Entanglements

[cicquerette]

Chapter 3: The most tangled motives

"Hello, Heechul hyung. Missed me?"

Heechul's face remained impassive at Kyuhyun's greeting. That's good, Heechul, he told himself. Remain calm, act your normal self so he won't suspect anything. He was doing a good job of it until Kyuhyun sat on the couch that Siwon had recently vacated. Heechul winced, remembering the less than pleasant task before him.

"Want anything to drink?" Heechul knew he was stalling for time but Kyuhyun came straight to the point.

"Where's my fiance?"

"You sure you don't want anything to drink? Anyway, I'll just fix you up a gin and tonic." Then before Heechul could stop himself, he said, "I certainly need one."

Kyuhyun raised an eyebrow mockingly, "My, my, you certainly seem agitated. That’s not quite like you, hyung." Heechul suddenly thought of making up a story of how he wasn't feeling well when Kyuhyun persisted. "Where is Donghae, Heechul?"

"Oh, he's probably with Siwon," Heechul said a little airily as he gave Kyuhyun his drink. Then thought that after all, it wasn't a lie, Siwon was probably with Donghae now. That is, if Siwon can fly at a 100 miles an hour.

"Ah yes, the ever reliable Siwon." Heechul's eyebrows rose at the mockery in Kyuhyun's tone. "What a good ex-fiance of mine he turned out to be. Donghae has told me all the good things Siwon had said about me."

Heechul frowned at his cousin's sarcasm. Of course he knew that Kyuhyun had less than sterling qualities but he didn’t have a cruel and ungrateful nature. Besides, this was his own idea after all.

"I suppose Siwon is helping Donghae with the wedding flowers and what color to pick for the suits," Kyuhyun said in the same sarcastic tone as he swirled the contents of the drink in his hand. "Who knew Siwon could be this accommodating?"

Heechul now scowled at Kyuhyun. "I know you have a defective personality, cousin," he said matching Kyuhyun's tone, "But what is your problem? You were the one who put him up to this." Then knowing that this was better dealt with sooner or later, and that he was never really one to hide things, he added, "Alright, do you really want to know where Donghae is right now? He's on an airplane running away with somebody else, and really, no one can blame him if you ask me. But hopefully, Siwon is now with them."

Heechul was slightly surprised when Kyuhyun just smiled albeit a little nastily, "Ah, so the truth comes out. I must say, Siwon has lost his touch. He used to be so good in managing time and things the way he wanted them. He should have helped Donghae flee earlier rather than wait for me to come here."

Heechul shook his head and said in a dangerous voice, "You should be a lot nicer to Siwon. Your distrust of him is really uncalled for considering you know what a good man he is and after all the things he did for you,” he paused as he observed the still unaffected Kyuhyun before continuing, “ I don’t know what happened between the two of you but I’m pretty sure it was never Siwon’s fault." Kyuhyun snorted then just shrugged.

Heechul now calmly sipped his drink as he added in a flat but chiding tone, "If you must know, Siwon is stopping that elopement and hopes to bring Donghae back to you!"

Kyuhyun bolted upright in his seat just as one of the servants knocked and peered inside the room. "Forgive me for the intrusion, master Heechul," the young parlor maid said, "But master Siwon has called and requests that you come to his house immediately."

Heechul frowned but nodded. The parlor maid however, had something else to say, "Erm, master Donghae is also out in the hall now and he has someone with him." The young servant bowed before going out of the room.

Kyuhyun had already stood up and was about to also leave when Heechul stopped him. "Not so fast. I advise you to calm yourself first before confronting your fiance."

"Who said I was going to talk to Donghae?" Kyuhyun retorted, his face like a thundercloud.

"Huh? Then where are you going?"

"I'm going to see that bastard, Siwon," Kyuhyun darkly said as he reached the door then he told Heechul before closing the door behind him, "If you still value me as your cousin, do me this favour. See to Donghae and his friend."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Siwon sat a little wearily. He was back in his own living room after making sure Donghae and Eunhyuk were on their way back to the Kim mansion. He had made a mad dash to the airport after Heechul told him about the elopement. He had been willing to charter his own plane just so he could get to Donghae in time but it seemed that God sensed his predicament and was quite willing to help him.

