Blooming | Ateez Hongjoong

09 • Flattered illusion

An itchy feeling crawls under Hongjoong's skin as Hyemi is still unseen. The young man can't find himself to focus on the conversation carrying with Emi and Giseok for past 15 minutes.

Her things have gone as well.

The possibility of Hyemi met her ex and went home at once is kinda convincing at this point.

"Excuse me. I have an urgent." Hongjoong eventually gives up pondering as he pushes his chair backwards to stand up fully straight, cracking a perfectly polite smile at the couple, "Hope we will meet again soon."

Emi mirrors her friend's smile after obliviously bidding him goodbye meanwhile her fiancé nods in relief as if a prey just cut off the chase from its predator successfully.

Rain has stopped for a while, yet still casts an ash gray hue across the sky. There is Hongjoong who tries his best to not overspeed his car as worry occupies his mind.

He has called Hyemi for countless times already but only gets no sign of reply from the other line which causes his grip around the steering wheel gets tighter and tighter in frustration.

*°• ✧ *•°๑

"You're home!" Hyemi gasps in shock, clutching her phone in hand as she looks at Hongjoong who likely breaks the front door just to open it.

Beads of sweat slide down his forehead and his heart rate picks up. The young man has been going through an emotion ride because of her sudden disappearance at the cafe.

Guilt washes over Hyemi as she sees his severely messy hair the moment the door slammed open "I was napping when you called. But can't call bacー" she explains and rubs her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to mask the slightly puffy eyes because of crying.

"My phone died halfway," Hongjoong cuts her off, getting his phone charged and leaves it in his room, then throws himself onto the sofa across from her in the living room.

"How was your encounter with Giseok?" A sharp exhale escapes his lips secretly.

It feels like an eternity for Hyemi to speak up as her mind has to function to recall the roller coaster emotion within herself again.

And Hongjoong surely notices it.

"It's obviously not good if I'm being honest."

"You still love him? After all?" he gulps after a mere pause, yearning for a positive response.

"Maybe," she says quietly, doesn't dare to look up and face her friend as her eyes never leave her fists placing on her laps. "I don't know."

No feelings other than disappointment and hurt toture his heart, preventing him from lashing out or even uttering anything.

It's stupid to set myself a high hope.

Fingers lace together as he has his eyes shut and his stomach keeps doing a severe summersault. Hongjoong has never thought that hearing it directly is the worst thing he's ever asked for.

His pain. Hyemi would never know its existence.

Never.

*°• ✧ *•°๑

"Congrats bro! I saw your name in the designer lineup of upcoming event!"

Mingi sits across from Hongjoong, raising his thumbs up to his older brother. But his wide smile soon drops as he sees Hongjoong's expression.

The older hums; a bitter chuckle leaves his lips. "Only my little brother cares about me the most haha..."

He then continues chugging a can of beer in his hand in front of Mingi who is totally clueless of what the older's statement means.

"Not exaggerate one bit, you look like a dead fish..." Mingi mutters quietly to himself but audible enough for the other male to hear.

1 minute

10 minutes

30 minutes

"If you call me here just to watch your drinking, I'll get going." Gathering his belongings, the younger says bluntly as he gets up from his seat with no hesitation.

"If you step out of this place, I'll tell mom you were the culprit caused that little scratch on her favorite sport car yesterday."

Hongjoong shoots his brother a sly smirk as he sees a panic attack washed over the younger's face.

If Mr. Song is known as a powerful man, then his wife Mrs. Song is on a whole another level. The thought of her outburst anger is more than enough to send cold sweat onto Mingi's forehead.

With shaky eyes, he lets the determination of leaving die down in a mere moment.

"Oh! " Putting his long coat off his shoulders again, Mingi plops back on the seat, laughing nervously. "What is bugging you today, my dear brother?"

The older rests his side face on his palm with the support of his elbow which is placing on the wooden table. A foolish drunken smile takes over his face.

"I've accepted the fact that being by her side even if as a friend, as long as she's happy," he continues. "Until lately I've thought I had a chance with her, but it turns out to be my bubble of illusion only."

Her means Hyemi. Neither guess nor question needed.

Mingi says nothing, averting his gaze from Hongjoong whose finger is unconsiously tracing along the can of beer to the ceiling. His brain is working on the possible cause of this situation.

Love is such a bitch. The younger voices in his mind.

He doesn't have any gut to ask the older guy in front of him what happened between him and Hyemi before coming here. It's not because Hongjoong isn't in his right state of mind to tell him everything precisely, he's just aware of the limit of everyone's personal issue, even his brother's.

- An hour later -

Mingi sighs, watching Hongjoong lies his upper self all over the table with his head props on his arms, mumbling something which is inaudible for anyone to hear.

He wanna know? Nope.

Mingi huffs with his hands place on both side of his hip, standing straight facing the older. His tall figure under the light of the decorative chandelier creates a shadow on top of Hongjoong.

"What should I do with you?"

***********

It's like forever to update this story lmao.

Not a cheerful chapter but it's the captain's birthday so...

Happy birthday Hongjoong 🎂