No Matter What (Chapter Six)
TITLE: No Matter What
SUMMARY: What if you've found the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? And then your love, your soul mate suddenly turns tail and runs?
---
Donghae smiled at the person sitting opposite him, talking animatedly (as he had been doing so since the past fifteen minutes) about the places he had wanted to go. So far all Hyukjae had talked about was France.
"Appa says France is beautiful during springtime! Well, I guess it's beautiful during any time of the year. I really, really, want to go!"
"Haven't you gone there before?"
Hyukjae nodded around a mouthful of rice. He swallowed before speaking enthusiastically. "Yes, I've been there thrice but only on vacations to see my father. I'd want to stay longer. Soak up the environment, you know."
Donghae chuckled. He'd been to France twice, and on both occasions, he'd been there for business. "I'll take you there someday."
The other looked at him in surprise before smiling and nodding. "I'd like that very much."
"So, I'm guessing you'd want to go to Paris?"
"Paris?" Hyukjae pursed his lips and shook his head. "Not really."
"Why not?" Donghae knew that most people would prefer to visit the City of Light. "I hear it's where all those chic people go."
"Well, I'm not one of them," Hyukjae said, a sheepish smile on his lips. "I mean, I'd like to visit Paris too, of course but where I really want to go is Nice."
"NIce?"
That question prompted Hyukjae to tell Donghae all about the largest city of the French Riviera and within an hour, Donghae knew all the basics one of the most beautiful cities of France.
"By the way you're talking, it's like you've been there before, Hyukkie." Donghae teased as he leaned forward to dab the corner of his loved one's mouth with a napkin. "Have you?"
Hyukjae hastily took the napkin from Donghae's hand and wiped his mouth, the slightest trace of a blush on his cheeks. "I-I haven't been there yet. Appa says he'll take me there when I go visit."
Donghae nodded in understanding (and amusement) and was about to open his mouth to speak when his phone suddenly rang. Frowning, he gazed at the electronic device for a few seconds before he answered the call.
"Juri, I asked not to be disturbed today, haven't I?----Isn't anyone else there to handle that account?----Jinki's sick?----Fine----No, no don't tell Mr. Kim to leave----I'll, I'll be right there."
When he looked up, he saw Hyukjae with an understanding (and somewhat sad) smile on his face, almost as if he was already expecting that Donghae wouldn't be able to spend the whole day with him like they had originally planned.
It made Donghae's heart ache to know that their relationship had come to this.
"Hyuk, I'm sorry. It's just---"
"It's okay, Hae. Don't worry about it."
---
He gazed at the single rose in his hand, beautiful in its simplicity.
With a sad smile and even sadder eyes, he placed it inside the box beside the others...and ignored the pain (as he had always done) resonating in his heart.
---
"It's going to be your birthday in a week!"
Hyukjae laughed at his older brother's antics. Sungmin looked much more excited than he. "Why yes, hyung, I guess it is."
Sungmin raised an eyebrow. "So? What are our plans?" He placed a hand under his chin and inclined his head. "I know! We could have dinner here at your apartment! You know, just like my birthday. It'll be just the three---I mean, four---of us!"
"That would be great, hyung."
Sungmin narrowed his eyes. "But...?"
Hyukjae smiled. "But Donghae wanted to take me out to dinner on my birthday. Something about making it special because it the first one we're spending together."
The older man raised an eyebrow. "Oh well, you could always come back here after your date and we'll eat...dessert...or something."
Hyukjae laughed. "Sure, hyung."
"By the way," Sungmin pointed to an envelope on the kitchen table. "Uncle called, asking when you'd be going to visit. And to tell us that he'd already bought you---and me, if I wanted---a ticket. Apparently, he got the impression that the reason why it's taking you so long to go visit is because you---we---have no money to buy tickets."
"Really? Appa's really too much at times..."
"It means he really does miss you." Sungmin smiled, no doubt thinking about his own parents. "When are you going?"
"Hyung, he misses the both of us." Hyukjae looked thoughtful. "I'll think about when I'm going...but I really want you to come with."
Sungmin nodded and grinned.
---
A week later, Sungmin and Kyuhyun were seated on Hyukjae's couch, pigging out on ice cream while watching Despicable Me, laughing every now and then. It was Hyukjae's birthday and they were waiting for the birthday boy and his boyfriend to arrive from their date.
In the middle of watching the hilarious animated film, the front door opened. Sungmin immediately stood up and went to greet the newcomers, expecting to see Donghae with his arms around Hyukjae (as he had often seen them) and was instead met by the sight of his tearful-looking younger brother.
