“Hyung, how’s it going?”

“Hyungggg, why aren’t you answering?”

“Are you having fun?”

“You must be having fun ‘cause you’re not even texting back =’( “

“Text me later, okay?”

“Woohyunnie! Why are you ignoring me?!” Dongwoo whined, breaking Woohyun’s concentration.

He looked up to see his friend pouting at him and it made him feel somewhat guilty. They hadn’t hung out in ages and now that they were, he was paying more attention to his phone.

“Sorry, Dongwoo,” he said, putting his phone away before picking up the tongs in front of him to flip the meat on the grill between them. “Sunggyu-hyung is out with his wife today and I wanted to know how their date was going. But, I guess he’s having a lot fun ‘cause he’s not answering.”

Across from him, the dance instructor raised a skeptical eyebrow. Woohyun had kept him well informed on his plans and schemes to get Chungha to pay attention to him again, including befriending the mistress' husband.

“You’ve been spending more time with him than with me now,” he stated before pretending to cry. “You don’t like me anymore, Woohyunnie? Am I not enough for you?”

At the man’s “pitiful” display, Woohyun snorted. “You’re busy too with that new idol group!”

Dongwoo laughed. “Yeah… they’re debuting next month so it’s all hands on deck. Or feet. Hands and feet.”

Woohyun raised his glass. “To you!”

Dongwoo clinked his glass with his and both drank deeply. The burn of soju relaxed Woohyun’s tense body, allowing him to finally let go of all the heavy burdens he had been carrying.

His marriage was truly stressing him out and with Sunggyu out on a date with his wife for the first time in how long, Woohyun felt like he was running behind. His and Chungha’s relationship seemed like it was at a standstill.

“You keep looking at your phone like it’s about to run away. You really like this Sunggyu guy, huh?”

Woohyun blinked, his thoughts back to the present and realized that he had been staring at his phone on the table again. He looked up at Dongwoo, who was flashing him a mischievous smirk.

“Yeah, he’s a cool hyung,” Woohyun replied, feeling himself smile at the thought of the older man. He felt like he had already told Dongwoo everything about Sunggyu, but he hadn’t run out of things to talk about. “He bought me clothes and listens to me rant all the time and I told you, he brought me to see JYJ and introduced Jaejoong-hyung to me! You know how much I love Jaejoong-hyung!”

“If you could marry Jaejoong-hyung, you would,” Dongwoo commented with a laugh.

Woohyun couldn’t even deny it. “That’s not a lie,” he replied with a grin before looking down at his phone to see if Sunggyu had replied.

He hadn’t. It bummed out the chef a bit. He talked to Sunggyu so much these days that it was odd not hearing from him very much.

“Dude, you’re acting like a worried wife. Even more than your actual wife.”

Woohyun’s head shot up and he felt himself blush. Why was he blushing?!

“W-What?” He forced out a laugh, not exactly sure why his heart was suddenly speeding up. He only had one shot of soju so he couldn’t be drunk yet.

Across him, Dongwoo was oblivious to his turmoil as he picked up pieces of cooked meat and placing them on his plate. He didn’t seem to have heard Woohyun’s stammer as he happily began to eat.

Meanwhile, the chef found himself eyeing his phone again and this time, it lit up. Fast as lightning, he grabbed it.

Finally! A reply!

“Sorry, Woohyunnie. We were at the movies. We’re going to get lunch now before we go shopping. It’s been a pretty good day so far! I’ll tell you more about it tonight, okay? You have fun with your friend too!”

“Worried wife,” Dongwoo mumbled, making Woohyun turn red again.

Pretending not to hear, Woohyun simply sent a quick reply before returning to his food.

He steered the conversation back to Dongwoo, who was only too happy talk about the new idol group he had been training heavily for months.

Meanwhile, Woohyun listened as intently as he could while willing his heart to stop beating so fast and for his eyes to stop wandering to his now silent phone.

