Memento 2/3
̊51’ 28 N, 15 May 2015The room is dark, Joon Gook is sitting at his desk, rummaging through scattered documents. In front of him is a wide white board pinned with photos and names. He crosses Kim Jiwon, Kim Namjoon and seven others.
"Who to hunt next," Joon Gook hums.
He opens a drawer and retrieves an old, small journal. He squints his eyes as he read under a small lamp, then combed his balding head. "Ahh, gonna be so busy!"
Joon Gook clocks something on his desktop and the printer came whirring to life. He got up 3 minutes later and put the photos on the board above the old ones. "You bastards will pay for fucking me up," Joon Gook muttered as he haphazardly pins the pictures. "The last batch of motherfuckers to eradicate." Joon Gook looks at his phone on the desk, "He should call soon."
…
̊ Helios BarThwack!
Awake. Where am I?
Mino wakes up from his stupor. A man dressed in construction gear is gulping a mug of beer beside him. He unconsciously touched the back of his head.
"Hey, you okay?" A woman behind the bar greets him.
"Yeah. Scotch. On the rocks."
"For dinner? Seriously Mino?"
"You know me?"
The woman raised a perfectly weaved brow. She points a manicured nail to her nameplate then to Mino's hand.
He is clutching a note.
"Gain."
"Yes?" the woman asked almost sarcastically. Her smirk oddly reminds him of someone.
"What do you want from me?"
"Wait up, I got two more minutes on the floor. Go wait on your car, I won't be long."
…
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Gain said as she made herself comfortable on the passenger seat. "Drive to Halyang, I know a place on restaurant row that could give us a huge discount, great food, not too many people, just your type.
Mino took a deep breath and starts the engine. They ate dinner at a fast pace, then Gain led Mino to an amusement park that operates twenty-four hours, just a kilometer away from where they ate. Gain moved to sit in one of the park's benches that was facing the sea. There didn't seem to be anyone else around aside from the popcorn vendor in the distance, the man seems to be dozing off.
"You sure you can trust Joon Gook?"
So she knows Joon Gook as well.
"Mino, what I will tell you is very important and you need to listen well. I doubt that you would believe me in an instant but I have no choice. Write everything down Mino, and know that I want to help you, I want you to know the truth, and I want you to believe it. So listen, okay?"
Mino looked at Gain blankly. If she is a friend and they met before like she said earlier, what she might say could provide him information he can use and he finds no harm in listening. Giving it a shot, Mino nods.
"Joon Gook is using you."
Offering a subservient smile, Mino raised his eyebrow, "and I am using him as well."
"No, you don't understand. Wait. . ." Gain reaches for something inside her pouch, she produces a photo, a picture of a polaroid of a man that is oddly familiar. The words: I'VE DONE IT was scribbled on the man’s chest using red ink . . . wait . . . was that blood? Mino feels a headache creeping up.
"See this?" Gain asked waving the photo impatiently.
"What about it?"
"It's yours."
"I don't know about that."
Gain tightens her jaw. "This. Is Taewoon. You killed him a year ago. Joon Gook helped you too but you forgot and continue to look for him incessantly. And not just forgot. You made yourself to forget. You've been playing this game for a long while, Mino. That bastard Joon Gook is using it to his advantage, he is using you to fulfil his grudges! The men you are killing are those-"
"Stop!"
"But Mino . . ."
"Damn it, woman, stop!" Mino is clenching his fists by his sides, his head is throbbing.
"No!" Gain yells and looks at her watch, she turns her gaze to Mino frantically. "Write it down! Please, Mino! You need to stop! You need to remember!"
Mino grabs the photo at Gain's hands and tears it to pieces, letting the breeze carry it to the sea.
"No!" Gain shrieks.
Mino steps closer to Gain and holds her arm in a vice grip, "Do not mention of this thing ever again. Forget that this meeting happened. Forget that you’ve seen me today. I will do the same. Next time we meet, you will just be Gain, the friend at the bar, understood?"
Gain gulped and nodded. The look on Mino's eyes indicated danger, and the tone of his voice was enough to keep her silent.
Mino turned, fuming, his fists were trembling. His headache is stronger, there were bits and flashes going on in his mind, the woman is shitting with him. Why he cannot bring himself to hurt her, he doesn't know and it adds up to his frustration. Mino gets inside his car and slams down at the horn. He grips the steering wheel to keep himself from reaching back and writing the thoughts running in his mind. He sits still for half an hour.
Gain remained seated at the park bench. She looks up at the starless sky. "I won't give up on you. I promised him."
°2010 March"What were you thinking you idiot?!" Irene yelled at Seungyoon, yanking his arm.
"I came here to see the battle, didn't I?"
"You aren't supposed to be here, Yoon," Seunghoon interjected and gave a side glance to his girlfriend.
"Neither is Irene," Seungyoon mused.
"Well, she doesn't go straight up the stage gawking and getting blood all over her face!” Seunghoon frowned, "I knew that was going to happen, that shitnut's brain is pretty shitwired and always plays dirty with his words. Fucking little lunatic rapping nasty things about Mino's sister, serves him right."
"Mino's sister?" Seungyoon asked Seunghoon, but the other boy is still silently ranting to himself.
"She died when they were children. Accident. Mino doesn't like to talk about it. Even Seunghoon was surprised Mino didn't strangle the air from that bastard of a nut," Irene casually spoke beside Seungyoon.
"Oh," was the only word Seungyoon can produce.