"Hyuk?" He approached the younger man swiftly, putting both hands against either of Hyukjae's shoulders. "Hyukjae, what happened?"
The other merely shook his head and burst into tears, clutching Sungmin tightly and bawling his eyes out.
"Hyukjae...Hyuk, Hyuk, what happened? Where's Donghae?"
Hyukjae shook his head again and tried, in vain, to stop the tears.
By that time, Kyuhyun had already gotten up and had gone to see what had happened. When he saw Hyukjae crying in Sungmin's arms, he motioned for his boyfriend to take the younger man to the living room.
Sungmin nodded and guided Hyukjae to the couch. As they moved from their spot, something fell to the floor.
With furrowed eyebrows, Kyuhyun went to pick it up.
It was a red rose, slightly crumpled but looking as beautiful as ever.
---
"What?!"
Hyukjae winced and avoided his brother's eyes. He fought the urge to cry again, his eyes were still swollen and he was feeling emotionally and physically drained. The last thing he needed was to have his brother shouting at him.
"Min, don't shout." Kyuhyun chastised as handed a glass of water to Hyukjae, who took it and smiled gratefully.
Sungmin took a deep breath and hissed. "He stood you up on your birthday?! How dare he---!"
"Hyung..." Hyukjae's voice had become raspy from all the crying. "Please. Not now."
But Sungmin was livid. He was not going to let Hyukjae out of this. "No. We do this now."
The younger man looked at him, apprehension in his gaze.
Sungmin sighed and shook his head. He knew he was going to hurt his brother, but he was convinced that this was the best choice. "If you think I've been ignorant about what had been happening, then you're wrong."
Hyukjae's head snapped up in surprise. "I--W-What--I d-don't know what you're talking about, hyung."
"How many times had he left you hanging, Hyuk? Don't tell me you haven't been counting." Sungmin said harshly, ignoring Kyuhyun's questioning look. He was going to explain everything to his boyfriend after he had dealt with his brother's issue.
"Hyung, I-I really have no idea---"
Sungmin shook his head. "I've seen the box, Hyukjae." At this, Hyukjae's eyes almost bugged out of their sockets. " Why do you bother to protect him when he's the one at fault here?"
"Because he's not doing anything wrong!"
"He's making you cry," Sungmin countered back. "And as far as I know that's as wrong as it can get."
Hyukjae's eyes fill out with tears again. "I just---He's not doing anything wrong. He apologizes for all the times he's had to leave me and always does something to make up for it. I shouldn't even be getting angry or h-hurt because I'm supposed to understand!"
"Someone's apology doesn't mean anything if he keeps on repeating the action every time."
"But hyung..." Hyukjae was now crying so hard that it was getting difficult to decipher his words. "I---I can't... I-I don't even know what to do..."
Sungmin's eyes softened as he approached his brother, sitting beside him and embracing him gently. "Have you tried talking to him, Hyuk? Explaining about how you feel---how it makes you feel when he leaves just for some stupid business meeting or some stuck-up client?"
Hyukjae hiccuped and shook his head. "How could I? Hyung, he's worked so hard for that company! I couldn't just ask him to disregard his life's effort for me. It makes me s-sound so...selfish."
Kyuhyun, who seemed to have figured out the gist of what had happened, spoke for the first time, patting Hyukjae's head as he would a small child. "Hyukjae, in matters concerning love...you're allowed to be as selfish as you want."
---
The next morning, Hyukjae woke up with a sore throat and swollen eyes. He turned on his phone to discover that there had been ten missed calls from Donghae. He sighed and fought the urge to call his boyfriend.
His brother had given him an option yesterday, a test Sungmin had said, to see if Donghae really did care for him. Normally, Hyukjae would have vetoed the idea (because he knew that Donghae really did care for him) but truth be told, he really was getting tired. And besides, he had been keeping his father waiting long enough.
He gazed at the one way ticket to France and at Donghae's picture on his bedside table and wondered if he really had the guts to say goodbye.
---
Lee Donghae glared at nothing in particular as he held his phone to his ear. It had been three days since Hyukjae's birthday and he hadn't spoken to his boyfriend in that span of time. Hyukjae just wouldn't pick up.
Frustrated at the lack of response, he stood up angrily. Passing by his secretary, he instructed her to cancel all appointments he had today, no exceptions. He didn't care if he lost a deal or a client---something just didn't feel right. And he was determined to find out.
