Why do you love? -Seongjoong

Part 2

Hongjoong stared at the tall dark haired man in front of him. He was so different than Hongjoong remembered but also somehow exactly the same.

The years had been good to Seonghwa, at least physically. Too good. Hongjoong gulped at the sight of Seonghwa with his wavy hair he kept long now and his immaculately dressed body in a fitted blue suit. Seonghwa had always had those model proportions. Tall, thin, amazing bone structure. He articulated his features now with a bit of makeup, something Hongjoong had never seen on him in high school. Darkened lips, blushed cheeks, a faint sparkle to his eyelids.
As if the man wasn't dangerously attractive without.

It was as if Seonghwa expected him to be speechless, because the corner of his mouth turned up in a wry smile.
"Long time no see." He said.

Long time no see. Long time no see?
Hongjoong's head was exploding.
Physically, yes, he was in the room with Seonghwa, staring at him.
Mentally? He was drowning underwater. He was flying so high he choked on clouds. He was in a whitewashed room in a straight jacket.

"...Seonghwa," was all he managed to get out of his cotton mouth.

He knew he looked like an idiot. Five years later, and Seonghwa still turned him into an idiot.

"Seonghwa!" Yunho's perky voice said, coming up from behind Hongjoong. "How the hell are you?"
Seonghwa fell into Yunho's outstretched arms for a hug, but his eyes never left Hongjoong's.
"Welcome back Seonghwa!" Wooyoung said, having followed Yunho and Mingi over. "Glad you could make it."

Hongjoong turned to Wooyoung in shock.
"You knew about this?"

Wooyoung had the decency to look sheepish but he didn't reply as he followed up Yunho's hug with one of his own. Mingi wrapped an arm around Seonghwa's shoulders and mussed his hair fondly.
"It's great to see you, hyung. Really great."

Everyone was acting very normal. Very normal.
Hongjoong was four short breaths from passing out. He drew a deep breath in through his nose, channeling normal thoughts, normal responses.
Seonghwa still looked at him as if he was waiting for Hongjoong to say something. Of course he was waiting for Hongjoong to say something. The only thing Hongjoong had done was stare and choke out his name like he'd seen a damn ghost.

Hongjoong was now a successful adult. An artist at his own exhibit. He was in a BALMAIN suit, for christ's sake. He was no longer the idiot teenager who panicked over Park Seonghwa.

Hongjoong put a smile on his face. He bowed slightly and held out his hand for a handshake, which Seonghwa took with only the briefest flick downwards of his eyebrows. Hongjoong wasn't an idiot. He wasn't about to step near enough to Seonghwa to breathe in the man's scent and probably expensive cologne. And there was no way he was going to wrap his arms around that pretty waist because he was going to be normal. He was going to be so normal.

"Seonghwa." He said, his voice coming out in a much lighter tone than before. "I am so pleased to have you at my exhibit, thank you for coming."

"Happy to be here." Seonghwa said, and he looked like he really meant it.

After their stares lingered a moment too long, Seonghwa's eyes shifted away from Hongjoong to somewhere behind him and then he was calling out a name that Hongjoong didn't know.

"Minho, come here! I want to introduce you to my high school friends."

Right. Hongjoong never did truly escape the friend zone. A few shared kisses didn't do that.

A handsome man walked up and put his arm around Seonghwa's shoulders. Hongjong felt something sharp twist in his gut.

Of course. Why wouldn't Seonghwa have a boyfriend?

Hongjoong had never been so glad to have alcohol in his hand. He drained the glass in record time.

"Hi guys, nice to meet you. I'm Lee Minho."

As Seonghwa introduced them, Hongjoong tried to control his emotions once again. He had no right to be jealous. Why the fuck was he so jealous?
Because he was an idiot. Because he saw Seonghwa and some stupid part of him somewhere had hoped beyond hope that Seonghwa had finally returned. For him.
He was fine. Everything was fine. Minutes ago he was on top of the world. He wasn't about to let a man bring him down. Not even if he was the most gorgeous creature to walk this earth.

"...and San, Yeosang, and Jongho are joining us for drinks later! You guys should come!"
Hongjoong had barely been listening when Yunho's invitation to Seonghwa and Minho hit his ears.
"Oh I wouldn't want to intrude when you guys already had plans."
"Nonsense!" Said Mingi. "It'll be just like old times."
Seonghwa seemed to hesitate, eyes lingering on Hongjoong as if waiting for his permission. He supposed that made sense, since it was a celebration of his successes after all.
What would a normal person do?
Hongjoong found himself nodding, and not even gritting his teeth as he smiled. He was so good at this.
"You guys should come." He said. "The more the merrier."

Hongjoong barely remembered shutting down the exhibit and saying goodbye to the final guests trickling out. He couldn't recall changing out of his suit and into more club appropriate attire. He barely registered locking the door and dropping the keys into his crossbody bag. He wasn't quite sure when he had gotten in the car with Wooyoung but suddenly Wooyoung was reaching over to him with the hand that wasn't on the steering wheel and patting his thigh.
"Are you okay, hyung?"
Hongjoong didn't want to lie, so he didn't answer.

"I thought you would be happier, honestly. When Seonghwa reached out to me to try to get tickets I thought you'd be really excited to see him but you've looked like someone killed your hamster since the moment you saw him."
Hongjoong rubbed his temples.
"Fuck, was I that obvious?"

Wooyoung nodded, eyes on the road.
"Well, it was obvious to me. But I spend a lot of time with you so maybe Seonghwa didn't see it."

Seonghwa had been the one who knew him best all those years ago. Of course Seonghwa would've seen it.

"I know you've missed him." Wooyoung said softly.
"Yeah maybe." Hongjoong said, running his fingers anxiously through his hair. "I always wished he would show back up but now that he has, my head's a mess. I don't understand why it's hit me so hard."

"I'm sorry, hyung. I'd have known you'd be upset I wouldn't have gotten him the tickets. I can tell him not to come for drinks though, I have his number."

"No no no." Hongjoong waved him off. "I mean it's good, right? It's closure at least. Maybe once I finally know what he's been up to all these years I feel at peace with the whole thing and let it go."

"Right..."

"I just... Why is he still so beautiful?" Hongjoong groaned, letting his head fall into his hands. "And why did he show up with... with him?"

"Who, Minho?" Wooyoung shot him a puzzled glance, the red from the traffic light glowing on his features. "What's wrong with Minho?"
"Nothing I guess. He's probably a very wonderful man and loving boyfriend. Just like I could've been if I ever got the chance."
Wooyoung was quiet for a minute. "Are they boyfriends? He didn't mention that to me."
"Pft. Didn't you see when he practically attached himself to Seonghwa's hip? He was staking his claim, I could see it in his eyes."

Wooyoung didn't respond for a minute as they pulled into an underground garage for parking.
Once in their spot, Wooyoung turned his full attention to Hongjoong.
"You gonna be okay?"

Hongjoong pulled himself together.
"Absolutely. I've spent the last five years being fine, nothing is going to change that in one night."