Irene smiled and wiped Seungyoon's face. "Don't worry about it, Mino is kinda cool with the topic to us, just don't bring it up whenever he's on a mood. Now, look at you! Have you seen you?"
Seungyoon raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please do not remind me. Let's go home."
Irene laughed. "You are such a pain in the ass! God, I love you!" She hooked an arm around Seungyoon as they made their way out from the basement.
…
Irene followed into Seungyoon's dorm room and offered a smile to Seungyoon's roommate, Taehyun, the sole guy that could pull off a 5:5 hair in the entire campus. Taehyun is pulling an all-nighter practicing his 'scripts', part of his thrice a week routine as perks of being an aspiring broadcaster.
Seungyoon pulled off the bloody cardigan and threw it to his hamper.
"Gross, where have you been?" Taehyun asked from his desk.
Seungyoon looked at Irene who shrugged and said, "Nose bleed. Haven't seen one of Seungyoon's infamous nosebleeds?" Taehyun looked at Irene and then at Seungyoon with a deadpan expression and brought his focus back to his papers. Irene winked and shut the door behind her. Seungyoon received a text a second later, 20 bucks, Taehyun won't go near you for two weeks tops. Goodnyt geek luvya ;* Seungyoon snorted.
Taehyun looked at him as if his nose would spread murder at any moment.
"She was kidding!" Seungyoon protested, Taehyun only nodded with indifference.
"I guess I'll get a shower."
"I'll alert the media," Taehyun deadpanned.
…
Seunghoon and Irene joined Seungyoon at his table for lunch the next day.
"Hoon," a deep voice called. Seunghoon nodded and edge closer to Irene to give Mino a space beside him.
A few minutes later, the cafeteria has thinned down to less than ten people. Irene and Seungyoon were going over their notes for a History quiz, they shared the same minor subjects throughout the afternoon. Mino stood up to leave but sat again, elbows on the table.
"What?" Seunghoon asked, his tone was teasing. Seungyoon tried to avoid looking up, he had already felt Mino's stare 20 minutes ago.
"You know him, man. Irene's best friend! He watched your fight last night."
"Since when do you have a best friend Rene?"
"Since middle school, Seungyoon just transferred," Irene stated, then faced her best friend. "Don't you remember Mino? You ruined his sweater."
Mino smirked. "I ruin a lot of sweaters."
"Gross," Seungyoon weakly muttered.
"Wow! He speaks!" Mino stood up and went to sit beside him. "So you're the puppy huh?"
"No," Seungyoon snapped. Mino looked amused and stared at Seungyoon like a shiny new toy.
"I'm Mino. Song Mino."
Seungyoon rolled his eyes, "I know who you are. And just in case, please don't flatter yourself. It's really hard not to know your name when fifty drunk guys are chanting it like a mantra."
"I get that a lot."
Seungyoon rolled his eyes, "I'm sure you do."
"Yeah, but it feels good whenever I get them from hot guys with amazing eyes, like you. What color are your eyes anyway? Brown?" Mino lifted Seungyoon's chin and brought their faces close. "Gold?"
Seungyoon moved his head away and looked down, letting his bangs create a barrier in his vision. He didn't like the way his heart raced when Mino came close. The tips of his ears are already flaming red.
"Cute. I wonder how far down below that blush can go," Mino licked his lips.
"Don't even think of laying a finger on him, Mino," Irene warned.
"Babe, you just told him no, how would you expect him now to stop?" Seunghoon said.
"He's not Yoonie's type," Irene mused.
Mino shammed insult and mockingly put his hand over his heart. "How dare you Rene? I'm everyone's type! And to make it more clearer, he's my type." Mino gestured then winked at Seungyoon. The three of them rolled their eyes. Everyone at campus knew Mino was openly gay, and is not ashamed about it. People also knew better to throw in comments, even the football guys has their mouths shut. "I’ll see you later puppy," Mino smirked and waved off.
"I know you're a smartass Yoon. I’m just telling you in advance, if you fall for his shit and end up getting wrecked, you can't take it out on us okay?" Seunghoon had his eyes on him.
"He won't fall for it," Irene assured her boyfriend, pecking him on the cheek, then touched Seungyoon's arm "won't you Yoonie?"
"Yeah," Seungyoon said, but he felt his voice waver.
̊Arisu Gyeonju Inn, 2015 FebruaryA feathery touch on his arm, the bed dipping and losing the weight in a second.
Awake. Where am I?
Mino rolls sideways and nuzzles his head in the pillows. He felt the other side of the bed still warm. He got up, he wasn't sure how he exactly got here, there were no notes on the table, except for a black card with a pink deer design in the middle. Mino blinks.
Menomosso. A cathouse in the little New Orleans of Yongsan-dong, west of Daegu.
Ah . . .
He remembers now.
Mino let out a groan and laid back on the bed. The sunlight pierced through the lace curtains, the rays brandishing Mino's skin, he felt himself dozing back to sleep when the shower started running. Mino instantly got up, he didn't mind that he doesn't have anything on and went straight for the bathroom. He glances back at the card and remembers telling the person he was with last night to leave before he wakes up. He pressed his left hand against the door, pushing it ajar.
The glass that divided the shower from the rest of the space is fogged up, the petite silhouette behind it is humming an old tune. In the summertime. Mino dragged his eyes to the things scattered on the floor. A loose gray tank top, knotted black shirt, matte black mini skirt, black stockings and a brown wig. Mino was so distracted by the wig that he didn't hear the shower stopping and the person coming out from the confined space.
