“Lost”

~Part I~

The rain wouldn’t stop hitting harshly against the window at night. The lightning was terrifying as it lit the night sky one second and then disappeared the next. The thunders continued to roar loudly that even the sound from the television could not muffle it.

“When will it stop?” Hakyeon asked himself as he sat there in the living room all by himself. At times like this, he wishes he was back in the dorms with s.

It has been raining every single other day, and even Hakyeon began to miss the sun. He looked up at the sky, hoping that if he stared at it long enough, that the rain would eventually stop. He had the television, hoping that the sound from the drama he was watching would cover up the frightening sounds of the thunder but the weather outside was too distracting for him to focus on the episode.

“Why do I feel like I’ve watched this already?” Hakyeon couldn’t help but wonder since he wasn’t sure where in the episode he was at. He was going to watch the last episode that weekend of a long tv series he was catching up to but it seems like paying attention wasn’t an option.

He sat by the mini pots of cactus next to the television and wondered when it was the last time he had given them water but at the same time, he was worried that his poor plants weren’t getting enough sunlight either.

He let out a disappointing sigh and just as he did, someone was trying to put in a passcode to his entrance door but failed. After two attempts, that person started to bang on Hakyeon’s doors.

Hakyeon jolt from his spot and looked at the clock on his wall.

Don’t tell me it’s a burglar, Hakyeon fears.

It was way too late for any visitors so he became a little uneasy as he made his way towards the doors. As he peeked through the door hole, he was surprised to see a familiar face waiting outside for him.

Hakyeon immediately opened the door.

“Taekwoonie?” Hakyeon saw his lifelong friend at the doorsteps, disheveled and drenched. “Oh my goodness, what happened? You’re completely soaked!”

“Hakyeon-ah,” Taekwoon looked up sadly at Hakyeon and then, he approached the leader tightly with a hug.

The lifelong friend didn’t say much but Hakyeon welcomes Taekwoon inside from the pouring rain. Taekwoon didn’t say a word as he sat next to Hakyeon on the sofa after getting changed and it was starting to scare the leader a bit.

“Did something happen?” Hakyeon initiated a conversation as the two of them sat in front of the television watching a drama that Taekwoon probably has no idea what it was about.

Taekwoon simply shook his head and then leaned against Hakyeon’s shoulders before closing his eyes. He wrapped his arms tightly around Hakyeon’s arms, and his complexion was worrying. Hakyeon didn’t know what to do as it looked like Taekwoon wanted to cry. Unconditionally, Hakyeon gave his lifelong friend a warm hug and just as he did, Taekwoon grasped desperately at Hakyeon’s shirt so much that it was starting to wrinkle up. The sounds of Taekwoon’s tears could be heard, and as quiet as they were, they were enough to make Hakyeon forget the stormy weather outside.

The two of them eventually fell asleep on the sofa that night while Taekwoon lies on Hakyeon’s chest without moving an inch.

As the morning approached, Hakyeon could hear the birds chirping happily outside and through the small opening of the curtains, he noticed the sun has finally appeared. It felt like ages since he’s seen it and he almost wanted to jump up from his spot and open the curtains so that his plants could bathe in the sun. But that’s when he remembers that Taekwoon was still in his arms. Hakyeon looked down on the sleeping vocalist and saw the crown of his lifelong friend’s head. Is it strange to think that someone could look so cute just looking at the top of their head? Hakyeon couldn’t help but Taekwoon’s jet-black hair that seems to be growing longer each day.

“Mmm…” Taekwoon mumbles and dug his head closer against Hakyeon’s chest even more. It was adorable.

But Hakyeon felt his arms feeling numb since most of Taekwoon’s weight was on it. So, he tries to call out Taekwoon’s name loudly yet soft enough to wake his friend up.

“Taekwoon-ah,” Hakyeon said gently.

Taekwoon mumbles again as if he didn’t hear anything.

“Taekwoonie. It’s morning. Wake up,” the leader tries again.

Finally, Taekwoon opens his eyes. From his gestures, Taekwoon seems rather confused as he tried to figure out who’s chest he was leaning on. When he looked up and saw Hakyeon’s face, he was shocked.