Siwon had found Donghae and Eunhyuk in the airport and the two were arguing. It turned out that Donghae, in his desperation and naivety, had told Eunhyuk that Kyuhyun had broken off the engagement so he needed a shoulder to cry on and wanted to get as far away as possible.

Unluckily for Donghae (but luckily for Siwon), one of the passengers knew him as Heechul's guest and the fiance of his cousin. He had congratulated Donghae and so Eunhyuk, realizing that Donghae was lying, refused to board the airplane with him. He was quite upset and in a temper since he had known Donghae for a long time and knew that he wasn’t one for lying. They were arguing the matter when Siwon found them.

He had taken one look at Eunhyuk and knew at once that for all his suspiciously playboy appearance, he was actually quite a decent fellow. Siwon had a hard time convincing Donghae to return and face Kyuhyun but Eunhyuk also helped him. He was quite willing to bring Donghae back personally and apologize to Kyuhyun if necessary about the misunderstanding.

"Never mind lying to me but do you realize how you'll hurt Kyuhyun?" Eunhyuk had demanded.

Donghae lowered his head. He knew it had been a cowardly decision but he truly didn't know how to end things with Kyuhyun. He realized he still craved romance and passion after all, and Kyuhyun had offered none of those things except for that unique proposal and a dependable but very unemotional attitude for a fiance.

"I don't think he'll be hurt, not really" Donghae said softly, his head still lowered. "But you're right, I need to talk to him first," then he suddenly looked up and told both of them threateningly, "Alright, let's go back but I'm warning both of you. There's no guarantee that I won't break off this engagement if Kyuhyun still doesn't act like a proper fiance!"

Siwon rubbed his temples. Well, he had done the best he could. It was up to Kyuhyun if he wanted to win back his fiance. Having spent time with Donghae, he realized that in some ways Donghae was still a bit immature and wondered if Kyuhyun appealed to him because he was so unlike him. I hope Heechul gets here quickly so I could coach him on what to do to persuade Kyuhyun to be cooperative, Siwon thought. He stood up, about to get a cup of coffee, when the doors to the living room suddenly swung open with a crash.

"KYUHYUN! You're here?!"

"Yes and quite a bit late too," Kyuhyun informed him nastily as he took a threatening step towards him.

Siwon stiffened and crossed his arms to help him calm the pounding in his chest, "What are you talking about?" Then he unbended a little, because really, it was useless to hide anything from Kyuhyun. "Oh, alright. There was a slight problem but I don't know why you have to blame me. Donghae was feeling just a little insecure and I hope you've already talked to him."

"No, he's back at Heechul’s but I still haven't seen him."

"Then that's just as well with your odd mood." Siwon proceeded to lecture Kyuhyun, it was something that he didn’t get to do at all in the past and he kind of regretted it. Things might have been different if he did. "I don't know what game you're playing but I've done the best I could. As I've told you, Donghae is just feeling a little insecure. He apparently thinks that you don't care for him the way a fiance should and to tell you frankly, I can't blame him if he chooses Eunhyuk over you. Anyway, I've managed to convince him that your being this… unnaturally undemanding towards him could only mean that you're quite serious this time."

Kyuhyun suddenly bowed his head and covered his face with his hands. The sight of it made something inside Siwon contract painfully but he managed to add in a voice that was steady and a little more kindly. "I think he's willing to give you a second chance. He's really quite an affectionate boy, Kyuhyun and I think if you just act more thoughtfully towards him, everything will be alright." Kyuhyun still stayed silent so Siwon continued although a big lump was forming in his throat, "Sorry, but that's the best I can do. I do hope you settle this alright."

"Aaaarrgh!" Kyuhyun suddenly cried clutching his hair then demanded angrily, "Do you really have nothing in your head besides that handsome face of yours?"

Siwon was stunned, "E-…Excuse me?"

"Gah!" Kyuhyun cried out angrily then he began to pace the floor gesticulating wildly with his hands. "How could you be this unpredictable? Wait a minute! Maybe you did this on purpose!"

