HeungSoo x Nam soon AU I 'Just you and I under one sky' by harukno89

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HeungSoo's POV

I ignore him and hold on tight to my cup, scared I might break it.

KangJoo sits down beside me and a gorgeous Japanese woman sits next to her. She nudges me and says out loud, "Hello stranger, when did you return to Seoul?"

Namsoon sits down right in front of me but I refuse to look at him.

"Three years ago," I answer. I don't know why but something always compels me to talk to KangJoo even though she's has always been and still an irritant to me.

Namsoon's knee jerks at my response and hits mine. I move my legs back in shock.

"Three years? Why didn't you ..."

"Hello everyone," the Japanese lady interrupts KangJoo, "KangJoo has forgotten to introduce me. I'm Misaki Kadokura. A pleasure to meet you."

"Hi Misaki," the crowd cheers again.

KangJoo has greeted or talked to everyone except Ha-Gyeong. The same with Ha-Gyeong. Ah! Silent treatment.

"Listen, everyone, Teachers Jung and Kang want to take us all to a restaurant. She says it's mandatory," MinKi tells everyone.

"Do you know which restaurant?" I ask MinKi.

"No idea."

I get up and go looking for Teacher Jung. I told her some folks want to know which restaurant in case we miss each other along the way. She tells me the name. She says she has a reservation and we can go anytime, and they'll meet us there.

I walk out and call the restaurant. I spoke to the manager and arrange for fifty percent of the bill to be put on my credit card. Any higher percentage, Teacher Jung will know something's up. And I don't want Teacher Jung to cover a bill for about twenty students. All arranged I go back to the table and relay her invitation. I tell them I'll see them there and leave. I need to get out of there. I need air. I need to breathe.

Namsoon's POV

I recognize the walk; he's running away from me. The tables have turned. I did the running years ago and now he's doing the same. I smile. It's good he's running. It tells me that he's bothered, and I plan to bother him a lot. A whole lot.

I rest my head on my folded hands and watch HeungSoo leave the hall. His walk is more measured and composed. Park HeungSoo, I tell myself; this is it. One way or the other, we will settle this thing between us.

I look at the other pair of friends at the table that's also not in a good place. KangJoo and Ha-Gyeong. Both of them are blatantly ignoring each other. I look at Misaki who shrugs her shoulder in defeat. Something needs to be done, they have been friends almost as long as HeungSoo and I.

The conversation continues and then someone asks that we leave and go to the restaurant Teacher Jung has reserved for us. We get up and all say our goodbyes to the other teachers and let Teacher Jung know we are heading to the restaurant. I walk out with KangJoo and Misaki. Some folks walk ahead of us, some behind, I pull KangJoo to me and ask if she's going to acknowledge that Ha-Gyeong is here or at the very least say 'Hello'. She ignores me and walks over to MinKi.

I walk over to Ha-Gyeong who is by herself. I am not surprised. She didn't have a lot of friends at school. Mostly because studying was all Ha-Gyeong was about. KangJoo, MinKi, and I were her only friends, to be honest, and now she's on the outs with her best friend. What to do, what to do?

I move to Misaki and try to come up with a plan to resolve two issues tonight; Ha-Gyeong and KangJoo; HeungSoo and me.

"Since you're here for a week, I get to take you around Seoul. Are you up for it?" I ask Misaki.

"Definitely. But not tomorrow."

"Why?"

"We're going to visit KangJoo's mom."

"That's great. I hope you know that you are free to come and go as you wish. You have the code to my house so make yourself comfortable. But the day after tomorrow, you are mine. What are we going to do about Ha-Gyeong?"

"I don't know but KangJoo is hurting, no matter what she says or how she acts."

"I have an idea."

I pull out my phone and call the one person that can make all four of us talk to each other.

"Teach, I need your help."

"Go Namsoon, we're on our way. What do you need?"

"After this mini-reunion, will you have KangJoo, Ha-Gyeong, HeungSoo, Misaki and I sit on the same table?"

