Somebody Take Me Home

VII

Seonghwa had run back to the supermarket, leaving Yunho in charge of watching over the younger boys in the mini-van. He had called security, had everyone look for his boy in the shopping centre, but no sign of him.

When he arrived back to the car, still crying, he slightly shook his head at Yunho who was looking expectantly at him. "We have to call the police, do something," the teenager suggested restlessly. Inside the car, Jongho and San were looking miserable, too.

"When is Yeosang-hyung coming back?" Jongho moaned. San did not even make a joke or tease his friend. He simply huddled against Jongho and remained quiet.

"Soon, very soon, darling." Seonghwa looked at Yunho and whispered to him, "I'll call Hongjoong, get in the car."

They both sat in the front seats and the engine started. As they pulled away from the parking-lot, Seonghwa phoned his neighbour, who picked up after five long rings. "Seonghwa-hyung?"

"Hi," he said in a hoarse, croaking voice. "Is Yeosang-ah with you?"

"Yeosang- No, why would he be? Should he be?"

Seonghwa sighed, holding tighter onto the steering wheel. "No, it's fine. We- We lost him."

"Lost him? What do you mean?"

"We were at the supermarket, the boys were fighting, one minute he was there and the next he'd just disappeared. We can't find him. He's gone."

There was some silence at the other end of the line. "Are you home?"

"On our way."

"Let's meet in front of your house. We'll help you look for him. Wooyoung-ah and I."

"Okay.

"Hyung?" Seonghwa narrowed his eyes in order not to cry again. "We're going to find him. I promise. It's alright."

"Okay." And he hung up.

When they got home, Hongjoong and Wooyoung were sitting on their porch and they immediately got up, running to the car. Seonghwa and Yunho got out first, and Hongjoong took the other man in his arms, embracing his whole being, so that he could contain everything. "I'm here now," Hongjoong whispered. He kissed Seonghwa's wet cheek. "Let's get started, okay?"

Seonghwa got Mingi out of his baby seat, and called for the other boys to get in the house. Helplessly, he called Yeosang's name several times, checked every room as did the others but they only found out what they already knew. The boy had evaporated.

Seonghwa gathered everyone in the living-room. He was holding on to Mingi more than Mingi was holding on to him. He needed all the strength he could get. "Alright, boys. You're all staying in the house and waiting for Hongjoong-ssi and I to come back. We're going to look for Yeosang. Yunho will watch over you."

"No, we want to look for him with you!" Wooyoung protested, and San shook his head with conviction.

"Night's beginning to fall, and you're all tired."

"Please, we'll behave!" Jongho pleaded.

"Hyung," Hongjoong whispered, brushing against his hand, "we don't have time to argue, let them come."

"We're not taking Mingi!" Seonghwa hissed. "He's just a baby."

"I can drop him off at my baby-sitter's. Come on, hyung."

Seonghwa grimaced and eventually rolled his eyes. "Wooyoung-ah, San-ah, you're going with Hongjoong-ssi. He'll make Mingi safe, then you can search around the supermarket area." He handed the sleepy baby to his neighbour who nodded and got out of the room with one last loving look at his friend.