Hakyeon is anxious.

He was sweating profusely since this morning.

The salon called that Taekwoon hasn’t come yet to do his makeup.

He had been trying to call his phone but he doesn’t answer any one of it and soon the phone was off.

Hongbin went into the room with a smile and dressed in a grey tuxedo, and soon faded when he saw unhappy Hakyeon.

“Are you okay?”

He pulls few face tissue from the box and helps him wipe his sweat.

Hakyeon simply shakes his head, hands shaking on his lap.

Hongbin becomes worried.

He kneeled in front of him, trying to find his eyes and soon the fragile man drops a tear and then more.

“Oh God. Why are you crying? What’s wrong?”

“He. Taekwoon. He doesn’t show up.”

“What?”

“The salon call this morning and now too. He hasn’t went there yet. Hongbin ah. What if, what if he doesn’t want this marriage to happen?”

“It’s bull Hakyeon. It was his idea to get married. Maybe he just overslept?”

Hongbin guessed but it wasn’t a bit of a help.

“Bin ah. What do I do? Only 20 minutes left.”

“I’ll try get hold of him.”

He said holding Hakyeon’s arm.

“Stay strong. Don’t cry anymore. You are lovely when you smile.”

He cups his left cheek and soon is out of the room.

Hakyeon taps his feet on the floor, anxiously biting his lips.

“What if I made a mistake on getting married?”

He thought and silently prayed that Taekwoon is just late like how Hongbin guessed.

Hongbin on the other hand was on the phone, trying to get through Taekwoon but failed.

“Pick up the phone you bastard.”

He cursed with a grunt and tried calling Sanghyuk, the one he knows close to the latter.

“Hyung.”

The younger answer but Hongbin doesn’t have time to talk nicely and right away he asked.

“Where the hell is your brother?”

“Taekwoon hyung?”

“Don’t lie that you don’t know because you wasn’t here. You must know about his agenda.”

“Hyung, I’m sorry but Taek hyung. He. He left.”

“Left? What do you mean by that?”

“He said that he made a mistake that he shouldn’t ask Hakyeon hyung to marry him. He left.”

“Mwo? Yah. Where are you now? Where did that bastard go?”

“I don’t know hyung. He just left.”

“Damn.”

He cursed, ended the phone call and straightaway trying to call Taekwoon.

“Haishh, I always had this bad feeling about him.”

He try calling again and again until he answers him.

“Taekwoon!”

He yelled and he heard he groans at his voice.

He and Taekwoon never get along well, period.

“Why aren’t you here yet man? Hakyeon is waiting for you. Only 15 minutes left before the last call for the groom.”

“I won’t come.”

He said shortly making Hongbin gasps in horror.

“No no no. You are coming you bastard. Come here right now or I’ll.”

“I’m not there in Korea. I’m in China.”

“Mwo? Yah Taekwoon! What do you think you are doing?”

“Please tell Hakyeon that I’m sorry.”

Taekwoon said with his usual soft voice before he ends the call.

Hongbin blinks; trying to decipher the situation and soon he let out the breath he was holding.

“Hakyeon ah. What’s going to happen to you now?”

He did walk to Hakyeon room, he was biting his lips and he saw how white his lips are.

His hands still is shaking, he is nervous.

Not because of the marriage, but more about that ; Hongbin thought.

He went to Hakyeon, kneeling like earlier and Hakyeon look at him.

“Hongbin ah. How?”

Hongbin shakes his head, holding his now cold hand.

“He left Hakyeon ah. He left.”

“Taekwoon left me?”

Hongbin nods, his eyes looks sad.

He hates it when Hakyeon cry and more when he was crying due to heartbreak.

He was there, been there with Hakyeon since their teen days.

Only God knows how he loves his friend but Hakyeon only sees him as a friend.

He is okay with that.

What if he lose Hakyeon if he did confess?

He doesn’t want to think about it at all.

Hakyeon’s face was on his own palm; crying and crying.

“I made a mistake Bin ah. I shouldn’t agree. Omma and appa must be having a hard time if this wedding is to be call off.”

“I understand.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

Hongbin rubs Hakyeon’s arm, pulling him close to him before he embraces the smaller.

“Don’t cry. We’ll find solution to this.”

“He wasn’t coming. I’m just ruined.”

