Ch. 29- Faded Path (1/1)

Dongwoo’s POV:

Hm? Why does my body feel so hot? But I’m shivering at the same time.“ Dongwoo-hyung, are you awake?”I opened my eyes but the rest of my body wouldn’t move. I felt so tired that opening my eyes took a lot of my energy. When I tried to sit up, he pushed me down.“ I don’t think you should be getting up.”I tried to push his hands off of me but I couldn’t. My eyes were fluttering to close, though, the cold touch of his hand felt amazing. My mind was telling me to push him away. I leaned into his hand instead. That was when I realized that I don’t know what the time is.“ Hoya, what time is it?” I forced my eyes to open as I watched Hoya turn his to look at my alarm clock.“ It’s twelve in the afternoon.”“ WHAT?!”In a flash I got up though that was a horrible idea. It felt like I got hit in the head with something heavy like a brick. I gripped onto my head tightly waiting for the pain to pass. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours. The pain was totally not disappearing.“ You shouldn’t be moving around. You are sick, hyung.” I slowly looked up and glared at him.“ Why should you care?”“ What do you mean by that?”His hand was reaching for me so I pushed it away. I placed both of my feet on the cold floor and sighed in relief at the sensation of the coldness. As I stood up, Hoya waited next to me, but I dismissed him. I don’t need his help... Hoya doesn’t even need me.I ignored Hoya on the way downstairs and went to the kitchen. It definitely felt better down hair since it wasn’t as suffocating. Maybe it’s also because Hoya isn’t right next to me. I guess I just need some time away from him. After what I saw yesterday I don’t know how to face him. Hoya doesn’t even know that I saw him kiss Jieun-sshi yesterday.

How could he kiss her when he promised me that he would think about us two? Does this mean he is choosing Jieun-sshi over me?When I got to the kitchen I opened the fridge and took out a water bottle. The cold water going down my throat made my body feel less hot. Then I noticed that I was covered in cold sweat. I must be really sick if my body is reacting like this.“ Dongwoo-hyung, what did I tell you? You should be in bed right now getting some rest.”I rolled my eyes at Hoya’s words. There is no need for him to worry about me anymore. He should be with Jieun-sshi since the two of them are together now. I hate this feeling of jealousy. I hate that Hoya and Jieun-sshi are together now. The image of them kissing won’t ever disappear.“ Just leave me alone. I don’t need your help.”“ Yes you do! You are sick and sick people need to rest!”Suddenly, I felt like the wind got knocked out of me when he grabbed my elbow and turned me around. Our eyes met and I saw a flicker of anger and sadness. Why? Why is he looking at me with those eyes? It should be me who should have those eyes towards you. Not the other way around.I tried prying his hand off my arm but he wouldn’t let go. My body was too tired too which didn’t help me either. Since Hoya wasn’t going to let me go anytime soon, I took the water in my other hand and splashed it all over him.It all happened so fast that I didn’t register Hoya dragging me upstairs. We arrived at my room and he placed me on my bed. I silently watch Hoya leave the room and wait to see what happens next.While waiting, I laid down in my bed coughing into my pillow. The door opened but I made no movement. I closed my eyes as I listen to the footsteps and I felt my bed dip. His hand touched my forehead and left it.“ I left two pills for you to take. Don’t forget to drink water too. I don’t want you to get dehydrated.”Slowly, I got up and grabbed his hand from leaving. The room was spinning but who cares. I don’t care and Hoya certainly doesn’t care. I got up and stared straight into his eyes. I placed head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. As I listened, I closed my eyes and tried to get my heartbeat as the same as his.“ Dongwoo-hyung, what are you doing?”“ Just let me stay like this with you. Please...”I wrapped my arms around him and nuzzled my face into his shirt. I felt Hoya wrap his arms around my waist and brought me in closer.

Why? Why did you choose her? Is it because you have known each other longer? Please, please don’t leave me.“ Here, you need to rest some more.” I shake my head.“ Come on now. I don’t want you getting more sick.” I shake my head again.

