┊ʙᴇᴏᴍɢʏᴜ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ┊ೃ⁀➷

"Where is he? What did they say?"

Grief is a weird feeling, the kind I hope I am never faced with ever again. However, it's almost funny how my fate finds ways to land me in the situations that force me to feel it over and over again, like the sprinkle of salt over wounds.

I watch as the large hoard of raindrops collect at the corners of the windshield before cascading down and disappearing. Just like people. They meet and then fade away into nonexistence. Sad, but true.

I glance to the side before focusing on the road ahead as the asphalt trudges down the empty highway.

"Kai-ah?"

The call goes unanswered yet again and I can't help but feel an unfamiliar ache in my chest. The news must've affected Kai much more than me. He and Taehyun are closer, practically joined at the hip. I envy them sometimes, especially Taehyun as the youngest is a lot more open with him than he'll ever be with me. I won't be surprised if someone was to tell me that they were brothers.

At 7:42 PM, Kai received a call. The caller ID was Taehyun's. It wasn't supposed to be anything to worry about. I was on the other corner of the room with Bahiyyih, still somewhat abrasive about not finding time to be with Kai. Though, that soon came to an end as I had felt a tap on my shoulder and was met with his face etched with brood with an underlying sorrow. And before I could've processed anything, he spoke up.

"We need to go. Now."

I did not dare question as I was dragged across to the main gates and to my car. Once seated inside, I turned to him and asked for clarification. He said nothing for a moment, gulping before he finally found his voice.

"Taehyun— accident...- they took him to the hospital."

And I could question no more, finding an internal panic arising in myself. I said no more, putting myself to work at that very instant.

Night dawned and the roads emptied as the sky decided to hide beneath heavy clouds. The rain poured, giving the earth a breath of life. How ironic.

I try again, not moving my eyes. "We'll be in Seoul in around twenty minutes. It won't take time after that... Don't worry—"

"Worst." I pause at the interruption, blinking in surprise. "The worst." Kai's voice is low, almost inaudible as he grumbles to himself, repeating the same word like a mantra.

"Kai—"

"Everyone hates me. Taehyun hates me. Bahiyyih hates me. Lea hates me. Dad hated me. Everyone hates me. All of them left me. I am the worst. You'll hate me too."

I hit the breaks, the car coming to a screeching halt. Silence follows in tandem, only the pattering of the rain being the only disturbance of it.

"Who said I hate you?"

I slowly turn my head to the only other presence in the vehicle. Kai doesn't even spare a glance, gaping out of the window while his hands tightly clasped themselves in his lap.

"Everyone hates me. You'll hate me too." He mutters as a silent tear trickles down his cheek.

"Kai, look at me?" I urge him. He doesn't oblige, shaking his head.

"No. You'll hate me."

"Look at me. Just once."

He continues to shake his head, raising his hands and entangling his fingers in his brown curls. "Everyone hates me. You'll hate me."

"Give me a chance. Please?"

Kai, for once says nothing, halting his movements altogether. It takes him a while before he slowly turns to meet my eyes. His eyes are all red and puffy, his stormy irises darkened to the point of obscurity— ones you can never read.

And I realise how I never actually know what goes on with him, not aware he feels, or if he feels at all. I don't know how I never noticed it before, it is as clear as daylight. But I keep that thought aside, for the time being, instead of fixating myself on what I am about to say.

I slowly retract my hands towards his. They are freezing, yet hold a gentle warmth that, I can swear on my life, is the most comfortable thing I can ever find.

"Listen to me carefully. No one hates you. Not a single one of them. Not Taehyun, not Lea. Heck, do you even know how much Bahiyyih cares for you? All she talks about is you— how have you been, have you been coping fine, have you been eating till you are full, and literally it's just you she was thinking of the entire time I was with her back in your house. And I am pretty sure your dad loved you as well, from what I've heard—"

"What about you?"

I take a second to process his words. "What...about me?" I ask in my own good time, uncertain.

He draws in a sharp breath, letting his eyes fall shut before they open again. "Do you hate me?"

My heart picks this moment to take a leap, choosing a different pace. My head goes blank and whatever I say thereafter is almost in a haze.

"Do you think?" My voice comes out barely above a whisper, my gaze regarding every feature of his beautiful face as if I'll forget it all.

"I don't know, do you?" He asks breathily, unknowingly leaning a little closer. My throat goes dry, lips feel a bit too chapped. My fingers lace with his as I mirror his movements.

"Quite the opposite."

Every breath of his fans against my face, the hair on my neck reaching for the ceiling. My insides go haywire, and I think I have lost the ability to think straight. My limbs grow a brain of their own unbeknownst to me, working of their own accord. Do I want to do this right now? This can wait until everything is somewhat back to normal if normal is even a word to associate with our lives. Bit then realise I might not get this chance ever again. So, do I?

"I fucking love you, Huening Kai."

I don't know who starts it first, but in a matter of a few seconds, I lose myself to the pair of soft lips that meets mine. A set of hands find their way to my shoulders before sliding further, massaging the back of my neck. My own two hands escape to take a hold of the waist I dreamt about on countless nights.

It feels just like that, a dream— a fever dream. But the feeling is all too real and the musky scent that belongs to none other than Kai pulls me out of my doubts.

It has to be anything but a dream.

┊ʜʏᴜɴᴊɪɴ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ┊ೃ⁀➷

"Officer Minho to Officer Yubin. Three escaped the scene, six got killed and one is unconscious in another room. Over."

A loud static echoes in the empty establishment. "Officer Yubin to Officer Minho, are there any casualties? Over."