"Ahem"
Mino turned his head to the voice. A man stood before him. Pale, bare, and beautiful. Mino is locked frozen as he stared at the man brazenly. What was his name? Mino might have been on the verge of saying something. But before he could, the dainty man walked towards him, reaching out his hands to Mino's neck. Their faces now an inch from each other.
"Join me?"
The man's supremely confident face is alluring. It was totally different from . . . Seungyoon. Seungyoon possessed innocence in his features and he had a rigidly fit body, one of those that aren't hewn from the gym, Seungyoon looked charming, inside and out. Here, in front of him, stands a fragile sorceress. Virtuous and angelic looking, yet completely frigid. Under the ghastly light, his doe like eyes were gleaming ice, in full contrast with his dimpled smile.
The man claimed his lips.
Mino felt dizzy.
…
Slightly past three in the afternoon, Mino woke up for the second time in the day. The thick curtains were drawn and the room is dark. Mino heard shuffling and the door opening. He quickly looked at the direction and caught a glimpse of his brown locks illuminated by the corridor light. The man looked at him for a long while, gave that alluring smile then he vanished into the dark.
°2010 June"Earth to Seungyoon!" Seungyoon opened his eyes as Mino snapped his fingers. "Don't black out on me, if you need help, just let me know."
Seungyoon stared at him and waited for the boy to laugh, or to show some signs that he was joking but Mino's expression showed sincerity. Seungyoon raised an eyebrow. "You are going to help me?"
Mino's face showed disbelief and amusement at Seungyoon's question. "I have an A in Biology."
"He has an A in all of his classes! He is an asshole with the mind of a genius!" Seunghoon quipped.
It was Seungyoon's turn to pull on a dubious expression. Mino raised his hands and shook his head, "I'm not in school because I have nothing better to do, pup. I'm serious. If you need help with anything, just ask."
Mino held his gaze for a minute before he broke the contact. He would be definitely lying if he said that he was not impressed. But he wouldn’t say that to Mino, not yet that is.
…
"I can't believe they bailed on me, stupid lovebirds," Seungyoon sat on the recliner fuming. It was a Friday night, and he was supposed to go out with Irene and Seunghoon, but the two decided to discard their third wheel for the night.
"I was just planning to get dinner. You up?" Mino said from behind him.
Seungyoon stood and grabbed his coat from the sofa. Mino ushered him to the parking lot.
"What is that?"
"A Harley. The love of my life. C'mon hop in, I'll drive slowly."
Seungyoon climbed on and Mino gunned the throttle. His hands that were clutching Mino's jacket went to grab his shoulders then eventually wrapped around his waist as they sped off like a bazooka. When they pulled at the driveway, Seungyoon scrambled for the safety of the pavement, "Drive slowly my ass! Do you want to die?!" Mino just grinned and led them inside a diner.
They talked over trivial matters while waiting for their order. "So except from Seunghoon and Irene, you hate the rest of the world? Or is it just me?" Mino asked Seungyoon as he leaned his elbows on the table. "Do you hate men?"
"Um . . . I'm gay? And I think it's just you," Seungyoon grumbled. He also took notice of the flash of surprise in Mino's eyes with his confession before it was laughed off.
"I can't believe it, you're the first ever, and my type, that has been repulsed with me before sex.
"And you ask why I don't like you."
"You wouldn't have agreed to come if you don't like me."
Seungyoon shakes his head. "I just don't like being a foregone conclusion for the sole reason of having a dick."
Mino made a chortling sound from his throat and bellowed loudly. "My god! That's it. I want us to be exclusive- as friends," Mino added swiftly "and I won't take no for an answer!"
"We're friends Mino, but that doesn't mean I'm into the idea of you getting me off my boxers every time we’re together."
Mino raised his right hand to his chest. "You have my word. I won't even think about your dick . . . Unless you want me to." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"You wish."
A maddening grin sharpened his tanned features, "Never say never."
…
"Ugh. Bio test again? Can I file a petition against professors draining a student's brain cells?" Irene groaned.
"You didn't study," Seungyoon mused and gave Irene a look.
"God, no. I spent the night reassuring Seunghoon that you weren't going to sleep with Mino last night." Seungyoon snorted.
"And you were cranky earlier because you forgot to study as well," Mino said behind him, and placed his chin on Seungyoon's shoulders. Seungyoon frowned.
"C'mon puppy, get your ass up." Mino stood and lifted Seungyoon by his armpits.
“And what do you need my ass for?”
“I can wait for your ass, but you’re due for a test in 15 minutes so shut it and study with me”
…
". . . And somatic cells use mitosis to reproduce. That's when you have the phases. They sort out like a name, easy for you to remember. Prometa Anatelo."
Seungyoon laughed.
"Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase. Prometa Anatelo!"
"Prometa Anatelo," Seungyoon repeated, chuckling. He never knew reviewing for Biology can be this easy and fun, much more with Mino.
Over the next few weeks, Mino helped Seungyoon with pretty much everything and was asked in return to teach Mino with the guitar.
"Put another finger above the other and squeeze, that'll help in-" Seungyoon cut himself short as he saw Mino smirk at his statement. "Oh my god, Mino, shut it and behave, or I'll hit you with my guitar. Here, I made a simple arrangement that I think you can follow, try and look and tell me what you think about it."
Mino pouted and turned the papers to his direction.
"Well?"
"Oh, I don't know, last time I checked, I am supposed to shut it and behave or else a cute guy who looks like a puppy will hit me with a guitar."
