Jace’s POV

I sat in the restaurant, playing with the chopsticks while waiting for Skye and Junhyung. I really do not wish to be here, not because I do not want to see them, but because I fear how this meeting will end up. I could already picture it and sense it in my bones.

As upset as they are, I am not exactly happy too. I wish to stay here forever, but I have my parents to take care of. I cannot just leave them back home, can I? And, what reason do I have to be staying here? Unlike Skye, she has Junhyung, and the kids. She has a family here now. But I do not.

I would miss them, of course. Although the times we spent together were not exactly very long, I have grown to really love Junhyung. He is so strong and so in need of protection at the same time. It is like, I want to feed him to the lions because of what he says some times but I want to shield him as well because of how pitiful he looks. I am so confused as to what to do with him, honestly.

Skye, of course I will miss her. Skye is someone really dear to me. She is a classic example of someone you can never get angry with. She may be rude and violent, but I cannot seem to even think of feeding her to the lions. I want to protect her forever, but now she has her prince charming, I guess my job is pretty much done.

Tae Hyun and Ji Eun, honestly I do not even think I deserve being called ‘Daddy’ by them. What have I done for them? Skye was always the one taking care of them. When Junhyung came, he took over the responsibility. What did I do? I do not know. I do not know if they even like me or not, but I love them so much. Perhaps I should have made it more obvious when we were together. It is pretty late now.

Skye and Junhyung’s unborn child. I heard the baby is a ‘he’. How cute. I hope the baby gets Skye’s wittiness and sharp tongue as well as Junhyung’s good looks and his ability to make people melt with his hidden cuteness and at the same time make people go on their knees with his Joker swag. He will be so loved, I am very sure.

Ahjumma, I just hope she will take good care of herself, perhaps find a nice guy to be with for the rest of her life instead of having to take care of a bunch of blood monkeys. She deserves all the rest in the world she could ever get.

“What are you thinking of?” I was snapped out of my thoughts by a familiar voice.

I looked up and smiled at the two in front of me.

“Hi.” I greeted them.

“Hi.” Skye smiled as Junhyung helped her sit down.

Her belly is pretty big by now, and I am glad to see Junhyung doing his job as a husband.

“Not gonna greet me, baby boy?” I asked.

“Why should I?” He said with a slight pout.

“Well, then.. It’s alright.” I mumbled, forcing a smile.

“Hi, Jace.” He said.

“Hi.” I mumbled.

“Why are you two so formal? Usually you two would be biting each other already.” Skye broke the awkwardness.

Junhyung and I looked at each other. I smiled at him, but he looked down at the menu instead. I turned to Skye but she just shrugged her shoulders.

“Order whatever you want! I’m paying!” I smiled.

“Everything on the menu.” Junhyung said, slamming the menu close.

“You sure?” I asked.

“Junroro~” Skye hissed.

She looked at me with the ‘ignore him’ look. We ordered whatever that was appropriate and waited for the food to come.

“Baby boy, you can be angry later on, but at least we’ll finish dinner first, okay?” I said.

He looked at me and sighed.

“Do you… really have to leave?” He asked, finally.

“We’ll talk about this later.” I said, sipping my tea.

“Please, just answer me.” Junhyung said.

“We’ll talk later.” I repeated myself.

I was saved when the waiter came with our orders.

“Junhyung, you said you were damn hungry. Eat.” Skye said, handing him the cutleries.

He was about to protest but shut up at Skye’s glare. I laughed at them. I am going to miss seeing them bicker. We ate dinner, chatting, laughing and poking fun at each other like how we usually would.

“I’m going to miss this.” I blabbered out.

“Then don’t go.” Junhyung said, biting down on his jaws.

“Why do you have to go? You want a job? I’ll get you a job. You want a girlfriend? I’ll introduce you a girl. Why do you have to leave? Why?” He asked like a child.

“Baby boy, you’re old enough to know why.” I said, sipping on my tea.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know.” He said.

