Chapter Ninety-one (1/2)

Seokmin met Woozi and Yeosang in the hallway as the males were making their way to their respected classrooms before lunch hour was finished.  The other two didn't eat as they were busy with looking at Minghao's art.  The dove took notice of the bruise that was on display for everyone to see.

His eyes went wide and he walked up to Yeosang, ignoring Woozi's greeting.  "What happened to your face?"  He asked.

"I'm fine, Dokyeom,"  He took the hand that went on his cheek, "what are you doing here instead of being in class?"  He asked.

Seokmin's lips trembled and he put his arms around the younger.  Woozi widened his eyes as the crow naturally put his arms around Seokmin.  "Don't say you're fine, Yeosang.  Nothing is going well, is it?"  Seokmin muttered, getting closer in the hug.  "Things are going against what you wanted.. and you have to make tough decisions.."

Yeosang furrowed his eyebrows.  "Don't worry about me, just do what you want to do, Dokyeom."  He said, rubbing the taller's back up and down.

"I don't want it.."  He whispered, letting a tear drop onto the younger's neck.  "Your poor face though,"  He pulled back to look at the bruise.

Yeosang saw the tears in the sun's eyes.  Anger boiled in his veins as every possibility went through his head.  "What did he do?"  He asked, holding Seokmin's shoulders.  "Why is my dove crying?"  He asked as he looked at the boy's eyes.

Woozi looked between them.  H-his dove?  He raised his eyebrows.

"D-don't hurt him, just keep him away from me."  Seokmin requested.  "I don't want this.."  He admitted as he rubbed his lips, trying to forget about the kiss they shared when they parted ways.

Yeosang nodded, stroking Seokmin's hair.  "He won't lay another finger on you, never."  He promised.  "And if he does, I'll kill him.  I'll-" "Yeosang,"  Woozi tore him out of his crazy gaze, "no killing.  I don't want my husband thrown in jail once we get married."  He said firmly.

The younger nodded and looked back at Seokmin.  "Come straight to the study room when you're finished in the auditorium."  He instructed.  "You're never going to be with him alone again, I promise."  He leaned closer to kiss Seokmin's cheek.

Seokmin nodded with tears coming down his cheek.  It's not like he was physically hurt or yelled at.  But something in him made him feel horrible for letting Mingi kiss him.  Something in him felt like he was violated and violating something.  Perhaps violating the bond he has with Sungjae.

Yeosang hugs him once more.  "I'll walk you to the auditorium,"  He whispered, "I'll see you in a couple hours, Woozi."  He looked back at the shorter.

Woozi nodded and watched them walk off.

*** Friday comes.  Hoshi turned off his laptop and stood up to put a file in his bag.  Eunhyuk spinned his pen as he looked up from his computer.  He noticed the time and saw that it was a little early for Hoshi to be leaving. "Packing up early?"  Eunhyuk asked, straightening his posture when he saw a task to do on the computer.

"You could say that.. I have some business to do."  Hoshi said, cracking his neck and pushing in his chair.

Eunhyuk smirked while typing.  "Jisoo~?"  He asked teasingly.

Hoshi sighed and looked up at the old lights.  "I wish.. Eric asked me to train Jeno.."  He said as he put his bag's straps on his shoulder. The older pursed his lips and shook his head.  "Good luck with him."  He said. "It's only an hour of teaching him document formatting, it can't be that bad."  Hoshi said, putting a hand in his coat.

Eunhyuk laughed.  "Sure, not that bad."  He waved him off.

Hoshi sighed and went to the elevator.  He arrived on the next floor and met Jeno in a small staff room.  He saw the younger had a black suit on and his hair matched it.  His nose is a little long, but his smile looked innocent.

"Hi, you're Hoshi?"  He asked, standing up with a small bow.

"That's me,"  Hoshi confirmed, "I'll teach you how to type reports."  He put his hands behind his back.

Jeno put a finger up.  "We should make special handshakes."  He insisted.  "The ones I made with the others are super intricate."  He laughed.

Hoshi looked around and shrugged.  "You made handshakes for the others?"  He received a nod.  "Let's throw them off when it's just a regular handshake."  He scratched his cheek.