Seungyoon sighed, "I won't hit you, I promise, I don't hurt people that I like."
Both of them paused for a moment. Then Mino grinned, that boyish grin that sent electrifying tingles on Seungyoon's gut.
°2013 April ICU Ward Week 1
Pain . . . Pain . . . Dark . . No! Don't touch me! Save me . . . Please . . . Mino!
…
"I know him. I remember him! But then I forget his name, and it makes him cry. He . . . he doesn't want me to go back. He wants me to go away. But he calls my name. It’s . . . it’s confusing. I don't know, it’s . . ."
"It's okay. It's going to be okay sweetheart. I will talk to him. For the mean time, you are going with Dr. Jung, he will help you. Then you can go back and see Seungyoon, okay?"
°2013 April ICU Ward Week 2Clang!
"P-please Mr. Kang, you should take your medi-"
Crash!
The young intern panicked as the tray was roughly pushed from her hands.
"I'll take it from here Whee-in, you can go back to the ward."
"T-thank You Ma'am," she whispered, her trembling fingers tightly clutching the hem of her scrub suit.
"Hi sweetie, how are you? Would you like to talk to noona?" The boy's eyes left the floor from where the spilled contents of the tray lay scattered. It zeroed on the doctor's eyes. Instead of warmth, those beautiful brown eyes are now lifeless, dazed, empty.
°2013 April ICU Ward Week 3"What was that?" The boy was quiet for a moment-he started speaking yesterday, he was talking about daisies, then he spoke.
"He is not my Mino. My Mino has the smile of a summer sun, and his eyes are like the night sky. My Mino calls me a special name. My Mino is warm."
The doctor silently waited for him to continue, he didn't. So she spoke up, with words that has been woven over and over again. "It's okay sweetheart. It's going to be okay."
°2013 April ICU Ward Week 4Beep... Beep...
The beeper at her side vibrated for the fifth time. It's roughly nine in the morning. "Excuse me, my patient at the 6th floor needs me. I'll come right back after." The doctor ran for the stairs. She figured after a month of stay at the hospital that it's a waste of time to wait for the elevators. Breathless, she knocked twice and opened the door. "What did he do this time?"
The two nurses standing by both sides of the bed heaved a sigh.
"He tried to choke himself with the cord Doc, we had to take safety measures and strapped him. I'm sorry," the senior nurse JiYeon touched the doctor’s arms while looking at the sleeping boy on the bed.
"Sorry? Man, it took the two of us to strap him down! He was thrashing and throwing th-" the other nurse, a tall man named Dongwook protested, his tone lowered down with the glare JiYeon gave him. "Okay, I'm sorry. He was just . . . We had to sedate him, it will take a few more hours but I think you should stay here G. He is calmer when you are here."
"I understand. I'm sorry Wookie." The man waved off and walked out of the room muttering 'its fine, its fine.'
"I'm sorry JiYeon unnie, and thank you."
The nurse walked to the bed and pushed the boy's bangs away from his damp face, the action making his sunken eyes more noticeable. "It's the fourth time . . ." JiYeon started "it's the fourth time that he did this. He needs to be guarded. He needs someone by side, always. I'm worried what this young man will do if he's left alone."
The doctor moved and embraced the kind nurse, the hug was returned as they silently wept.
"Oh god . . . Seungyoon."
…
Pain . . . Dark . . Stop! Don't touch me! It hurts. . . Stop, I beg you. . .Please . . . Mino!
°2013 April ICU Ward Week 5Seungyoon sat straight, staring blankly at the window. His position remained unchanged since five hours ago. The doctor went to him and held his hand to get his attention. Seungyoon looked up. His bloodshot eyes blinked once, twice. He didn't speak nor turned away and just kept on staring.
"I brought you a guitar, want to play me noona a song?" The doctor gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand. Seungyoon seemed to ponder over what he heard and smiled back. Then he withdrew his hands, tore his gaze away and turned back to the window.
°2013 April Week 5 Surgery Ward“How is he?” the doctor asked, tiredness laced in her voice.
"Song Minho is now under the care of Dr. Lawrence Jung. He specializes over rare kinds of amnesia and seems to take interest in Mr. Song's case. We are keeping tabs on his condition closely, he's currently undergoing exercises, they are series of tests that will help us know exactly what kind of amnesia he has and how it affects him. We're getting good results so far, he's cooperating very well. We will push this through Dr. Kang. That I can promise you."
°2013 May ICU Ward Week 6"Where is Mino?"
"He's undergoing treatment sweetie, do you want to talk to him? I can ask his doctor and make a call for you."
"No, it's okay. . . Do you care for him?"
"Yes, I do. I care for you both. So you better take your medications as well and be a good boy, okay?"
"Then you will take care of him like how you do with me?"
"Of course. Soon, both of you will be okay and then we can go home, all together."
"Take care of him too, okay?"
"I will, Seungyoon," the doctor laughed. "You don't need to ask, you know that he's like a brother to me as well."
"You will take care of him?"
"Sure."
"Promise?"
"Promise." The boy looked at the doctor expectantly.
"I got to go now, I have a meeting in 4. Whee-in will be here in a minute, don't give her a hard time okay?" The door closes behind the doctor.
Seungyoon smiles looking at the closed door, "I won't be giving anyone a hard time soon. No need to worry."
…
Hurts . . . Hurts . . . Stop chasing me . . Those men . . . I'm scared . . . Please, don’t touch me . . No . . Save me. . . Mino . . .
