Youngjae's mother always trusted Jinyoung when it came to things related to Youngjae.
It was on one Thursday when she called him in the evening.
"Jinyoung ah," it was the first thing Jinyoung heard when he answered the phone.
"Is there something wrong, aunty?" asked Jinyoung in an instant worry.
"No, not like that. But do you know if something is wrong with Youngjae? He's spacing out a lot lately."
Jinyoung couldn't find an answer to this. He was in no place to reveal everything if Youngjae didn't want to.
"I don't think so, aunty. If there'd been something wrong, he could have told me."
"He's been always out of focus whenever I'm telling him something. If he didn't tell you anything, then maybe I'm just over-worrying. But Jinyoung, I'm going to Mokpo tomorrow and I might be there till next Wednesday. Can you come over to Youngjae this weekend? He doesn't go out at the weekends, these few weeks, like before."
"Indeed, I'll come, aunty. Is he alright, now?"
"He's alright. Just I think he seems troubled these days. Even now he's in his room and probably won't come out for the rest of the night."
"Don't worry, aunty. If there was something wrong, he would certainly tell me," lied Jinyoung.
"Thank you, Jinyoung ah. G' night."
"Night, aunty."
The call was hung up afterwards. Youngjae, Youngjae, thought Jinyoung, how could I make you understand? What in Mark Tuan was that Youngjae fell for? Sure, that guy was a handsome, blond guy; one might have sensual pleasure, looking at him. But no dignity, no great impression he possessed. Those sarcastic and jeering eyes would always jar someone - at least, they did Jinyoung.
Did Youngjae really love Mark Tuan? Love was complicated; and Jinyoung couldn't say if he himself had already experienced love. It might be a certain no. But he was not sure.
On Sunday that week, Jinyoung, as promised, went to Youngjae's place.
Youngjae was elated to see Jinyoung but that elation died down quickly when what Jinyoung did the first thing he entered the room was scolding him.
"Still not moving on?" Jinyoung looked at Youngjae from head to toe, with disapproval in his eyes, "Look at yourself. What's happening to you? Go and wash yourself now. I've bought some beef and juice," Jinyoung jerked his head at the bags he was holding, "Go wash. I'll prepare them so we can eat something later."
Youngjae nodded and rushed to the bathroom. Jinyoung just shook his head, watching the back of the younger, before heading for the kitchen.
It was only eleven when they had lunch.
"Thank you, hyung. Didn't know you'd come," said Youngjae, with his mouth full of food.
Youngjae was refreshed a little after showering and food appealed to him.
"Don't make your mother worried, Youngjae."
"Huh?" Youngjae's full attention was on food only.
"She's being worried about you. Did you go there again?"
Youngjae looked up at him, with his cheeks bloated with rice and meat.
"N-no. I didn't."
"Good. Take care of yourself. You really looked like in a mess when I came this morning."
"Because I was just awaken then, hyung."
Jinyoung nodded, and attended to his meal again.
After the lunch, they sat together in the living-room and talked about random things. Jinyoung tried his best to distract Youngjae whenever the conversation was directing to Mark Tuan.
Jinyoung came back home at about 4pm. He had told Youngjae to take a rest at home for the rest of the day.
But it had been barely for three hours he was back at home, when Youngjae's mother called him, in panic, that she couldn't call Youngjae at all.
"I'll try to call him myself. Don't worry too much, aunty. Nothing can happen to him. Maybe he's just asleep and didn't hear the ring," Jinyoung tried to calm her.
"This is unusual. He should've woken up at least at the fifth ring if he was asleep. Do something, Jinyoung ah. I'm scared lest something happened to him."
Jinyoung, with reassuring words to her, hung up the call, and phoned Youngjae afterwards.
Now he himself was beginning to be worried. Even at the eighth ring, there was no answer from the other line.
Jinyoung rushed out of his room, and taking his jacket, went out of the apartment.
It was already dark outside; and taking his car, Jinyoung drove to Youngjae's place.
When he arrived there, the apartment was in darkness and locked.
"I told him to stay at home," Jinyoung mumbled under his breath. He took his phone out from the jacket side pocket and called Dongwook.
"Jinyoung hyung"
"Dongwook, is Youngjae with you? Have you seen him this evening?"
"No, I haven't seen him the whole day, hyung. What happens, hyung? Is something wrong?"
"He's not here at home, and the calls are not answered. Where could he go? Is there any other friend he could go to?"
"I don't think so, hyung. Most are from dorm, and they usually don't go out or accept any guest at night."
"Then I should check around the neighbourhood. Maybe he just went out to buy something and left the phone. Thanks Dongwook."
"Nothing at all. If something happens, please do let me know, hyung."
"I'll, of course. Now I should go find him around this area."
As soon as the call ended, Jinyoung rushed to the elevator again. In a frenzy, Jinyoung drove his car around the neighbourhood, his eyes moving here and there the whole way to spot Youngjae. He had even stopped at the convenience store Youngjae usually bought things but there was no sign of Youngjae.
After three rounds of just driving around the area and Youngjae was not yet found, Jinyoung almost gave up, stopping the car at one side of the street. His head was in a whirl and he felt faint headache starting to torture him.
No, he must search for the younger, he kept telling himself. Where could Youngjae go at this hour of the night?
Jinyoung lifted his head off the steering wheel, in an instant. How could he not have thought of that? At this hour of the night. There could be only one place possible to find Youngjae. At this hour of the night, why, it could only be the club.
Jinyoung sat up and started the car engine, and the car moved forward smoothly: the direction towards the club.