He had no idea what was happening to him. It was kind of scary.

“Make sure to romance her! And don’t forget to flash her that charming smile! She’ll fall for you in an instant! Sunggyu-hyung, fighting! Talk to you later!”

Letting out a chuckle at the encouraging text, Sunggyu replied, “Thank you for having so much faith in me. Talk to you later.”

“Who’s that?” Kyungmi asked him as he sent the text.

Sunggyu put the phone away so he could pay attention to his wife, who was sitting across the table from him with a menu in her hands.

They were at a simple, four-star restaurant for lunch after they had gone to see a movie together. Afterwards, they were going shopping. Sunggyu had to admit, he was having fun with Kyungmi. They so rarely went out and the fact that it was her who asked him to go on a date meant quite a lot to him. Perhaps, there was hope for their marriage after all.

“My friend,” Sunggyu replied to her as he picked up his own menu to scan it. “He was asking what I was doing today but I think he panicked when I didn’t respond while we were at the movies.” He chuckled again, a smile playing on his lips. “He can be such a worrywart, sometimes.”

He had thought about taking Kyungmi to INSPIRIT but since Woohyun wasn’t working that day, he figured he could save that trip for another day.

Kyungmi raised a brow at him, smiling in amusement. “They must be special,” she said.

Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, Sunggyu asked, “Why would you say that?”

Kyungmi shrugged. “You just look… different.” She tilted her head to the side. “I’ve never seen you smile like that before.”

Sunggyu’s heart picked up pace. “L-Like what?”

Kyungmi gestured to him with a hand. “That!”

“I don’t understand…” Sunggyu really didn’t. Kyungmi was being confusing.

His wife sighed deeply, giving up. “Never mind,” she relented before turning her attention back to her menu.

Sunggyu did the same, wondering why his heart was still beating quickly. It had been doing that a lot more since Sunday and at random moments too. He couldn’t help but wonder if he should see a doctor so he could figure out what was wrong with him.

After a satisfying lunch, Sunggyu and Kyungmi went to the mall – not one of the high-end ones that those from their social circle would visit but a simpler one visited by the average Koreans. Unlike most women of their status, Kyungmi was actually not a huge shopper so she surprised Sunggyu when she actually bought him a few clothes and a few things for herself (part of him wondered if they were for Kyungmi, herself, or presents for Chungha. It wasn’t like Sunggyu could just ask).

As they shopped, they talked about work, what was going on with each other’s friends (not that Sunggyu had many and Kyungmi had very few close friends), and even reminisced about the early days of their marriage (which felt really nostalgic, if he was quite honest. Those were simple days).

By the time they arrived home before dinner, they were laughing with each other, hands full of shopping bags, and feet aching from all the walking. It was a truly satisfying day.

One of their maids emerged out of the kitchen to welcome them home and ask if they needed dinner, but they both declined.

Sunggyu was ready to shower, get changed, text Woohyun, and go to bed. Kyungmi was surprisingly open to buying snacks from various food booths at the mall so they had eaten until their stomachs were bloated. Where and when she learned to eat simple street food snacks, Sunggyu didn’t know, but he suspected that Chungha may have had a hand in it. Woohyun was the same way; he had introduced Sunggyu to those exact same foods in the few months they had gotten to know each other.

“Sunggyu.”

Kyungmi was facing him now, her back rod straight and head held high. She flashed him a slight smile but they didn’t reach her ears nor did they held the same carefree joy that they had earlier.

“I’m going to go ahead upstairs,” she said, softly. “But… do you mind meeting me in my office in about ten minutes? I… I need to talk to you about something.”

His wife looked anxious, which was a rare sight for Sunggyu.

“Is everything okay?” he had to ask.

But, Kyungmi simply smiled and shook her head before taking Sunggyu’s bags from him, turning on her heels, and walking up the stairs to their bedroom with all of their shopping.