He drove at breakneck speed towards Hyukjae's apartment. He was about to knock on the door when it opened before his fingers even touched the wooden surface, revealing Sungmin and Kyuhyun with serious expressions on their faces.
"Sungmin, Kyuhyun, where's Hyukjae? He hasn't been answering---"
"Why don't you come in first, Donghae?"
The businessman stopped speaking and entered the quiet apartment.
"Sit down."
As soon as Donghae had settled himself on the couch, Sungmin exited the room only to re-enter once again holding a box. Donghae glanced at it curiously but did not really pay much attention to the object.
"Is Hyukjae here? Is he sick?"
"No." Sungmin sat opposite him and Kyuhyun stood at his side. "Hyukjae's not in Korea right now."
"What?!" Donghae's eyes had widened in surprise. "Where is he?"
The photographer shook his head and handed Donghae the box.
"Just open it." Sungmin interjected before he could ask.
Inside the box were ten roses, showing various types of withering. One was just merely a stalk and numerous dead petals were scattered inside.
"W-What is this?"
Kyuhyun smiled at hm but it wasn't his friend's usual friendly smile. It contained no warmth at all. "You should know, Hae-yah, you were the one who gave them to Hyukjae."
Donghae's brow's furrowed before his eyes widened in understanding. "B-But..."
Sungmin looked at him accusingly. "Can't believe you've stood him up for ten times?"
"I-I didn't..." Donghae looked at the two people in front of him. "I-Is this...Is this why he left?"
He was met with silence and he took it as an affirmative.
"But he never said anything!"
Didn't you feel guilty at all, Donghae?" Sungmin asked. "Didn't you even wonder about how he was feeling?"
"Of course I did!" Donghae replied indignantly. "Of course I did. He said he understood and he never let on any signs that he was---"
"Tired? Hurt?" Sungmin all but sneered. "If you thought my brother would tell that to your face, then you don't know him at all. People get tired too, you know."
"But I thought he understood..." Donghae whispered.
"Donghae," Kyuhyun's voice was soft but angry and scolding. "You stood him up on his birthday. I thought better of you."
---
A/N: Sorry for another late update.
So, Chapter six is here!
Tell me what you think~<3!
The rest of the story: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
SUMMARY: What if you've found the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? And then your love, your soul mate suddenly turns tail and runs?
---
Donghae smiled at the person sitting opposite him, talking animatedly (as he had been doing so since the past fifteen minutes) about the places he had wanted to go. So far all Hyukjae had talked about was France.
"Appa says France is beautiful during springtime! Well, I guess it's beautiful during any time of the year. I really, really, want to go!"
"Haven't you gone there before?"
Hyukjae nodded around a mouthful of rice. He swallowed before speaking enthusiastically. "Yes, I've been there thrice but only on vacations to see my father. I'd want to stay longer. Soak up the environment, you know."
Donghae chuckled. He'd been to France twice, and on both occasions, he'd been there for business. "I'll take you there someday."
The other looked at him in surprise before smiling and nodding. "I'd like that very much."
"So, I'm guessing you'd want to go to Paris?"
"Paris?" Hyukjae pursed his lips and shook his head. "Not really."
"Why not?" Donghae knew that most people would prefer to visit the City of Light. "I hear it's where all those chic people go."
"Well, I'm not one of them," Hyukjae said, a sheepish smile on his lips. "I mean, I'd like to visit Paris too, of course but where I really want to go is Nice."
"NIce?"
That question prompted Hyukjae to tell Donghae all about the largest city of the French Riviera and within an hour, Donghae knew all the basics one of the most beautiful cities of France.
"By the way you're talking, it's like you've been there before, Hyukkie." Donghae teased as he leaned forward to dab the corner of his loved one's mouth with a napkin. "Have you?"
Hyukjae hastily took the napkin from Donghae's hand and wiped his mouth, the slightest trace of a blush on his cheeks. "I-I haven't been there yet. Appa says he'll take me there when I go visit."
Donghae nodded in understanding (and amusement) and was about to open his mouth to speak when his phone suddenly rang. Frowning, he gazed at the electronic device for a few seconds before he answered the call.
"Juri, I asked not to be disturbed today, haven't I?----Isn't anyone else there to handle that account?----Jinki's sick?----Fine----No, no don't tell Mr. Kim to leave----I'll, I'll be right there."
