One
Before All The Longings+++++
"Joonmyeon!"
He turns at the call of his name and sees his senior heading towards him with one hand up in the air, waving at him. He waves back and lets himself being trapped inside the tightest hug he has gotten in a while. "Nice to see you too, hyung. You can let go now."
Minseok laughes, giving the younger one last squeeze before loossening his arms around Joonmyeon's body. "I thought you couldn't make it."
"Yeah, I am so sorry about that. The presentation got dragged and they were arguing and..." Joonmyeon lets out a sigh before smiling at the new groom. "I managed to slip away because I know I won't hear the end of it if I missed this so... Congratulation on your marriage!"
A rectangle box is being presented at him and MInseok's eyes glisten. "Is this what I think it is?"
"If you think it is that chocolate set from White Sugar, then you are wrong!" A pout appears after his exclamation before the cute smile from earlier comes back. "Congratulation again, hyung." Joonmyeon smiles back.
"Thank you so much. Will you stay?"
He nods. "I need something to clear my mind from all those coding. Also, I have something to settle with Luhan hyung." Joonmyeon cranes his neck, searching for the said person among the guests. "Where the heck is he?!"
Minseok rolls his eyes at the younger's antic. "He is inside. I will come with you."
"No, it's fine. I can see him later. You just go and greet your guests. I'll be camping at the open bar."
He smiles at Joonmyeon's chosen word and gives his junior a quick hug. "Don't drink too much."
Joonmyeon nods and watches MInseok getting further and further away as his figure disappears among the crowds. He locates the open bar again and smirks to himself. A proper amount of buzziness is needed before he confronts Luhan later so he better starts now.
The bartender's specialty easily passes his system and he asks for another glass. He turns his stool around as the male fixes his drink and just staring at the crowds dancing on the open court. Being a final year student takes the fun life out of him. Even just thinking about going to a club to release some stress making him tired. He had better use that time to catch up with his sleep.
A clank catches his ears and he turns back around to see his drink has being served. He tastes it and the hint of pineapple hits him again, with other things that he doesn't recognize. The mint leaf that is floating around gives him some idea but he is really clueless about the alcohol as he doesn't - or try not to - drink that often.
"Drink some more!"
The sudden attack from his behind almost made him spilled his drink and he is on his fight mode as the person seems to have a death wish when he turns around but only to be met with a grinning face of his senior. "Tsk! You are lucky."
Luhan takes a seat next to his grumpy junior as he gestures at the bartender for a drink. "I thought you don't want to come."
"I don't because of you. I did because of Minseok hyung."
He takes a sip of his drink before staring at the yonger. They haven't met each other for nearly a year and he wasn't sure if Joonmyeon would come but he sent the invitation anyway. He sent 'that' person one too. The reply came with a 'Yes' but even now his shadow is nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, congratulation though."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Joonmyeon finsihes his drink in one go and declines the bartender's offer of another glass before looking at Luhan that is side-eyeing him. "What do you mean? I congratulated you on your wedding. What other meaning it supposed to have?"
"Sounded like you didn't want Minseok to marry me. LIke, like, 'Good job you guys got married, but Minseok hyung could do better though', like that!"
The empty glass inside Luhan's hand gives him a clue and he sighs. "You are drunk, hyung. Do you want me to find Minseok hyung?"
"I just had one glass."
"With me." Joonmyeon gets on his feet and holds the older's arm tightly, thanking the good-looking bartender for his service before pulling Luhan to walk. He smiles at the familiar faces as he heads inside and tiptoes near the entrance, eyes searching around the hall but the dead weight he is holding just making it more difficult, adding to the fact that he isn't very tall to begin with.
"Minseok is over there by the stage."
The information makes him meet with a beautiful pair of eyes and Joonmyeon wonders which side of the grooms she came from.
"Do you need help?"
Joonmyeon blinks once before nodding. "Thank you."
"No problem."
He smiles as he navigates them through the ocean of people with the stage in mind that being located at the other side of the room. "Why can't they rent a round hall or smaller rectangular room or something. So far..."
"Because I can!"
He sighs at the drunk senior and a soft giggle reaches his ears.
"Is he always like this?"
"Basically." The question conclused an answer in his mind. "So, are you Minseok hyung's friend?"
"Ah, no. I accompany my cousin here. He is a friend of both. You?"
"I'm Minseok hyung's junior. I'm Joonmyeon by the way."
"Grace."
"Oh! I see my darling! Min-ah!"