Meanwhile, a confused Sunggyu remained downstairs. Even if he wanted to go up to their bedroom too and rest, there was a part of him that said that Kyungmi looked like she needed a moment to be alone. Something was very wrong and he was concerned but he didn’t want to push her. She would tell him when she felt ready.

So, instead, he settled on the living room sofa. Taking out his phone, he texted Woohyun.

“Just got home. Had a great day. Kyungmi bought me clothes.”

He checked his e-mails, deleting spam and unimportant ones and taking note of the ones of importance. He was interrupted by Woohyun’s reply.

“I bet the ones I got you were better!”

At that, Sunggyu couldn’t help but laugh at the younger man’s silliness. He never thought he would meet such an amusing dongsaeng. After this whole ordeal was over, he hoped he and Woohyun would continue to stay friends.

“Did you have a fun day with your friend?”

“Yeah, tons! We had soju and barbecue.”

“Soju in the middle of the day?”

“It was just one bottle, hyung! To unwind. Things have been stressful lately. But, enough about me. What about you and Kyungmi? Are things better? I hope so. I’m planning on asking Chungha on a date too.”

They continued to the text each other for the next ten minutes, talking about random things. So, by the time he was leaving the couch to head up to Kyungmi’s office, Sunggyu was well aware of how relaxed he was feeling now, the stress of the day slowly leaving his bones.

He opened the door to see Kyungmi standing by her desk, reading a document. She looked up when he entered.

“Hi,” she greeted.

“Hi,” he responded, walking up to her. “So, what was it you needed to talk to me about?”

His wife put the document she was reading down on the desk before taking a deep breath as she faced him.

Sunggyu’s brows furrowed in worry because something was definitely bothering Kyungmi.

“Thank you for spending the day with me,” she said with a small smile.

“Of course. Any time. We should do it more.”

He expected her to agree or even say that she was too busy but would try to make time. But, instead, Kyungmi placed a hand on his cheek, gently. Her hand was warm against his skin. He couldn’t remember the last time she had showed him such simple yet sweet affection.

“Sunggyu, thank you for being the best husband any woman could ask for,” she said, slowly.

She was smiling but her eyes were showing a completely different emotion. It made Sunggyu’s stomach churn, uncomfortably with worry.

“I wish that I had been a better wife to you because you deserve it,” she continued, before removing her hand from his cheek and taking a step back.

Avoiding his eyes, his wife turned back towards her desk, opened a drawer, and took out a manila envelope. She turned back to him as she opened it, taking out some documents and handing them to him.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as Sunggyu took the documents, the churning in his stomach increasing tenfold. “But… I want a divorce.”

Woohyun was just wiping down the dining table after dinner when he heard it again.

A deep, contemplative sigh.

From the time he got home about two hours ago to after they had finished dinner, he noticed that Chungha had been a bit spaced out. She had been randomly sighing too. He had asked her if anything was wrong but she said she was just tired, but that excuse wasn’t really believable. Something was distracting and worrying his wife but she wasn’t telling him.

“You okay over there?” he asked, nonchalantly.

From the sink where she was finishing up washing the dishes, Chungha turned her head towards him with a strained smile and hummed in response before turning back to her task.

Woohyun sighed at his wife’s dismissiveness. It wasn’t like he could do anything since she wasn’t telling him what was wrong. They used to be able to tell each other everything. Now, they were both just full of secrets.

A ‘beep’ from his phone sitting on the coffee table interrupted his musings. There was a text message from Sunggyu.

“I’m parked in the corner a block from your building.”

Woohyun’s brows practically flew to his hairline as he stared at the message. It was an odd one. Why was Sunggyu at his place? Did he want Woohyun to come out and meet him?

As if answering his question, another text followed, “I need someone to talk to.”

It was quickly followed by a, “Please.”

Now, Woohyun was incredibly worried so he shoved his phone into his pocket before calling out to Kyungmi.

“Yeobo! I’m going out for a bit!”