I don’t want to go to sleep. I’m afraid when I wake up you won’t be there.“ Dongwoo-hyung, please listen to me. My mom will kill me if she knew you got even more sick.”“ I don’t want to.”“ Why are you being stubborn?”At those words I pushed him away and laid back down on my bed. I pulled the covers over me and moved myself further away from Hoya.“ Please don’t ignore me like this. Did I do something wrong to make you angry at me?”Yes. Yes you did. You kissed Jieun-sshi.I didn’t answer him. I kept silent until a sigh broke the silence and then I heard the door open.“ Get some rest. I will check up on you later.”The door closed and the tears fall. I cried into my pillow hoping that that pillow would diminish my cries. I placed my hand over my heart trying to make it stop hurting, but I wasn’t able to. The pain kept on coming not stopping to let me catch a breath.

---------------------------------------------------------------  “ Really? I’m happy. I’m really happy.”I opened my eyes to Hoya’s voice. Making sure I don’t get dizzy again, I slowly got off of the bed. Step by step I went down the stairs, Hoya’s voice was getting clearer.“ Is that so. That really makes me happy. If you’re happy then I’m happy too. I’m happy with what we have Jieun.”My whole body froze on the last step. I clenched the railing as Hoya’s words resonated throughout my body, head, and heart.

W-What? So Hoya definitely chose her instead of me. H-He really chose her.My knees buckled and I fell to the floor. I wrapped my arms around my stomach trying to get ride of the horrible feeling in my stomach. Tears kept falling down my face not stopping to take a break. Tears don’t have any feelings, not caring that my eyes are puffy and swollen.“ Dongwoo-hyung! What’s wrong? Are you alright? Hey, Jieun, I will talk to you later. Bye!”From the corner of my eye, I saw Hoya hang up and place his cell phone on the couch. He walked over to me and tried lifting me up but I wouldn’t budge. It is as if my body went on shutdown and I can’t turn it back on. I don’t even know how to think or feel anymore. When I felt Hoya wrap his arms around me, my body’s reaction was to push him away: and that is what I did. I pushed him so hard that his head hit the ground.“ What the hell was that for?!”I looked at him, stared at him, and glared at him. Right now I probably looking disgusting with tears streaming down my face, but that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that I’m alone. Nobody wants me. Hoya chose Jieun-sshi, my parents don’t want me; nobody wants me!I stormed upstairs to my room and grabbed a light sweater. Then I hurried downstairs, put my shoes on, and ran out of the house. I ran as fast as possible that way Hoya wouldn’t be able to catch me.His voice. He kept on calling for me: I didn’t turn around. I placed my hands over my ears and ran away from his place. The place where I was able to call it home.

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Hoya’s POV:

I was shocked when Dongwoo-hyung pushed me away so hard. When I hit my head, I couldn’t help but get angry at him. I don’t understand why he did that, but I can tell he is upset with me. No. He is more than upset with me. In his eyes there were so many emotions; sadness, anger, and loneliness. But it was too late. He had already ran out of the house before I could catch up with him.“ Dongwoo-hyung! Dongwoo-hyung!”I called out for him, and I called out for him. He never turned around though. His figure disappeared and I hated myself for not going after him. I hated myself for not trying to understand why he was acting this way. I hated myself for not understanding him.

What am I doing? I should be looking for him! You idiot! You should be looking for him right now!I went back inside, grabbed my shoes, phone, and key to lock the door. Once I put my shoes on, I put my phone in my pocket, and used the key to lock the door as I ran out.Dongwoo-hyung couldn’t have gone far, but knowing him there is a possibility he could be anywhere by now. Also he isn’t in the state of mind to be out here like that. I can’t leave him sick and running out with tears running down his face.

I’m the reason why he got angry. I’m the reason why he is crying. I’m the reason why he is in pain.The park, he wasn’t there. He wasn’t in any of the nearby restaurants either. Nor was he in the stores. I called my mom telling her what happened. I expected her to be angry, but she was calm on the other side of the phone. She told me to keep on looking for him and that she will look for him by car. I thanked her so many times that I know I will owe my mom later, but right now I have to find Dongwoo-hyung.Maybe I should call Sunggyu-hyung. Maybe he will know where Dongwoo-hyung is. I dialed his number and waited for him to answer.

“ Hello? Hoya? What are you calling for?”“ It’s about Dongwoo-hyung.”

“ What about him? Did something happen to you two?”“ Hyung... I made Dongwoo-hyung cry, he ran out of the  house, and now I can’t find him! I don’t know where to go or what do do now!”

