Are You Addicted? (Volume 3). The Post-Honeymoon Phase.(18+)

Episode 45

"He told me that he and Liu are planning to go on a trip before their wedding. Liu even saved days of leave for this. It will be a great opportunity for all of us to travel together. Oh, I should call Yu Qi too."

"Why?" A muscle in Gu Hai's jaw twitched, clearly rebuffing the friendly thought. "Do you want another love letter?"

"What? how do you still remember this?"

"I remember everything." He chuckled. "How about you don't invite Yu Qi?"

No, no, no, no. This time he will not let Gu Hai triumph him. No, no. This is the red line, this is his personal law, and no one will break it, not even Gu Hai. "We agreed that I am calling the shots when it comes to my friends." He said, annoyance crossing his face.

"You are baby, you are."

"I am inviting him then."

Gu Hai's left shoulder shrugged and the side of his mouth quirked upward in a -suit yourself- gesture.

He put a load of colored laundry in the washing machine and turned it on. He hoofed it to the kitchen, poured some Canola oil on the frying pan and placed it on the stove. Preparing them a fresh corn omelet for breakfast.

Bai Luo Yin jogged up the Dell laptop screen. He turned up the volume, and called three of his friends. Soon enough the familiar lively faces of LiuMeng and Yu Qi filled his laptop screen.

"Yin Za," Yang Meng's cheerful voice started the conversation. "I missed you so much. I was just about to call you. Did you recover from your injury already?"

Gu Hai scowled at the laptop and flipped the omelet. Slamming it on the frying pan, taking his irritation out on it. I missed you so much, Kkkjjjjj. Is my Yin Zi is fucking wife or what? he twisted his face, imitating the way Yang Meng talked. If Bai Luo Yin was not so protective of his best friend, he would have strangled the annoying princess to death.

Bai Luo Yin's gaze darted at him. Seriously, Gu Hai has to take it down a notch or he won't be able to be friends with anyone. He glared at Gu Hai from the corner of his eye, signaling him to calm himself down and fast. He then returned his focus back to the laptop screen.

"Yea, I was curious about that too." Yu Qi's forehead creased. "I still don't understand how did the military let you get injured so badly. Isn't it your Colonel's job to train you but also to protect you at the same time?"

"It's a long story, but I am okay now. Almost fully recovered."

"Lieutenant Colonel." Liu Said. "What did you want to talk to us about?"

"Well, me and Da Hai are jumping on YangYun's trip to south Korea this Sunday. Do you guys want to join us?"

"I would love to." Yu Qi puckered his mouth upward, disappointed. What an awful timing. "But I am filming a movie these days. Maybe some other time, I have to go now. Have fun guys."

"Mmm bummer. Good luck with the movie though." Bai Luo Yin turned his gaze to LiuMeng. "What about you guys?"

"Yin Za can you give us a few minutes to call you back?" Yang Meng asked.

"Sure."

Liu closed the tablet screen and turned to Yang Meng; his head utterly perplexed. What just happened?

"What's wrong?" he asked. "You said you wanted to go on a trip before our wedding."

"I do, but I don't know about Korea, let's go to Spain or France or some other place."

It took him less than a second to figure out exactly what's going on. He told Yang Meng about him so long ago, yet he remembered. "Are you afraid we are gonna meet him?"

Yang Meng nodded. Afraid is one word to describe his feelings towards that kind of meeting. Terrified would be a better one. Liu didn't need to tell him about that man with many words for him to understand the intensity of the influence he had on him.

A bolt of panic stroke him and he cringed. No, he will not think about what would happen if they will meet him and he will disapprove of him. Or worse, what if he will demand Liu to break up with him? No, he won't think of that, and he also won't let that meeting happen. Not now. Not as long as he can control the situation. If he will lose Liu...he...Stop it, stop it, calm down Yang Meng. Don't even think about it.

"Can you promise me, we will be okay even if we will meet him? Can you promise me our life won't be ruined if we will meet him?" Anxiety flared in his mournful eyes, and his voice broke.

Liu respired. His heart suddenly felt heavy, like a giant suffocating boulder his body could not contain. His expression sagged. I wish I could hon, I wish I could.

"Then I rather skip the trip."

"Hon, we don't even know if he still lives in Seoul. Let's just go with them, we don't get this kind of opportunity every day. whatever happens, I promise you, I won't let it ruin this trip for us."

He nodded. He lost the ability to say no to Liu long ago. Whatever happens, well, he will just have to deal with it. he will pack a Psalms in his backpack, and will pray on the flight. Maybe God will have some mercy on him and would make sure they won't run into him. He picked up his phone and texted Bai Luo Yin.

Yang Meng.

12:30

"Yin Za, consider us in."

Bai Luo Yin.

12:32

"Great. ☺ Will text you the details in a few."

Bai Luo Yin's lips tangoed from side to side, forming a cavorting smile. His husband, his best friend and his Colonel on the same trip. Now, that's a vacation he can get behind. Too bad Yu Qi couldn't join them though. His finger scrolled through the contacts list, halting on the name of his irritating brother-in-law.

The crash of the sapphire gushing waves against the shore beamed at him from the screen. A half-naked body in a tiny swimsuit, laid on a colorful beach blanket on the glassy wet sand and grinned at him. "Hey sexy brother-in-law." Gu Yang teased. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"You two really know how to live..." He disregarded Gu Yang's inappropriate words and stared at the waves in the background. No need to respond and give him the attention he so very craved for. Past experience taught him; silence is the best answer. Getting under his skin is what feeds the rude beast.

"Well, you know me sweet little Bai Lo. Between the base, my company, and fun. I will choose fun any day of the week. Can't say the same for the old man though." His frisky pupils did a frivolous 360 at Ling Yun who swam out of the ocean, and peered at the screen.

"Lieutenant Colonel Bai how are you feeling? Will you be able to return to the base next month?"

"Yes Colonel, I think so."

"Use this time well. I have no plans to go easy on you."

"Yes Colonel."

"We are joining your trip." Gu Hai butted in, cutting the conversation short. Know your place Ling Yun, and leave my baby alone. He is still in recovery for heaven's sake. It's not the time to remind him his military duties. "Yin Zi's friends too."

"What friends?" this time Gu Yang grimaced, and Bai Luo Yin rolled his eyes. Sometimes he could not help but think that the Gu brothers were actually Siamese twins who got separated at birth.

-January 30th 2022-