Buzz buzz, buzz buzz...

Yeosang had gotten drunk last night. Absolutely, completely black out drunk. The set up from the young, freckled blonde had stressed him out so greatly that the bottom of the bottle seemed like his only safe place.

This meant that when his phone was buzzing the following morning, from God knows where, as he had thrown his stuff all over the place when getting home, it wasn't a sound he appreciated at all.

With a loud groan, one he could feel all the way through his entire body, he rolled around on the bed, a bit too fast causing a nauseating feeling to sit right in the top of his throat. Keeping his eyes closed, he blindly searched for the phone with his hand, only to realize that it was somewhere in the pile of his clothes on the floor.

As he fumbled with his phone, and his heavy eyes kept closing, he suddenly felt his heart stop.

Several missed calls, from Minho, a couple of numbers he recognized as some tabloid journalists, but most importantly - and terrifyingly...

Five missed calls from San.

Yeosang uttered a yelp, when the phone started ringing in his hand and San's name was lighting up on the screen. His hands were shaking, sweating - and so was the back of his neck. Hesitantly, and with his heart beating in his throat, he picked up the call.

"H-hello?"

"Yeosang?"

Silence.

"Are you there?" When San's voice cut through the silence again, Yeosang's heart felt heavier than ever.

Guilt was wrapping itself around, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. But to his boyfriend, who was so far away at the moment, busy taking care of some actual important things, unnecessary drama like this was probably the last thing San needed. And no doubt that the photos were already out, Yeosang knew the tabloids too well by now, and how they didn't waste any time at all.

"Y-yes, I... I'm here..."

"Yeosang I..." San paused, and the way his voice was drifting into a breathy sound at the end, clearly told that he already knew what had happened. "What... What happened last night?"

"You saw the photos, didn't you?"

"Yes. And I expect a very good explanation."

Clencing the duvet around his shoulders, Yeosang snuggled up on the bed, but he felt far from calm as the otherwise cozy setting would have suggested. He knew he had to tell San the truth, but the fact that he had used an escort service to satisfy his sexual needs, was something he had hoped he'd never have to talk about. Not with San, not with the love of his life.

"Of course, I... It's just... A little embarrassing," he mumbled quietly, and the tears were already on their way.

"More embarrassing than the feeling I felt when I saw the photos of my boyfriend kissing someone else, on all the front pages of the tabloids and gossip sites? More embarrassing than me being called a rebound, a simple meal to transiently satisfy an empty stomach - but like my restaurant, obviously not quite gourmet?"

"Is that what they've written about you? ... About us?"

"Do you even care about us?" the younger sneered through the phone, hitting Yeosang right in the heart.

"San, please..."

Yeosang cursed himself, why couldn't he just explain everything to San? Was it his pride standing in the way of clearing things up? Nonetheless, the words simply wouldn't leave his lips. They were right there, waiting at the tip of his tongue - but whenever he tried to say them out loud, they disappeared.

"I'm hanging up. I have other things to worry about."

The guilt was overwhelming by now, not only from being kissed by someone else, but knowing that he had put even more worries and stress into San's head. Yeosang pinched his eyes closed, doing everything he could to force the words to come out.

But still, nothing.

A clearly annoyed sigh came from the other end of the call, and Yeosang finally opened his eyes and spoke out loud. Although, unfortunately not the words San wanted to hear.

"No! Please, I can't handle losing you again..." Yeosang cried out, desperately wishing San was there with him. That way it would be easier, he was certain.

"I'm sorry, I have to go.."

San hung up, and Yeosang felt his heart drop. He kept lying completely still, with the phone at his ear, even minutes after the call had ended. He had made another mess, but he had to fix it, somehow - no matter the cost. But a simple apology wouldn't be enough, no, he had to do something bigger to get San back. Back in his arms.

But Kang Yeosang wasn't known to make good, well-thought-out decisions, especially not when being controlled by overwhelming emotions.

♡

"What are you doing here?" The facial expression was cold, and so was the voice that met Yeosang when the door in front of him opened.

Hyunjin narrowed his already intimidating eyes, glaring at Yeosang who was standing outside the door. The long dark hair was reaching beyond his shoulders, and dressed in a black pin-striped suit he looked almost royal, even when lounging around in his own home.

"Is he home?" Yeosang asked, not letting himself get scared off by his former classmate.

Although he told himself he didn't really care, he still couldn't deny how he felt a slight wonder towards the taller, and his relationship with Yeosang's ex-husband. Yeosang had felt Hyunjin's eyes glare at him all the way back in high-school, back then not having a clue as to why - assuming it was purely jealously. And somehow, maybe he had been right, despite it not being jealousy over the things Yeosang had thought.

But Yeosang's relationship with Park Seonghwa had been over before it even started, before he even knew it himself, and he didn't care what the older was doing now. The only thing that mattered was, even though Yeosang didn't like to admit it, how there were certain things Seonghwa was way better at than himself.