“ Hoya, calm down. Dongwoo-hyung wouldn’t do anything irrational so he must be somewhere close by. Have you checked his old apartment?”“ No, I haven’t! Thanks Sunggyu-hyung! Can you please tell the others if they have seen Dongwoo-hyung that they should call me as soon as possible!”“ I will make sure to do that. Hurry and find him, okay?”“ Okay, I will.”I hung up the phone and put it back in to my pocket. I started to sprint over to Dongwoo-hyung’s old apartment. By the time I got there, I noticed the sky was getting darker. Though when I got to the apartment building and asked the landlord if they have seen Dongwoo-hyung, they said they haven’t seen him.

Knowing that he isn’t in here, I ran to the café. I peered inside, but he wasn’t there either. I walked around aimlessly. I bumped into people muttering “Sorry” to them.The night kept on getting darker and darker. Soon the moon and the stars were out. It wasn’t a bright night, though. The moonlight wasn’t bright and there was a dimmer in the stars’ light. On my way home, there wasn’t a path set out before me.I was passing by the park to my home when I heard a yell.“ DONGWOO-HYUNG!”“ Let go of me! Let go! Help me!.... HOYA HELP ME!”DONGWOO-HYUNG!I sprinted towards where the voices were. The bright lights of a car flashed at my eyes. I covered them, but doing that made me loss the seconds helping out Dongwoo-hyung.“ Let go of him!” There was another voice and it was a voice I know.Right in front of me were two men struggling to put Dongwoo-hyung into the car. Anger began to boil inside me overflowing the top, and I went and push the two men off of Dongwoo-hyung. I immediately pulled Dongwoo-hyung into my arms who was shaking. He looked up at me with tearful eyes.“ H-Hoya?” I wiped away his tears with my thumb, and he grabbed my hand.“ Hey--”“ Watch out!”I looked over my shoulder to see the two men coming after me. Then all of a sudden he stood in front of us.“ Kiseop-sshi.” He looked over and smiled at me.“ Fancy seeing you here. Do you think you can help me out here? Two against one isn’t quite fair--”One of the guys punched Kiseop-sshi while he wasn’t looking. I got even more angry and I placed Dongwoo-hyung a few feet away from me.“ What do you guys want with Dongwoo-hyung?!”The guy who punched Kiseop-sshi was coming after me, but the other guy stopped him. He took a few steps closer to me and bowed to me. But what I didn’t see coming was when he punched me in the stomach. My knees buckled and I fell to the ground clenching my stomach.“ Hoya!” Dongwoo-hyung kneeled next to me and wrapped his arms around me.“ D-Dongwoo-hyung, get away from h-here.” He shook his head with me, and tears were streaming down his face like an endless river. I weakly lifted my hand to wipe away his tears.“ Idiot, it’s not like I’m dying. I can handle a few more--”“ Dongwoo-sshi, I advise you to come with us. You wouldn’t want your friend here to get injured again.”I looked and sneered at him. I seriously want to punch that pretty face of his. I put my arm in front of Dongwoo-hyung and pushed him back towards me.“ I won’t let you have him. He isn’t going anywhere with you. He doesn’t even know you.”“ Are you sure about that? It seems like Dongwoo-sshi hasn’t told you who he really is.” I looked at Dongwoo-hyung who avoided my eyes.“ What do you mean by that?”“ It’s not my place to say anything,” he turned his attention from me back to Dongwoo-hyung, “ Now, Dongwoo-sshi, it’s in your best interest if you come with me.”“ He isn’t com--”“ Fine. Fine. I will come with you.” I whip my head around as Dongwoo-hyung stands up. I quickly get up too and grab onto his arm.“ You’re not leaving!”“ Let me go!”He harshly pulled his arm from me and took another step away...from me. I took those steps and grabbed his wrist turning him around. I looked straight at him in the eyes hoping that he really didn’t want to leave.“ Let me go, Hoya.”“ No. I’m not letting go of you. I don’t want to let go of you. I’m never letting go of you! You know why? I’m going to keep on holding onto you because I lo--”“ I’m sorry but I will be taking him away from you.”The guy took him from me while the other one held onto me and threw me to the ground. I landed on my wrist and gasped in pain. Watching Dongwoo-hyung leaving with them without putting up a fight pained me: it hurts more than the pain in my wrist. As I stood up holding onto my wrist with my other hand, I ran over to the car without thinking.I banged on the tinted window with my good hand but the window never rolled down. Then the started to drive off and I ran after it. It kept on getting further and further away, and I couldn’t see it anymore. I screamed in frustration with tears falling down.