"Hyunjin... N-not here..." Seonghwa finally moved a bit - raising a hand to place against Hyunjin's chest, to keep a small distance between them. His voice was stuttering, something Yeosang had never heard him do before.

But Hwang Hyunjin apparently made Seonghwa do a lot of unexpected things. Now, it also made sense how the older hadn't been too excited to go on the couple trip. Had he not already puked his entire insides into the toilet, Yeosang was certain he could've thrown up right on the floor, while he listened to the conversation on the other side of the doors.

"I miss our little Sunday rendezvous," Hyunjin whispered with his fingers slowly twirling through Seonghwa's hair. "Do you know how miserable I've been without you?"

"I already told you, it's over," Seonghwa whispered back, with a heavy sigh at the end of his sentence.

It was like watching a television drama, like watching anything that didn't have an actual connection to his own life. Because although it was his own husband, and his former classmate from high-school, Yeosang felt like he had no idea of who those two people on the other side of the doors were.

As the conversation carried on, Yeosang kept standing absolutely still, and although he was raging inside, he was also beyond intrigued. The urge to burst through the doors, to scream and shout at the both of them, was pushed aside by his curiosity.

The hand held up against Hyunjin's chest was slowly falling downwards, and withdrawn, but not without Hyunjin catching it midair. The old shadow of the high-school drama queen that Yeosang had sensed earlier on was gone, and as Hyunjin raised his head to look at Seonghwa, a genuine look of sadness had covered his face.

"And I told you, that I can't live without you."

Seonghwa looked just as sad, as if he was in actual physical pain when their eyes met. His lower lip was quivering, but when it seemed that he was about to break into tears, he suddenly pulled his hand away from Hyunjin's.

"Seems like you're doing perfectly fine with Hongjoong," the older then snorted, stepping backwards until he bumped against the dining table.

"Don't give me that shit, Seonghwa." The scornful remark didn't sit well with Hyunjin, whose voice deepened into a growl. The sad look on his face was gone, and he glared at Seonghwa with burning eyes. "Not after everything you've put me through."

A low mumble coming from Hongjoong on the couch behind him, nearly made Yeosang flinch. He immediately covered his own mouth, not to blurt out any vocal reaction, and his heart was pounding so hard in his chest. Hongjoong then mumbled some more nonsense in his sleep, before snoring lightly again.

It was strange, even though Yeosang was furious at Seonghwa for having hidden more lies from him, he also felt kind of sad. The entire situation was so surreal, so messed up and with way too many broken hearts scattered all over the place.

And, as he took a quick peek over his shoulder, towards his old best friend, his heart sunk a little more. Yeosang knew his love for Seonghwa was non-existent, and now it was even more certain than ever before. But Hongjoong loved Hyunjin. More than anything in the world.

"Do you remember what I texted you, the day you got engaged?" With a voice so soft, as was it made out of pure silk, Seonghwa took one step forward again, and gently raised Hyunjin's hand with his own.

Seonghwa held his hand under Hyunjin's, and as the light fell over the wedding ring on the other's hand, Seonghwa became silent.

"I'm sorry. I love you. Please, wait for me," Hyunjin mumbled softly, showing that he had let go of the anger he had shown a few minutes before, at the memory that appeared to still haunt both of them.

"Why couldn't you just wait?" And this time it happened, with a simple blink of his eye - Seonghwa let the first tear roll down his cheek, as his trembling whisper left his lips.

"I did, Seonghwa," Hyunjin whispered back, intertwining their fingers and pressing both of their hands against his chest. "I've waited years for you."

Yeosang had heard enough, or at least enough for his head to be spinning again. He quietly snuck out from the living room, and down the hallway to leave the resort house. He had way too many feelings storming around inside of him, to even know what to think or feel. But one thing was certain, for now he just needed to get out of there.

As he walked down the small path towards the place he and Seonghwa had rented, with the lovely fresh air stroking his face, he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Yeosang."

He flinched by the sound of Hongjoong calling out his name, and he slowly turned around to look at his friend, with hesitant eyes. Yeosang felt so guilty about all the things he had heard, and although he wanted to tell Hongjoong everything, he also didn't think it would be right to reveal such a big thing. Not until he had had time to process everything himself first.

But the look on Hongjoong's face made him wonder if he didn't have to say anything at all. The look was strange, upset almost. Something was definitely wrong.

"Hongjoong? What's up?"

"Don't do anything foolish now," Hongjoong simply said, as he stood right in front of Yeosang. His face was so serious that Yeosang couldn't remember the last the he had seen his friend like that. Probably back in high school, that one time Hongjoong got a B+.

"What do you mean?"

Hongjoong then linked his arm around Yeosang's, and as they headed towards Yeosang's place, things began clearing up - but in the messiest of ways.