"No."

"When will he be back?"

"I don't know, maybe in an hour, maybe two." Hyunjin was about to close the door, ending the conversation that had led to nowhere, when Yeosang slammed his hand against it - stopping him.

"Then I'll just wait here," he said with a fake smile that hurt his face.

The rage in Hyunjin's eyes were not to be mistaken, but with a sigh he opened the door again and stepped aside. Hating each other was one thing, but not acting polite as their mother's had taught them, was so deeply rooted that it was impossible to fight against.

Moments later, a petite but kind looking older maid was pouring up some tea in the living room. Yeosang and Hyunjin were sitting opposite from each other, each on a broad white couch. The taller was politely thanking the maid for the tea, and while she was walking towards the door, Yeosang was taking a look around the room.

They had bought a new place of their own, Hyunjin and Seonghwa. Spacious, with tall windows and an amazing view. No forest-green walls or lilies though, Hyunjin seemed to prefer white and crimson red.

"Why are you here?"

As soon as they were alone again, Hyunjin's eyes had darted towards Yeosang, and his voice turned cold and harsh.

"I just need to talk to Seonghwa."

"About what?"

"I don't see how that is any of your business."

"You came to my house, asking to see my fiancé, and you've got the nerves to say that it is none of my business?"

While Hyunjin was busy sneering, Yeosang did catch onto the detail of the taller calling Seonghwa his fiancé, but it was definitely not something he neither dared or wanted to comment on in the moment being.

They sipped the tea in sudden silence, but not without them glaring at each other over the edge of the cups. Yeosang was annoyed, but what else was new when in the company of Hwang Hyunjin. He had always been so mean to Yeosang, and Yeosang didn't care that it potentially could've been caused by Hyunjin being jealous of the former relationship between him and Seonghwa. The loveless marriage was over, and Hyunjin had gotten what he wanted, so how come he had to act so angry still...

"Fine. I need to ask for some advice, for something I believe he is way more capable of than I am."

"That is a pretty wide range of things though." Hyunjin scoffed, rolling his eyes at the same time.

And suddenly it clicked in Yeosang's head. The look on the other's face was the exact same, as back when he and Han Jisung would mock Yeosang during their high-school days. That demeaning look, which told that there was no friendly teasing in his words, he meant every single on of them. How could San ever have been friends with someone like him?

"I get it, Hyunjin, you don't like me, and trust me, I don't like you either," Yeosang growled back. He could feel his fingertips itching, the same way as when they were simple freshmen, arguing over the smallest things. "Besides, you should calm down, you were the one who stole my husband, Hwang."

Hyunjin, who had just picked up his cup of tea again, suddenly jerked his head up, and the cup was put down again - with such a loud clink that Yeosang feared it might shatter.

"No." Hyunjin growled angrily. "You, Kang, were the one who stole my boyfriend away."

"What are you talking about?"

If looks could kill, Yeosang would have been dead on the spot. The world might have known Hwang Hyunjin as a respected and professional businessman, the son and heir to one of the biggest financial groups in Korea, but Kang Yeosang knew a very different version of him. And it would probably always be that way.

"Freshman year, Seonghwa and I were secretly dating before you even came into the picture. But his family held some grudges against mine, so his father forced him to end things with me. And ask you out. The perfect, Kang Yeosang."

Seonghwa's father was obviously not the only one with grudges, and Yeosang had to swallow a small lump in his throat, when Hyunjin was raging out in front of him - although in a strangely calm way. Rather terrifyingly.

"Well," Yeosang said, straightening his posture on the couch. He might have felt scared on the inside, but after years of practice he knew how to keep up his facade. "After years of you fucking my husband behind my back, I don't think you're entitled to feel angry at all. Hyunjin. Besides, you're with Seonghwa now, so why does it even matter."

The dark eyes in front of him narrowed down again, and Yeosang's words might have made sense, but that didn't mean that Hyunjin was ready to let go off his own grudge.

When the sound of the front door suddenly was heard, and footsteps approaching, Yeosang had never felt more relieved that Park Seonghwa was about to enter the same room as him.

"Guess he's finally home." Hyunjin kept staring at Yeosang, as he slowly rose from the couch, before he turned around to leave the room. "Keep the door open."

Hyunjin left the room, and soon after Yeosang could hear him greet Seonghwa outside the doors. After a short conversation, in a mumble that Yeosang couldn't catch, the older entered the living room. Dressed nicely as always, hair sleeked back and with his trusty black briefcase in his hand.

"Yeosang?" Seonghwa looked confused, which was very understandable. "What are you doing here? I-I don't think it's a good idea for us to talk anymore."

Peeking over his shoulder, voice lowering, it was clear that Hyunjin's jealousy wasn't something to joke about. Seonghwa then looked back at Yeosang, but the expression on his face clearly suggested for Yeosang to leave.

"Seonghwa... Please, I need your help."

♡