Lovesong

Chapter 56

I didn't know what was going on with Junnie. I thought he'd be a little bit more happier knowing Kate and I tied the knot. Maybe I caught him off guard. I'm sure all the guys will be surprised when they all find out about my marriage and the baby. For now, I am
ecstatic. I'm the happiest I've ever been. I married the love of my life, and my Kitty Kate is having my baby. I flipped through our cute wedding pictures. They weren't anything special. Just simple pictures taken with our phone. But they were us on our special day. Junnie complimented on how nice they were, and my heart took flight. I wish I were back in Daegu with her. Then I scrolled one too many back, and there on the screen staring back at me, was mine and Kate's little butter bean. It was Kate's sonogram. I caught Junnie staring at it for the longest time. I smiled, "Can you believe I'm going to be father again?" He nodded, "That's great, Gyu." I sensed something was wrong. I closed out the photos and put my phone away, "What wrong with you? I'm getting a weird vibe from you." Junnie shrugged his shoulders, "Gyu, I'm fine. Just having a moment. All of this is happening so fast. How was she?" Aw, and there it was. He once again has my girl on his my mind. I stated, "She's fine. Beautiful. Glowing. I know I lied to all of you, but you have to understand the circumstances behind my motive. Soobs had contacted her, and scared her, threatening her. I had to go." He rolled his eyes at me, "Just the same old bullshit, Gyu." That infuriated me, "Junnie, it wasn't just bullshit. You've witnessed it yourself. The way he manhandles her. What he's done to her! I had to be with her. I had to reassure her she'd be ok. And now that she's pregnant, I had to protect her." He snapped at me, "So you had to go and marry her? Was that your protection?" My smile fell, "Yes. It secured her to me. Are you jealous? Is this why you're sulking, Junnie?" He jumped to his feet and faced me, "Gyu, I don't give a fuck that you married her. I just hope you're thinking clearly on your part. You may think marrying Kate was securing her to you, but any man desperate enough will rip her from your side!"
I sat there confused for a second. What did he mean? Would I lose my Kitty Kate? Just as Junnie walked away, I pushed off the bench and caught up with him in 3 long strides, "Juunie, what's that supposed to mean?" He glared at me harshly, "Come on, Gyu. I know you're not that dense." Junnie didn't mean it the way it sounded, and I looked at my friend, crestfallen. I asked, "You think I made a mistake? That I screwed up?" He turned and laid his palms on my shoulders and he looked me dead in the eyes, "Gyu, listen to me. You did what you felt was right. You did it for love. Who cares what anyone else thinks? I was only telling you that there's nothing no human desperate enough can and won't do. You've seen it, Gyu, with Kate." Was Junnie personally trying to send out his own red flags? Or was he referring to Soobs? Either way, Kate was my wife, and I would make sure everyone knew it. She didn't wear my engagement but now my wedding ring, and I was hers. I sensed something else bothering Junnie. Why was sitting out here alone? I asked, "Junnie, you're not thinking about going to Daegu, are you? To see Kate? To screw up everything I've worked so hard to hold onto?" Junnie gulped. Oh f***! He can see straight me. Read me like an open book. I needed to see her, and he knew it. Somehow I needed to make Gyu believe that was not the case. He stated, "Gyu, I was thinking of her...yes. This place isn't the same without her. To be honest, I thought I'd be ok with her leaving, and that we would all move on just fine. But everywhere I turn, I see her. At least you now have something to hold onto. All I have are faded memories. At least let me have those with her. Is it too much to ask?" I personally didn't like the idea, but I understood. I've grown to accept his close relationship with Kate even though I'm not fond of it.
What Junnie said to me next almost brought me to my knees. He said, "Before we go in, you need to know something. Have you seen or talked to Kai?" I shook my head, "No, why? I haven't  seen him since I returned yesterday. Is he ok?" He sighed, "You mean, Kate didn't say anything?" I asked getting worried, "Was she supposed to? What is it that Kate knows that I don't?" He looked off to the side all teary eyed, "Maybe she doesn't know, honestly. Gyu, Kai's been pretty beaten up over what you did. And I don't mean sad. He was beat up. It hurts for him to stand too long, or to catch his breath. So he's been locked up in his room. Soobs used him for a punching bag for your careless runaway adventure." I fell back a step, "What? Why would Soobs turn on him because of me?" Junnie shook his head, "Well, he used Kate the same way. She's not here so he had to find another outlet to get to you. Gyu, Kai didn't want you to know. Stop and think about what your go through for you." I needed to get inside to see my best friend. Oh my god! I sobbed, "It's all my fault. Everything. All that Kate's been through. Now Kai. Why do I bring such brutality on my friends, and the  ones I love dearly?" I rested the tips of my fingers to my temples, feeling an agonizing headache coming on. Junnie gave my shoulders a squeeze to reassure me, "Gyu, none of this is your fault. You're a good friend and they know it." I stood there remembering back to my and Kai's last conversation. He never said anything. He seemed fine. Was I too blind by my own feelings not to notice his? Oh my god!  What kind of friend am I? I closed my eyes and a tear slid down my cheek. I wish Kate were here. She needs to know this. Junnie raked a hand through his hair, "It's a lot to take in, but don't worry, Gyu. He's going to be fine. Just a few bruised ribs." Bruised ribs? I repeated it out loud, "Bruised ribs? Are you fucking kidding me?" I shook my head, "I wish I were. I saw it with my own two eyes. He refused to have it checked it. I just pray Soobs didn't do any permanent damage." My eyes widened and my fists formed at my sides. I grounded out in anger, my nostrils flaring, "I'll personally send him to an early grave!" Junnie brought me back full circle, "Dude, think of Kate." Yes, Kate. I felt helpless when it came to her after Soobs had attacked her. How would I react with Kai? I said, "I need to let Kate know." Junnie stopped me, "Gyu, no. She has too much going on with her music. Leave her out of it for the time being. It will only upset her, and you don't need to upset her in the state that she's in. Let us handle Soobs. Tae mentioned something that he has an appointment coming up, and Mari is taking him. Is she really setting foot on our private territory?" I didn't really know all the answers. I only knew that this was Kate's idea, and she's the one who set the appointment up. I stated, "This was all Kate's idea." Junnie seemed a bit surprised, "What? God love her for being human, but you can't always help those who hurt you. Sometimes you just have to turn your back and run like hell!" I couldn't agree with him more. Then Junnie asked, " And what does Mari have to do with all this? I was hoping to never see her face again after that vicious stunt she pulled at our other house." All I knew was that Kate had been conversing with her. I replied honestly, "I don't know. She's been in contact with Kate." Junnie gasped, "Are you serious? This is so messed up, and I'll tell her so. How does this make you feel? Does she still plan on resigning the papers?" I nodded, "Yes, and she knows all about Kitty Kate and I. She's not interested in me, but Soobs. So, so be it. She's supposed to bring the papers to Kate. Let me go check on Kai. I'm really concerned about him now that you've mentioned it. He really shouldn't have allowed Soobs strike him." Junnie agreed, "Yes, but you know how he retaliates when he gets an answer he doesn't like. I haven't heard much out of him in over 2 days. I wonder why?" I couldn't tell him that it is because Soobs is on medication. Some pretty heavy medication I am not even sure who knows of his condition or just how severe it is. They only see his anger, and they aren't aware what stems from it. In a way, I feel sorry for him. Then again, I'm eager to beat the crap out of him for punching my friend.

