Title: Two for the Road 8/21
Author: Ink_River10
Pairing: HanChul
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure - AU
Warnings: Swearing, sexual situations
Disclaimer: I do not own Super Junior, I just amuse myself with them in my head
Summary: Hankyung is asked by his powerful boss to do a job for him, but little does he know what he’s really getting into…
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7
Hankyung woke in the morning, refreshed and rejuvenated. The clock read 9:45am. He rolled over, intent on kissing Heechul awake. But the place where Heechul should have been was empty. He sat bolt upright, alarmed.
“Heechul-ah?” He called out, wishing he didn’t sound so panicked. But he was met with silence.
He jumped out of bed, not wanting to believe it. But the bathroom was empty. Heechul’s small suitcase was gone.
Heechul was gone.
Hankyung could feel pain and disbelief beginning to claw into him, stealing his breath and nearly doubling him over. He drew in air, ragged and sharp, too cold and too hollow to fill his lungs properly. Stunned, he literally stood frozen next to the bed, unwilling to believe that Heechul had left him.
That was when he saw it.
A note, placed carefully on the nightstand next to where Hankyung’s head had been only moments before. Swallowing hard and shaking, he picked it up and began to read.
Hankyung,
I know you’ll be upset and hurt, but I had to do this. I cannot go to the mental hospital, and I cannot force you to chose between me and the money to save your family. I hope you understand, and maybe someday you will forgive me. Please tell my Father that I slipped you the drugs and when you woke up, I was gone and you don’t know where I went. You won’t lose your job, and he’ll still give you the money. You can help your family and fix the cars. Please don’t be angry with me. I had to do this because I love you. Please don’t ever forget me, and I hope you never regret me.
I’m sorry.
Love,
Heechul
The paper slipped from his hands and drifted aimlessly to the floor. He stared at it as it came to rest on the threadbare carpet. The temperature in the room seemed to suddenly drop, and he shivered, feeling it well up inside his chest and choke him, clamping down on his throat and squeezing hard.
He said he loved me. Now he’s gone.
Tears formed and burned hotly at the corners of his eyes. He wanted to double over in pain. He wanted to curl up on this bed, cover himself in sheets and blankets that smelled like Heechul and sob and cry and give in to the pain that was shattering his heart into thousands of pieces. He wanted so badly to give in to the grief and anguish tearing at him, stealing the air in his lungs and crushing him.
No.
He stood up quickly, feeling the roaring and pounding in the back of his head. Dizziness washed over him in waves and he paused, gripping the wall.
NO!
He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, fighting the overwhelming dizziness. He knew where Heechul had gone. He wasn’t going to let him go.
Not now, not ever.
He took a few deep breaths to try and calm the wailing and screaming inside his head. The moment the dizziness eased, he threw on clothes and began grabbing his things to throw them in his bag. Precious minutes ticked by as he finished packing. He grabbed the room key and left, running down the steps towards the hotel office. He had no idea how much of a head start Heechul had on him, but he wasn’t going to let him go.
Not now, not ever!
He could feel a cold, fierce determination filling his veins as he went inside. The tiny ahjumma behind the desk smiled at him.
“Good morning.” She said, standing up from where she’d been sitting.
“Good morning.” He bowed quickly out of respect and then set the key on the counter. “Did you happen to see my friend this morning?” He wanted to sound casual, but it came out awkward and nervous.
“Yes I did. He’s a charmer, that one.” She blushed slightly. Hankyung felt a twinge of pain deep in his belly. He nodded a little. “He said to give you this.” She said, reaching down and picking up something from behind the counter. She held it out to him. It was an envelope. Hankyung took it, hoping that his fingers weren’t shaking. He thanked her again and opened it while she checked the key back in.
He felt his fingertips go numb when he pulled out the contents of the envelope. It was money. It was 112,000 won, which was the exact amount Hankyung had paid for the hotel room the day before while Heechul hadn’t been paying attention. Hankyung curled his fist around the bills and closed his eyes, pain clawing at his heart and his pride.
“Damn you, Heechul.” He whispered.
The ahjumma looked up. “He looked sad. Did you argue?” She asked.
Hankyung shook his head. “No. Did you see where he went?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “You’re going to follow him?”
