something about the wedding?”

Sungmin backed away from Kyuhyun immediately making the latter grunt. “Phone! Right now!”

Kyuhyun roamed his hands to search in his pockets. He dug his phone in his right pocket and let out an ‘Aha!’ before giving it to Sungmin.

“I need to call my stupid brother, sorry.” Sungmin looked at them with apologetic eyes before turning around. He heard Kyuhyun at the back, asking Yesung to go check on the helicopter.

He talked to Sungjin very briefly. He was asked a lot of frantic questions to which he answered with ‘Nevermind’. Then after that he had convinced his brother to continue the wedding with or without the best man by his side. Sungjin whined, and Sungmin could hear his fiancé giggling at the background. Few moments later he gave his goodbye, assuring his brother that he was okay, and that he’ll be coming back soon.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Min. “ Kyuhyun looked apologetic as he drove him and Sungmin out to the reception hall. They had missed the ceremony and Sungmin had to coax Kyuhyun that it was okay.

“Kyu, I already told you it’s okay.” Sungmin sighed and leaned on Kyuhyun’s shoulder as the latter drove pass the high-way.

They had greeted the newlyweds. Kyuhyun even smiled to the people who bullied him before and they all apologized for the stupidity they’ve done to him. Kyuhyun had also asked the bride to dance with him and he, too, apologized for the stupidity he had done to her. The woman forgave her and wished him luck for his next great adventure. Sungmin even thanked Donghae to which the latter accepted with confusion. Sungjin was a little harder to please though. He had emphasized that he was still upset at what happened by punching Kyuhyun in the gut. Sungmin had to pull Sungjin away after that.

 

“He kidnapped you and you’re okay with that?”

“Uhh… yeah,”

“I don’t… I don’t get it, hyung.”

“I don’t either. Don’t worry about it.”

 

“You know, I realized something.” Kyuhyun said after a minute of silence while driving to god knows where.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“That an ounce of honesty could come a long way.” Kyuhyun had to laugh despite the hit he received from the man beside him.

“I didn’t lie to you at all! I just didn’t say I’m not the groom so you won’t try and get my brother.” Sungmin explained zealously although with a frown in his face. Kyuhyun laughed and nodded.

“I suddenly remembered the deal,” Kyuhyun grinned when Sungmin looked at him questioningly and later widening his eyes in realization.

“The deal was to get me back here a day before the wedding! We were late! There was no deal!

Kyuhyun chuckled and nodded. “Okay then, how ‘bout this. Since we have not accomplished anything from our first deal, how ‘bout we make another one?”

“I’m listening,” Sungmin said, rubbing small circles behind Kyuhyun’s back as he leaned beside him.

“Go on a date with me,” Kyuhyun said seriously.

“What’s the catch?” Sungmin asked with the same business-like tone.

“I’ll do anything you ask.”

They both looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

“Okay. So, where do you want to go?” Kyuhyun asked. Sungmin thought for a while.

“You know, we haven’t gone much further in the cave yet.” Sungmin mused. Kyuhyun had to laugh before nodding, intertwining his free hand with Sungmin’s as he stepped on the gas. 

 

 

--END--