“H-Hakyeonie?” Taekwoon didn’t seem like he remembers what happened previous night and simply stared at Hakyeon with a surprised expression.

“Gosh sleepyhead, it’s time to wake up,” Hakyeon have his friend a warming morning smile.

Taekwoon suddenly looks as if he wanted to cry again but this time, he started to caress Hakyeon’s face and traced the leader’s facial structures with his large honey fingers.

Did he lose weight? Hakyeon finally notices how light his friend have gotten.

“It’s really you,” Taekwoon said. “You’re really here.”

“Huh?” Hakyeon was confused.

After a while, Taekwoon finally got off of Hakyeon and went to wash up. But Hakyeon noticed that his friend couldn’t take his eyes off of him, why?

Is something wrong? Hakyeon really felt like asking.

As he waited for Taekwoon to wash up, Hakyeon decided to make the initiatives and prepare breakfast. There wasn’t much in the fridge it seems, making him wonder when was the last time he went to the supermarket. Maybe it’s because he’s been so busy with schedules that he’s completely forgotten it. So, he simply grabbed whatever was leftover for breakfast while hoping that Taekwoon wouldn’t mind such a harsh breakfast.

I’ll go out later and buy more food, Hakyeon reminds himself.

While Hakyeon began to prepare for breakfast, he heard Taekwoon’s footsteps walk out of the bathroom.

“Breakfast is almost ready, just wait a little longer,” Hakyeon said cheerfully.

He glanced from the side to see Taekwoon standing there watching for a minute before taking another step forward. Taekwoon eventually walked closer to Hakyeon and suddenly, surprisingly, wrapped his arms behind Hakyeon while he watches the leader cook.

“T-Taekwoonie?” Hakyeon was shocked since he’s never received such an affectionate hug from his friend before, especially not a back hug. “A-are you hungry? I’m almost done, so just sit down and wait for me.”

Taekwoon didn’t seem like he wanted to let go for a minute but after a little longer, he finally behaved like a good child and helped the leader set the table for two. The two of them had a quiet breakfast but Hakyeon did notice the glances he kept receiving from the silent vocalist. When did Taekwoon grow back to being so quiet?

“Um, I don’t want to pry or anything but is something wrong?” Hakyeon was worried.

Taekwoon looked at the leader for a second, as if he wanted to say something but then shook his head,” it’s nothing.”

“Are you sure? You were crying last night! You seriously freaked me out!”

“S-Sorry. It’s really nothing. I was just too drunk.”

“Really? Gosh, you need to stop drinking so much when you can’t even handle it like the others. If I’m weak against alcohol, you’re just as bad as me,” Hakyeon began his lecturing.

“I’m just tired. I won’t do it again, promise,” Taekwoon said.

“That’s good to hear. Drinking isn’t good for you. You need to take care. You and I aren’t young anymore,” the leader felt a bit of a jab as he reminded himself of his age.

“I know… sorry,” Taekwoon apologizes again.

“Anyways, I’m sorry about breakfast too. For some reason, there wasn’t much in the fridge even though I swear I stocked up not too long ago,” Hakyeon said. “I’ll go to the supermarket later and grab more food.”

“No! You can’t!” Taekwoon shot up from the chair, filled with disagreement against a simple statement.

“Huh?”

“I-I mean, I’ll go instead,” he said.

“What? Why would you go buy grocery for me?” the leader was genuinely confused at the vocalist’s strange behavior.

“No, I meant…” Taekwoon bit his lips nervously. “I’ll go with you then.”

“Sure! You can help me carry the bags,” Hakyeon felt happy to know he got an extra pair of hands to buy the groceries.

After breakfast, the two of them got changed into casual clothes, Taekwoon borrowed one of Hakyeon’s hoodies but none of the leader’s pants was his size since his legs were obviously much longer. Taekwoon took over the wheels, not allowing Hakyeon to drive at all.

“It’s okay, you should rest,” Taekwoon said as he helped Hakyeon buckle up the seatbelts and patted the leader back against the seat.

