STEP

CHAPTER 3

The dinner comes to an end with the entertaining discussions by several of the Japanese directors, all having gorged themselves with sufficient amounts of rice and wine and Luhan who is drunk and almost unconscious. The experienced manager on the Japanese end seems to have developed an interest in Baekhyun, dragging him and the translator as they leave the hotel. The company executives maintain their smiling faces amidst the fatigue whilst enthusiastically keeping up with the conversations. Similarly, Kris who is drunk and has his energy entirely drained helps up Luhan who is now sprawled over the table, lifting the latter's arm as they walk out the door.

A few steps later, Luhan starts reeling in pain suddenly. Kris rushes him to the toilet, watching as Luhan's stomach refuses to throw up everything but the alcohol, as though the empty stomach has an announcement to make.
"Kris, how is it?" Chanyeol enters the toilet, turning to watch as the kneeling Luhan retches uncontrollably.
"You go ahead and leave; I'll send him back since I live with him, anyway." Kris glances at Chanyeol and back at the person beside him.
Chanyeol looks at both and then turns to look out, "alright," he says, "do you have enough cash with you?"
"I brought them." Kris nods, without turning his head, Chanyeol pauses for a second or two and takes out a huge bank note, places it beside Kris before he dashes out the door. Kris stands up and returns to the function room to pour Luhan a glass of water hurriedly before supporting him up to rinse his mouth. He looks at his watch, 10.40pm.

The pouring rain eventually gets worse, and by the time Kris carries Luhan and shuffles outside, it seems barely even survivable without an umbrella. Outside the hotel, a black Buick awaits. The car window winds downwards, a hand reaches out in their direction and snaps. Kris seems pretty surprised at the fact that the company even has the conscience to leave them a car. In the rain, he struggles to open the door and lifts Luhan in before protecting the smaller one by himself and shutting the door.

The dark roads outside flash past the windows. Meanwhile, Kris uses his hand to check the heat on Luhan's forehead, and recalls in silence if there were any antipyretics which have yet to expire before pulling out his phone to call Yixing.

The phone from the person beside him rings while the number he calls remains unanswered.
He reaches his hand into Luhan's pocket only to retrieve an all too-familiar white lenovo of Yixing's. This phone was definitely left by Yixing in their room and Luhan probably mixed them up.

Instead, he dials Luhan's number. Indeed, Yixing picks up.
"Hey Yixing, you and Luhan took the wrong phones." Kris says.
"Yes, how are the both of you?" Replies the other end.
"We'll talk when we get home," Kris massages the aching temper of his, attributing it all to the alcohol he had taken. "Do you have any antipyretics and medication for hangovers? If not I'll buy them."
"I have both, what happened? Did Luhan's fever aggravate?" Comes a reply in a panicky tone.
"Go open the windows for some fresh air and prepare some tea." Kris frowns and flips through the money in his wallet.
"If it's getting worse, go straight to the hospital." Yixing says.
Kris looks at Luhan before shaking his head, "He can't bear it for much longer. The waiting time at the hospital would take too long; we're going home first."
"Alright, okay, I'll go downstairs to wait......" the person's sentence on the other end has not completed but Kris' phone gradually dies to its black screen. He places the phone back in his bag, looking at Luhan who curls underneath his jacket one moment and then desperately hauling it downwards the next. Using his own icy cold hands, he attempts to reduce Luhan's forehead temperature. He lifts his head, only to realise they've drove onto the expressway.

"Where are we going?" Kris frowns and questions, the car jerks its way up a split road along the expressway, taking them towards an unfamiliar area.
"Hey! Where are you taking us?" Kris taps the driver's shoulders, realising that the driver has a mask and a pair of huge glasses on, the man lifts his cap and speaks turns his head around at Kris and addresses him in a placid voice, "there is another car behind us. Four people are in it, be obedient or you will be in danger."