"Woah.. that's a good idea.."  Jeno nodded.

Hoshi smiled.  "Now that's settled, you first-" "We should take a selfie."  Jeno took his phone out.  "I like to take the once-a-day pictures  to show how you change in a year or how you stay the same."  He said.

"I know what you're talking about,"  Hoshi said, "but let's wait until after I show you."  He put his hand up.

Jeno furrowed his eyebrows.  "It'll only take a minute.."  He said.

Hoshi breathed in and out.  He took the younger's phone, lifted it high, snapped the picture, and returned it.  Jeno looked down at it.  "But I wasn't posing.."  He pouted.  "Can I change the text of the report?"  "You can change the formatting, but the person receiving the document will have it set to their default settings."  Hoshi replied. Jeno looked down.  "So basically worthless.."  He said.

Hosh shrugged.  "If it's making you feel better, it's not worthless."  He said honestly. Hoshi started up the program.  "So first you put your name here and then the date your report is being made."  He pointed at the screen.  "Then you fill the description with what the report is about.  Don't forget to say how important the report is.  They need to know if this is something they need to get to right away. "Next, fill the report.  Don't add any personal inputs unless it could solve the issue of what you're reporting."  Hoshi instructed.  "Lastly, send it through fax or email.  Any questions?"  He asked.

"No, it was pretty clear."  Jeno replied.

Hoshi raised an eyebrow.  "Is there something wrong?"  He asked. "No, I just get quiet when I'm learning."  Jeno said seriously.  "Thank you for teaching me, Sunbae."  He bowed in his seat. Hoshi nodded and patted the boy's shoulder.  "See you Monday."

Hoshi makes it back home and blends into the table.  Jeonghan stirs his noodles and looks around the table.  He saw Yeosang and Woozi stirring their noodles together.  He smiled a bit.  "The festival is tomorrow, are we invited?"  He asked. Woozi looked at him and put on a fake-upset glare.  "Oh no, I forgot to buy tickets.. too bad."  He said. "What are you talking about?  You bought tickets for even Jaemin and Renjun."  Yeosang poked Woozi teasingly.

The boy gave a blank look to the boy.  "Oh.. was that supposed to be a secret..?"  He asked. "Well it's nice that you wanted us to come, Woozi."  Jeonghan said with a smile before looking at Seungcheol. Seungcheol smiled and took a bite of chicken.  "DK insisted that we invite everyone, I didn't."  Woozi lied before looking at Seokmin. Seokmin smiled a bit and looked down at his food.

*** Woozi looked at the large crowd outside.  Summer festivals weren't any joke.  Everyone was here.  People from outside the country even visited for the festival.  Many performers did their acts while viewers ate their hotteoks and cup ramyun.  He turned back to look at Seokmin, who was dressed in a white and silver suit. Woozi straightened his black tie and cracked his knuckles, going back in his mind which keys to press on first.  His thoughts were interrupted when he felt arms around his waist.  He opened his eyes and looked backward to see Yeosang there with a smile. "You'll do fine, Woozi."  He leaned down to kiss the older. Woozi closed his eyes as he felt the other hold him protectively in their innocent kiss.  He smiled when they slowly stopped the kiss.  "Thanks.."  Woozi whispered, looking into Yeosang's brown eyes.  "No contacts today?"  He asked. "Mingi tore a hole in the left one,"  Yeosang replied, fixing Woozi's hair, "I shouldn't probably have any in for awhile." Yeosang shifted his eyes to the side, making Woozi see the red spot on the white of Yeosang's eyes.  Woozi pouted.  "Don't take crap from him."  He muttered. "I'm not.."  Yeosang muttered back.

The younger crow happened to notice Seokmin leaning against the wall with his arms folded.  Yeosang takes his arms back and silently walks up to the dove.  "You'll do fine too."  He assured, patting Seokmin's shoulder.  Seokmin looked down at the younger before turning his head.  "We'll see.."  He said, playing with the dormant microphone in his hand. Yeosang pursed his lips with a small sigh.  He leaned closer to hug him briefly.  Seokmin looked down while Yeosang left the backstage to go into the crowd.