Hankyung nodded, although the tiny flare of hope was so thin it was almost imperceptible.
“He got on the bus. Here.” She said, handing him a pamphlet. It was the bus schedule. Hankyung glanced at it quickly, seeing that the bus that was on it’s way to Mokpo had left at 8am. He looked at the clock on the wall behind her and saw it was 10:03. That meant Heechul had a two hour head start on him.
He pocketed the money and handed the pamphlet back to her. “Thank you. That was helpful.” He sighed. She looked at him sadly.
“Go on, then. You make me sad for both of you.”
Hankyung bit his tongue and nodded. “Goodbye.”
He walked out into the bright and warm sunshine, but all he could feel was a dull, aching cold. Determined not to give up, he started walking towards the garage, praying they’d already started working on the car.
The half run half walk to the garage seemed to take forever. Every second that ticked by, Heechul got further and further away. Mokpo was three hours from here, and he was already a little more than two hours into the trip. Hankyung hadn’t even reached the car yet, say nothing about whether it was actually fixed and ready to go.
He reached the garage and stepped inside. A man behind the counter looked up at him and smiled.
“Let me guess, you’re here about the Mercedes?”
“Yes.” Hankyung said, placing his hands on the counter. “Is it ready?”
“Not yet, I’m afraid. Another hour or so.”
All the hope he’d allowed himself to build on the way there evaporated, leaving him even more hollow than he’d been before. All he could do was nod. He sat down heavily in one of the chairs in the dingy waiting room and put his head in his hands.
The unmistakable smell of rubber and oil permeated everything, making him ill. Doubt began to creep in despite the determination he’d felt earlier.
What if he wasn’t able to find Heechul in Mokpo ? He wouldn’t even have the slightest idea where to begin looking. What if he did find him and Heechul pushed him away again? What would happen if he gave up and returned to Seoul empty handed? Somehow he doubted Kim Jongdae would just shrug and hand him fifty seven million won for a job he hadn’t actually done.
His stomach clenched painfully and he realized he hadn’t eaten anything since the night before. But the idea of food felt wrong, too. He fought the urge to cry and scream in frustration and pain.
Suddenly his cell phone began to ring inside his pocket. He fumbled for it, pulling it out and looking at the screen. It was Siwon. He opened the phone and pressed it to his ear.
“Hello.”
“Uh oh.” Siwon said, immediately hearing the tone of Hankyung’s voice. “What now? Will you please tell me what’s going on?”
Hankyung sighed and pulled his hands through his hair. “He left me, Siwon.”
“What?! What are you talking about? He ran away? Well go get him! You can’t lose fifty million won!”
Hankyung could feel the lump in his throat expand and his breath caught, snagging on all the things he wanted to say and couldn’t.
“We stayed at a hotel last night.” Hankyung said quietly, aware that other people might be able to hear him in the garage. “We made love, Siwon. I told him I was in love with him. He said he loved me too. When I woke up this morning, he was gone.”
“Oh.” Siwon breathed. “Oh God, hyung. Why did he leave?”
“He thought he was being noble.” Hankyung’s voice hitched and he swallowed hard.
Siwon exhaled, and then he sighed, compassion overriding his concern. “Tell me everything. Start at the moment you hung up with me yesterday morning while he was still unconscious.”
Hankyung sighed again, closed his eyes and began to speak.
~~
Heechul pressed his forehead against the window of the bus and watched the scenery flying by. Every mile that passed brought him closer to his Mother but further from Hankyung. He knew instinctively that Hankyung had woken up and read his note by now. And if he was smart, he was on his way back to Seoul to collect his money and save his family’s home.
So why do I wish he was coming after me instead?
It hurt. Gods, but it hurt. He knew he’d done the right thing, but why did it have to tear at his chest and rip him to pieces? Why did just being away from Hankyung have to hurt this badly? He’d only known him for twenty two hours now. How had he fallen so hard and so fast? It wasn’t like him. He liked to be the one in control. He was the one that called the shots. People fell in love with him every day. Sex was a means to an end…a release when things got too hard at home. Heechul had had a lot of sex. But he had never in his life made love with someone. It had been exhilarating and terrifying. To fall in love with someone after only knowing them a day was a fairy tale. That kind of thing didn’t happen in real life. And if it did, it never lasted. Did it?