“Junhyung ah, I know I look like a freaking carefree person, but I am not. I have my parents to take care. I can’t just leave home and never come back, can I?” I reasoned.

“But what about here? Tae Hyun, Ji Eun, Haneul… Me?” He said.

“Tae Hyun, Ji Eun and Haneul has you.” I said.

“And then me?” He asked.

“You…. You have them.” I said.

“If you were going to leave, then why did you even bothered to befriend me!?” He raised his voice, slapping the cup out of my hand.

Skye shot him a look, but Junhyung did not look over.

“Yah, stop it please.” Skye said to him.

“Are you okay with him leaving?” Junhyung asked her.

“Is it something we can control?” She asked.

“Why aren’t you putting in any effort to stop him?” He asked.

“Why should I stop him? Why should we stop him? Junhyung ah, why?” She asked.

“I don’t want him to leave! That’s why!” Junhyung said.

“Jace has his family to take care of. He is his parents’ only son. He has been here long enough. Junhyung, be reasonable.” Skye said.

“Are you calling me unreasonable now?” Junhyung asked.

“You’re pretty unreasonable now because you’re acting like a kid when you’re supposed to be acting like a father.” Skye said.

Junhyung’s expression changed. Skye should not have said that.

“Wanting my friend to stay, that is unreasonable? Really?” Junhyung said, standing up.

“Where are you going?” Skye asked.

Junhyung didn’t say anything, he just headed for the door.

“YAH!” Skye shouted.

“Hey, relax. I’ll go. You just eat, or something.” I said, going after Junhyung.

“Baby boy!” I yelled as I ran after him.

Once we out of the restaurant, he stopped and turned towards me. Before I could say anything, my cheek came in contact with his fist.

“I should have expected this.” I smiled, wiping the blood off the corner of my mouth.

He glared at me angrily.

“If you didn’t chase after me, it would have been the lamp post that got my punch. You asked for it.” He said.

I nodded, smiling at him.

“Why are you here? Why don’t you just go!? Fly back home now or something! I don’t care! I really don’t! Leave for all I care, like everyone else who came into my life ‘for fun’! Just ing go!” He pushed me.

“I didn’t come into your life ‘for fun’, what are you saying?” I asked.

His eyes filled with tears. He kept wiping them furiously to prevent the tears from flowing.

“I feel like some ‘Welcome’ mat, you know? People just come, step on me, leave their on my face, and then walk off as thou nothing happens, yet I still have to be here always like an idiot welcoming all those crap!” He shouted.

“Is this how you’re feeling? Is this how I made you feel? I am so sorry, it was never my intention to make you feel so terrible.” I said, feeling pretty guilty.

“I know I sound weird, like as thou I am in love with you or what! But I never had much people in my life! Honestly, apart from Haneul and MBLEAST, I never wanted to put in my heart and soul into anyone else. Then, Tae Hyun and Ji Eun came along. And, you. Why did you have to make me be willing to love and care for you and then leave? Is it very fun?” He asked.

I shook my head.

“Go, just go! It’s fine. Just leave.” He said, burying his face into his palms.

“How can I leave with you feeling so upset?” I asked.

 “Junhyung ah, listen, would you?” I said.

“Don’t Junhyung ah me. We’re not that close.” He said.

“That’s so hurting.” I said.

He looked slightly guilty, but covered it up quickly.

“Junhyung sshi, would you prefer me to call you like this instead?” I asked.

He did not say anything.

“I’ll take silence as approve then.” I smiled, sitting down on the steps.

“I really like you, you know. I don’t have any siblings. I grew up pretty lonely. You’re like a little brother to me. Very cute and very annoying at the same time.” I said.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, not looking at me.

“I really want to stay here, watch Tae Hyun, Ji Eun and your coming soon baby grow up, watch you and Skye have more kids perhaps. I thought about it, I really did. I could get a job here, build my own family here, and just… stay here, like… for life. Make this my home.” I said.

“But I can’t. I realized, I can’t.” I said.