Then, Hongbin was determined; he swallows before he removes Hakyeon from his chest and look into the latter eyes.

“Hakyeon ah, you believe in me right?”

Hakyeon nods even though he was puzzled.

Hongbin nods and stands up.

“You are going to get married today.”

“But how? Taekwoon. He.”

“I’ll be the man. I will marry you.”

“Bin ah. But.”

“I know. We are not in love.”

He said with so much difficulties, a hand on his side but he fakes a smile.

“We can just get divorce after the heat went down. We can still save the day.”

“It’s not fair for you Hongbin. You always help me. I’m embarrassed to face you.”

“Don’t, silly.”

Said Hongbin, grinning as walks to Hakyeon, cupping the latter cheek.

“Just say yes. I’ll make the changes as swiftly as I can. About Taekwoon, we’ll figure it out later. So are you okay with it?”

Hakyeon fiddles for a second before slowly nodded.

Hongbin smiled.

“You did great. Just come out when you are to come out, I’ll take care of everything.”

Hongbin walks out and moves to change few things and he did pulls out the name, hid the picture and change the name in the MC cue sheet.

Hongbin put his hand on his chest.

“Let’s do this.”

He said and soon the wedding starts.

***

“Taekwoon left?”

Hakyeon sadly nods and Mrs. Cha quickly holds him in her arm.

“Oh Hakyeon. I’m sorry.”

“No omma. I am sorry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t trust him.”

“You are in love with him son. Of course you trust him.”

“Bin ah. Chinca gomawo. You save our face.”

“Aniyo abeoji. I should at least do this for Hakyeon.”

“Gurae. Hongbin always is the mature one.”

Said Mr. Cha and pats the younger shoulder.

“Rest for now. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

The older couple left them in their room and Hakyeon sighs, sitting on the bed.

Hongbin sat on a chair that he brought in front of Hakyeon and took his spouse hands.

Hakyeon looks at him.

“Nothing change Hakyeon. We are still like us back then. We are now married, but it won’t change anything. I’ll go back to my house tomorrow. You can choose if you want to stay here or I’ll be more than welcoming if you want to come.”

“Hongbin ah. Thank you. I am the only one receiving in our friendship. I feel bad.”

“No you don’t. You cook for me and make me feel how family is when you introduced me to your family. What I did is a small favour.”

He ruffles his friend’s hair and smiles.

“Go wash up and sleep. It’s been a long day.”

Hakyeon nods and instead of going to the bathroom, he unlock his phone and his shoulder hunched when he did.

Hongbin pretends he wasn’t looking but as soon as Hakyeon went into the bathroom, he let out a long sigh.

“I made the right decision didn’t I? I can take really good care of him now. Yeah. Only until we are still married.”

He went to the couch and lie down with his arm across his forehead.

***

“I’m going home today.”

Hongbin said after breakfast and Hakyeon parents reluctantly let him go.

He smiles and gives Mr. Cha a hug and kisses Mrs. Cha cheek.

“Hakyeon ah.”

Mrs. Cha called him and soon Hakyeon went down, a luggage in his hand.

“You are coming?”

Hongbin asked and he nods.

“I can right?”

“Of course.”

Hongbin said, happiness evidence on his face.

“Darling, be good to Hongbin neh. Don’t’ overthink.”

“I will omma.”

She hugs her son and Mr. Cha did the same.

Hongbin loads their luggage in his car boot and helps Hakyeon in before he drove to his house which is 20 minutes away from the Cha’s.

Hakyeon is silent and so Hongbin let him be.

He look at Hakyeon from time to time just to see if he is okay but he was wearing a stoic face; he couldn’t read that.

They arrived a moment later, Hakyeon smiled.

He loves being in Hongbin cosy house and spend quite sometimes there, before he met Taekwoon.

He sighs when he thinks about the latter.

He still couldn’t grasp on how he can just leave like that; just few hours before their marriage.

“Heyy, kenchana?”

Hongbin asks when he comes back to fetch the last bag.

Hakyeon smiled at the kindhearted man and shakes his head.

“I just miss it here.”

Hongbin ruffles his hair like he use to do and ushers him to go in.

“Maybe it’s going to snow soon. The breeze is so cold.”

“Hongbin ah. It’s snowing.”

Hakyeon said and both look up to the tiny droplet of white snow which just started to drop.

“Wow.”

