VOYAGE II: To Where You Are

Chapter 3

Golden Afternoon

"Captain, the cargo was successfully brought to the client. They gave us these as payment."Seonghwa hands a pouch to Hongjoong who was sitting on his desk with papers sprawled on the table.

Joong weights the pouch and takes a peek at the shiny contents before nodding."Tell the men to treat themselves after loading the new cargo, we'll leave tomorrow for Nimbu."he says, hands hovering over the papers.

"Aye."Seonghwa nods, before leaving the quarters.

"The supplies are still enough until our next stop Captain."Mingi informs the other, having done his part in checking the rations.

"Alright, well restock at Nimbu after unloading the cargo. I'll hand you the doubloons there."

Mingi nods and makes his way out, leaving the Captain in his own company. He picks up a parchment and scans its contents, before placing it back on the table.

A gust of wind blows from the open window on his right and blows one of his documents off his table. He runs after the sheet that lands by a bookshelf and he crouches down to grab it.

Upon grabbing the paper, he returns to his seat and his eyes fall onto the paper in his grip. Somehow, he randomly remembers Shinji, her smiling face popping into his mind.

It's been 10 months..

Joong sets the paper down, placing a paper weight on them so they wouldn't get blown off the table. He leaves his seat and opens the door that led to the balcony behind his quarters.

The Captain stands there, elbows on the railing, with is back slightly slumped over. It was a lovely afternoon, there at the dock of Cirus.

The afternoon sun painted whatever it touched a tint of golden yellow, making the surrounding look dewy and warm.

Behind the door, Yunho stood by, eyes fixed upon the Captain who seemed to lost in thought. He wasn't the only one who noticed the little change in the Captain's behavior.

Specifically, Hongjoong's little solitary stay at the balcony. They knew it was his habit, whenever something weighted his mind. He'd stand there for a while, if he had problems, if he was anxious, if he was frustrated, and lastly if he regrets something.

During the following months, he seemed to be more frequent there, in that same spot. But this time they didn't think it was due to the aforementioned reasons, perhaps it was a new reason, something they didn't know yet. They hoped that Joong would open up about it soon.

Yunho knocks on the open door, to signal his presence, before stepping out into the balcony himself.

"Captain, the crew are heading out for a drink. Please join us."

Joong glances over at Yunho."Sure. But who's watching the ship?"

"Mingi said he'll mind the ship with Jongho. He said he didn't feel like drinking today, and Jongho wants to take a nap after carrying cargo all day."Yunho chuckled.

The Captain then leaves with Yunho and they were met by Seonghwa, Yeosang, Woo, and San at the dock.

They made their way into town, passing by crowded streets and multiple establishments, until finally reached the tavern.

The six of them sat on a table, all facing each other, after making their order. Once the food and  drinks arrived, they dig in and later it turned into a drinking session.

San stopped drinking after drinking half of his tankard. His skin glowed pink, as he swayed on his seat, Woo beside him making sure the other doesn't fall.

To the others' surprise the Captain kept on drinking, as if he forgot there were other people at the table who were eyeing him with their mouths agape.

"Anyone know what's up with him?"Woo glances at the others, earning a series of heads shaking 'no'.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's getting drunk because of a lady."Yunho jokingly motions to the Captain with his head.

"The Captain? Heartbroken?"Hwa thought aloud, a finger on his chin."But I've never seen him with anyone, let alone show any interest."

"It could be the case, we did have a lady on board a couple of months back."the navigator says nonchalantly, before taking a gulp of his drink, the others all turning to him, before they transferred their eyes to the now drunk Captain, hiccuping with his eyes half closed.

"Shinji?!"Seonghwa whisper yelled.

"This is our chance, he's honest when his drunk."Woo smirks giving the others a knowing look.

"Captain, you think I'm the most handsome right?"Woo cooes.

The Captain looks at him with his sleepy eyes and an eyebrow raised."You're hideous."

"We'll, too honest for my liking."Woo rolled his eyes whilst the others were all trying so hard to hold their laugh.

"Captain, are you heartbroken?"Yunho tilts his head to the side.

Joong's drunk face turned sour."Heart..broken? Me?"he pointed to himself."Why?"

"Because of..Shinji?"Seonghwa mentions the name, a little unsure.

Joong hiccups again, slouching on his seat."She's gone. She left long ago. I'm not seeing here again am I?"he giggles.

San who was more aware than intoxicated sat there, staring and listening intently. But the Captain's replies caught his attention more than the earlier topics.

San recalls a conversation he had with her back at the ship during that one of those nights he'd find her there.

She wanted to see someone. He thought, his eyes landing onto the barely conscious rusty-orange haired male. Did she mean the Captain?

The Captain continued to ramble about other things, most of the stuff he said were incoherent as the effects of the beer took place.

In the end, Yunho and Hwa escorted him back to the ship, the two having one of the Captain's arms around them, as he struggled to walk on his own.

They laid him on his bed and Yunho left, leaving Hwa to prop the now sleeping man properly on his bed. Seonghwa removes his shoes, his coat and everything else that would get in the way of the other's good night sleep.

He then pulls a blanket over Joong, the other tossing to the other side mumbling gibberish, which Seonghwa found amusing.

However, the first mate did catch a a few words that he was able to make out.

"Shinji...I never told you..

how I felt."

Hwa's eyes widen at the discovery, but he immediately regains his composure. He takes one last glance at the sleeping Hongjoong, and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

It as an eventful night.