°2013 May ICU Ward Week 7"I'm going to a place," Seungyoon said and he was smiling.
"Where are you going?" The doctor asked, smiling back.
"I dreamt of Mino, you see. He's calling my name. I miss him. I'm going to sing him a song."
"Mino is doing really good. He'll be able to see you soon. You will see Mino soon, Seungyoon."
Seungyoon looked up at the window. "Yes. Soon."
°2013 May ICU Ward Week 8"I love him. But he's not my Mino anymore. He can't protect me from those men that are chasing me, even when I sleep. They won't stop touching me. They hurt me. Hey, noona, will you help bring my Mino back?" Seungyoon nudged the sleeping doctor whose half of her body is leaning on his bed.
"Promise me? Bring my Mino back. Then tell him I miss him. I will go first, but I will be waiting for him."
°2013 May ICU Ward Week 9Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Doctor! Doc Gain! Wake up! Your beeper!" A passing nurse shouted through the open door.
911.
An emergency code.
Gain saw the elevator doors closing, she rushed and dived. She barely got in when the rhinestone bracelet on her wrist broke.
Snap!
Clak. Clak. Clak.
The blue and red stones scattered everywhere. That was the bracelet Seungyoon gave to her before she left for Florida 9 years ago.
A bad omen?
She felt agitated. She felt dread in her veins. Fear creeping up her body making her heart double its pace. Oh no, oh god, no, please.
°2013 OctoberRrrrrriiiiiingggg
“Hello? Kang Gain speaking.”
“Hey doc, I’m sorry I called late.”
“No worries Choi, anyway what is it?”
"I took Minho in my apartment. I don't know how he found out. He's smart, for someone with amnesia. He learned to cope up fast over the months. He went berserk that night. Then the next day he was so calm. The day after, he told me he had to go and find someone named Taewoon. I tried to talk him out of it and I thought I got through him, but I was wrong. The day after that, which was yesterday, he was gone. No traces. We are on the road right now searching. I'm sorry Gain, I'll call you as soon as we get leads on his whereabouts. And I'm sorry about Seungyoon."
"Oh God. Please, please find him. Make sure he is okay. I’m settling things for the services right now, I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m free."
"No, please. He is my responsibility, you trusted me and I let you down. Rest, Gain. We will handle this. I'll call soon."
°† 2015 MayThe eeriness of the place and the cry of the lurking birds brought a chill to her bones. It was cold, and she was partly drenched from the rain, but she didn't really mind, after all, she's visiting a very important person . . .
It's been 2 years now.
Her hand caressed the cold, gray block. Kneeling, she placed the bouquet of daisies on the ground and closed her eyes, trying to keep her emotions from bursting out.
She wishes she could turn back time.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to do anything. I could've asked you about the place you were going to, would that have made a difference?"
"Kang Seungyoon . . ." she sobs, "did you know, the day we found Mino, he was on the river bank . . . crying? I asked him why he is crying alone and he said he doesn't know.
Her fingers curled into fists, trying to stop the tears from falling.
"Why didn't you fight?"
A crow flew overhead.
Kaw... kaw...
"He's very stubborn Yoonie. It's so hard, so . . . difficult, to bring the old Mino back . . . You. You were his lifeline. Did you know that he was also holding your favorite flowers that day? He doesn't remember, but I knew that he felt it, it was the day you decided to let go, same day as today, a year ago. The day of your death anniversary, and the 5th year that you could've been together."
“I’m trying again sweetie. We’re not letting him go this time. I followed him yesterday down by a river, he began another cycle of lies again. He made himself forget again. But this would be the last time. It is enough . . .
. . . I'm fulfilling my promise Seungyoon. I'm fulfilling my promise to my little brother.”
…
Rriiinnnnggggg
"Hello?"
"I got the files and did the background check. It's confirmed, that man named Joon Gook was the same corrupt cop associated with the dealers. I'll send you the documents thru fax tonight."
"Thank you, you've always been a great help Choi."
"I owe you, and it’s all I can do after all that have happened. Give me a call if you need anything else . . . and Gain, please be careful."
"I will."
Gain stood up and took a deep sigh.
"There are two kinds of bad people, the first kind are the ones who do bad things, and the other kind, are the ones who watch bad pole do bad things and doesn't do anything about it."
She walked aver the veranda and lit up a cigarette, “Time to pay for your sins Joon Gook.”
°2010 December"What the hell was that Kang Seungyoon?" Irene wailed and grabbed his collar.
The sudden use of full name basis took Seungyoon by surprise, "what do you mean?"
"Don't you give me that what do you mean shit. Mino spent the whole day with you, he planned those balloon surprises, Seunghoon and I helped in setting that up! And he took you to that insect gallery-"
"BEATLES' Gallery," Seungyoon interrupted, he could not, for all that is holy swallow the fact that his best friend, of all people call the greatest musicians ever, insects.
"Beatles! Whatever! Where was I?. . . Oh! You! Ugh! Mino even took you to that gallery and you go off with some . . . I don't even know who that guy was! That you apparently know, and you let him take you home and left Mino hanging!"
"You don't know who he is Irene, all you ever see is Seunghoon here, Seunghoon there, everywhere Seunghoon. He is my classmate, and he's teaching me how to play drums. But I'm not with him. Nor I am with Mino."
Irene gave him an are-you-fucking-kidding-me look.
"What? Why are you mad at me?"
"I'm not mad at you, I just don't like to associate myself with people who are complete idiots."
Seungyoon shook his head and looked out the window.