From the kitchen, Chungha turned around, surprised. “Why? It’s already 8.”

Woohyun picked up his keys from the little dish on the cabinet. “My friend seems to be in trouble. I need to go see them. Don’t wait up.”

Grabbing his jacket, he quickly put it on and raced out of the apartment, texting an “On my way” to Sunggyu as he did so.

He jogged down the block, his eyes sharp as he scanned the area for the familiar sleek BMW.

He spotted it in the exact same crossing that the older man had parked at the last time they met up. Wasting no time, Woohyun continued to fast talk towards it and upon reaching the car, he peered into the tinted windows. The dim light of the street lamp did nothing to improve his vision so he gently knocked on the window.

It didn’t take long for him to hear the sound of doors unlocking so he quickly opened the door and slid into the passenger seat.

Sunggyu looked just like how Chungha looked earlier: spaced out and seemed to be in his own world. He didn’t even look like he noticed Woohyun come in, even though he opened the door.

“Hyung,” Woohyun called out softly as he reached out with a hand to place it on the older man’s shoulder.

This seemed to shake Sunggyu out of his daze as he turned his head to look at Woohyun. His eyes were blank, so Woohyun couldn’t read what was going on there. The older man looked utterly exhausted.

“Woohyun,” Sunggyu stated, simply.

He paused, as if thinking of what to say next. Then, he smiled a smile that was obviously fake. Woohyun wanted to reach out and hug him, just to offer even a little comfort.

“Let’s go drink,” the older continued.

Before Woohyun could even reply, Sunggyu had already started the car and began to drive. Stunned at the older’s impulsivity, Woohyun chose to remain quiet and, instead, texted Chungha that he might be home late because his friend needed him.

The entire ride was quiet. Woohyun didn’t even know where they were going. Even though he wanted to ask, he feared upsetting Sunggyu even more or triggering something unpleasant. Yet, he was confused.

Sunggyu had been out with a date with Kyungmi today. He was supposed to be happy and celebrating. But, why did he look like the world was ending and he had accepted his fate?

The older took him to a high-class bar that he could never afford on his own if he went alone. Sunggyu had asked for a private room along with a bottle of expensive bourbon.

It was after both men had settled on comfortable couches with a glass of alcohol and after they had toasted and taken a sip that Sunggyu finally spoke.

“Kyungmi asked for a divorce,” he stated, like he was simply talking about the weather.

Woohyun’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Wait. What?! Why?!”

Sunggyu shrugged. “Don’t know. I left without asking why.” He sighed. “I should have known that date was too good to be true. Who was I kidding? That she really wanted to be with me?”

He let out a humorless laugh before taking a swig of the bourbon and putting the glass back down on the table. He leaned back against the couch, hands at his stomach and eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

“Hyung…” was all Woohyun could say. He was at a loss for words.

Cheating was one thing but… asking for a divorce?

“You know what else?” Sunggyu continued. “She didn’t even talk about cheating on me. She even thanked me for being a good husband and apologized for not being a good wife.”

Woohyun swallowed. “Do… do you want a divorce, hyung?”

Sunggyu turned to him now with a contemplative look on his face. “I don’t know,” he answered, quietly before grabbing his glass again and draining it. “She even had all the papers ready.” He the glass back on the table before pouring more bourbon. “It’s like… she had planned it.”

That caught Woohyun’s attention. “Wait… so if she already had the papers… Then, she already went to see a lawyer? So… does this mean… she and Chungha…” Fear gripped at Woohyun’s heart. “Does this mean… Chungha might ask for a divorce too? Did they both see a lawyer?”

His heart began to tighten and Woohyun clutched at his chest, his breathing suddenly short.

Chungha was going to leave him, wasn’t she? This affair wasn’t a phase or on a whim. Their wives really wanted to leave them.

“Woohyun… Woohyun, calm down.”

