The music boomed and the crowd cheered as the DJ changed the playlist to something more people could mindlessly dance to. Wonshik had given the towel back to Jaehwan, who threw it in a bin somewhere behind the counter.

“What are you drinking?” Jaehwan asked as he eyed him, corner of his mouth turned up slightly.

“Just coke.”

“No alcohol then? You sure you’re old enough to be here?” Jaehwan joked as he waved over one of the bartenders. The woman signaled that she would be with him in a minute.

“I’m old enough. I’m still reliving memories of my last hangover. No thank you.” He shook his head in disgust. Jaehwan laughed.

“What do you want, Ken? I have a lot of customers. I don’t need you buggin’ me.” The woman sighed as she pulled a piece of gum out of her apron and began unwrapping it.

“Now, now. No need for the sass.” He chided, voice playful, but Wonshik heard something a little more like disdain hidden under it.

“Well, what do you want?” She asked again, not noticing Wonshik standing there.

“My friend here would like a coke. It’ll be on me.” He said as he looked over at Wonshik and winked. The bartender finally noticed Wonshik and looked to where Jaehwan had gestured.

She looked back to Jaehwan.

“You’re racking up quite a tab here, kid.” She told him.

“I think my services do quite well to cover the tab, wouldn’t you say so?” He asked her, his smile sickeningly sweet. Wonshik felt like he didn’t belong in the conversation.

The woman stared at Jaehwan for another minute before she shrugged and turned back to do her job.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Wonshik said as he looked around them, purposefully not making eye contact with him.

“No, I didn’t have to. I wanted to.”

They stood in silence until the bartender brought Wonshik another drink.

“So, Ravi,” Jaehwan said, grabbing his attention.

“You going to tell me your real name? Or do you give fake names to everyone you meet in clubs?” Wonshik almost choked.

“Didn’t think I knew, huh?” Jaehwan leaned over the counter and looked directly into Wonshik’s eyes.

Wonshik shook his head and Jaehwan laughed.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want. I was messing with you. I wouldn’t tell a stranger my real name either but I have nothing to lose.”

“What do you mean?” Wonshik asked.

“You seem like a put together kind of guy. If you got involved with the wrong people, you’d have a lot on the line.” Jaehwan tilted his head as he watched Wonshik, almost calculating. Wonshik’s attention was drawn to Jaehwan’s face when the light caught a small silver ball on his left eyebrow.

“I’m pretty much a wreck so it doesn’t matter who knows who I am or not.”

Jaehwan watched as Wonshik looked up at him. Neither of them said anything.

Wonshik was startled when a hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around.

Hakyeon.

“We need to go.” Hakyeon was looking more towards the exit than at him.

“What’s wrong?” Wonshik turned and placed his glass on the bar. He glanced up at Jaehwan and offered a small smile in apology at the interruption.

“We just really need to go. I embarrassed myself. I can’t stay here.” Hakyeon started pulling on Wonshik’s shirt.

Wonshik looked up at Jaehwan again and without turning back towards Hakyeon, told him that they had to leave.

“Boyfriend troubles?” Jaehwan laughed. Wonshik felt heat rise to his cheeks.

“Uh, no. I don’t know. Uhm. I’ll see you around. Thanks again for the drink. Sorry I couldn’t repay the favor.” Wonshik told him as Hakyeon literally started pulling him towards the door.

Jaehwan waved his hand dismissively.

“No problem. Who knows? Maybe one day you can repay the favor.” Jaehwan winked. Wonshik nearly stumbled as he tripped over someone’s foot. When he looked back towards the bar, Jaehwan had already disappeared. Wonshik didn’t get the chance to look for him before the cool night air engulfed him.

Hakyeon seemed like he was on a search and destroy mission. His grip on Wonshik’s arm never letting up as he pulled him down the road. They garnered a few looks from passersby but neither of them said a word and neither did the strangers on the street.

When Hakyeon finally decided to stop, he stared at the ground, head low. Wonshik knew he was crying.

He didn’t say anything as he wrapped his arms around Hakyeon’s shoulders and pulled him into his chest.

“It’s okay.” He whispered, running a hand up and down Hakyeon’s back as he began to feel him tremble.

“Whatever it is, it’s okay.”

--

The next day would prove to be fruitless as he was given no answer for their brisk exit as Hakyeon refused to talk about what had happened that caused him such embarrassment. Wonshik tried to ask outright, but the look Hakyeon gave him made him fear for his life so he figured Hakyeon would talk about it when he was ready.

When Wonshik left his room that morning, he had run into Taekwoon, but when he realized it was Wonshik he was standing in front of, he turned right around and nearly sprinted back into his own room down the hall. If the door was slammed a little too forcefully, no one said anything.

Super short update, I know. I'm sorry.

I'm dealing with some issues right now. I don't know when the next update will be.

All I know is, right now it's 5am, I haven't slept, and I have a headache. But I hope this is intelligible.