"Do you even see what's going on?" Irene asked. "Mino hasn't been fooling around. He hasn't brought any guy home since you started hanging out with us . . . It’s been what? Half a year? He has yet to strangle every guy that tries to make a pass at you and twenty-four seven follows you around like a dog. You know why that is?"
"Cut it, Rene. I'm not plunging into a relationship just because you nose detects something funny. Months ago, you were assuring Seunghoon that a Seungyoon and Mino won't happen, and now you're pushing him to me?"
"My god! You're worse than a log! I'm looking out for you! It's different now, and even you know it! I know you, Seungyoon, and we both can't deny that you're crazy for each other!"
"Green light Pipes. Save it for later, I don't want us getting into a catfight while you're driving," Seungyoon kissed Irene's cheek as she sighed.
The drive back to the boys’ apartment was silent.
…
Seungyoon collapsed on the couch and Mino sat next to him.
"Finally saw the evil of the race called women?"
"That's just us bantering. Wait till you see how we really fight."
"Oh-kay. . . So. . . your birthday is next month," Mino said while stealing glances at Seungyoon every now and then.
"So?" Seungyoon teased.
"Can I give you my present now?" Mino shyly asked.
Seungyoon flicked his head towards Mino, fighting a smile. "No way!"
"Well, it’s a month in advance, but I thought you'd like it," he awkwardly scratches the back of this head.
"I'll love it."
Mino went to his room and brought out a box, setting it to the floor by Seungyoon's feet.
"Hurry! I don't want him suffocated!"
"Suffo-?" Arf!
Seungyoon lifted the lid and sat gaping at a hairy fluffball inside the box.
"A puppy . . ." Seungyoon deadpanned, reaching for the small animal.
Mino frowned, "You don't like it . . ."
"A puppy!" Seungyoon screeched and bought the fuzzy baby to his cheeks.
Mino beamed, "You like it!"
"Of course I do!"
"He's a Bichon Frise. I got him this morning and . . . what?"
Seungyoon and the puppy were staring at him, "Nothing. . ."
"Well, I'm glad you liked it, I was scared you wouldn't want Dumplings-"
"Dumplings?" Seungyoon's smile gets wider by the second.
"Yeah, that's his name. He's kinda like you. I'm really happy you liked-" Mino was cut off the second time as Seungyoon gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I love it. Thank you, Mino."
°2015 JuneWroof! Wroof!
Awake. Where am I?
Mino regained consciousness almost immediately, but because of the throb in his head, he feels as if he were coming out of a deep slumber.
Where is he?
A bridge . . . with various locks on it. There's a handful of people listening to a lady holding a flag in front of a souvenir shop. A man getting dragged by his dog towards a small fountain. A tall man with red face and yellow hair, taking pictures of everything. What day is it? Was it Saturday? But there is a girl nearby in her school uniform . . . today must be a weekday.
Mino is holding a picture and a note in his hands. The photo is of a smiling boy, leaning on the bridge, holding 3 daisies.
All of a sudden, Mino had a mild flashback, but he is so rattled, it made him grasp for the bridge railing.
Ah . . .
He remembers now.
Mino turns around and locates a flower vendor. Asking for the bundle of daisies, he takes out all the bills he have in his pockets, took the flowers and shoved the wad of cash into the old woman's hand, turning around before the lady can voice out anything.
Mino headed to where his feet would take him, and found himself in an isolated area of the bridge. One by one, he started to throw the flowers into the calm river.
"It's quiet," Mino murmured.
How long has he been here?
Mino felt a touch on his right arm. He turned to face a small, old woman, the basket of flowers in her frail arm.
"Thank you, young man. May you find happiness," the woman said and smiled warmly, then she went away.
"Happiness huh . . . but my happiness has left me. They took him away . . . and they will pay." Mino crushes the last, three daisies in his hand.
…
Joon Gook proceeds cautiously in the narrow alleyway. He is carrying his messenger bag on his shoulder and holding a small pouch containing a colt .357 magnum, wrapped in a loincloth, on his left hand. This model, compared to the other high ranking weapons has been mass produced on the black market. It just takes a few connections, those that remain neutral between the government and those against it, and you can get it in the blink of an eye, with a negotiable price of course. The hidden gun made him feel somewhat secure, but he never really had a moment where he wasn't tensed when meeting Song Mino.
Two more. Joon Gook thinks. He's only got two more assholes to get rid of. Insolent fools who made a fucking mess out of his life. Bastards who never think before they act. But there is nothing Joon Gook can do now. He's got to stick with Song Mino and makes sure he doesn't remember. And when all things are said and done, it’s the boy's turn for him to get rid of. It was easy to manipulate him in this game, how hard can it be to manipulate him towards his own death?
Joon Gook snickers.
Everyone is an enemy in this world. It didn't matter how he is labelled now. Who the hell cares. He's got a damn kid on his hands killing the people he wanted to rip off.
Joon Gook's memory of how he met Mino was so vivid. Well, if you'd not count the day where the kid reached for his dying friend in his house. And how he fought till he was beaten black and blue for his lover. But Joon Gook didn't even touch them back then, just merely watched.
Joon Gook met Song Mino the second time, when he made a scene at the station Joon Gook used to be in, claiming that his lover was murdered and he needed help to find the killers. For a moment, Joon Gook thought the kid remembered him when Mino gave him a second look.
Was Joon Gook wearing a mask that time in their house? Fuck. He couldn't remember. But it couldn’t be, the kid has amnesia. Yet the look Mino is giving him now is much too cold and piercing.
