The gossip war between Hongjoong and Yeosang continued on the following days, and with San being away Yeosang had too much time on his hands. For a brief moment it made him forget his worries about his boyfriend - Yeosang knew he couldn't be much of a help anyway, so better use his time on something else. Right?

During the short period of time, Yeosang had accomplished to expose Hongjoong for the money and power hungry gold digger he was, as well as the many plastic surgeries, which the other so stubbornly had denied over the years.

On the contrary, Yeosang's name had been linked to articles about his past with San, and how he most likely had been longing for his high-school sweetheart all throughout his marriage to the perfect Park Seonghwa - one thing that Yeosang couldn't nor would deny. It did however surprise Yeosang that Hongjoong didn't dig deeper into whole thing with their respective ex-husbands, and if Hongjoong was either waiting for the right time to drop the bomb, or didn't plan to reveal it at all, was a matter Yeosang didn't really care about.

Despite the last words of his former best friend, Yeosang had a suspicion that Hongjoong did in fact fear Hyunjin's rage, and didn't want to risk ruining their already broken relationship further. Either way, Hongjoong became quiet after a couple of days, giving Yeosang the upper hand, and also and well needed chance to breathe.

"What is going on, love?" It was the first time ever that Minho had showed genuine worry, when he and Yeosang met up for brunch on a warm Saturday.

"What do you mean?" Acting clueless, Yeosang shrugged his shoulders, and raised his glass of Mimosa - but of course he knew what his friend was insinuating.

"I see both your name and Hongjoong's all over the place at the moment, and for once I'd say that there is such thing as bad publicity," the fashion editor then said, with a frown on his perfectly sculptured face.

"Don't worry about it," Yeosang assured him, and Minho responded with a simple nod.

"Good, because what I really want to worry about, is what you are planning to wear for the upcoming Charity gala at The Plaza?"

Much to Yeosang's relief, the subject had soon changed into Minho going on and on, talking about all the glorious ideas he had for Yeosang's outfit, and how many brands that would love to dress him for the gala.

What once was called his downfall had somehow changed direction, and even despite all the drama and rumors he had made sure to surround him with, people just seemed to love him more and more - eagerly waiting for the next shocking reveal.

And Minho was no exception. They had had a lot of good times together, but never spent as much time with each other as they currently did. Yeosang assumed that it was simply the editor's insatiable hunger for gossip and drama that had him sticking to Yeosang like glue, but for one he didn't really care.

While Minho was blabbering away, Yeosang's mind drifted off. He missed San so much it hurt, and although they talked on the phone every day, it would never be the same as having him right besides him.

San had taken his mother to Europe, pretending that they were going on a normal mother-son trip. To San, his mother's safety meant the world, and his father being out of jail was putting that in jeopardy.

Even years after his father went to jail, and years of therapy, San still feared that his mother might relapse and end up hurting herself in one way or another. Should his father find her, he would have an easy time convincing her to come back to him, and the older Choi knew that that would be the perfect trap to lure San in.

Yeosang repeated the same words every time he and San spoke on the phone. "Stay safe and I love you. I just wish I could help you somehow..."

And San would reply in the same way, "I love you too. Just take care until we meet again, and you've done more than enough."

"I will pick you up for the stylist and hairdresser at five, is that okay?" Minho asked, leaning a bit in across the table to gain Yeosang's fleeting attention.

"Yeah, sure that's fine."

♡

Yeosang had always hated attending charity galas. It wasn't the charity itself that he despised, not at all, it was everything else about that kind of events. It made his toes curl up, to see how the people who were swimming in wealth, would show up and pretend to care about those who had nothing, while they themselves came dressed up in the most expensive and extravagant clothing.

Everyone there was not only wearing their very best designer outfits, but also their best fake smile and deceiving facade, as a sloppy cover up for their actual egoism.

Lies. It was all disgusting lies. The polished outer did not match the rotten inside - and Yeosang knew that although everyone greeted him with a loving smile, all they cared about when it came to him, was all the rumors going around about him. 

Counting down the minutes until he could get home and video call San, Yeosang moved around the room with an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. Minho returned from the bar, with two Martinis, which were very needed in Yeosang's case. As they sipped their drink, and walked around the event hall greeting everyone they passed by, Minho suddenly yanked Yeosang's sleeve.

"Oh my God, are you seeing what I am seeing?!" he said with a gasp. "Kim Hongjoong, with a date?"

The interest for that statement was close to non-existing in Yeosang's mind, and he carelessly turned his head several seconds after Minho had spoken, only managing to catch a glimpse of the back of Hongjoong, and the supposed date.

Maybe that was the reason the platinum blonde had become so silent lately, perhaps he had found something better to spend his time on.

"Good for him," Yeosang mumbled, turning his head away again to hide the eye roll he couldn't hold back.

"I'll have to go get a better look! I mean, Hwang Hyunjin was a freaking catch! So I'm very interested in who's going to replace him."

Minho had run off only seconds later, and with a sigh Yeosang headed towards the bar for another drink, as the Martini had disappeared as fast as his editor friend, at the sign of new gossip.

It was a relief to see how neither Seonghwa or Hyunjin had showed up for the night's event. Both of them used to attend every event possible, but after everything that had happened lately, it made perfect sense that they wanted to lay low. Same couldn't be said for Hongjoong though.

His platinum blonde hair was style perfectly, and he had several rows of diamonds around his neck, sparkling underneath the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. His all white suit was fitting him to a T, and his high-heeled boots made a clacking noise whenever he walked around.

While he was busy catching up with Minho, Yeosang stuck to hanging out by the bar, having a few small talks with whoever came over to order a drink. He knew everyone who was present, not that he wanted to if he had ever had a choice..

"Wonderful evening, isn't it?" The sound of Hongjoong's voice was like nails on a chalkboard in Yeosang's ears, and it was a struggle to put on his best fake smile when faced with his old childhood friend.

"It sure is," Yeosang replied politely, with a smile and nod although he would much rather slap Hongjoong in his stupid, fake face.

"Where is San at tonight? You didn't bring him?"

The unexpected question pulled Yeosang out of his facade, and for a split second - a second too long - his face changed. He quickly collected himself again, and replied with a simple "not tonight, no, unfortunately he is busy" but the damage was done. A smirk spread on Hongjoong's face, and Yeosang knew right then and there that the other had had no intention of losing the newly started war between them.

No, Hongjoong had only just begun...

Right on cue, as if he could smell the upcoming drama in the air, Minho suddenly popped up next to them. He didn't say anything, he simply stood there with his drink in his hand, and his big deer eyes ready to take in all the action.

"What a shame, I had been looking so much forward to seeing him again. It's been years after all," Hongjoong said with a pout. "And, there is someone I'd like him to meet. Guess I should just introduce him to you then. Oh, I've heard the gossiping around the room, and just to make things clear, he isn't my date."

Hongjoong raised his hand a made a waving gesture, towards someone behind Yeosang. To meet Hongjoong's new flirt wasn't anything Yeosang was interested in at all, but to cause a scene in the middle of a charity gala, was way different than spreading rumors on the internet - and so, he stayed where he was, waiting with his polite smile plastered on his face.

"Although, I don't think you two need an introduction."

Blonde hair, and brown eyes, with freckles drizzled over his nose and cheeks like fairy dust. It was a face Yeosang was familiar with - too familiar, even though it had been a long time since they last saw each other.

A gasp got stuck in Yeosang's throat, and the memory of their last interaction ran though his mind - and it wasn't pleasant to remember at all.

"Yeosang, I believe you know Felix?"

♡