Junnie and I walked inside the house and I made my way to Kai's room. His door was closed so I lightly knocked, not knowing if he was resting, and besides I wasn't for sure what I would see. I hope he's okay and not as bad off as Junnie described. I heard a groggy voice call out after I heard the door unlock, "It's open." 'Well that's a first," I thought as I walked in. Kai never locked his door. Kai sat down on his bed making sure not to let Gyu see how bad he felt. I shut the door and leaned against it. He asked, "When did you get back? I thought you said it'd be awhile? Kate, good?" I nodded, "Yesterday. And yes she is. You all right? Junnie mentioned you and Soobs got into an argument?" Kai reached for the notepad on the bed, and propped it up against his bent legs, scribbling something down. I must've caught him in the midst of writing a song. He denied, "No, I'm good. We had a few words but everything is cool now. He wanted to know where you were, and he assumed I knew the truth." Kai needed to be strong and not show Gyu how hurt he truly is. After all they are still friends, and he didn't want to put all the "guilt" in Gyu's shoulders, in addition to everything that's already going on. If Gyu asked him anything else about it, he would deny it all. He has to protect his best friend, and just let Gyu believe his words. No matter how insincere they may sound. He needed to act strong, despite the throbbing ache of his ribs. I pushed away from the door, "Kai, look at me. What kind of wool are you trying to pull over my eyes? Junnie said..." He cut me off slamming the pen against the pad of paper, his voice raising, "Gyu, I said I was fine! Junnie is only trying to make you feel bad for leaving us the way you did! And for who?" He tossed the pad on the bed, and rose to his feet, "For Kate!" He walked out of the room. As soon as he was out of sight he collapsed against the wall in pain, grabbing at his chest. He'd spent the last couple of days trying his best to recover, but the recovery was too painful and too slow. He was finding it hard to catch his breath after snapping at Gyu so rationally. He had his eyes closed when Gyu stepped out of his bedroom. Gyu obviously had not believed his best friends words and went after him. It wasn't like Kai to snap at him. Something was definitely wrong. He wasn't acting right, and this concerned me. When I saw the way Kai was leaning against the wall, I knew then he hadn't been truthful to me. I approached him and saw the tears streaming down his face. I said softly, "Spill it, Kai." Even his facial expression spoke a thousand words, he shook his head. He hissed, "Gyu, I'm fine." I wasn't buying his "I'm fine" talk now. Not with the tears streaming down his face. There was pain and agony in his eyes. I stated, "If I said something wrong, I'm sorry." He shook his head once again, "No. It's not you. The truth is...I wanted you to believe that I wasn't this weak imbecile that everyone here thinks I am." I helped him back to his room and closed the door. He stumbled to his bed wrenched over in pain. It broke my heart to see my best friend like this. I replied, "Kai, I never would. You know I never have. Yeah, sure we shared our tears, but I never once thought you were weak. You're human." Kai took in a deep breath, "Thank you, Gyu. Your friendship is the most important to me. That's why I did what I did. I did it all for you, for Kate." Dear god! Was Junnie right? Soobin really did use my best friend as his punching bag? A tear slid down his cheek as he grabbed at his ribs, "I wanted to protect you guys. I love you guys, and I didn't want him to seek you out. Please don't be angry with me. I knew what I was going up against when I refused to tell him." I came to him and embraced him in a brotherly hug. I cried myself, "Kai, you shouldn't have put yourself in the line of fire. It's not worth risking your life." He let out a ragged breath, "I know I'm bruised up, but I'd do it again." I pulled back, resting my forehead to his, "Are you crazy? Was it really worth having Soobs beat the crap out of you? Please tell me you were able to get some punches in?" He chuckled, "Ow," holding his stomach, "Maybe one or two before he had my ass on the floor." Then I asked, "Did any of the guys intervene?" He grimaced at the searing pain, "Only Junnie." That made me feel good a little bit knowing Junnie protected him in some way. We talked some more, and I told him about the baby and my marriage to Kate. He didn't seemed surprised by either one, and appeared to happy for me. But something in his eyes told me that he was still crushing on her.