When he looked up, he saw Hyukjae with an understanding (and somewhat sad) smile on his face, almost as if he was already expecting that Donghae wouldn't be able to spend the whole day with him like they had originally planned.
It made Donghae's heart ache to know that their relationship had come to this.
"Hyuk, I'm sorry. It's just---"
"It's okay, Hae. Don't worry about it."
---
He gazed at the single rose in his hand, beautiful in its simplicity.
With a sad smile and even sadder eyes, he placed it inside the box beside the others...and ignored the pain (as he had always done) resonating in his heart.
---
"It's going to be your birthday in a week!"
Hyukjae laughed at his older brother's antics. Sungmin looked much more excited than he. "Why yes, hyung, I guess it is."
Sungmin raised an eyebrow. "So? What are our plans?" He placed a hand under his chin and inclined his head. "I know! We could have dinner here at your apartment! You know, just like my birthday. It'll be just the three---I mean, four---of us!"
"That would be great, hyung."
Sungmin narrowed his eyes. "But...?"
Hyukjae smiled. "But Donghae wanted to take me out to dinner on my birthday. Something about making it special because it the first one we're spending together."
The older man raised an eyebrow. "Oh well, you could always come back here after your date and we'll eat...dessert...or something."
Hyukjae laughed. "Sure, hyung."
"By the way," Sungmin pointed to an envelope on the kitchen table. "Uncle called, asking when you'd be going to visit. And to tell us that he'd already bought you---and me, if I wanted---a ticket. Apparently, he got the impression that the reason why it's taking you so long to go visit is because you---we---have no money to buy tickets."
"Really? Appa's really too much at times..."
"It means he really does miss you." Sungmin smiled, no doubt thinking about his own parents. "When are you going?"
"Hyung, he misses the both of us." Hyukjae looked thoughtful. "I'll think about when I'm going...but I really want you to come with."
Sungmin nodded and grinned.
---
A week later, Sungmin and Kyuhyun were seated on Hyukjae's couch, pigging out on ice cream while watching Despicable Me, laughing every now and then. It was Hyukjae's birthday and they were waiting for the birthday boy and his boyfriend to arrive from their date.
In the middle of watching the hilarious animated film, the front door opened. Sungmin immediately stood up and went to greet the newcomers, expecting to see Donghae with his arms around Hyukjae (as he had often seen them) and was instead met by the sight of his tearful-looking younger brother.
"Hyuk?" He approached the younger man swiftly, putting both hands against either of Hyukjae's shoulders. "Hyukjae, what happened?"
The other merely shook his head and burst into tears, clutching Sungmin tightly and bawling his eyes out.
"Hyukjae...Hyuk, Hyuk, what happened? Where's Donghae?"
Hyukjae shook his head again and tried, in vain, to stop the tears.
By that time, Kyuhyun had already gotten up and had gone to see what had happened. When he saw Hyukjae crying in Sungmin's arms, he motioned for his boyfriend to take the younger man to the living room.
Sungmin nodded and guided Hyukjae to the couch. As they moved from their spot, something fell to the floor.
With furrowed eyebrows, Kyuhyun went to pick it up.
It was a red rose, slightly crumpled but looking as beautiful as ever.
---
"What?!"
Hyukjae winced and avoided his brother's eyes. He fought the urge to cry again, his eyes were still swollen and he was feeling emotionally and physically drained. The last thing he needed was to have his brother shouting at him.
"Min, don't shout." Kyuhyun chastised as handed a glass of water to Hyukjae, who took it and smiled gratefully.
Sungmin took a deep breath and hissed. "He stood you up on your birthday?! How dare he---!"
"Hyung..." Hyukjae's voice had become raspy from all the crying. "Please. Not now."
But Sungmin was livid. He was not going to let Hyukjae out of this. "No. We do this now."
The younger man looked at him, apprehension in his gaze.
Sungmin sighed and shook his head. He knew he was going to hurt his brother, but he was convinced that this was the best choice. "If you think I've been ignorant about what had been happening, then you're wrong."
Hyukjae's head snapped up in surprise. "I--W-What--I d-don't know what you're talking about, hyung."
"How many times had he left you hanging, Hyuk? Don't tell me you haven't been counting." Sungmin said harshly, ignoring Kyuhyun's questioning look. He was going to explain everything to his boyfriend after he had dealt with his brother's issue.
"Hyung, I-I really have no idea---"
Sungmin shook his head. "I've seen the box, Hyukjae." At this, Hyukjae's eyes almost bugged out of their sockets. " Why do you bother to protect him when he's the one at fault here?"