"Officer Minho to Officer Yubin, detective Hyunjin got shot in his right forearm. I'll be taking him to the hospital. Nothing serious. Over and out."

Lee Minho tucks the walkie-talkie back inside his back pocket before his casting his gaze upon me. "How are you doing there, buddy?"

I groan before managing to open my eyes enough. "Absolutely terrific, what do you think?"

The man has the audacity to chuckle as he shuffles to the bodies lying not too far away. "A newbie, after all."

"Yah! I have two years' worth of experience under my belt." I try to stand to my feet, almost losing my balance out of weakness induced by the tiresome hours and blood loss from my fresh wound.

The old man spares me a glance. "That I can see. You are good with revolvers, but the same can't be said with the machine guns."

I tear out a piece of cloth from one of the corpses that lie in my vicinity, wrapping it around my wound. "I ain't no god. And, as far as I know, duelling is not really a big part of detective training anyway."

Minho continues to examine the bodies as if I am not dying over here. I know if I try to state that, he'll go on with 'You're so dramatic like— can't you stop?'

I don't really give a fuck, though. He can be the tough man all he wants, the emotionless rock he is.

"Stop being so loud about cursing me. I might submit a letter to alter your salary."

I scoff, "I didn't even say anything. Stop fantasizing shit." Silence follows this small banter of ours as I bend down to examine one of the corpses myself. The face is, to no surprise, unfamiliar to me. Although I must agree this goon is exceptionally handsome. 'Too bad he chose the wrong line of work.' I think before checking for his belongings. His pant pocket holds a wallet which is empty besides a thousand won in cash and something like one half of a couple locket. How romantic.

I pocket the wallet before moving to stand beside my 'so called' senior, who is busy operating his walkie-talkie once again. He turns the dial before the device emits a static.

"Officer Minho to Songmin, get the car. Over and out."

The following events go in a blur as we drive back to Seoul and towards the city hospital. In an hour or so, I find myself seated in one of the wards as one of the nurses tended to my injuries.

"Oof..." I breathe out as the bullet is taken out of my skin, leaving behind a burning pain that surges up my arm. I mentally curse Senior Minho because, well, I hate him and he is a sadistic grandpa.

"Almost there. It won't hurt much." The nurse enunciates, giving me a soft smile.

"Well, I am already hurt enough. Bullets can't do anything to me, sweetheart."

"Your face just moments ago said something else though."

"Pay it no mind. I am gay and deprived of caffeine."

The woman giggles, rolling her eyes as her hands skillfully work to wrap the bandage around my wound. "Are you a police officer as well?"

"Detective, yes." I correct, "I don't know why people tend to ignore the difference between the two."

"I am sorry if by chance hurt your sentiments." With a final touch on the bandages, she shifts back.

I smile at her. "You are like the first one to apologise, bestie. I admire that."

Call it anything, but socialising is one of the qualities I am best at. I just love to talk and babble on and on about any given topic. Sometimes it is a boon, while other times it gives me the tag of a chatterbox. Maybe talking doesn't really count as a need for you to become a detective.

"You are all done! Just don't use that hand of yours that much. You will have to change the dressing in a week or two, depending on you."

"Thank you so much." I chirp happily before standing up and, with a last glance, leaving the ward.

The hospital isn't that busy, considering it is one of the biggest ones here in Seoul. The ward areas are somewhat empty as I pass every corridor, whistling a tune to myself.

I occasionally let my gaze wander to the glass windows in front of every ward. My feet, however, halt as a fleeting image of a familiar face meets my eyes. I dart my eyes back to the place to see it again, my heart almost dropping off of its place. Ward number 17  it is that holds a blond boy deep in his slumber of unconsciousness, an IV bag attached to him along with the ventilator that flashes in green.

I can recognise that face anywhere, although the name is hazy. 'It was something like Ta- T- Taehyun! Right, Taehyun it was.'

Without knowing it, I go to push the door and enter with uncertain steps. 'What happened to him?' I think as I notice the bandages around his head and every limb that is visible in that hospital gown of his. His hands lie loosely to his sides, fingers slightly curled. Even one of his fingers is bandaged.

I don't even know if I have the right to be here at all. But I can care less as I find myself trudging to his side, eyes raving through every inch of him.

Whatever must've happened, it must be something big. No one gets these types of injuries out of minor accidents.

Even though asleep, he managed to look just like the first I saw him in front of that departmental store, alluring.

My hands go to his face caressing the soft cheek. To any other, I must look like a creep. But I can't really help myself, this is too sudden for me.

My eyes fall to his neck, a locket hanging loosely around it. My lips curl into a soft smile.

"Cute—" but I stop myself at once as a realisation strikes me, pulling me out of my reverie. My smile drops.

The locket looks familiar.

At once, I frantically reach for the wallet I had kept away, the one owned by that goon.

I can feel my hands shake as I check for the locket, silently praying to whatever god that can hear me for Taehyun to not be involved with the goon in any way. Finally, I find it at the very back. My eyes widen if they weren't already wide enough.

It is the other half.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

A/N ¡! ❝Can I just say how much I adore Hyunjin's character? He is basically half an embodiment of me (with the personality, of course, his visuals are out of this world).

I was planning on watching Secrets of Dumbledore in theatres after my self-isolation period is over. Not really sure of it right now because I hate Just Kidding Rowling.

When I said I'll give a lot of Beomkai, I meant it. More of it is reserved for the next chapter wink wink~

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please forgive me for the delay TT❞