Heechul knew there was something wrong with Hankyung. There had to be. He was too…good. No one had dared do any of the things that Hankyung had done with and to him. He wasn’t afraid of Heechul, even in the midst of a temper tantrum. He wasn’t cruel or cold and when Heechul tried to be, it always failed. Hankyung had disarmed him so easily – taken down all his defenses and looked all the way inside him. What he’d seen hadn’t made him run away. Rather, he’d said he loved him.
And what had Heechul done? He’d left him.
Coward.
Heechul closed his eyes, grateful for the cool glass against his forehead. His head throbbed with the thousands of things he could have done differently.
But it was too late now. Mokpo was only an hour away. When he stepped off the bus, he would no longer be Kim Heechul, falsely diagnosed with schizophrenia and running away from a mental institution his domineering and powerful father.
He would become someone else. He’d find his Mother and they’d figure this out somehow. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to forget Hankyung and move on.
Fool. You’ll never be able to forget him. You’re in love with him and you always will be.
He knew it was true, and it only made the gray, dull ache in his chest grow larger and larger the closer he got to Mokpo.
~~
Siwon exhaled as soon as Hankyung finished speaking. He’d gone outside to sit with his back against the cement wall of the garage for privacy. Listening to himself speak it all out to his best friend had been somewhat cathartic, and although the dull ache was still there, it felt less pronounced.
“So you’re waiting for the Mercedes to be fixed so you can go after him?” Siwon asked.
“Yes.”
There was a pause, and Hankyung winced, knowing what Siwon was going to say before he said it.
“Do you think you should, hyung? I know you love him but the mon--”
“NO.” Hankyung interrupted firmly. “No, I can’t. You don’t understand, Siwon-ah. I love him. I can’t chose money over him. I can’t.”
Siwon took another deep breath. Hankyung closed his eyes, wishing he were back in the hotel room with Heechul, having sex and making plans on what Heechul was going to devour for breakfast rather than sitting here with a broken heart.
“How much, hyung?” Siwon said quietly, and the hairs on the back of Hankyung’s neck stood up.
“NO, Siwon. No. I won’t. We’ve been through this before.”
“You may not have a choice, hyung. You already told your mother the money was coming. You know as well as I do that even if you DID turn around and drive back to Seoul with the concocted story that Heechul drugged you and ran away, Kim Jongdae is never going to give you that fifty seven million won. You know I’m right. You fell in love with his son! Not only are you out the money, but I bet he’ll fire you too.” He paused and sighed softly. “Please, hyung. Let me help you. Better yet, let me help your family. Please just tell me how much they owe the bank.”
“No.” Hankyung choked.
“Kyaaaaaa why are you so stubborn?!” Siwon yelled.
“Listen to me, Siwon. The only way I would ever allow you to do this is if I were dead. I’ll figure it out. I’ll get the money. I swear it. I promised my Mother, and I’ll get the money if it kills me.”
“Are you going to pimp yourself or something?” Siwon snorted.
“If that’s what it takes.” Hankyung sighed, knowing Siwon was joking to relieve the tension.
“You’re an idiot, hyung. I love you, but you’re an idiot.”
“I know.”
“Hankyung-sshi?” A voice called, and Hankyung stood quickly. It was the mechanic.
“I have to go. I’ll call you later, I promise.”
“Promises, promises.” Siwon quipped. “But I know you will. Go on, go get your crazy boyfriend in Mokpo. Call me if you need more help.”
“I will, thank you, Siwon.” Hankyung felt the lump in his throat tighten again. “Goodbye.”
He hung up the phone and faced the mechanic. The man smiled and handed the keys to Hankyung.
“It’s all set to go. It’s been paid for by your friend.”
“Thank you.” Hankyung took the key fob and followed the man. The Mercedes sat idling by the door. Hankyung got in and inhaled the scent of leather and wealth. Clenching his jaw, he shut the door and turned the car onto the road.
It was 11:12am.
~~
Heechul felt the bus come to a stop and opened his eyes. He hadn’t been asleep. No, that would have been impossible. He got up and stretched, feeling pins and needles beginning to stab his legs and shoulders. He glanced out the window and saw a crowd of people waiting for the passengers to disembark. No one would be waiting for him there, but it was just as well. He wanted to disappear into the city and find his Mother. She would know what to do. She always knew what to do, even when he wasn’t a child anymore, she would hug him and tell him never to let his Father break him.
