After a week of trying to avoid thinking about it, the fundraiser had finally arrived.  Joon felt as if he might suffocate from his anxiety and the tie around his neck certainly didn’t help.  As his coordinator fussed with his hair and adjusted his suit, Joon felt his stomach twist into knots at the prospect of the evening to come.  And although he had been worried about Seungho and Cheondoong being exposed to Lee-Song, he was now thankful for Hyunsik’s decision to bring them along.

In the mirror he saw Cheondoong, Seungho and Yongjae walk in.  His eyes met with Seungho’s in the mirror briefly before his coordinator blocked his line of sight to fix his hair.  Although brief, the momentary connection helped sooth his nerves a little.  Just knowing that Seungho would be there with him helped him gain better control over his frazzled nerves.

“Don’t know why they’re bringing you two,” Yongjae said lazily as he snapped his fingers at a nearby coordinator, “You newbies should be focusing on practice, not flaunting around and trying to get attention.”  He ran a finger through his hair as he turned towards the scowling coordinator and said, “Woman, dress me up nicely.  I need to make an impression.”

Cheondoong frowned as Seungho rolled his eyes.  They bowed politely as coordinators came over and began surveying them.  

Spotting Joon, Yongjae strutted over and clapped a hand on his shoulder.  In the mirror, Joon saw Seungho frown irritably as he watched them.

“Well look who it is,” Yongjae sneered, “If it isn’t the Mr. Popular.”  He laughed dramatically, irritating his coordinator further by not being still.  “How’s the scars coming along?” he asked, eyeing Joon with contempt, “If you can’t handle the Critique gig anymore, let me know.  I can take over anytime…”

Joon’s eyes widened as Seungho balled his hands into fists as he took a step towards them.  Fortunately, Cheondoong held out a hand subtly and shook his head.  Yongjae was oblivious to the beating he nearly received and continued his taunts.

“I don’t mind you kids coming along,” he said, gesturing grandly to the room, “Just don’t get in my way.  I’m going to sign some big deals tonight…”

“Excellent!” Hyunsik said, suddenly walking in with a fake smile on his face, “That’s a great attitude, Yongjae-yah.”  He nodded dramatically and clapped his hands on Yongjae’s back, making the latter stagger.  “Since a man never goes back on his word, I’ll hold you to it!  You better sign a deal tonight,” Hyunsik boomed, “Or you’re cut!”  Laughing, he walked over to Joon.

Joon bit back a smile as Yongjae turned several shades paler.  He stared at Hyunsik with wide eyes and slacked jaws.  His coordinator finally finished measuring him and ushered him to the next room where he would get fitted for the suits.

“Little prick,” Hyunsik muttered, shaking his head, “I’ve wanted to cut his for over a year now.  It’s too bad he’s got his trainer supporting him…”  Sighing, he looked at Joon and asked, “You’re looking good.  You ready?”  He looked quite good himself.  He was dressed in a navy blue suit with a purple tie and a gold tie clip.  His glasses made his eyes look sharp, especially with his hair styled up.  

Taken aback by the compliment, Joon blinked at his question.  It seemed loaded, as if Hyunsik expected Joon to confess something.  Not surprised by Hyunsik’s sharp attention to his mood, Joon smiled as genuinely as he could and said, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Hyunsik’s brows flickered into a frown for a fraction of a second before he nodded and moved on to Seungho and Cheondoong.

“Even though you guys are new, there’s no reason to be nervous,” Hyunsik said, nodding as he looked the two up and down, “You guys are my best trainees so project confidence.  Even though I was busting Yongjae’s nuts, he had a point.  There won’t be any contract signing tonight but there will definitely be people there who are potential customers.  You’re representing KTA, remember that.”

When Cheondoong and Seungho nodded in response, Hyunsik nodded and made his way into the other room where Yongjae was getting fitted.  

Despite his nerves, Joon’s eyes strayed to the mirror where Seungho’s reflection was visible.  Seungho had been fitted into a black dress shirt and a black blazer; his hair had been cut and styled so that his forehead was revealed beneath windswept hair.  Joon couldn’t help but let his eyes take in as much of it as he could; Seungho looked absolutely stunning.  It was the first time Joon had seen him in a suit and it took his breath away.