“Huh? But aren’t you a little hungover?” Hakyeon felt bad for making Taekwoon do everything.

“I’m fine now. Just rest. It’s not far anyway.”

“If you say so.”

As the two made their way to the supermarket, Hakyeon notices that Taekwoon kept glancing back at him, but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t as if it was bad but it made the leader feel a bit awkward. He wants to know what’s on the vocalist’s mind but all Taekwoon did whenever he got caught staring at the leader in the car, was smile gently back.

Yet, that smile looked really sad.

Taekwoon and Hakyeon finally reach the supermarket which was rather crowded for a weekday. Taekwoon grabbed one of the shopping trolleys and pulls the leader to his side.

“Don’t wander off,” Taekwoon said.

“I won’t. I’m not a kid,” Hakyeon chuckles happily.

The two was able to get a lot of food that day, enough for an entire month almost since Hakyeon lives alone. He almost got worried that maybe the food is too much but Taekwoon paid for it all.

As Hakyeon waits on the side for Taekwoon to return the shopping cart, someone bumps into Hakyeon.

“Ow,” Hakyeon said.

But the man didn’t look back at Hakyeon and rudely walked away.

“What the heck?” Hakyeon wasn’t happy about it.

“Is something wrong?” It was Taekwoon’s turn to ask the leader.

“Huh? Nothing. Someone just bumped into me without saying sorry. People are so rude nowadays,” Hakyeon grumbled.

“I see…” Taekwoon looks as if he was thinking about something for a minute. “Don’t worry about them. Let’s go home.”

“Uh sure,” Hakyeon agreed. But it felt strange… did Taekwoon just say ‘home’ as if the two were living together or something?

Taekwoon took care of Hakyeon all afternoon and even took the bags of groceries up, leaving the leader only a small handful of things to carry. He walked in front up to the leader’s apartment as if he was taking the lead.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Taekwoon punches in the passcode to Hakyeon’s apartment without hesitation.

“You know my code?” Hakyeon asks his friend. He doesn’t remember giving it to Taekwoon at all.

“Uh, yeah… Manager-hyung told me it. Sorry,” Taekwoon said. “Anyways, let’s put everything in the fridge before they melt.”

“Good idea!”

Hakyeon watches Taekwoon put away each item without asking, as if he lives in the apartment too or for some reason knows where the leader puts his things in the kitchen. It was really strange for Hakyeon since he doesn’t remember the vocalist ever coming over for a visit until last night. Though Hakyeon was happy from all the help he was getting, he couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy from his friend’s kind gestures.

Night fell and Hakyeon was expecting Taekwoon to leave but even after dinner, it didn’t seem like the vocalist had any intentions of going back to his own home.

“Aren’t you going home? It’s getting really late. It’d be bad if you go home late, the others will worry,” Hakyeon said.

“... I don’t want to go home. I want to stay here together with you,” Taekwoon said.

“Huh?” Hakyeon was surprised by the other’s bold statement. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“Do you hate me?” Taekwoon asked with a broken expression, obviously hoping that the answer was one he wants to hear.

“Of course not! But you can’t stay here forever,” Hakyeon began to worry.

“Why can’t I? I want to stay here forever. I’ll go anywhere as long as it’s with you,” Taekwoon rushes to Hakyeon’s side in desperation and held the leader tightly. “Don’t tell me to leave.”

Taekwoon’s voice cracked. It was obvious that he really didn’t want to leave Hakyeon’s side but the leader couldn’t understand why at all. It didn’t make any sense. True, the two of them have known each other for more than ten years now and even went to the army together. They told each other almost everything as if they were really brothers and really lifelong friends but no matter how hard Hakyeon tries to think of a reason, he couldn’t explain why Taekwoon was suddenly so clingy or affectionate towards him.

When did the latter suddenly change? What changed between the time they last saw each other? It just doesn’t add up. Something was missing.

But what?

A/N:

Hey guys, I have a question. I was thinking of adding some AU one-shots in this series but what's a good way for me to separate the AU-ideas versus the real life ones? And how do you feel about me writing short AU one-shots?