Siwon frowned in confusion as Kyuhyun continued his tirade. "I only had this one favour to ask you, Siwon. Just this one but no, you just had to fail me!"

"What are you talking about?" Siwon was now sufficiently bewildered to ask, not bothering to correct Kyuhyun about actually fulfilling one too many favours for him before.

Kyuhyun glaringly faced him, hands on his hips. "As if you didn't know! I purposely sent Donghae to you so you could discourage him from marrying me. If there was one person I know who could successfully convince anyone that marrying me was the biggest mistake of his life, it was you!"

"I did all I could so he would have second thoughts but what did you do?" Kyuhyun demanded as he resumed his angry pacing, "You praised me to him! You gave me virtues that you knew I didn't possess! Generous? Kind? Helpful? Me?! What were you thinking?"

Siwon had been still all the while Kyuhyun ranted at him but he now managed to also demand angrily, "Do you mean to say that you sent Donghae to me so I could help him break off his engagement to you? Are you mad? Oh wait, given the circumstances, stupid question."

Kyuhyun glared at him but Siwon was now also angry at him but he tried to ask calmly even as he rubbed his aching forehead, "Then tell me, just tell me this. Why did you even ask him to marry you?"

Kyuhyun threw up his hands in exasperation and replied brusquely, "Why do you think? You were marrying Heechul. My cousin of all people. And I had to marry somebody…anybody…eventually. Donghae was the one available when I decided."

"WHAT?" Siwon cried in complete bewilderment. "You were going to marry Donghae because I was… I was going to marry Heechul? We're not even engaged! Much less dating!"

Kyuhyun managed to look a little ashamed although he still scowled at him. "Yeah well, you know that's the problem with living in a town like this. Gossip has a way of…" he shrugged and continued, "Anyway, three reliable sources had told me that you and Heechul were engaged."

Siwon could instantly guess who they were. Yesung had visited once in the spring while Sungmin and ZhouMi had made a brief stop there before going on their honeymoon last month. Siwon should have expected it somehow but he was still amazed, who knew that his friends were actually that gullible to gossip?

Kyuhyun had his hands in his pockets and was contemplating the floor as he explained, "It was only when I met Kibum in the city that I found out that it was only gossip and nothing more. By then however, I was already engaged to Donghae."

"So knowing Heechul and I aren't really engaged, you sent Donghae to me so I could help you become unengaged to him?" Siwon asked disbelievingly. "I know this might be logical to you but most of us don't share your way of thinking so could you just please tell me…" his voice was rising in anger and something else so he calmed himself before continuing, "…just tell me…what the hel-…whatever for?"

"Aaarrgghh!" Kyuhyun cried again in exasperation and suddenly grabbed Siwon's shoulders. From his expression, Siwon knew that Kyuhyun badly wanted to shake him. "Are you really this dumb? Or do you just enjoy torturing me? Was breaking up with me not enough for you?"

Siwon's face registered shock and hurt confusion so Kyuhyun collected himself although he didn't let go of his shoulders. He explained in a bitter tone, "I would have married Donghae if it had been true that you and Heechul were getting married. But you're not so I had to get rid of him without being called a jerk." Siwon was about to retort but Kyuhyun didn't let him, "Don’t worry, I didn’t think that badly of you, aren’t I just nice? But you know perfectly well I wouldn't make Donghae a good spouse though I was really going to try if I had to. But now, knowing you’re free, I won't even attempt it."

Kyuhyun slowly leaned towards Siwon and asked harshly, "Why did you do it?"

Siwon stepped away. He had gotten out of their engagement in one piece even when he thought he wouldn’t after those first agonizingly painful months when he had waited for Kyuhyun to come after him so he didn’t want Kyuhyun so close now. So physically close again that he might actually do what he had wanted to do all along ever since he made that stupidest decision of his life.

"What do you mean why? You may have had this twisted plan of proposing to any random, poor guy then indirectly dumping him but all I thought about was how I didn't want you to get jilted again, especially since it matters to you more now…,” Siwon composed himself because he was sure a sob almost escaped him.