He was snapped out of his daze, however, when Hyunsik returned with Yongjae in tow.  The four of them stood in a line as Hyunsik made one final evaluation of their appearances.  Nodding, he led the way out of the building and into a large black van.

Yongjae climbed in first, followed by Cheondoong who sat next to him.  Joon crawled into the back, followed by Seungho.  Soon, they were off to the Haneul Hotel.

Joon felt his heart thud heavily in his chest as he looked out the window.  He was finally going to face his past tonight.  He was finally going to meet the woman who had plotted to take his life nine years ago.  How should he react when he finally met her?  How should he react when he saw Dongmin again?  What if they recognized him?  What would happen then?

Joon turned as he suddenly felt a gentle hand on top of his balled fists.  He looked at Seungho, who smiled at him gently and squeezed his hand.  With their hands near their thighs, the others in front wouldn’t be able to see… Joon bit his lip as he relaxed his hand and linked fingers with Seungho. Warmth spread through his cold fingers as Seungho squeezed his hands again.

“You okay?” Seungho murmured under his breath, his face full of concern, “You look a bit pale.”

Joon bit his lip as he nodded.  With the others in the vehicle, there wasn’t much he could say to Seungho.  Besides… he wasn’t sure he was ready to divulge all of his secrets just yet.  He still had trouble accepting it himself; he wasn’t ready to convince anyone else that he was who Jin seemed to think he was. 

Lately, Joon had begun to doubt Jin’s words.  Where was the proof anyway?  For all he knew, Jin could have been a nutcase and master storyteller.  Other than the card and the name Kang Sangki, Jin had absolutely no proof that Joon was Lee Changsun.  And the card… could that have been a coincidence?  Did such crazy coincidences even happen?

“Look sharp boys,” Hyunsik muttered, straightening his tie, “We’re here.”

Squeezing Seungho’s hand one last time, Joon took a deep breath and erased his anxiety from his face.  As they unloaded from the van, Joon couldn’t help but gasp at the luxurious building in front of him.  It seemed infinitely wide and tall enough to disappear into the sky.  The walls were made of a beautifully shimmering glass and lit up with billions of lights.  The posh and class of the hotel clearly stood out amongst the others in the area, making it one of Korea’s top luxury hotels.  The inside was no less breathtaking.  Marble flooring and great pillars stood in the reception area with winding stairs leading up to the third floor.  

As they were lead into the Master Hall, Joon felt his jaws drop.  The room was magnificent in size and décor.  The same beautiful marble flooring set a cool yet breathtaking tone to the room.  Enormous chandeliers hung from the ceiling like stars that lit up the room in a dream-like glow.  A white grand piano stood in the center of the room on a circular stage.  The pianist played a soft melody that matched the grace of the room.

Clearing his throat, Joon felt a nudge in his side.  Hyunsik glanced at them and grinned.  Joon wasn’t surprised to see the others in equal shock at the beauty of the room.

“Nice… isn’t it?” Hyunsik murmured to them, “But like I said, be confident.  Make sure the big wigs here know we’re from KTA… got it?”  When the others nodded, Hyunsik took the lead and led them inside.  

Soon, Hyunsik was buzzing around the room like a social butterfly, chatting and smiling suavely at others dressed in a similarly dashing suit or evening dress.

“Need a deal,” Yongjae muttered as he shuffled off looking pale and nervous.  

Joon glanced at Cheondoong and Seungho.  They looked as nervous as he felt.  The three of them stood off to the side as people sauntered across the rooms with martinis and champagne.  The women were all dressed in elegance with long, shimmering evening gowns.  On their ears hung beautiful crystals; their neck jewels.  The men were all dressed in well-fitted suits.  Some sported a colorful tie while others took the route of a nifty bow-tie.  Their hairs were gelled back or to the side and each had a silver or gold watch on their wrists.  It was truly a party for the rich and the ones with status.

“Well now… what beautiful young men!” an older woman said as she approached them with a coy smile.  She wore a royal blue evening gown that hugged her thin figure.  She held a near empty martini glass in one hand and a clutch purse in the other.  She eyed the three of them up and down before she nodded and said, “You boys must be from the Korea Talent Agency… Am I right?”