He looked at me.

“Skye’s parents are okay on their own. They pop by as and when. When they grow old, I’m pretty sure they’ll be settling here. Your parents are here, no doubt. But my parents are back in my home country. I could be selfish and just tell my parents I’ll stay here and just send them money monthly. But my dad called me that day.” I said.

“He asked me when am I coming home. He says it feels like a hundred years since he saw me. From his voice, he sounded like as thou he aged a lot. Then I realize, yea, I have not met my parents in almost a year. No contact at all. I was so preoccupied with myself that I just simply forgot their existence. It was at that point of time in which I made up my mind. I need to go home, Junhyung sshi, please understand. I need to go home.” I said, almost pleading.

“You said you’ll buy me beer whenever Haneul gets angry at me, and then we’ll chat and you’ll send me home to cuddle with her. With you leaving, who is going to do that with me? And Tae Hyun, Ji Eun, do they even know you’re leaving? Also, Haneul and I, our baby is not even born yet. Don’t you want to see how he looks like? Why do you have to leave when things are falling into place nicely?” He cried.

“Oh please, don’t cry. You’re making me cry too.” I said, pulling him into my embrace.

“You said I am like your brother. I treat you like my hyung too, or else why would I put up with your nonsense? Why would I let you call me ‘baby boy’? Do you think that is a very glamorous nickname for a grown, straight father-to-be?” He yelled.

“Junhyung ah, I never knew you love me so much.” I laughed.

“Is it very funny? Am I a joke to you?” He pushed me away.

“Of course not! You’re my baby boy!” I pat his cheek.

“I am leaving, but I never said I would not come back, right?” I said.

“When?” He looked at me.

“Whenever I can. I’ll not miss out important events. Like perhaps if you and Skye are having your second, third, fourth, fifth child. I’ll come back to congratulate you guys or something.” I said.

“The next child would be the fourth one already.” He said.

“Skye’s having triplets?” I asked, surprised.

“I wish, but no. Tae Hyun and Ji Eun are the first two.” He said.

“You know, I simply love how you refer them as your child instead of adopted or something. It is their blessing to have you as their father.” I said, putting my arm over his shoulders.

“Let’s go for a drink.” I said.

“Haneul?” He asked.

“We’ll send her home first.” I smiled.

He looked slightly unsure.

“Why? You don’t wish to?” I asked.

He shook his head. When we headed back to the restaurant, our table was empty.

“The lady here just now left you two a note.” The waiter said as he handed us a slip of paper.

‘Left. Finish the food and go for a drink or what. Fight it out, cry in each other’s arms, drown yourselves in alcohol, do whatever it takes to smoothen things. Junhyung, you’re not allowed home if you’re sulking. Jace, if he’s still sulking, I’ll punch you. Naww kidding, love you both, have fun XOXO’

Junhyung and I looked at each other. This is so Skye~

We finished the food and when I wanted to pay, I was told she already paid for it. Junhyung and I bought alcohol from the supermarket nearby and headed towards a beach. We mixed our own drinks as we chatted and drank.

“You.. promised you’ll come back.. huh.” Junhyung said, tipsy already.

“I promise.” I said, gulping down the cup of whatever he mixed.

“Oh my gosh what the hell did you put in this?” I asked, feeling the hotness in my throat.

“I don’t know!” He laughed.

“Idiot! Drink sea water!!” I kicked him.

He rolled in the sand and started laughing. I had to pull him back or else he would roll himself into sea and I would have no Junhyung to return Haneul.

“Jace, you know something…” He said, making a ‘sand angel’.

“What?” I asked, lying down as well.

My head was spinning from all the alcohol.

“I forgot what I want to say.” He laughed.

“Never mind.” I smacked his stomach.

“Baby boy, you’re not a ‘welcome’ mat, okay?” I said, turning to him.

He looked at me, grinning.

