End Game: My Brother, My Friend.... My Lover?

DOYOUNG

        Upon arriving Jeju, Woo and I stayed in one room. As usual, room assignments will always be chaotic. Junkyu hyung and Jihoon hyung are in their Tom and Jerry mode again, loudly running around the living room. It's like watching National Geographic where a Panda hunting a Koala.

       Laughing along the members, Woo and I then brought our things inside our room to unpack. Its a long week stay so we brought quite a lot of things.

       The first and second day was just a chill since the workshop was moved to the day after next. Sassangnim's arrival was delayed due to an emergency. Aside from the staff preparing for the activities and venue, we took advantage of our free time to just relax and explore the place.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

          "Hyung it's Junghwan."

          "Come in." Woo answered.

          "Hyung, I'm going out with manager hyung for a bit. We are fetching someone from the airport. The others are asleep."

          "Who's coming" I blurted out of curiosity.

          "U-uhm, I'll explain later when we come back. Just letting you know in case the others will ask".  He sounded hesitant to say and before we could pry more, he hurriedly left saying they will be late.

          "Who do you think he's fetching? Did u know about this?" I asked Woo in case Junghwan shared to him since they're close as real brothers.

         "Ani, he hadn't mention. Maybe his new girl, you know him he doesn't run out of "friends" as u called it remember?" He just shook his head and chuckled as if it's a normal habit of Junghwan to really have girls everywhere.

         I know I've mentioned before of how Junghwan was, for the past years we were together during our last joint project. We traveled together a lot during promotions, and hangout a few times too especially in Japan when Mashi and I broke up.

       I may have seen him with women a few times but that was during break or after work hours. Though I heard some says he hooked up with girls occasionally during our trips but I honestly didn't see it myself and most of the time we stayed in hotels across each other, I never once heard him brought someone in his room. Don't get me wrong, I just happened to be awake most of the time he comes back after he goes out for some fun.

        "Stop worrying about him anymore, he's not the king cow baby we used to spoil before. He's a grown ass giant now, he can take care of himself."

       "I'm not worried, just wondering since we are for work, and why would he bring somebody here when our schedule is tight." I reasoned out.

       "Babe, as the saying goes, 'if there's a will there's a way'."  He grabbed me for back hug distracting my thoughts.

       "Come here, let's take a nap for a while, I'm tired. Let's finish unpacking later. Come on I need my bolster pillow now." He dragged me to bed. Whatever. Why should I bother thinking about that cow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~

        We woke up an hour later deciding to join the others noisily having fun in the common pool outside. We changed to our board shorts and went outside.

       Woo went out first, as I forgot to bring my sunscreen lotion so I went back inside to get it. A loud teasing scream was heard outside on my way down to join them.

      "Junghwana! You naughty cow. When did you sneaked out?" Jae fake scolding him.

      "Ani hyung, you were sleeping earlier when I left with manager hyung. I told Jeongwoo hyung and Dobby I'm fetching someone from the airport." He explained.

     "Annyeonghaseyo, Kal Sowon-mnida." The new comer greeted the group. Feeling guilty for being rowdy, the members stopped teasing Junghwan and bowed to Sowon in response.

     "Sorry for the intrusion, Don't blame Junghwan oppa for the sudden disturbance, actually it was YG Sassangnim who asked me to join you in this trip to be with Oppa." She shyly explained.

      "Ani, don't be. We are the one who should apologize for teasing Junghwan, we didn't know Sassangnim had planned the surprise. Uri maknae didn't bother informing us ahead. We didn't mean to embarrass you. We're just naturally chaotic I hope it's ok with u to have 11 more oppas" Hyunsuk hyung jokingly said to break the awkwardness.

      "I'd love that. I always wish to have an older brother coz I only have my dongsaeng who's such a brat. And I'm a huge Teume too! I even asked Sassangnim for concert tickets." She excitedly share her experiences during our shows which she attended and pointed out each members  funny skits on stage that she remembered.

         My eyes darted on Junghwan's direction. They were now sitting on the lounging chairs near the pool while talking to the members. I came out later from the pool to join them.

        Junghwan was so engrossed listening to her while laughing every now and then as if she's the most interesting thing in the world. The look he gave her somewhat brought back old memories of the past.

       He used to smile and laugh at our silly conversations before when we just hangout at the hotel after work and even in the dorm. He used to be like a puppy always following me around even during predebut days. And when we both got covid, it was because we frequently eat together and share food.

         I didn't pay much attention to his looks since i always see him as a baby brother, with our age gap, and honestly he used to be smaller and cuter than me. But now, I doubt anyone would believe he's the Maknae, when he's the tallest and most buffed   among us. Plus the fact that the guy never stops getting hotter and sexier every time.

        "So, Sowon-a your roles in the series with Junghwan are lovers right?" Junkyu asked.

        "Deh oppa."

        "And Sassangnim asked u to join us so u can rehearse with Junghwan?" Jihoon added. "Will there be kissing scenes? How about- ,"

       Sowon just nodded but caught off guard with Jihoon's questions. "Yah! Hyungs stop it! You all sounded liked reporters. You're embarrassing her." Junghwan finally intervened before the others further throw nonstop questions.

      "It's fine oppa." She touched Junghwan's arm when she said it. And I've noticed it stayed longer than necessary.

       I didn't realize I was staring hard on her hand with a slight frown until, "stop staring, or somebody might get the wrong idea of your reaction." Yoshi hyung whispered. I didn't even noticed he's sitting closely behind me.

        I averted my focus trying to locate Woo, which honestly,  haven't thought of while my mind was locked on the girl in front. I felt relieved when I saw him focused on teasing Hyunsuk hyung with the inflatable ball.

        "If I didn't know you're with Woo, I would say you're jealous with the girl by the looks of it." Yoshi continued grilling me from the back.

       I tried not to turn around, if not he would see how red i was blushing due to embarrassment and guilt. Especially, if he could see my face, it would give away my reaction to his allegations.

        "What are you talking about hyung? Why would I be jealous? Besides, we all are surprise its normal to be curious." I tried to rebut him.

       "Excuses, excuses dobby. I admired your honesty to Mashi when you initiated the break up. I don't know how you get together with Woo, or whatever history you had, but given the flow of events that time, sorry to be blunt but both of you were escaping from your previous heart aches and maybe, misery loves company did help, but I guarantee you, it's not healthy." Yoshi's words cut like a knife to my chest. Its brutal but it did hit the mark.

         "Sorry, I know I'm in no position to judge, but as your hyung and given our present status with the group, with Kyu and Ruto's set up among others, I just want us to take this chance to rebuild of what we worked hard and sacrifice for, for almost a decade. I know its just wishful thinking but I still hope we could keep our brotherhood forever."  He softly added while looking up to the sky.

        'That's one hell of a wish Yoshi hyung.'

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