The boys looked at each other before Joon nodded and said politely, “Yes we are.”  The three bowed as the woman laughed and sipped her martini.

“And you’re all here with Mun Hyunsik-bujangnim, is that correct?” she asked, her gaze resting coyly on Seungho.

“Yes…” Seungho said, trying to look more confident.  He his lips in discomfort as the woman eyed him again from head to toe with a smile and nod.

“Hmm…” she said, “Count on Mun Hyunsik-shi to find such prizes,” she said, taking Seungho by the hand, “Come, I must introduce you to the others.”

Startled, Seungho turned and looked at Joon with wide eyes as he was led away by the mysterious woman in blue.

Joon blinked in surprise and tried to hold back a giggle.  Although he felt bad for Seungho, it really was comical the way he was dragged away by a coy woman who had to have been in her late fifties.  Joon watched as she pulled Seungho to a circle of more men and women dressed in suits and gowns.  Soon, Seungho was bowing politely to everyone and trying to keep up with the questions they bombarded him with.

Joon smiled as he watched, his body filled with a sudden warm and fuzzy feeling.  He couldn’t quite explain it but just watching Seungho fumble with responses made him want to smile.  He was sure the others similarly had their breaths taken by Seungho in a dashing suit.  It was no surprise that they swarmed him like rich bees.  

Joon crossed his arms and bit his lip as he smiled.  He’d have to make sure Seungho knew just how good he looked when they get back to the dorm…

They were holding hands in the van.  Cheondoong hadn’t spied on purpose; he was simply trying to adjust his seat belt.  But when he turned around…

He frowned as he watched Joon who had become quite absorbed in watching Seungho stutter his way through questions.  Joon had a smile on his face that seemed to glow; it was something Cheondoong had only seen when Joon was looking at Seungho.  He had noticed the strangely loving expression since moving into the dorms and it had been quite disturbing to him.  What bothered him even more was that Seungho seemed to have the same glowing smile when looking at Joon

What, exactly, was their relationship?  It couldn’t be that Chulyong was right about them?  That there was… something going on?  It just… wasn’t possible.  How could two men…? 

Cheondoong sighed as he tried to shake off the frown.  It had been bothering him for quite a while now and he had too many crazy guesses to help him shake his curiosity.  In the end, maybe it was better to just ask straight out.  And if it really turned out to be what he’d guessed…

Then what?  What would he do if the two were really in a romantic relationship?  What could he do?  Accuse Seungho of betraying Dara?  Blame Joon for making Seungho into a deviant?  Beg and plead for Seungho to wait for Dara to wake up?  None of those options even made sense, much less a difference.  If things were… really as he’d guessed, there would be nothing he could do but stand by and watch.  He would watch the man his sister loved look at another man with affection.  He would watch the man he considered a brother embrace another man.  Could he live with that?  Putting the homouality aside, could Cheondoong even accept the idea that Seungho would be with anyone else other than Dara?  The fact that it might be another man… the same man whose problems had resulted in Dara’s near fatal accident would make things that much worse.

Shaking his head, Cheondoong sighed.  He wanted to know but at the same time… he didn’t.  Not knowing might be better than knowing a truth he didn’t want.  After all, even if he knew, there was nothing he could do… right?

He glanced at Joon again as the latter smiled and bit his lip.  Joon’s gaze was still with Seungho and it was growing warmer by the minute.

Unable to hold himself back, Cheondoong reached out and grabbed Joon’s arm.  Joon jumped in surprise and turned to him with wide eyes.  A brief flash of fear flitted across his face before he relaxed and looked at Cheondoong with puzzlement.

“Cheondoong-ah…?” Joon murmured, looking at him with confusion.

Too late to turn back now, Cheondoong blurted out the question that had been plaguing his mind for the past few months, “Joonie-hyung… what is your relationship with Seungho-hyung?"

Author's notes:

I'm back!!  Sorry for the long time lapse (well... it was only 5 days lol)!  I was focused on getting 100% completion for a FFX-2 game and... well I "took a break" from Love Me for a while LOL.  The good news is, I added a pretty cool plot piece to the story (which happens later on)!  So hopefully back to somewhat speedier updates like usual!  Can't promise one a day but I'll do my best!  Thanks for your patience!!