Winter Hearts

Cover Line

Hyuk checked the time on his phone. He was tired, longing for the quiet of his room. They were all in the lobby of their hotel, waiting for a decision to be made by Kkomae and N regarding their travel arrangements the next day. They had the van bus coach thing they had hired for the whole trip, but Ken had brought up the possibility of asking the girls to join them for the ride home.

That same creature who had stirred up the issue was now slumbering peacefully against Ravi in a lounge settee.

He slouched low into his architecturally aesthetic square leather seat until the back of his neck hooked over the back of it, stopping his slide. Above him, the ceiling mirror showed him that he looked as if he were wearing a square armchair, like a jacket thrown over his shoulders.

They were waiting for N and Leo, who were lagging behind with the girls. Hyuk felt they were wasting time.

"Hyung, why are we waiting? Just message them. Make a decision." Kkomae ignored him as he loitered near the entry.

Hongbin, who was seated opposite Hyuk, leaned his elbows onto his knees and put the tips of his fingers together.

"He's making sure the whole contingent gets back to the hotel."

Hyuk rolled his eyes.

"He's trying to exert control where he doesn't have any," he rumbled in a loud voice.

"I heard that. Ignoring it," Kkomae sniped from the lobby floor.

"Just invite them to join us or not. They may already have their own arrangements for tomorrow." Hyuk enjoyed nagging. It released tension.

Hongbin shrugged. "I'd rather we all went separately. It's bad enough trying to get into the vehicle with the six of us in the morning."

"To be honest, if Ken and Ravi swapped with the girls, that would be okay too," Hyuk laughed. Hongbin giggled, nodding.

"We'd be pulling out of the driveway right at the appointed time."

"Hey, I'm always ready first!" Ravi bellowed without looking up from his phone.

"We all know why!" Hongbin laughed.

"Ah that's an old joke, we all know Ravi Hyung bathes last thing at night. He's late because he waits for Ken Hyung," Hyuk giggled.

Ravi smiled into his phone, an absent-minded hand stroking Ken's hair.

"The only thing cuter Deongie," he said, holding up a screenshot of his puppy monster, sent by his sister.

"Ah, how is your sister, Shikkie?" Hongbin asked.

"Still not available," Ravi turned back to his phone.

"She's single though," Hyuk said.

"That's right," Ravi nodded. The boys laughed, waking Ken, who sat up with his hair rumpled.

"Why are we still here?" he moaned.

"I would like to ask you the same question. You just had to go and bring up the girls travelling with us. Now Kkomae-ssi has a thing about it and wants to discuss it with N Hyung."

"I wanna see Siana. She's been ignoring me," Ken scrunched his face as Ravi cooed at him.

"She's been ignoring you since Itea," Hyuk laughed. Ken yawned and stretched, a loud affair taking up lots of space.

"I wonder what their babies would look like? Little Benjamin Buttons who smell like beef!" he said, fancifully.

Hongbin and Hyuk were already laughing when Ravi asked him, "Benjamin Button?"