He would tell her about the mental institution, the false diagnosis, and about Hankyung. She would understand. She’d let him sleep and make him food. And maybe, just maybe, the painful hole in his chest would somehow go away.
He got off and inhaled, smelling exhaust and underneath that, the distinct and familiar smell of the ocean. Off in the distance he could see the vast blue water. He picked up his suitcase and began to walk.
It was 11:15am.
~~
Hankyung drove down the highway, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Every muscle in his body was tense with the effort of concentrating. The miles churned away under the wheels of the Mercedes as he drove South. He’d been driving for an hour and a half, and the only thing in his mind was Heechul.
He had no plan, no idea where to even begin looking. He didn’t even know what Heechul’s Mother’s name was. He needed help, and although it pained him to have to ask, he did it again. He picked up his cell phone and dialed another number and then pressed the phone to his ear.
“Hankyung-hyung! Long time no see! Where have you been, huh?” The voice on the other end of the line crowed.
“Kyuhyun, I’m sorry to bother you, but I need your help.”
“Uh oh, that sounds serious. Am I going to need to pause my game?”
“Yeah.” Hankyung said, his jaw aching from holding it closed so tightly. Kyuhyun grumbled and there was a series of beeps and static noises, and then he was back on the line.
“All right, hyung. What do you need, and is it illegal?” Kyuhyun said, sounding serious.
Despite himself, Hankyung smiled. He could picture Kyuhyun now, sitting at his computer, dressed in jeans and some crazy American T shirt with English words that no one knew what they meant on it. He was probably sipping Coke from a giant cup and eating junkfood while he killed pixilated soldiers.
“No, not illegal. I just need you to do some digging for me.”
“Ah ha, a challenge?”
“Probably not for you. Look, I need you to look up information on Kim Jongdae.”
“Mmhm.” Kyuhyun began typing, and Hankyung could hear the keys clicking in the background. “He’s your boss, right? Owns WS Enterprises?”
“Yes, that’s him.” Hankyung said grimly.
“Okay, what do you want to know?”
“Does it say anything about his family?”
“Hold on.” Kyuhyun said. Hankyung concentrated on the road as he waited for Kyuhyun’s answer. He knew Heechul would already be there. The more time that passed, the harder it was going to be to find him, unless Kyuhyun could give him answers before he even arrived.
“Okay….Kim Jongdae…it says he’s married with one son.”
“What is her name, does it say?”
“Hmm…” Kyuhyun paused. “Yes, here it is. Her name is Kim Soo Min. Their son’s name is Kim Heechul, in case you were wondering.”
Hearing Heechul’s name made the pain come roaring back, forcing him to swallow convulsively and grip the steering wheel even harder. It took all his willpower not to give in to the urge to cry.
“Yes, I know his son. Kyuhyun, don’t ask me how I know this, but she left him about four years ago. She moved to Mokpo. I need her address there. It’s really important. Can you help me?”
“Psh, who are you talking to? Remember the time I hacked into the radio station and put Lady Gaga on repeat?”
“Kyuhyun-ah please! I know you have mad internet hacking skills, but this isn’t the time! I need the address!”
Kyuhyun huffed, and there was the sound of the keyboard clicking again. “You’d better get your Mom to make me a whole batch of dumplings, Hankyung.” He muttered.
“I will, I promise. I just need the address.”
Hankyung waited, and as he drove he passed under a sign indicating how far Mokpo was from his current location. It was 56 miles away. It would take him another hour to get there, even driving as fast as he was. It felt like an eternity.
“Hmm.” Kyuhyun murmured.
“What, do you have the address?”
“Yes, but there’s something you should know.”
Hankyung frowned. “What is it?”
“It says she died almost a year ago.”
.
As always, please forgive any cultural inaccuracies. I also do not know Heechuls' Mother's name and have just come up with my own. Also, I hope the switching between POV's wasn't too confusing, as it was necessary for the plotline! And lastly, a great big HUGE thank you to everyone who has been following this story and leaving such amazing, wonderful feedback. Thank you so much!
