See What I See (A GTOP Fanfic)

| Chapter Twenty-Three |

After failing at trying to sleep, Seunghyun gave up and got up earlier than he would have on any other day, even a work day. He ended up making some coffee and sitting on his terrace, not that the fresh air and caffeine would take his mind off of anything. Jiyong was still asleep in the guest bedroom at this hour, the same exact place Seunghyun had put him when they had returned home the previous night.

He could still see Jiyong's swollen and red eyes, his tear-stained cheeks, and the look of hopelessness in his eyes. He blamed himself for a lot of it. He just hoped time would start to heal some of the wounds his lie left behind.

A knock on the front door took him out of his mental trance. Seunghyun stood up from his seat and downed the last few drops of coffee in his cup before he walked over to answer the door. He was surprised to see a familiar face standing outside of his door, looking apprehensive.

"Can I help you?" Seunghyun asked slowly, stretching out each word.

"Um...well...I was kind of hoping that I could help you actually," Hanbin said, his physical demeanor clearly showing how nervous he was. "I-I'm Hanbin, a friend of Jiyong's. I was here before when--"

"Yeah, I remember," Seunghyun said, quickly cutting him off before he could say anything else. "So, what exactly are you here to help me with?"

"Jiyong, I-I guess," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sure he's probably still upset about everything, so I was thinking I could talk to him if you wanted me to...I-I mean, if you would let me."

Seunghyun considered his offer, thinking it would be good for Jiyong to talk to someone he trusted even if it didn't help his own personal case in the end. "Yeah, that's fine, you can come in," he said as he opened the door wider, stepping back a little so that Hanbin could walk through.

"Thank you," the boy said timidly as he stepped inside.

"Um, do you want anything to eat or drink?" Seunghyun asked as he quietly shut the door.

Hanbin turned around and shook his head. "No, I'm okay. Thank you, though," he answered, shaking his head. Seunghyun nodded and walked over to the coffee pot to pour himself some more coffee. "Speaking of Jiyong," he started, immediately earning Seunghyun's attention, "h-has he come back yet? Dongguk and I...well mostly me, have been looking for him and trying to call."

"He left his phone here when he left, so that's probably why he didn't answer," Seunghyun said as he shifted around completely, pressing the low of his back against the counter's edge. "But yeah, I found him. He was at the bus stop I picked him up at oddly enough. I'm surprised I got him back with me at all." Seungri's head shot up at the elder male's words, his eyes glistening in hope.

"Oh thank god." Hanbin sighed in relief, letting his shoulders sink down. "I was beginning to think he was gone for good this time. Is he okay?" 

"He didn't seem like it honestly," Seunghyun said much to Hanbin's dismay. "He's still asleep back in the guest room if you want to go see him. I don't know when he'll wake up."

Hanbin was just about to agree eagerly when the sound of a door clicking open caused both of them to turn their heads in the direction of the short hallway. Jiyong walked out of the room, yawning and rubbing his eyes in a lethargic manner. He stopped walking when he saw the two males standing there, Seunghyun quickly looking away in guilt.

"Hyung," Hanbin said, his voice coming as a softer whisper. "Where were you? I was worried sick." Jiyong's eyes were still on Seunghyun as he finished his second cup of coffee.

Seunghyun placed the cup in the sink. "I'll give you two some time alone," he said as he exited the kitchen, past Jiyong, and into the bathroom to take a shower. Jiyong let out a sigh and shook his head a little before going over to the couch and sitting down.