"I notice the animosity between you guys. I hope whatever you're planning works. I hate to see you and HeungSoo not talking again or KangJoo and Ha-Gyeong ignoring each other too."

"Thank you Teach, I'll do my best." I give Misaki a thumbs up.

We make it to the restaurant, and we are walked into a secluded room. I see HeungSoo but I purposely sit far away from him. I want to give him a little breathing room until Teacher Jung does her thing. There's no need to startle an already skittish man. A few minutes later Teachers Jung and Kang walk in. We all get up and bow to them in greeting.

They sit down and initially the mood is somber. Everyone is reminiscing about Teacher Jo Boon-Soo. For those of us he punished, it was always the same punishment; sweeping the auditorium. It seems harmless but after you do it a few times, it gets tiring.

"That was his one and only punishment even when he taught me in high school. He was a great mentor and everything I want to be in a teacher," Teacher Kang finally speaks.

He had been quiet since they arrived. I realize he was close to Teacher Jo Boon-Soo. The party lightened up after that. They passed around pictures of their baby girl. We ate drank, laughed, sang the night away.

Teacher Jung asked us what we all do now; I start and told them I write manga and getting them published in a year. There were echoes of congratulations all around. I glance at HeungSoo and I see a smile. Kim Min-Ki and Han Young-Woo reveal that they live and work together. MinKi works from home, Young-Woo writes poems. Song Ha-Gyeong says everyone knows she's a doctor and she's married to a doctor she works with. HeungSoo says he's healing from the last injury and returned to Korea three years ago. KangJoo says she's an engineer who builds out of the box buildings in Tokyo. The absent Oh Jung-ho works in a neighborhood garage according to Lee Yi-Kyung who manages it. Lee Ji-hoon said he joined the army and is now a sergeant in the Police force, a widower with one child.

"Go Namsoon, do you still do those funny voice imitations? They were hilarious. There's no one he cannot imitate," Teacher Jung says.

"Teach, you will not believe who he's imitating right now," KangJoo smirks at me.

"Shut up," I whisper.

Slowly the reunion starts to thin out. Many exchange numbers promising to keep in touch. Teacher Jung gets up and snaps back in her 'teacher' mode.

"Park HeungSoo, Go Namsoon, Lee KangJoo, Song Ha-Gyeong, and Misaki will you five stay behind for a minute? I need to speak with you."

HeungSoo opens his mouth and Teacher Jung tells us no excuses, and that shuts him up. Her husband walks the other students out and then she turns to all five of us.

"You are all adults now and I have no right to tell you how to behave. But we all just came from a funeral which should tell you that life is too short for all this nonsense going on between all of you. Talk it out. Deal with whatever is wrong. You don't have to be best friends anymore but for the sake of your history, be cordial to each other. Now I am leaving. A teacher shouldn't have a favorite class, but I must confess that your class was mine. You all have my number, and it hasn't changed. Call me occasionally. I'll like to know how you're doing, okay. It's a pleasure to meet you Misaki. And congratulations."

"Thank you, Teacher Jung. It's nice meeting you. KangJoo and I will visit and meet your lovely daughter before we go back to Tokyo."

"We look forward to it. Bye, everyone."

"Bye Teach," we all respond.

And then silence. Another five minutes, the silence continues.

"Song Ha-Gyeong, I'm Misaki Kadokura, it's a pleasure to meet you." Brave Misaki breaking the silence.

"I know who you are," she responds rudely.

"You will not talk to my wife that way, Song Ha-Gyeong." KangJoo sneers at her.

"Wife?" HeungSoo finally speaks.

"Yes, my wife, HeungSoo. Got a problem with it?"

"No, no problem. I'm shocked that's all."

"You're not alone HeungSoo, so was I when my best friend just told me out of the blue that she met the love of her life and it's a girl," Ha-Gyeong says.

"I never thought that someone I grew up with and thought I knew would be homophobic," KangJoo yells at Ha-Gyeong.