Hongbin mutters, slightly looking at how sad Hakyeon eyes were.

Right, couples were supposed to enjoy it; not them.

Hongbin quickly went in after, letting Hakyeon take his time.

He puts all of Hakyeon’s thing in his room, smiling at the shining metal on his ring finger.

He was married just like that.

He wonder if his colleague and staffs will believe him.

But again, Hongbin tend to be secretive.

“They’ll understand.”

Hongbin thought and went to the kitchen and make them hot coffee, chocolate for Hakyeon.

“You can just let me do it Bin ah.”

Hongbin simply gave him a cup and sat on the stool.

Hakyeon copied him, untangled the scarf on his neck.

“Still I make the best chocolate drinks right?”

“True. The best.”

Hakyeon said and sips the fluid slowly, to enjoy the sweetness of it.

He at least need something sweet right now.

Hongbin knows him just well.

“I have a meeting at 2.00. Just rest, okay.”

“Sure.”

“Watch TV or anything. I’ll buy some groceries when I return.”

“Let’s go together? I have something to buy too.”

“I’ll fetch you then.”

“Deh.”

“Unpack and make yourself at home. I have to review the slideshow.”

“Neh.”

“Hakyeon ah.”

Hakyeon looks at Hongbin, puzzled.

Hongbin shakes his head then, smiled.

“Aniya.”

***

“How is it at home?”

“Boring?”

Hakyeon chuckles, trying to sound sincere.

Hongbin saw the hesitancy in Hakyeon’s eyes, so he too just laughs it over.

“Of course you will. There is nothing in our house.”

Hongbin wants to use our now because all of his is Hakyeon’s too; right after he said the vow yesterday.

“Do you want some books? We can buy some too.”

“That would be nice. I was thinking of buying some too.”

“Great.”

Hongbin answers; and the conversation stops there.

Hakyeon is more interested in looking out of the window instead of him.

Hongbin understands; he believes he do and he park the car when they arrived, slightly patted Hakyeon’s arm and he smiles, unbuckle his seat belt.

They walk to the meat market firstly, it was Hakyeon who pulls Hongbin’s arm there.

“I want to cook for you.”

He said and Hongbin nods, smiling like he always do.

He stood and wait for Hakyeon to do his purchase and he place the meat in the trolley that they fetch earlier.

“Vegies.”

Hongbin nods again and follows Hakyeon to the vegetable and fruit section.

Once again Hakyeon choose what he wants, Hongbin just helps him when he ask to choose; from yellow to red paprika and from melon to watermelon.

“We are done here?”

Hongbin asks when Hakyeon checks on their trolley.

“I think so. Do you have anything to buy?”

“I think you had go through my fridge and remember which to buy.”

Hakyeon chuckles.

“We’ll just have to buy my books now.”

“Right. Buy whichever, I’ll buy it.”

“Aniya. I will.”

“I insist.”

“Gurae.”

When Hongbin said he insist, Hakyeon knows he will do it.

He knows Hongbin too long to know it.

So they then went to buy few books, novel and magazines before they head back home.

***

They had been married for almost six months.

Things going normal like their first days.

Still married to each other, Hakyeon still had his bad days sometimes and Hongbin will ignore it, giving his spouse time.

But it feels different, maybe to Hongbin side that he is now a husband.

He feels the responsibility; that he has someone waiting for him back at home when he returns from work.

He too knows he had another mouth to feed when he feel tired of his superior.

“I’m home.”

He said, removes his coat and tie, sitting on the couch tiredly.

Hakyeon came to him few seconds later, a glass of water in his hand and he gives it to Hongbin.

He gulps it all, sighing at the cool liquid flowing down his throat.

“Do you want me to get your bath ready?”

“It’s okay. I can do it. Sit.”

Hongbin said and moves a bit for Hakyeon to sit.

“What did you do today?”

It’s a habit; Hongbin comes home, Hakyeon brings him a glass of water, he asks him what he did today and Hakyeon will ask the same.

He went to take a bath, have dinner together and they went to sleep.

The routine replay each day, they will skip the routine only if they went to Hakyeon’s parent’s house to stay for the night or if Hongbin went to visit site and comes back only after two days.

Hakyeon hasn’t working yet, since the day he resign his position as a dance teacher.

It was Taekwoon’s idea; asking him to resign as he wants him to move to him to another town in Seoul.