"Because he's not doing anything wrong!"
"He's making you cry," Sungmin countered back. "And as far as I know that's as wrong as it can get."
Hyukjae's eyes fill out with tears again. "I just---He's not doing anything wrong. He apologizes for all the times he's had to leave me and always does something to make up for it. I shouldn't even be getting angry or h-hurt because I'm supposed to understand!"
"Someone's apology doesn't mean anything if he keeps on repeating the action every time."
"But hyung..." Hyukjae was now crying so hard that it was getting difficult to decipher his words. "I---I can't... I-I don't even know what to do..."
Sungmin's eyes softened as he approached his brother, sitting beside him and embracing him gently. "Have you tried talking to him, Hyuk? Explaining about how you feel---how it makes you feel when he leaves just for some stupid business meeting or some stuck-up client?"
Hyukjae hiccuped and shook his head. "How could I? Hyung, he's worked so hard for that company! I couldn't just ask him to disregard his life's effort for me. It makes me s-sound so...selfish."
Kyuhyun, who seemed to have figured out the gist of what had happened, spoke for the first time, patting Hyukjae's head as he would a small child. "Hyukjae, in matters concerning love...you're allowed to be as selfish as you want."
---
The next morning, Hyukjae woke up with a sore throat and swollen eyes. He turned on his phone to discover that there had been ten missed calls from Donghae. He sighed and fought the urge to call his boyfriend.
His brother had given him an option yesterday, a test Sungmin had said, to see if Donghae really did care for him. Normally, Hyukjae would have vetoed the idea (because he knew that Donghae really did care for him) but truth be told, he really was getting tired. And besides, he had been keeping his father waiting long enough.
He gazed at the one way ticket to France and at Donghae's picture on his bedside table and wondered if he really had the guts to say goodbye.
---
Lee Donghae glared at nothing in particular as he held his phone to his ear. It had been three days since Hyukjae's birthday and he hadn't spoken to his boyfriend in that span of time. Hyukjae just wouldn't pick up.
Frustrated at the lack of response, he stood up angrily. Passing by his secretary, he instructed her to cancel all appointments he had today, no exceptions. He didn't care if he lost a deal or a client---something just didn't feel right. And he was determined to find out.
He drove at breakneck speed towards Hyukjae's apartment. He was about to knock on the door when it opened before his fingers even touched the wooden surface, revealing Sungmin and Kyuhyun with serious expressions on their faces.
"Sungmin, Kyuhyun, where's Hyukjae? He hasn't been answering---"
"Why don't you come in first, Donghae?"
The businessman stopped speaking and entered the quiet apartment.
"Sit down."
As soon as Donghae had settled himself on the couch, Sungmin exited the room only to re-enter once again holding a box. Donghae glanced at it curiously but did not really pay much attention to the object.
"Is Hyukjae here? Is he sick?"
"No." Sungmin sat opposite him and Kyuhyun stood at his side. "Hyukjae's not in Korea right now."
"What?!" Donghae's eyes had widened in surprise. "Where is he?"
The photographer shook his head and handed Donghae the box.
"Just open it." Sungmin interjected before he could ask.
Inside the box were ten roses, showing various types of withering. One was just merely a stalk and numerous dead petals were scattered inside.
"W-What is this?"
Kyuhyun smiled at hm but it wasn't his friend's usual friendly smile. It contained no warmth at all. "You should know, Hae-yah, you were the one who gave them to Hyukjae."
Donghae's brow's furrowed before his eyes widened in understanding. "B-But..."
Sungmin looked at him accusingly. "Can't believe you've stood him up for ten times?"
"I-I didn't..." Donghae looked at the two people in front of him. "I-Is this...Is this why he left?"
He was met with silence and he took it as an affirmative.
"But he never said anything!"
Didn't you feel guilty at all, Donghae?" Sungmin asked. "Didn't you even wonder about how he was feeling?"
"Of course I did!" Donghae replied indignantly. "Of course I did. He said he understood and he never let on any signs that he was---"
"Tired? Hurt?" Sungmin all but sneered. "If you thought my brother would tell that to your face, then you don't know him at all. People get tired too, you know."
"But I thought he understood..." Donghae whispered.
"Donghae," Kyuhyun's voice was soft but angry and scolding. "You stood him up on his birthday. I thought better of you."
---
A/N: Sorry for another late update.
So, Chapter six is here!
Tell me what you think~<3!
The rest of the story: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07