"You... You must be with Heechul right now. Listen, I-"

"Huh? He isn't at home."

Jungsoo felt his soul leaving his tired body. He thought it couldn't get worse; funny, he underestimated how miserable his life could be.

"I'm about to go back now. The security staff at his apartment said that Heechul-hyung hadn't come home and I checked his unit, it was still locked. No one is- . Tell me, what happened? Where's he?!" Kyuhyun suddenly urged, his voice changing drastically. 

Jungsoo couldn't stay still, he began to walk back and forth yet little did he know, it only made the rest of the people scared. He fisted his hair strongly because, in the end, he was still the villain and once again Kyuhyun would be the hero. It killed him to ask a favor from the very man who was also in love with his boyfriend but it was better rather than dying slowly, knowing Heechul in danger.

"Kyuhyun, can you look for Heechul for me? I can't go n-"

"Will do. Bye."

The call was ended prematurely by the younger leaving no room for Jungsoo to continue. What else would he say anyway? Jungsoo almost stumbled if not for his brother caught his body. His world was crumbling down that he couldn't even stand straight.

"Hyung, he will be okay."

Jungsoo only ignored his Hyukjae's comforting words. They sound so fake; Heechul was definitely not okay and neither was he.

][-ooo-][

It was the fourth bar and Kyuhyun almost gave up. Heechul was nowhere to be found, not even in Kangin's bar. He knew Heechul would go to a small place, be it a club or a bar, which not many of his friends knew. This was the bar he, Heechul, and Kangin drank for the first time when they moved to Seoul back then. 

He parked his car hurriedly and ran to the entrance, he hoped Heechul was here. The place was full of people and he had a very hard time scanning the place with the blinding lights and blaring music occupying the whole room. Sliding himself between both sober and drunk people, he looked intently at every corner. He finally could breathe in relief when he saw whom he was searching for, curling himself in one of the secluded booths. He made a way to get to him and when he did his heart screamed in pain. 

Heechul looked so beaten up, literally. There were few bruises and cuts on his face and his shirt was crumpled here and there. Kyuhyun felt his knees gone weak, it pained him, even more, to see Heechul suffering from heartbreak rather than he himself did. Slowly, he took a seat beside the older without even touching him nor uttering a single word. He was simply there looking at Heechul chugging down his vodka as if it were water. 

Heechul gripped his glass tightly feeling the buzz all over his body. He glanced sideways and noticed that someone was joining him. Yet, he didn't give a damn. If the man would instigate a fight like what happened a while ago causing his pretty face got reddish and bluish marks, he would kick his and defend himself. He was tired to be stepped on.

"Hyung, stop drinking. Let's go home."

Kyuhyun tried to reach for the bottle but Heechul was fast to snatch it from him. The older winced his eyes at him, grimacing as if he was disgusted. However, Heechul suddenly put down the bottle and looked intently at his accompany. He giggled, his half-lidded eyes sparkling.

"Oh... A hottie. What's -hk your n-name?" Heechul said, his words slurring from the alcohol. He pulled Kyuhyun closer and started to the younger's face. Kyuhyun was taken by surprise when Heechul cupped his face and traced his features with his trembling fingertips—from his eyebrows, eyes, cheeks, jaws and even lips. His heart thumped due to the contact but he quickly shooed his feelings away; Heechul was not being himself. 

All of a sudden, Heechul advanced farther and palmed his chest through his shirt. His eyes dilated when Heechul's unclear yet comprehensible mumble rolled out.

"Mr. Hottie, are -hk you single? Do you want -hk to go out with -hk me?"

Heechul, then, rested his head on Kyuhyun's shoulder before abruptly sat straight. He got panicked and said nervously, shaking Kyuhyun's form.

"Uh! I can't -hk date you. I... I have -hk a boyfriend. Sorr-"

Kyuhyun was shocked when Heechul's eyes got teary; the panicked expression altered drastically to an unreadable one.

"No... I don't -hk have a boyfriend. He's gonna get married and -hk leave me anyway. We c-can date."

Despite his giggling continuously, Heechul's tears began to fall down his face, tracing his bruises down to his chin. He wailed wretchedly, dropping his head on the table. He tried to gulp another glass before Kyuhyun managed to shove it away and gathered Heechul on his arms. It was too painful for him to witness this side of Heechul. The crying was getting weaker and weaker but Kyuhyun knew for sure it didn't go in line with the pain. He rubbed Heechul's back and tried his best to give the comfort Heechul needed. His tears trickled his eyes and he didn't have time to wipe them away when they wetted his cheek coldly.

"I am a-alone. Everyone always l-leaves me."

Kyuhyun inhaled and bit his lower lip to calm down his nerves because he had to be the strong pillar Heechul could lean to.

"I... I love him so ing much. B-but he still left me."

Heechul tried to pull away from the hug and Kyuhyun only let him. Heechul stared at him for the longest time and suddenly a smile bloomed on his face.

"I'll b-be a good boyfriend -hk for you but don't..." tears were b once again, "But don't leave me!!"

Kyuhyun abruptly