Sunggyu’s voice was soothing in his ear as a comforting hand began to rub his back. Woohyun’s heartbeat relaxed and he turned his head to look at Sunggyu. The older was looking at him with a look of concern, the first real emotion he had shown all night.

“Woohyun, it’s okay,” the older said to him with a small reassuring smile. “We don’t know that yet. Maybe… Maybe it’s just Kyungmi. Maybe she did grow tired of being with me. We don’t know if Chungha feels the same as her.”

“B-But… Hyung…. What if… what if Chungha asks for a divorce too? H-Hyung… I… I c-can’t…”

His heart tightening again, he could feel himself hyperventilating at the mere thought of it.

How would their parents react? Their friends? Everyone thought they were okay and doing well. Everyone expected them to last forever and ever. What would they say if he and Chungha did divorce?

Woohyun felt himself being pulled into strong arms and his nose pressing into the fabric of an expensive shirt. Sunggyu was hugging him, rubbing his back in a soothing manner. Woohyun’s heart stopped its tightening and instead felt a sense of calm wash over him.

A soft chuckle interrupted his raging thoughts as Sunggyu released him from the hug. (Their first ever hug now that he thought about it.)

“I brought you here to comfort me and yet I end up trying to comfort you,” Sunggyu joked, the joyous tone back in his voice as he teased Woohyun.

Realizing that, yes, he was supposed to be the one comforting his heartbroken hyung, not the other way around, Woohyun hung his head in shame.

“I’m sorry, I’m not much help.”

He heard Sunggyu sigh and turned to the older. He was looking up at the ceiling again, his hand still resting on Woohyun’s back. It was warm and, Woohyun had to admit, quite comforting.

“It’s okay,” Sunggyu said. “I don't think I would know what to say either if it was you who had called me out.” He sighed again. “I don’t want to go home tonight.”

Taking his hand off of Woohyun’s back (the younger resisted the urge to pout), he picked up the bottle of bourbon again and poured himself another glass as well as filling up Woohyun’s half-full one. He picked up both glasses and handed Woohyun his before raising the glass.

“To us and our complicated love lives,” he stated, voice now devoid of the little joy he had earlier.

With a sigh of his own, Woohyun clinked glasses with him.

They ended up drinking well into the night and even moved into a Noraebang a couple of buildings away for some late-night jamming.

They sang Nell songs, JYJ songs, girl group songs, classic trot songs, and even songs in English about heartbreak and ty relationships.

That night, they tried to forget that they had wives waiting for them at home, wives who broke their hearts and left them in the dust. That night they sought a little joy in the drinks, food, songs, and each other to forget how their wives had fed them lies about love.

Not for the first and definitely not the last time, Woohyun wished he and Sunggyu had met each other under different circumstances. Maybe they would both be happier people instead of two heartbroken ones singing their hearts out in a Noraebang in the early hours of the morning.

It was 3am when they both finally decided to call it quits and go home. Well, for Woohyun, anyway. Sunggyu still refused to go home.

“You sure you’ll be okay, hyung?” Woohyun asked before getting into a taxi that would take him home.

Sunggyu smiled at him, a little sober now but still quite sad.

“I’ll be fine. I’m sorry for keeping you out so late. And thank you, Woohyun.”

Woohyun shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, okay, Hyung? I’m always here if you need me.” He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Sunggyu in a hug, giving him a short squeeze before letting him go. “I’ll check on you in the morning.”

Sunggyu nodded and watched as Woohyun got into the taxi. Woohyun waved goodbye at him until he could no longer see him.

His hyung was a grown man, yet, he couldn’t help but worry if he was going to be okay that night.

It wasn’t until he received a text shortly after he arrived home that Sunggyu was staying with Jaejoong that Woohyun finally breathed in relief.

As he laid in bed next to Chungha and watched his slumbering wife, Woohyun’s worries made themselves known again and he stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep despite how tired he was.

At some point, Chungha had rolled over to him and wrapped an arm around his waist, snuggling into his arm. Some weeks ago, this would have thrilled Woohyun.

