fade | jookyun

15

jooheon and changkyun spent the rest of the day together, touring the city, taking pictures, trying new things, and making memories. they went back to their hotel tired but content.

jooheon flopped onto the large bed and yawned loudly. "i'm exhausted. let's sleep." he outstretched his arms and smiled innocently. "snuggle with me."

without hesitation, changkyun threw himself onto the bed and melted into jooheon's arms.

"good night." jooheon whispered, reaching for the bedside lamp.

"sweet dreams." changkyun responded as jooheon switched off the light and the room fell into darkness.

jooheon's eyes closed. his embrace loosened and his breathing became slower, signaling that he was asleep. changkyun studied jooheon and smiled softly. he cupped jooheon's cheek and planted a kiss on his forehead. jooheon looked so peaceful. changkyun wished jooheon was always like that. wrapping his arms around his soulmate, he too fell into the realm of dreams.

-

changkyun dreamed that he was walking down a dark path. he didn't know what he was walking towards, but something was pulling him forward, urging him to go on. suddenly, he saw a glimmer of light. as changkyun took another step, the glow strengthened. the light was coming from jooheon's heart. of course! jooheon was what was at the end of the path. his own heart was also brilliantly shining as he dashed towards his soulmate. suddenly, there was a blinding explosion, and all changkyun could see was the light. then he was being cradled in jooheon's arms, and he felt safe again. he asked jooheon if he was okay, but jooheon didn't seem to hear him. changkyun simply laid there in jooheon's lap, silently staring.

-

the two stepped off the plane, the bright sunshine of korea welcoming them.

"i miss home." changkyun smiled, his smile as bright as the sun.

jooheon groaned as he stretched his arms. "me too." his headrest still wrapped around his neck and his hair was messy.

just like they did when departing and at japan, they claimed their luggage and went through security.

when they reached their cozy apartment after taking a taxi, they unpacked all their belongings. "it feels great to be home." changkyun sighed, jumping onto the couch.

as jooheon was left alone to tranfer the shirts to the drawer, the phone rang. changkyun limped over to pick up the phone, complaining since he had to move such a far distance.

"hello?" the voice on the other side said almost breathlessly.

"kihyun? what happened?"

"minhyuk. it's minhyuk." kihyun responded.

"what about him?" asked changkyun.

"he's missing." kihyun sniffled.

"wh-what?" changkyun spluttered. "you're sure? you called his phone? you checked his house?"

"yes. but i didn't have to." kihyun said.

"why not?" questioned changkyun.

"he left his ring on the bedside shelf, and he never goes without it," kihyun answered worriedly. "something's wrong. can you get jooheon please?"

"o-okay," changkyun stammered. "jooheon, you might want to hear this."

-

"i'm sorry, we can't search for him until you're sure he's been missing for 24 hours." the policeman sitting in front of them said, shrugging.

"what? our friend could be hurt!" hyunwoo argued, kihyun nodding in agreement.

"i'm sorry," the policeman repeated. "those are the rules."

"no, please! you have to help!" cried hoseok.

the policeman flinched when hoseok raised his voice, but regained his composure and shook his head. "we can't. come back in a few hours."

the group of six stormed out of the building.

"if the police won't help, we're going to have to look for minhyuk ourselves." kihyun declared.

"how?" hyunwoo asked worriedly, fidgeting with kihyun's fingers. "we already tried to track his phone, and we couldn't find a trace of him."

"guys, it might just be a good idea to wait it out." changkyun suggested timidly. he flinched as five pairs of eyes glared at him.

"no. we're not waiting it out. minhyuk is not okay." choked hoseok.

hyungwon, whose arm was slung around the buffer man for support, piped up, "i really hope he's not hurt. i'll fight a person if he is." he clenched his fist, uncurling it only when hoseok gently reminded him not to get too worked up, as he was still recovering.

jooheon shook his head. "let's hope for the best." he squeezed his soulmate's hand.

changkyun squeezed jooheon's hand in return, but he couldn't understand why there was an unsettling feeling in his stomach. something just didn't feel right.