“I was actually trying to avoid letting you get hurt…a momentary lapse of judgment, believe me. And you…you…," Siwon's voice finally trailed off then he averted his face hurriedly, not wanting Kyuhyun to see the look in his eyes and crossed his arms again.

Kyuhyun smirked slowly as he again took another step towards him, "Actually, what I meant was why didn't you even try to stop the rumors about you and Heechul?" Siwon didn't reply but neither did he move away as Kyuhyun put his arms around his neck, "You know how gossip gets around in this town and you let it spread knowing that it'll reach my ears sooner or later. You knew that and I believe you were counting on it. Why? So you could continue tormenting me, huh, you bastard."

Kyuhyun now grinned widely as Siwon tried to scare him with a scowl and his impressive eyebrows even as he uncrossed his arms and slightly placed his hands on either side of Kyuhyun before informing him in a not-so-convincing tone, "I don't know what you're implying but don't bother fooling me. You were actually relieved that I broke off our engagement."

Kyuhyun shook his head as he pulled Siwon closer. "No, I wasn't." He told him a little less harshly, "But I swore to myself that day you broke up with me that never again will I let you have that power over me. I promised myself that even if it was you, never would I come crawling, kneeling or begging you to take me back."

Siwon looked down at him with a raised eyebrow, "Really? And what would you call this?" he asked dryly.

Kyuhyun chuckled as he said, "But I'm not crawling, kneeling or begging now, am I?" He smirked again as Siwon tried to scowl more fiercely but then he suddenly groaned. Kyuhyun was taken by surprise as Siwon crushed him against his chest in an instant and with something that sounded like a growl, lowered his head and caught his lips.

They were in this most compromising position for some minutes when somebody coughed for attention.

"I see, so this was your plan all along, wonder why I hadn't guessed," Heechul commented dryly as he surveyed them. He leaned easily at the doorway. "So do you mind telling me what you're going to say to your soon-to-be-ex-fiance, Kyuhyun?"

"Oh no, Donghae," Siwon said a little guiltily and it was quite obvious to the other two that he was struggling with his conscience as he let his arms fall away from Kyuhyun, stepped back but immediately stepped forward again and returned to embracing Kyuhyun with the most pained and conflicted expression on his face.

Kyuhyun just laughed as he snuggled deeper into Siwon’s embrace and he addressed Heechul cheerfully, "Don't worry. I'll come and assure him that he won't be expected to spend the rest of his life with me. I'm sure he'll be greatly relieved to hear that."

Heechul smiled wryly then Kyuhyun added slyly, "I seem to have given you some troubles, my dear cousin. But don't worry, I'll properly compensate you for that."

"Ah, good. There’s this new phone which just came ou-…."

Kyuhyun laughed, "Oh, but I'm not thinking of material compensation. Seeing that you're going to be our best man, I would have to return the favor and be your best man too." Heechul's eyebrows rose. "And you don't have to exert any effort, none at all. I already have someone in mind." Kyuhyun grinned enigmatically.

Heechul was about to retort that he didn’t need matchmaking help since girls and boys alike were throwing themselves at him every day but then he saw Kyuhyun turn to Siwon again. He hastily exited the room and made his way out of the house. Blech! But he didn't really care to see any public displays of affection, unless it involved him of course and not his cousin and close friend making out. “His name is Hangeng by the way!” Kyuhyun managed to shout after him and Heechul snorted promising himself that he would surely never date anyone with a Chinese-sounding name like that.

Back inside, Kyuhyun asked with a mock pout, "Now really, how could you?! Getting an imaginary engagement with my cousin. And would you really have watched me get married to someone else?"

Siwon shook his head while hugging Kyuhyun tighter, "I was prepared for my plan failing but I didn't expect you to get engaged to someone else. And yes, I would have watched you marry but not before telling you what I had planned to say all along after that stupid night regardless of the consequences." Kyuhyun tilted his head, a questioning expression on his face.

Siwon simply replied, "Just please want me back." And he silenced Kyuhyun's expected retort with another kiss.

End.