Yet, at that moment, it brought him little comfort.

“Wait… so… you’re telling me… all this time… Woohyun’s wife and Kyungmi have been having an affair?”

Sunggyu nodded, feeling numb as he sat on his cousin’s expensive designer couch in his luxury condo. The older man had already been asleep with his actor boyfriend (who was staying over) when Sunggyu had called him and asked if he could stay over.

Bless his cousin who told him to stay put so he could pick him up since he didn't live too far from the area where Sunggyu was. Upon arriving, Jaejoong had asked him why he was out drinking so late. And Sunggyu no longer felt like hiding the truth so he spilled everything.

About the affair. About how he met Woohyun. About them trying to regain their wives’ affections again. About Kyungmi wanting a divorce.

Jaejoong continued, “And you two have been trying to split them up but nothing worked?”

Sunggyu answered, “Woohyun does most of the work, but pretty much.” He sighed. “You were right, hyung. Kyungmi doesn’t love me.”

He felt his cousin’s comforting hand on his shoulder. “Dongsaeng, I’m so sorry. But, maybe this is for the best.”

Sunggyu swallowed the lump in his throat. “Am I supposed to just give up? Just like that? I should at least try to get her back… right?”

Jaejoong flashed him a look of sympathy. “You know my answer to that, Sunggyu. I never approved of you marrying Kyungmi or marrying anyone for the sake of business. Don't get me wrong, Kyungmi is a wonderful woman but she’s not your match. But, you know that it wasn’t my place to say anything.”

“I know.”

Sunggyu just felt pathetic now. He didn’t know what he wanted or what to do. He not only imposed on Woohyun but his cousin now, too.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you and Yunho-hyung,” he said, apologetically.

Jaejoong shook his head. “Don’t worry about him, he probably didn’t even feel me leave. He sleeps like a log! You’re free to stay here for as long as you need, okay? You can stay in the guest room. Now, you need to get some rest. Plus, I’m willing to bet you’re going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow.”

Jaejoong patted his arm before standing up to lead him to the room. Sullenly, he followed his cousin throughout the halls of the luxurious condo. It was every single man’s dream bachelor pad but Sunggyu knew Yunho stayed there a lot. The boxes of cocoa puffs and bags of Cheetos in Jaejoong’s pantry were proof enough.

“Thank you, hyung,” Sunggyu said as soon as he was settled.

His cousin simply smiled at him. “Anything for my favorite dongsaeng!”

Before leaving, Jaejoong stood at the door and stated, “Isn’t about time you choose your own happiness, Sunggyu-ah?”

Sunggyu blinked. “But, I am happy, hyung. At least, I was before all this...”

Jaejoong looked skeptically at him. “Were you really? Or did you just tell yourself that because that’s what you were expected to be? It’s hard living a life of lies, dongsaeng. I do that everyday in a world where being who I am can ruin everything I worked hard for. But, having someone beside you who understands and care about you no matter what can make it more bearable."

“Hyung…”

Sunggyu didn’t know what to answer to that but his cousin wasn’t looking for one. He simply bid Sunggyu good night and left him to his own thoughts.

It took him some time to fall asleep, but not before texting Woohyun that he was safe and sound at Jaejoong’s place. He didn’t want the younger to worry. He had done that enough that night.

A/N: Some of you already suspected that Kyungmi was going to leave Sunggyu... and you were right! Sunggyu seemed really devastated about it and who better to comfort him than our Woohyunnie? They even had their first ever hug! Eeep! And, of course, cousin Jaejoong to the rescue! What happens now? Stay tuned to find out!

Also, I apologize if this was so late. Work has been so hectic! This chapter was actually supposed to be a little longer with more stuff happening but I felt like I already made everyone wait so I cut out the second part. But, good news for you, guys, is that it allowed me to have an extra chapter! 

As always, feel free to share your thoughts with me in the comments! 

'Til the next one!