Part 9
Author: Ink_River10
Pairing: HanChul
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure - AU
Warnings: Swearing, sexual situations
Disclaimer: I do not own Super Junior, I just amuse myself with them in my head
Summary: Hankyung is asked by his powerful boss to do a job for him, but little does he know what he’s really getting into…
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7
Hankyung woke in the morning, refreshed and rejuvenated. The clock read 9:45am. He rolled over, intent on kissing Heechul awake. But the place where Heechul should have been was empty. He sat bolt upright, alarmed.
“Heechul-ah?” He called out, wishing he didn’t sound so panicked. But he was met with silence.
He jumped out of bed, not wanting to believe it. But the bathroom was empty. Heechul’s small suitcase was gone.
Heechul was gone.
Hankyung could feel pain and disbelief beginning to claw into him, stealing his breath and nearly doubling him over. He drew in air, ragged and sharp, too cold and too hollow to fill his lungs properly. Stunned, he literally stood frozen next to the bed, unwilling to believe that Heechul had left him.
That was when he saw it.
A note, placed carefully on the nightstand next to where Hankyung’s head had been only moments before. Swallowing hard and shaking, he picked it up and began to read.
Hankyung,
I know you’ll be upset and hurt, but I had to do this. I cannot go to the mental hospital, and I cannot force you to chose between me and the money to save your family. I hope you understand, and maybe someday you will forgive me. Please tell my Father that I slipped you the drugs and when you woke up, I was gone and you don’t know where I went. You won’t lose your job, and he’ll still give you the money. You can help your family and fix the cars. Please don’t be angry with me. I had to do this because I love you. Please don’t ever forget me, and I hope you never regret me.
I’m sorry.
Love,
Heechul
The paper slipped from his hands and drifted aimlessly to the floor. He stared at it as it came to rest on the threadbare carpet. The temperature in the room seemed to suddenly drop, and he shivered, feeling it well up inside his chest and choke him, clamping down on his throat and squeezing hard.
He said he loved me. Now he’s gone.
Tears formed and burned hotly at the corners of his eyes. He wanted to double over in pain. He wanted to curl up on this bed, cover himself in sheets and blankets that smelled like Heechul and sob and cry and give in to the pain that was shattering his heart into thousands of pieces. He wanted so badly to give in to the grief and anguish tearing at him, stealing the air in his lungs and crushing him.
No.
He stood up quickly, feeling the roaring and pounding in the back of his head. Dizziness washed over him in waves and he paused, gripping the wall.
NO!
He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, fighting the overwhelming dizziness. He knew where Heechul had gone. He wasn’t going to let him go.
Not now, not ever.
He took a few deep breaths to try and calm the wailing and screaming inside his head. The moment the dizziness eased, he threw on clothes and began grabbing his things to throw them in his bag. Precious minutes ticked by as he finished packing. He grabbed the room key and left, running down the steps towards the hotel office. He had no idea how much of a head start Heechul had on him, but he wasn’t going to let him go.
Not now, not ever!
He could feel a cold, fierce determination filling his veins as he went inside. The tiny ahjumma behind the desk smiled at him.
“Good morning.” She said, standing up from where she’d been sitting.
“Good morning.” He bowed quickly out of respect and then set the key on the counter. “Did you happen to see my friend this morning?” He wanted to sound casual, but it came out awkward and nervous.
“Yes I did. He’s a charmer, that one.” She blushed slightly. Hankyung felt a twinge of pain deep in his belly. He nodded a little. “He said to give you this.” She said, reaching down and picking up something from behind the counter. She held it out to him. It was an envelope. Hankyung took it, hoping that his fingers weren’t shaking. He thanked her again and opened it while she checked the key back in.
He felt his fingertips go numb when he pulled out the contents of the envelope. It was money. It was 112,000 won, which was the exact amount Hankyung had paid for the hotel room the day before while Heechul hadn’t been paying attention. Hankyung curled his fist around the bills and closed his eyes, pain clawing at his heart and his pride.
“Damn you, Heechul.” He whispered.
The ahjumma looked up. “He looked sad. Did you argue?” She asked.
Hankyung shook his head. “No. Did you see where he went?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “You’re going to follow him?”
Hankyung nodded, although the tiny flare of hope was so thin it was almost imperceptible.