Joonmyeon shakes his head at the antics and turns to the direction where Luhan is waving his hands at and his feet stop on its own.
"Oh, that is my cousin. You guys might know each other since he studied at your university too."
Joonmyeon swallows the lump in hi throat before nodding. Of course he knows. He can never forget even if he tried to. He follows Grace as she leads them to the pair of best friends and smiles when Minseok notices their presence.
"Luhan, didn't I tell you to stop drinking an hour ago?"
"But... it's my wedding party... I have to drink..."
He hands the drunk groom to the sober one, watching Luhan make a kissy face at his husband before Minseok obliges and gives a quick peck, a sight he used to see every time they hung out together. It usually make him want to punch the Chinese male but he kind of look cute tonight.
"Then, if you guys would excuse me, I need to put someone to bed. I'll be right back."
Joonmyeon watches as the newlyweds disappear behind the door beside the stage and takes a deep breath, holding it in for a few second before letting it out a little at a time. He is ready.
"Joonmyeon, was it?"
He turns his head at the soft voice and nods.
"Do you remember him, Yifan?"
Yifan's eyes meet with the black orbs of the other and the one memory he had locked away is coming back to him. "I do."
"Are you guys close?"
"Not really. I... just know him."
Grace nods understand. She finishes her drink before looking over the refreshment table at the other end of the stage. "Yifan, could you get me some more?"
Yifan looks down at the empty glass in front of him before taking it.
"Do you need anything, Joonmyeon?"
He turns to the Chinese male and his heart skips a beat when their eyes meet again. It wasn't the same cold eyes he saw that one night. They have become gentler but he can't see any soul in them. "No, I'm fine."
"Then, bring me some of those mini sandwiches too." She gets a nod and smiles as Yifan walks away before focusing back to the Korean make in front of her. "So, Joonmyeon."
"Yes?"
"Did you come alone?"
He nods.
"Are you staying at a nearby hotel? If you want, we could give you a ride. We are staying at the hotel around the corner."
The image of the hotel builds up in his mind and he smiles. "Ah, no. My little sister will pick me up later. My house is just over the next town."
"Oh, you live near the university. Must be great since you don't have to share a dorm."
Joonmyeon purses his lips at the statement. They just met less than two hours ago. She doesn't need to know about his whole life.
"Yifan used to live at the dorm but he couldn't stand his dormmate at the time so my uncle rented a place for him."
He nods, trying hard not to scoff. Minseok was the best dormmate one could ever have. Grace is just his cousin, she doesn't need to know the truth. Besides, if he can hide about what really happened, he can hide about anything.
"Grace."
Joonmyeon turns to the voice, seeing the older's hands are full with a glass of wine and a plate of mini snacks before Grace takes the wine off Yifan's hand while letting him hold the snack plate and talking among themselves. Looking at his watch, he wonders if Sophia is on her way. Minseok is busy attending the other guests while Luhan being a sleeplyhead so he probably should leave. More so he being left with people he barely know. He clears his throat and gets a headturn from the two. "I'm going to take my leave now."
"Ah, already?"
Joonmyeon nods. "I'm going to find Minseok hyung first but it was nice meeting you."
"Yeah, you too. Take care." Grace smiles as she watches the Korean male making his way through the people scattered inside the hall and she breathes out. So, that was Joonmyeon. She glances up at ther cousin and sees the male is still having his sight fixed on the direction where Joonmyeon had went. She should talk about this soon. "Yifan."
He hums a reply as he lowers his head, their gazes collide.
"I think you should stay."
Yifan's brows furrow at the statement. "What are you talking about?"
"The shop."
He sighs. "Didn't we already talk about this?"
"We did but you are still grumpy like before."
"No, I am not!"
Grace finishes the last mini sandwich on the plate and gulps down her glass of wine, ignoring her cousin's gaze that being directed to her, demanding a further explanation. Wiping with her hankerchief, she stares striaght at the taller. "I'm going to tell Bella that you are staying."
The empty plate is being snatched out of his hand and Yifan watches as the older heading toward the refreshment table. He was granted the week off so he could think about everything carefully and because he has to come to his best friends' wedding but Grace has been insisting him to help out with her shop instead of working with his father even before he graduate.
He didn't move to Canada right after he finished just so he can come back and stay here nearly a year later. And the fact that he has to stay in the same state as 'him' is not helping either, since he is the reason for everything he had done until now. He had expected for him to come since Minseok adores the younger but he come anyway. He will never find such friends like Minseok and Luhan and not even someone like 'him' can prevent him from coming.
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