"I'm not homophobic. I was at MinKi's commitment ceremony."

"Then what's your problem? I don't get it. Why did you shut me out of your life? I came to your hospital several times to see you, but you wouldn't even come out of your office."

"BECAUSE YOU SAID WE WERE SOULMATES. YOU AND I, LEE KANGJOO. I AM SUPPOSED TO BE THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE! IF YOU WANT TO MARRY A WOMAN, IT SHOULD BE ME! I'M YOUR SOULMATE!" Ha-Gyeong screams.

"That doesn't make sense, you're not a lesbian," KangJoo whispers.

"I KNOW THAT!"

"Then..."

"Don't get me wrong. I don't want to sleep with you or anything like that. I just felt like I lost my best friend. The only one who knows me better than I know myself. That you replaced me with HER!" points to Misaki.

"I never replaced you. I missed you. I missed my best friend. I tried to reach out to you over and over. And each time you dismissed my efforts. New Year's rebuff was it," KangJoo says.

"I missed you too, so much. I just had another fight over my divorce petition on New Year's with my parents and I wasn't ready to talk to my ex-soulmate."

"Your parents have always been pretentious. You would think people who live in glass houses wouldn't throw stones. How many rumors are out there about them? Too many to count. Just ignore them and do what makes you happy."

Ha-Gyeong bursts out laughing, uncontrollably. We all look at her, wondering if she has lost all her marbles.

"You haven't changed at all, Lee KangJoo. You still don't mince words. You're right about my parents and I am sorry. Friends for life, again?"

"Friends for life."

"I missed you, Lee KangJoo." And they hug.

"Song Ha-Gyeong, I want you to meet my wife, Misaki Kadokura," KangJoo happily introduces her wife to her best friend.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm so sorry for everything." Ha-Gyeong says.

"No worries, I'm just glad you two worked it out."

"I always thought KangJoo will end up with Go Namsoon," Ha Gyeong says. "I always believed you and Namsoon were you know..."

"What? Lovers? Yes, we were. We were each other's first lovers, right Go Namsoon?"

"You don't have to tell everyone that secret, especially in front of your wife." I snap at KangJoo.

"So, you never told HeungSoo that we slept together," she asked.

"No. Did you tell your wife?"

"She did," Misaki replies and gives Kang-Joo a peck on her cheek. "We have no secrets from each other. And you both were each other's first? And now you're both gay?"

"After a while, we realized that the mechanics and the plumbing just didn't work well for us, did it Namsoon," laughs Kang-Joo.

"Shut up," I smack her hand, "and I'm not gay."

"Of course not, only gay for one man," she winks at me.

"I swear KangJoo..."

"Okay! Okay, jeez some people can't take a joke."

"I'm leaving. Good to see you all and nice to meet you Misaki," HeungSoo says and gets up, grabs his coat, and walks out the door.

"HeungSoo wait," I scream. He ignores me and keeps going.

"KangJoo you have the code to the house, right?"

"Sure."

"My house is your house. Make yourselves comfortable and I'll see you guys later. I'm glad you two made up. But right now, I have a man to catch."

"Go get him, tiger," KangJoo laughs.

I grab my jacket and race after HeungSoo. Outside the restaurant, I see him flag down a taxi. I get in the next taxi and ask the driver to follow HeungSoo's. We drive for about fifteen minutes and end up in the old neighborhood. His taxi lets him out in front of a three-story building. I stay in mine and make a mental note of where he's going. He makes his way to the rooftop apartment.

I've got you now HeungSoo.

I pay my driver and turn to check out his place. Why is a former soccer player who should have some money living in this less than desirable location? He should be living in Gangnam or one of the other rich neighborhoods. What happened? Did he lose all his money or what? There's so much I need to know about the last six years and there's only one way to find out: face the man.

I walk across the street and make my way up the stairs to HeungSoo's apartment. The lights are still on in his apartment. I look around the patio and smile recognizing that this rooftop layout is exactly like my old place. The place HeungSoo and I spent half of our time other than his house. I sit on the flat bench and lay down looking up at the stars, just like we used to at my old place.