“He got on the bus. Here.” She said, handing him a pamphlet. It was the bus schedule. Hankyung glanced at it quickly, seeing that the bus that was on it’s way to Mokpo had left at 8am. He looked at the clock on the wall behind her and saw it was 10:03. That meant Heechul had a two hour head start on him.
He pocketed the money and handed the pamphlet back to her. “Thank you. That was helpful.” He sighed. She looked at him sadly.
“Go on, then. You make me sad for both of you.”
Hankyung bit his tongue and nodded. “Goodbye.”
He walked out into the bright and warm sunshine, but all he could feel was a dull, aching cold. Determined not to give up, he started walking towards the garage, praying they’d already started working on the car.
The half run half walk to the garage seemed to take forever. Every second that ticked by, Heechul got further and further away. Mokpo was three hours from here, and he was already a little more than two hours into the trip. Hankyung hadn’t even reached the car yet, say nothing about whether it was actually fixed and ready to go.
He reached the garage and stepped inside. A man behind the counter looked up at him and smiled.
“Let me guess, you’re here about the Mercedes?”
“Yes.” Hankyung said, placing his hands on the counter. “Is it ready?”
“Not yet, I’m afraid. Another hour or so.”
All the hope he’d allowed himself to build on the way there evaporated, leaving him even more hollow than he’d been before. All he could do was nod. He sat down heavily in one of the chairs in the dingy waiting room and put his head in his hands.
The unmistakable smell of rubber and oil permeated everything, making him ill. Doubt began to creep in despite the determination he’d felt earlier.
What if he wasn’t able to find Heechul in Mokpo ? He wouldn’t even have the slightest idea where to begin looking. What if he did find him and Heechul pushed him away again? What would happen if he gave up and returned to Seoul empty handed? Somehow he doubted Kim Jongdae would just shrug and hand him fifty seven million won for a job he hadn’t actually done.
His stomach clenched painfully and he realized he hadn’t eaten anything since the night before. But the idea of food felt wrong, too. He fought the urge to cry and scream in frustration and pain.
Suddenly his cell phone began to ring inside his pocket. He fumbled for it, pulling it out and looking at the screen. It was Siwon. He opened the phone and pressed it to his ear.
“Hello.”
“Uh oh.” Siwon said, immediately hearing the tone of Hankyung’s voice. “What now? Will you please tell me what’s going on?”
Hankyung sighed and pulled his hands through his hair. “He left me, Siwon.”
“What?! What are you talking about? He ran away? Well go get him! You can’t lose fifty million won!”
Hankyung could feel the lump in his throat expand and his breath caught, snagging on all the things he wanted to say and couldn’t.
“We stayed at a hotel last night.” Hankyung said quietly, aware that other people might be able to hear him in the garage. “We made love, Siwon. I told him I was in love with him. He said he loved me too. When I woke up this morning, he was gone.”
“Oh.” Siwon breathed. “Oh God, hyung. Why did he leave?”
“He thought he was being noble.” Hankyung’s voice hitched and he swallowed hard.
Siwon exhaled, and then he sighed, compassion overriding his concern. “Tell me everything. Start at the moment you hung up with me yesterday morning while he was still unconscious.”
Hankyung sighed again, closed his eyes and began to speak.
~~
Heechul pressed his forehead against the window of the bus and watched the scenery flying by. Every mile that passed brought him closer to his Mother but further from Hankyung. He knew instinctively that Hankyung had woken up and read his note by now. And if he was smart, he was on his way back to Seoul to collect his money and save his family’s home.
So why do I wish he was coming after me instead?
It hurt. Gods, but it hurt. He knew he’d done the right thing, but why did it have to tear at his chest and rip him to pieces? Why did just being away from Hankyung have to hurt this badly? He’d only known him for twenty two hours now. How had he fallen so hard and so fast? It wasn’t like him. He liked to be the one in control. He was the one that called the shots. People fell in love with him every day. Sex was a means to an end…a release when things got too hard at home. Heechul had had a lot of sex. But he had never in his life made love with someone. It had been exhilarating and terrifying. To fall in love with someone after only knowing them a day was a fairy tale. That kind of thing didn’t happen in real life. And if it did, it never lasted. Did it?