“ H-Hoya-sshi?” I wiped my tears away and turned around.“ What do you want?” I didn’t mean to make it sound so vicious and full of bitterness, but I couldn’t control it. Not being able to stop Dongwoo-hyung leaving-- I’m so weak.“ I need to talk to you.”We walked back to the park and sat down on the bench. Kiseop-sshi went to buy something to drink from the vending machine and handed me a can of ice coffee. I took it from him and opened it. The sound of the can broke the silence between us and he spoke up.“ I’m pretty sure you are wondering who those two were.”“ Of course. What else do you think?” I took a sip from the can and felt the coldness run down my throat.“ Do you know anything about Dongwoo’s parents?” I shook my head.“ No. Not much. He doesn’t really like talking about them.”“ I guess I probably should tell you then.” I looked at him as he was playing around the rim of his drink.“ Tell me. What do you know about Dongwoo-hyung’s parents that I don’t know?”“... I met them or well saw them once.”“ When?”“ When our school had the performance. His parents came to see the performers, well, perform.” I raised my eyebrows at what Kiseop-sshi was saying.What is he getting at? What does he mean he saw them once?“ Tell me more about it.” 
“ After the performances were done, I followed Dongwoo. I was curious as to where he was going. When I heard voices I stopped. That was when I heard Dongwoo’s voice. Then I heard another voice. Hoya-sshi, do you remember who else you saw that day?”The memories of the performance day flashed in my hand. Getting number one, dancing with Dongwoo-hyung, and watching our other friends perform (and become couples) was one of the best days ever. Then winning the trip to Jeju Island and taking that trip was another amazing memory. Though I remember the people who I saw that day at the school. It was the CEO of Jang Companies and his wife.“ Yeah, I remember. The CEO of Jang Companies came-- wait. What does he have to do with this?”“ Dongwoo was talking with him. I overheard their conversation and I found out the relationship between the two.” I dropped my can spilling the contents all over the ground. I gripped Kiseop-sshi’s shirt collar and pulled him up.“ Stop freaking stalling and tell me! Tell me already god dammit!” He pushed me off and gripped onto my shirt.“ Dongwoo is the freaking son of the CEO of freaking Jang Companies! His dad was trying to make him give up the dream of becoming a dancer! He even threatened to hurt you! Dongwoo got scared because of that! In the end Dongwoo was still thinking of you! Even just now he left with those two guys because they are working for his dad! And you! You didn’t give a damn about Dongwoo!”I pulled his grip off of me and pushed him away from me. I was now seriously getting angry. How dare he say I don’t give a damn about Dongwoo-hyung!“ Don’t you dare say I don’t care about him!”“ It’s obvious you don’t because yesterday you just had to go kissing that stupid girl of yours! Dongwoo and I saw you two kissing so don’t you dare go denying it!”My whole body froze. My mind went blank and my heart shattered in pieces. I felt like dying because Dongwoo-hyung saw everything. He wasn’t supposed to see that. That kiss didn’t mean anything. Jieun forced it on me to make Wooyoung jealous. I can’t believe he saw that scene.

That was when everything hit me. The reason why he was upset with me. The reason why he wouldn’t meet my eyes, brush away my touches, and ran out of the house.It’s my fault. Everything is my fault.“ T-That kiss didn’t mean anything. I was only helping her make the person she likes jealous. I don’t like Jieun like that anymore.”“ W-What do you mean?”I looked at Kiseop-sshi in the eyes and sighed. I ran my hand through my hair, looked up at the night sky, and sighed again. I laughed at myself to see the night sky darker than before. The stars’ light were even more faint and the moon wasn’t shining its light on me. I like a lost child trying to find its way home, or more like trying to find my way back to Dongwoo-hyung.

“ Kiseop-sshi... My feelings for Jieun-sshi have disappeared. The person who is in my heart and will always be... Dongwoo-hyung, the person who I’m in love with and will always be in love with.”