Okay, enough dilly-dallying. I walk up to the door and knock. No answer. I knock again, louder and longer. I hear scrapping by the door and HeungSoo yanks the door open.

"What are you fuck are you doing here?" He yells, his face in shock.

"We're not done HeungSoo, not by a long shot."

I push past him and make my way into his apartment. I take off my shoes, walk inside, look around, and turn to him in shock.

"What," he asks defiantly?

"Your apartment is exactly like mine was. Why? How?"

His apartment has no furniture except a low table like mine and is set the same way. I walk around the low table and sit down in the exact position I used to when we were in my old apartment.

"Please don't flatter yourself. The apartment came this way. Again, I ask what the hell are you doing here? And how did you find me?" He refuses to sit down across from me like he used to, instead stands, looking down on me.

"I followed you," I reply. I take my jacket off and lay it on the floor beside me.

"That's not like you Namsoon. You always run away like a bitch instead of staying, so what do you want?"

"We need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"Yes, we do, six years' worth."

"Fine say what you want to say and then leave."

"Why didn't you call me when you got to the States? Why didn't you keep your promise to send for me when you become a professional soccer player?" I blurt out.

"Are you insane? My promise? You are full of shit! I called you over fifty-times the night I left. You never picked up my calls, not one single call. Not one to at least tell me to stop calling you."

"I know that. And I'm sorry, I was..."

"... Ah! Namsoon's mantra, 'I'm sorry'. Just so you know your apologies are getting monotonous and ineffective. Now leave!"

"I'm not done. That night..."

"I don't want to talk about that night," HeungSoo snares. He grabs me by my lapel and lifts me. "Leave now, Namsoon, before I hurt you."

"Never leaving you again," I whisper and then holding onto his hands on my lapel, I kiss him. I kiss HeungSoo hard. He kisses me back and for a few seconds, we duel with our mouths.

And just like that, he drops me on my ass!

HeungSoo's POV

My lips are burning. They are throbbing as they've never been before. Go Namsoon kissed me. I look down and he's on his ass, face writhing in pain, rubbing his butt.

"Are you okay?" I ask reluctantly, I've never liked to see him hurt, even now.

"I'm fine. Did you forget that I am built for physical pain," he smiles.

That's true the man can take beatings like no one I've ever known. Takes a beating and keeps on ticking, that's Namsoon.

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Don't play games with me Go Namsoon, I'm so not in the mood."

"Kissed you? Because I have been waiting for six years to do that. To see if the last one was a mirage on my part."

"Now? After all this time?" I slide down the wall I was leaning against. I fold my arms across my raised knees.

"Now and then, HeungSoo, that night took me by surprise. It shook my foundation to the core. It opened my eyes and I saw my best friend in a whole new light, and I got scared. And you know me, I get scared, I run away. When I finally listened to your voice message and tried to call you back, I couldn't reach you. I called you so many times but no answer. HeungSoo, it's not like you to be vengeful, why didn't you answer my calls."

"Because as soon as I left that last message, my Korean phone number was disconnected. I never got your calls. I had a new number. Since you never picked my calls, I did not need to add your number to my call list now, do I?"

"So, you can be vengeful. You've changed HeungSoo."

He gets off the floor and grabs his jacket. He walks towards me and bends down, so we're face to face.

"Looks like we get to start over again, HeungSoo. Third time is the charm, right?"

"Says who," I ask.

Namsoon gives me one of his famous 'I'm up to something' smiles.

"Only this time, my dear HeungSoo we'll be best friends, again."

"Not a chance," I reply.

He leans close and whispers in my ear, "and lovers."

"Fuck off," I push him off me.

He gets up, puts his jacket on, and walks towards the door.

"I'll see you later HeungSoo. Good night." He leaves.

Go Namsoon, you are driving me crazy, again! I moan to myself.