Joon Gook gave an inward sigh of relief when Mino tore his gaze away a minute after. The young man after all has somehow twisted up the truth by himself. Still, Joon Gook made a mental note to check on Song Mino once in a while.
The kid walked out of the station after a couple of minutes, mad that no one was taking him seriously. Joon Gook and his colleagues laughed the situation off, saying that the poor kid has gone nuts over what happened.
If you're wondering, Joon Gook has this special nickname you see. He's called leech. He is a leech. A leech implanted by the illegal organization he was in within the police. Joon Gook managed to keep his other identity hidden for four years. He considered praising himself for being smart and useful.
However, not everyone born in this world can be smart and useful at the same time. There are just those who were made to fuck the hell up.
So, it was only inevitable that sooner or later, his cover will be blown. And boy it did. Good for Joon Gook, he was smart enough to make precautions and disappeared with a new identity.
With his police cover gone, Joon Gook was tasked as a money transmitter during patron to client operations.
Everything was going smooth with the new job.
Both sides will meet up, the boys will collect the drugs, he will handle in giving out the money, they go back to the main house and get his part of the cash. He decides that being a full-time dealer in the organization wasn't so bad.
Or so Joon Gook thought.
…
°2013 August"That can't be!"
A shrill ran through Joon Gook's spine as he heard a pistol cocked by his side.
"B-but it was here! The money was here! I counted it myself not too long ago!"
Joon Gook looked at the window behind him. He already gave the others an emergency signal that something was wrong and he needs back-up. Twice. But no one came out from the compartment.
It was too late when Joon Gook realized what was wrong and what was actually happening. The bastards he was with earlier was long gone. The motherfuckers fled with the drugs and the money. He was the distraction.
The man in front of Joon Gook with an ugly scar that ran through his right eye seemed to be on the same page. He clicked his tongue and Joon Gook flinched.
"Are you fucking with us old man?" One of the men with a meticulously gelled hair spat at him.
Joon Gook's face was beyond pale. It was damp and had turned completely white.
The rest needed little explanation. Joon Gook miraculously escaped, but not without the souvenirs that he chose to carry on as a little remembrance, two bullet wounds on his shoulders and a deep scar that ran from his left hip down to the knee.
To make the long story more short, Joon Gook sought Mino.
Fed him white lies that made him easy to manipulate. "You want to find those killers? Let me help you. Let me give you the people to kill."
Joon Gook also realized then that being with Mino was the first time he had ever seen an abnormally insane but at the same time terrifyingly smart(in terms of how Mino cope up with his disability), person.
Joon Gook has a long list of people he implanted a grudge on, so he decided to play in the game. A game where he has the upper hand.
Or so Joon Gook thought.
°2011 January"Shots!" Irene yelled, too hyped up to get her feet inside the bar.
Seunghoon rolled his eyes. They arrived outside the Red Fox with Seunghoon rounding the parking lot for the third time, trying to fide a decent space for the love of his life. A matte green Honda Civic 2.0 that he named LeeHee.
"Anytime now bro, were getting older here!"
"Shut your trap, Mino." It took them 20 minutes to find the space of assurance where the precious car's paint won't be dinged by some drunken idiot.
Once inside, Irene immediately pulled Seunghoon onto the dance floor, Mino and Seungyoon made a pass and went for the bar.
"To the only guy the Song Hugeboy Minho, won't ever sleep with!" Seungyoon raised his bottle and motioned to drink.
"Are you serious?" Mino grabs the beer from Seungyoon's hand and sets both of their bottles on the counter. "Maybe you forgot, but let me remind you. I.Wanted. To. Sleep. With. You. Seungyoon. I fucking craved to sleep with you. I thought of many different ways to fuck you, throwing you on the couch, by the table, on the sink, against the fucking window, hell we could even do it in the physics lab if you want to. I imagined how you would sound screaming my name as I fuck you deep, hard, and fast. I wondered how fast it would take for you to come while I blow you off. But you're not just a fast fuck anymore. I don't see you that way, you're way much better than that." Mino took a swig.
Seungyoon was having a hard time rubbing off the smug smile in his face. "You think that you don't deserve me."
Mino playfully glared at Seungyoon and pinched his cheek, "There's no one that I can think of whose worthy to be with you, puppy."
Seungyoon felt warmth from the sincerity of Mino's words and kissed the taller boy on the cheek. He was definitely falling. He smirked and pulled on Mino's hand. "C'mon lover boy, let's dance."
Irene and Seunghoon appeared beside them. The music went from a dull pulse to a sick beat that made Seungyoon's heart thump in rhythm.
A handful of songs later, Mino felt Seungyoon fidget as a sensual number played. He pulled Seungyoon closer to his body. Seungyoon tensed, but then miraculously found courage as he ran his hands over Mino's chest and down to his abs as the latter wrapped his tattooed arms around Seungyoon's hips.
Seungyoon turned his back to Mino and smiled when Mino circled his arms on his waist. Coupled with the alcohol in their system, it wasn't long before they start grinding into each other and Mino's tongue darting out of his mouth to leave a wet trail on Seungyoon's neck.
…
They lay on the bed, feet tangled.
"What are we?" Mino asked, a bit dazed.
"I don't know"
Mino grunted then positioned Seungyoon on top of him. Seungyoon stared at Mino's face and licked his lower lip. He doesn't know where the surge of courage is coming from but he gave a silent thank you to the alcohol in his system. "I want you. . . I don't know what we are but God, I want you Mino."