He did, foolishly give up his favourite thing to do for him; yet he left.

He tried going back but the post is filled.

He went back defeated but Hongbin told him that he can just stay at home, he can feed them both.

So here they are, acting like a married couple that had their own role.

Hakyeon is the wife; he cook and clean while Hongbin is the husband; he went to work and feed their family of two.

Hongbin’s colleague get to know about his marriage only after he told them that he has a wife waiting at home when they told him to join their drinking spree.

Hongbin is a good drinker; he doesn’t fall dead drunk but he just want to come home to see Hakyeon’s face before he sleep.

They sleep together but they aren’t having any intimate romance yet.

They did not kiss anymore, their wedding kiss is the last.

Hongbin will, sometimes kisses Hakyeon’s forehead when the latter have nightmares or crying for his pathetic life but that’s it.

He never cross the path.

Even he loves Hakyeon so badly, he can’t be selfish.

They are bound together in this marriage, but it’s not out of love.

He is in love but Hakyeon loves another person.

He is satisfied with just that.

He is, he convinced himself every day.

“Are you free this Saturday?”

“Yes. Wae?”

“The kids, they said they never see my wife. So.”

“Okay, let’s throw a party.”

“Is it okay with you? If you feel reluctant, I can just tell them to have the feast by themselves.”

“And make you appear bad? I don’t want that.”

“I just don’t want you to be you know awkward.”

“I won’t. I have to entertain your people too. The one who work with you. It’s part of my job as a wife.”

Hakyeon patted Hongbin’s hand and all his fatigue was eased from his shoulder, Hongbin feel.

“Thanks Hakyeon ah.”

Hakyeon smiled and then he hides his wariness.

“I’ll just go and take a shower so we can eat.”

“That’s sound great.”

He responds and sigh as he went to the kitchen.

“What will Hongbin say when he knows?”

He mumbles as he heated the food.

The scene from earlier makes he feel down.

Earlier this afternoon, Hakyeon went out to the café near their house because he feels stuffed and wants to have some coffee while he read.

He regrets his decision after half an hour in there, a man that he really hate to see appear before him, spotting a warm smile as he look at him.

Hakyeon hated how he likes it when Taekwoon smiled.

He is married and it is a betrayal to Hongbin, he thought, trying to stay composed.

“Hakyeon ah. How are you?”

“Good as you can see.”

“You seem to gain a bit of weight there.”

Taekwoon simply said and Hakyeon doesn’t deny it; he did gain some weight.

He is happy now, he doesn’t know why but he is happy.

Just at the thought of Hongbin, he is happy.

“You too, look good.”

“Let’s just stop with the formalities Yeon. I came back, for you.”

Taekwoon said and Hakyeon’s heart hammered inside his chest.

Is he excited?

Hakyeon shakes the idea off; he won’t be.

He wants to stay loyal to Hongbin.

He is the best; even though he married him due to circumstances, he treats him nice, like a real husband.

“Why?”

He managed to utter, ignoring his piercing stares.

He really wants to know.

Why he left and why did he comes back again, today.

“I’m stupid. And I stupidly leave you because I think I’m not ready yet. But after I live there, I know how much you meant to me.”

“Just like that?”

Hakyeon chuckles.

“You are so shameless.”

“Hakyeon, you are not falling for Hongbin now doesn’t you?”

Hakyeon opens his mouth but can’t say anything so he shuts it again, looking down at his books.

“See, you don’t’. Just come back to me.”

“I am married.”

“You have to. Look, I apologized for that. I made you come to that decision. But now I’m back. Let’s get married for real.”

Taekwoon took his hand and brought it to his chest, cupping it with both hands.

Hakyeon was about to sway, thank God his phone buzzed so he pulls his hand and put them on his lap.

“Don’t Taekwoon. I won’t go back to you.”

He took all of his things, in quick manner, Taekwoon wants to stop him but Hakyeon was fast to grab all of it and scampers out of the café.

He follows him and when Hakyeon took a bus, he heard Taekwoon yelled.

“I know where Hongbin lived.”

Hakyeon was still in a bubble of his own when Hongbin emerged into the kitchen with a fresh look.

“Hakyeon?”

He called, poking on his wife’s arm.

Hakyeon was surprised and almost drop the spoon if not Hongbin catch it.