"So, you finally found out about our husbands," Hongjoong calmly said, with a strange chuckle, as if he indicated Yeosang was either blind or slow. "Took you quite a while."

"What? You... You know? About them?" Had it not been for Hongjoong almost pulling him forward, Yeosang would've stopped walking in pure shock from his friend's words.

"Honey, I've always known. I knew Hyunjin was dating both me and Seonghwa, when I started dating him in college. I knew they couldn't be together because Seonghwa couldn't divorce you, and Hyunjin's parents were putting pressure on him to get married."

Hongjoong went on to talk about how college changed him, how he got invited to parties for the first time in his life, and how he soon found out that drinking and staying out all night, was way more fun than studying. The former straight A student was suddenly falling behind in every class, all which he found boring and stupid, and he realized that maybe studying hard, only to get a job where he had to work hard, wasn't for him after all. So, when one of the wealthiest and most sought after bachelors proposed to him, the answer was obvious, no matter the circumstances.

"But why did you ask us to go on this trip then?" Yeosang asked, confused as he remembered how Hongjoong had been the one to bring up the idea of the couple vacation.

"Okay, to be honest, the first time I just said it at brunch, to be polite and to sound nice. I didn't think it would actually happen, from the look on your face when I asked you. But then, you and Seonghwa absolutely had to start working on things between you, which resulted in Seonghwa dumping Hyunjin. Believe what you want, but Seonghwa has always had a soft spot for you. Anyway, Hyunjin was furious, and he isn't very pleasant to be around when he is angry, so that's why I booked the tickets and called you."

Yeosang sighed loudly, groaning almost, with his free hand rubbing against his temples. He wanted to storm off and never look back, but he knew that this could be his only chance to get some actual answer to all of his questions.

"Why didn't you tell me? About Seonghwa and..."

"If I told you, it would only give you even more of a reason to divorce Seonghwa the second your marriage agreement runs out."

The smile Hongjoong was sending him, made Yeosang shiver, and he frowned as he turned his head to look the other way. His first thought was to ask Hongjoong how he knew about the arrangement between himself and Seonghwa, but he figured that if Hongjoong already knew about their husbands sleeping together, possibly being in love with each other - he probably knew everything else as well.

But there was still one thing Yeosang didn't understand.

"Why would you even care about me divorcing Seonghwa?" he mumbled, still keeping his eyes away from Hongjoong, as the weird vibe the other was giving off was kind of scaring him.

"Isn't it quite obvious?" Hongjoong snorted. "If you two divorce, Hyunjin will leave me. And I can't let that happen. I have wasted all my good years on him, and I don't intent of giving up the good life he is providing me with. He can fuck whoever he wants, as long as I have free access to his bank accounts, and get to drink Cristal in the morning."

"But you... You told me yesterday that you were afraid he doesn't love you anymore? You said that was the reason for your new nose job?"

"Of course I did. Listen, I love you, but I knew I could never tell someone like you that I simply did it out of vanity." As he shrugged his shoulders, Hongjoong made a loud smacking noise with his lips, that made Yeosang glare at him from the corner of his eye. "I know you're judging me right now, but honestly I don't care. I love my life, but don't think for a second I won't fight to keep it."

It had been clear to Yeosang that Hongjoong had changed over the years. But it was a rude awakening to realize that the Hongjoong he had known back in high school was not only long gone, but now a complete stranger.

"So you've all lied to me all these years? Why?"

"Because you're... Different. You let your emotions control you way too much. You would've made a scene or something. It was better for all of us, including you, that you didn't know anything. I saw your face when you left just before, too much is going on in that pretty head of yours. You should relax some more, you know. Worrying too much will only give you wrinkles."

When they reached the rented house, Yeosang felt relieved at the thought of finally getting to be alone with his thoughts. He searched his pocket with his right hand, trying to find the keys, while his left arm was still held captured by Hongjoong.

For a brief moment, he clenched his hands around the keys in his pocket, so hard that it hurt. There had been many times before, when he thought of his entire life to be one big lie - but this time was even worse than the previous.

Everything was a lie, and everyone around him was a liar.

Hongjoong finally let go of him, and he watched quietly while Yeosang unlocked the door, but with a way too calm smile on his face. As Yeosang was about the close the door between them, he felt nauseous again. He felt angry, hurt and now it wasn't just his head that was about to explode - it was all of him.

He glared at Hongjoong, brows furrowing down while he silently cursed his former best friend to hell and back. Yeosang still couldn't understand how Hongjoong had turned into the heartless, materialistic monster standing in front of him, but he knew that he didn't want to be anywhere near him.

"I don't even know who you are anymore..." Yeosang whispered in disbelief, as he closed the door between them.

♡