Mino focused his eyes on Seungyoon and gripped the latter's sides. He brought their lips together. The kiss was slow and deep . . . it was sensual. It was perfect. Seungyoon felt electricity ran through his veins and blood rushed on his lower region as Mino moaned from the kiss.
"Hmmmmm . . ."
Mino was the first one to pull away.
"Not like this Seungyoon," Mino whispered brushing their lips together. "God I want you so much, but not like this, it’s wrong. Fuck."
Seungyoon grabbed Mino's arms, he felt the muscle flexed under his touch then he moved his hips against Mino.
"Holy. Fucking. christ . . . Seungyoon . ." Mino groaned.
"I need you . . . I've been trying so hard to keep myself from giving in, I was barely hanging on, but what you said earlier gave the last push, and I fell too deep Mino. It's eating me up."
Mino paused. They looked at each other’s eyes for a moment, both their faces tight from seriousness and repressed lust.
Mino broke the reverie. "Then what do you want puppy. Tell me."
"You," Seungyoon whispered and pushed his body into Mino. "I want you."
Mino growled and grabbed Seungyoon's ass cheeks, he raised his right leg and flipped them over.
Hovered above Seungyoon, Mino buried his face on Seungyoon's neck and uttered, desperately, "I don't want you to regret this Seungyoon, so I'm giving you a chance. I'm going to ask you to tell me to step out from this room and lock the door before I combust. And please make it fast, I have very little amount of self-control in me right now."
Seungyoon had a couple of bottles but he wasn't drunk. Tipsy, sure, but definitely not drunk. Seungyoon perfectly knows what he is doing. Seungyoon is in perfect control of his actions as he raised Mino's head and brought their faces together. He gave Mino a peck, and then another, then nibbled Mino's bottom lip. Seungyoon was about to pull back when Mino crashed their lips together, with so much force that the air was literally knocked out of Seungyoon's lungs. Seungyoon locked his arms around Mino's neck and kissed him back hungrily.
Mino bit Seungyoon's plump lip and slowly pushed his tongue into Seungyoon's mouth, grazing over the back of his teeth and then moved to caress the wet muscle within. Mino moaned as Seungyoon roamed his tongue to his warm cavern, copying his actions.
Seungyoon's hands scrambled to take off Mino's shirt that broke their kiss and made Mino dive towards Seungyoon's neck, nipping and lapping the sensitive flesh. When Mino wandered over Seungyoon's nipples, the latter involuntarily bucked his hips upward.
"Fuck. Seungyoon . ." Mino cursed, his voice came out rough and sexy and Seungyoon thought he could come just from that.
"Mino," Seungyoon said, panting "Take me"
"Oh god, you . . . I don't know if I can take it slow baby, my head is already filled with the thought of fucking you in 20 different positions.”
"For someone so horny, you do talk a lot," Seungyoon teased and wrapped his legs against Mino's torso, bringing their clothed hard rods in contact.
Mino hissed and kissed Seungyoon. His left hand played with Seungyoon's nipples and the other clumsily unbuttoning Seungyoon's jeans. Mino smirked then lowered himself, face in front of Seungyoon's crotch. Mino used his teeth to tug the zipper down.
Seungyoon grasped the sheets as Mino raised his hips and mouthed on his dick, now covered by just his briefs. Mino took the fabric off a second later.
Mino licked his lips as Seungyoon's gorgeous cock came into full view.
"I thought you said you couldn't take it slow?" Seungyoon still managed to tease Mino amidst all the panting.
"Shut up I'm focusing here."
"Ah . . . Mino" Seungyoon's voice came out hoarse.
Mino had Seungyoon's dick in his hand, his thumb sliding across the slit. The swollen member twitched when he breathed cold air on it. "You like this baby?" Mino asked with a smirk.
"Yes . . . shit. . So. Fucking. Good."
Seungyoon's back arched as Mino continued his pumping, his hand going faster by each stroke.
They did a series of foreplays, then Seungyoon almost pulled off Mino's hair as Mino prepared him, 2 fingers scissors his pink and tight pucker with gusto.
Seungyoon dug his fingers into Mino's flesh as Mino angled his strained dick to Seungyoon's winking hole.
"I'm gonna take you slow and raw baby. I'm gonna make you feel real good, you can't say no to having sex with me, anytime, anywhere." Mino held Seungyoon's cheeks. "Look at me, Seungyoon."
Seungyoon looked back at Mino, Mino leaned in and gave Seungyoon a tender kiss as he pushed inside in small, slow movements.
Biting his lips with discomfort, Seungyoon reached for Mino's ass and urged him to push in. Mino had trouble breathing but he let Seungyoon have his way till his length was fully sheathed.
Mino struggled to keep himself from fucking Seungyoon senseless, but when he gave another slow roll of his hips and Seungyoon cried out in delicious ecstasy, it was like something snapped inside of him and he began to thrust his hips sharply.
Mino was rewarded with a long, erotic moan.
Their heated session lasted for who knows how long. When they finally felt exhausted, and the sun was saying his hello, they lay there, heavy breathing and covered in mess. After a few seconds, Mino glanced over at Seungyoon, wiped the hair sticking into his face and kissed the tip of his nose. Seungyoon cuddled into his chest.
"I love you puppy. It sounds fucking ridiculous coming from me but I love you. I love you with all of my heart."
Seungyoon suppressed a smile, "This is official hugeboy. I'm not letting you go."