Winter Hearts

When Hyuk Hollers

If there ever was such a sensation as feeling your heart leap and plummet at exactly the same time, this was it.

Hongbin felt dread fall over him as he caught sight of Siana and Leo standing by the basketball court, their hands on each other. Although they were still, the intensity of their gazes told him that much was going on. He instinctively turned to Ken and put a hand on his arm, stopping him.

"You really want to play? I am feeling a little tired after last night."

"Why didn't you say so before we left? I changed clothes. I walked here." Hongbin couldn't help but glance over towards the two in the distance.

Ken leaned in conspirationally. "Is it because of the dream you had of Siana-ssi over there?"

Hongbin paled, his eyes wide. Ken smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, no one else heard you calling for her. With such longing. In your sleep. Before falling off the couch. I won't tell anyone."

Hongbin's mouth dropped open before he clamped his hand over it and squeezed his eyes shut in mortification.

"Tell anyone what?" Hyuk asked, bringing up the rear with the basketball he had fished out from under the bench.

Hongbin jumped, a desperate gasp escaping his lips as his eyes darted to Ken. Ken nonchalantly tugged at his jersey's sleeves, as if he were tidying shirt cuffs on a suit. He was James Bond, he was Man from U.N.C.L.E.

"Nothing young Hyukkie needs to know. Just an awesome secret between myself and the guilty party, Hongbin here."

"I'm not guilty of anything," Hongbin said weakly.

"Yet." Ken looked at Hyuk with great gravitas as he turned and slid past Hongbin.

Hyuk watched him go impassively, as Hongbin fidgeted with his hands, trying to find a goddam pocket to slip them into.

"Does he mean the bad dream that you had about SIana-ssi?" Hyuk asked, his eyes still on Ken.

"I think this is the bad dream, actually," Hongbin murmured, trying to take as deep a breath of air as he could, and failing.

"Was she mean to you? Did she try to kill you? Because you were out of breath and panting her name," Hyuk looked down at Hongbin, his customary pose the same, two hands primly holding each other at chest level, as he blinked and waited with a detestable patience. Hongbin could see that Hyuk knew exactly what kind of a dream he had had, and this was how he was teasing him.

"Anyone can have these kinds of dreams-" Hongbin started.

"About the only beautiful woman they have made friends with whom they took care of while the guy they were interested in was busy sorting out his personal issues. Hmmm. Sounds like second male lead syndrome, Hyungie," Hyuk finished philosophically.

"I've never really hit you before have I, Maknae?"

"I have borne the brunt of your cutting wit and excellent verbal sparring. My scars still heal, Sunbae-nim." Hyuk gave a little martial arts bow.

As usual, irritatingly and entertainingly funny, thought Hongbin, his soul dying inside.

"Which is why Athens," Hyuk continued, "seems so interesting to you all of a sudden. Hmmm, through observation I am beginning to understand that human psyche more and more, and also, to disbelieve the idea of rational thought overcoming the urges of the human heart-"

Hongbin gave Hyuk such a dead-eyed look of "shut up" that he ended abruptly.

"Ah, it's not that bad. Like you said, everyone has those dreams."

"Have you?" Hongbin asked tersely.

"Of course," Hyuk answered, cheerily.

"About Siana, who is in love with Leo Hyung?" Hongbin said.

"No of course not, that would be weird and inappropriate!" Hyuk answered, again cheerily.

Hongbin raised his arm and swiped at Hyuk ineffectively several times. Hyuk ducked and emitted a blood-curdling, high-pitched scream, which had everyone turn to look at them, including Siana and Leo.

Someone shouted at them in Greek with heated irritation. Hyuk covered his mouth in embarrassment as Hongbin lowered his arm.

"Oops! Sorry Hyung!" Hyuk never calls me Hyung, Hongbin thought.

He saw Siana and Leo look over, and then watched in horror as she came forward, shouting back at the guy in a tone just as irritable.

As she crossed over towards them, Leo turned to follow, his face a mask. Oh shit, Hongbin thought.

Siana looked angry, her frown and her voice stern as she replied to the man's comments with vigorous arm movements.

"Wow," Hyuk said, distracted by the sight.

The man was in military uniform, his mouth a grim line. He started coming forward, leaving his cohort behind him.

Siana veered towards him, zipping up her jacket.

Hongbin realised with alarm that she could be in danger when he saw Leo quicken his pace. Ken, who was closest to the approaching man, put his hands up in a placatory manner, stepping forward to try to get between the guy and Siana.

In a surreal moment, he wondered what the Greek military thought about their men picking fights with girls, and that Ken Hyung should protect his pretty face above all. I wish I could laugh right now, he thought inanely.

Things seemed to come to a head, with everyone surging forward, trying to reach them in time - just as Siana and the man alarmingly reached out... and gripped each other in a fierce bearhug.

The boys slowed down in surprise as she pulled back to get a better look at the guy and touch his cheek.

"Is she crying?" Hyuk asked.

"Yeiasou Yiorgo, ti kaneis?" Siana asked the man, who kissed her cheek and took her in an even closer hug.

Hongbin looked around. The embracing couple were surrounded by four Korean strangers, one of whom was her love interest. And another of whom was himself.

Siana hugged back, then turned to introduce everyone, her arm around the man's shoulder.

"This is George. Panos' older brother," she said joyfully.

Hongbin forgot his thoughts for a moment and felt his own happiness surge. They knew each other? And this was my new best buddy's brother?

He, Ken and Hyuk simply enveloped George in a crowd hug, the whoops of congratulatory joy for being the brother of their friend Panos, and the sheer relief that it wasn't going to be a fight, making the hug boisterous and loud.

Siana was squeezed out of the foursome, and she leant into Leo's waiting arms as they watched them express their spontaneous love.

George laughed and called over his friend, who was hanging his head as if embarrassed by behaviour he was used to seeing.

Introductions were made, and the friend, Lukas, complimented Siana on being as crazy a cousin as George had made her out to be.