Heechul knew there was something wrong with Hankyung. There had to be. He was too…good. No one had dared do any of the things that Hankyung had done with and to him. He wasn’t afraid of Heechul, even in the midst of a temper tantrum. He wasn’t cruel or cold and when Heechul tried to be, it always failed. Hankyung had disarmed him so easily – taken down all his defenses and looked all the way inside him. What he’d seen hadn’t made him run away. Rather, he’d said he loved him.
And what had Heechul done? He’d left him.
Coward.
Heechul closed his eyes, grateful for the cool glass against his forehead. His head throbbed with the thousands of things he could have done differently.
But it was too late now. Mokpo was only an hour away. When he stepped off the bus, he would no longer be Kim Heechul, falsely diagnosed with schizophrenia and running away from a mental institution his domineering and powerful father.
He would become someone else. He’d find his Mother and they’d figure this out somehow. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to forget Hankyung and move on.
Fool. You’ll never be able to forget him. You’re in love with him and you always will be.
He knew it was true, and it only made the gray, dull ache in his chest grow larger and larger the closer he got to Mokpo.
~~
Siwon exhaled as soon as Hankyung finished speaking. He’d gone outside to sit with his back against the cement wall of the garage for privacy. Listening to himself speak it all out to his best friend had been somewhat cathartic, and although the dull ache was still there, it felt less pronounced.
“So you’re waiting for the Mercedes to be fixed so you can go after him?” Siwon asked.
“Yes.”
There was a pause, and Hankyung winced, knowing what Siwon was going to say before he said it.
“Do you think you should, hyung? I know you love him but the mon--”
“NO.” Hankyung interrupted firmly. “No, I can’t. You don’t understand, Siwon-ah. I love him. I can’t chose money over him. I can’t.”
Siwon took another deep breath. Hankyung closed his eyes, wishing he were back in the hotel room with Heechul, having sex and making plans on what Heechul was going to devour for breakfast rather than sitting here with a broken heart.
“How much, hyung?” Siwon said quietly, and the hairs on the back of Hankyung’s neck stood up.
“NO, Siwon. No. I won’t. We’ve been through this before.”
“You may not have a choice, hyung. You already told your mother the money was coming. You know as well as I do that even if you DID turn around and drive back to Seoul with the concocted story that Heechul drugged you and ran away, Kim Jongdae is never going to give you that fifty seven million won. You know I’m right. You fell in love with his son! Not only are you out the money, but I bet he’ll fire you too.” He paused and sighed softly. “Please, hyung. Let me help you. Better yet, let me help your family. Please just tell me how much they owe the bank.”
“No.” Hankyung choked.
“Kyaaaaaa why are you so stubborn?!” Siwon yelled.
“Listen to me, Siwon. The only way I would ever allow you to do this is if I were dead. I’ll figure it out. I’ll get the money. I swear it. I promised my Mother, and I’ll get the money if it kills me.”
“Are you going to pimp yourself or something?” Siwon snorted.
“If that’s what it takes.” Hankyung sighed, knowing Siwon was joking to relieve the tension.
“You’re an idiot, hyung. I love you, but you’re an idiot.”
“I know.”
“Hankyung-sshi?” A voice called, and Hankyung stood quickly. It was the mechanic.
“I have to go. I’ll call you later, I promise.”
“Promises, promises.” Siwon quipped. “But I know you will. Go on, go get your crazy boyfriend in Mokpo. Call me if you need more help.”
“I will, thank you, Siwon.” Hankyung felt the lump in his throat tighten again. “Goodbye.”
He hung up the phone and faced the mechanic. The man smiled and handed the keys to Hankyung.
“It’s all set to go. It’s been paid for by your friend.”
“Thank you.” Hankyung took the key fob and followed the man. The Mercedes sat idling by the door. Hankyung got in and inhaled the scent of leather and wealth. Clenching his jaw, he shut the door and turned the car onto the road.
It was 11:12am.
~~
Heechul felt the bus come to a stop and opened his eyes. He hadn’t been asleep. No, that would have been impossible. He got up and stretched, feeling pins and needles beginning to stab his legs and shoulders. He glanced out the window and saw a crowd of people waiting for the passengers to disembark. No one would be waiting for him there, but it was just as well. He wanted to disappear into the city and find his Mother. She would know what to do. She always knew what to do, even when he wasn’t a child anymore, she would hug him and tell him never to let his Father break him.