“I know you’ve had a tough life. I know you’ve been through lots of stuff. But you’re not how you think you are, Junhyung ah~ Of course, we all meet horrible people in our lives, but they left, no? Those who stayed are the important ones. Just because you met lots of terrible people who walked in and out of you like you’re some door doesn’t make you a terrible person. It is just their loss because they do not know how to appreciate the goodness in you.” I said.

He looked at me with a slight pout.

“Do not put the crap they threw away on yourself. Don’t feel bad about yourself just because they don’t know how to appreciate you. It is their loss, not yours, so why are you taking responsibility for it? You deserve better. They walked out of your life, so be it, you never needed them anyway. People who love and care for you would stay despite knowing your flaws, Junhyung ah. Those are the people who truly love you and those are the ones you should concern yourself with. Those who want to stay in your life will stay in your life no matter what.” I said.

He nodded, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“So are you… the one to stay.. or to leave?” He asked.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“I really love you, hyung.” He threw himself onto me, hugging me tightly.

“I just started accepting the fact you’re such an . I am just starting to like the jerk-ish part of you. Why did you have to choose to leave now?” He cried.

“You make it sound like it is easy for me to leave everything here behind and just go. When I came, I really never expected to stay this long, neither did I expect to establish such a close relationship with all of you.” I said.

“But everything I never expected just happened.” I continued, crying as well.

“But really, baby boy, we’re not that far apart, you know. It’s still Asia.” I said.

“Next time, if you have no intention of staying for long, don’t befriend anyone.” He said, pulling away from me.

“Really, baby boy, I think you’ll be the only one whom I’ll ever treat like my brother. One of you is enough.” I poked him.

“What is that supposed to mean?” He asked, sounding offended.

“Just look at you! Crying like as thou I just told you I am going to die soon!” I .

“Who said I am crying!?” He yelled.

“Of course not. The sand got into your eyes, right?” I asked.

“YA! Who suggested to come to the freaking beach!?” He rubbed his eyes.

“You did.” I said, controlling my laughter.

“Aish!” He punched the sand.

We spend the night mixing drinks randomly and drinking. I had no idea when we fell asleep, but when we woke up, we were still on the beach, in each other arms, with empty bottles around us. Our heads were so heavy and our stomachs churned like a roller coaster. We had to call Skye for to pick us up.

We were expecting her to yell at us, but instead she cleared up our rubbish, handed us a plastic bag each and helped us into the car.

“Puke into the bag, please.” She said as she drove.

“Sor…ry.” I groaned.

“It’s alright.” She said, looking at me through the mirror, and then at Junhyung who was in the passenger seat.

“Did you guys settle stuff?” She asked.

“Guess so..” I mumbled.

“Then I guess this is worth it.” She laughed.

“Why are you ….” Before Junhyung could finish, he puked like crazy into the bag.

Hearing him puke made me feel like puking too. Skye had to stop the car to let us puke. She pat our backs as we vomited, but I knew she was grossed out too.

“Sorry.” I apologized again.

“It’s alright, really. Gross, but I think I am pretty used to it.” She laughed.

“Why?” I asked, leaning against the car for support as I massaged my upset stomach.

“Ever since I got to know Junhyung, whenever he is ill, he pukes. And if I leave him to puke, I think he’ll die. I am pretty use to it now, I guess. But still… ugh..” She made a face as she wiped Junhyung’s mouth.

“Better?” I heard her ask him.

He nodded, eyes closed.

“I’m so envious.” I said.

“Don’t be.” She said, pushing me into the car, buckling the seat belt for me.

“Stop me if you want to puke again.” She said, handing us plastic bags again.

“How many did you bring?” Junhyung asked.

“A lot.” She laughed.

Fortunately, we did not have to use it again. Junhyung and I both slept soundly on the way back.

Honestly, I am thankful for Junhyung’s outburst. If not because of that, I would never know how much I actually meant to him. It kind of makes me feel a little guilty for abruptly wanting to leave, but I have to. Now, I just have to tell Tae Hyun and Ji Eun about it.