He would tell her about the mental institution, the false diagnosis, and about Hankyung. She would understand. She’d let him sleep and make him food. And maybe, just maybe, the painful hole in his chest would somehow go away.
He got off and inhaled, smelling exhaust and underneath that, the distinct and familiar smell of the ocean. Off in the distance he could see the vast blue water. He picked up his suitcase and began to walk.
It was 11:15am.
~~
Hankyung drove down the highway, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Every muscle in his body was tense with the effort of concentrating. The miles churned away under the wheels of the Mercedes as he drove South. He’d been driving for an hour and a half, and the only thing in his mind was Heechul.
He had no plan, no idea where to even begin looking. He didn’t even know what Heechul’s Mother’s name was. He needed help, and although it pained him to have to ask, he did it again. He picked up his cell phone and dialed another number and then pressed the phone to his ear.
“Hankyung-hyung! Long time no see! Where have you been, huh?” The voice on the other end of the line crowed.
“Kyuhyun, I’m sorry to bother you, but I need your help.”
“Uh oh, that sounds serious. Am I going to need to pause my game?”
“Yeah.” Hankyung said, his jaw aching from holding it closed so tightly. Kyuhyun grumbled and there was a series of beeps and static noises, and then he was back on the line.
“All right, hyung. What do you need, and is it illegal?” Kyuhyun said, sounding serious.
Despite himself, Hankyung smiled. He could picture Kyuhyun now, sitting at his computer, dressed in jeans and some crazy American T shirt with English words that no one knew what they meant on it. He was probably sipping Coke from a giant cup and eating junkfood while he killed pixilated soldiers.
“No, not illegal. I just need you to do some digging for me.”
“Ah ha, a challenge?”
“Probably not for you. Look, I need you to look up information on Kim Jongdae.”
“Mmhm.” Kyuhyun began typing, and Hankyung could hear the keys clicking in the background. “He’s your boss, right? Owns WS Enterprises?”
“Yes, that’s him.” Hankyung said grimly.
“Okay, what do you want to know?”
“Does it say anything about his family?”
“Hold on.” Kyuhyun said. Hankyung concentrated on the road as he waited for Kyuhyun’s answer. He knew Heechul would already be there. The more time that passed, the harder it was going to be to find him, unless Kyuhyun could give him answers before he even arrived.
“Okay….Kim Jongdae…it says he’s married with one son.”
“What is her name, does it say?”
“Hmm…” Kyuhyun paused. “Yes, here it is. Her name is Kim Soo Min. Their son’s name is Kim Heechul, in case you were wondering.”
Hearing Heechul’s name made the pain come roaring back, forcing him to swallow convulsively and grip the steering wheel even harder. It took all his willpower not to give in to the urge to cry.
“Yes, I know his son. Kyuhyun, don’t ask me how I know this, but she left him about four years ago. She moved to Mokpo. I need her address there. It’s really important. Can you help me?”
“Psh, who are you talking to? Remember the time I hacked into the radio station and put Lady Gaga on repeat?”
“Kyuhyun-ah please! I know you have mad internet hacking skills, but this isn’t the time! I need the address!”
Kyuhyun huffed, and there was the sound of the keyboard clicking again. “You’d better get your Mom to make me a whole batch of dumplings, Hankyung.” He muttered.
“I will, I promise. I just need the address.”
Hankyung waited, and as he drove he passed under a sign indicating how far Mokpo was from his current location. It was 56 miles away. It would take him another hour to get there, even driving as fast as he was. It felt like an eternity.
“Hmm.” Kyuhyun murmured.
“What, do you have the address?”
“Yes, but there’s something you should know.”
Hankyung frowned. “What is it?”
“It says she died almost a year ago.”
.
As always, please forgive any cultural inaccuracies. I also do not know Heechuls' Mother's name and have just come up with my own. Also, I hope the switching between POV's wasn't too confusing, as it was necessary for the plotline! And lastly, a great big HUGE thank you to everyone who has been following this story and leaving such amazing, wonderful feedback. Thank you so much!
Part 9
Current Location: Western Massachusetts
Current Mood: 
contemplative
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