come home ; ym | tk | nj

8.

The man Jeongguk talked about is Kim Namjoon.

Jeongguk and Yoongi call him, and though he is reluctant at first, he eventually agrees on a meeting.
On their way there, Jeongguk tells Yoongi about him.

He is 26-year-old Engineering Manager living in one of the better neighborhoods of the city, together with his partner and two kids that aren't hers.
"He adopted them together with his former husband," Jeongguk says, "They're still very young, one is in kindergarten and the other one just started elementary school."
"His husband... who disappeared?" Yoongi asked. Jeongguk nodded.
"Three years ago. He was one of the first victims. Kim Seokjin." Jeongguk huffs and, with a little smile around his lips, he looks out of the window. They are taking the bus to Namjoon's place.
"I saw pictures of him. He is a beautiful man. Namjoon really was lucky to have him," Jeongguk continues and chuckles. Yoongi studies his face for a moment.
"Why did he call off the search?" he asks, though he probably already knows the answer. Jeongguk shrugs.
"Lost hope I suppose. Just like everyone else." He sighs heavily. "He and Seokjin have been through a lot, I think. Their marriage and all. Adopting the kids. There is a whole family drama behind it. Maybe he was just tired of it." Jeongguk doesn't sound too convinced of his own words, and Yoongi, without knowing that Namjoon guy, doesn't believe them either.
"Tired of looking for the person you love," he says quietly, "Weird."

They arrive at the bus stop and get off. The walk to Namjoon's house is rather quiet; both men are lost in their own thought.
Yoongi takes a look at all the houses they are walking past. A lot of them are single-family houses, most of them are duplex or apartment buildings a lot smaller than the ones in Yoongi's neighborhood. Out here, the people have money; money to afford nice houses, expensive cars and pretty front gardens.
"There it is," Jeongguk eventually says and walks up to a huge, white house with a black roof. It's a duplex. The lawn in mowed and the flowers look pretty. It almost seems too perfect to be aesthetic.
They don't have to wait long after Jeongguk rings the bell. Inside, two kids are laughing and screaming, then, they hear footsteps and the door opens. A young boy peaks his head out, a huge grin on his lips. Behind him, another boy, not much older, appears and smiles as well.
"Hey, boys," Jeongguk greets them happily, "Do you still know me?"
"Jeonggukie!" the younger boy exclaims and stretches his hands into the air. Jeongguk laughs.
"Right. Are your parents home?"
The boys nod; as if on cue, a woman appears behind them, smiling apologetically as she fully opens the door.
"Hello Jeongguk. I'm sorry about this – boys, come on, let our guests inside, will you?" She gently nudges the older boy's shoulder and he turns around, running back inside the house. His younger brother follows him, and the woman steps aside with a sigh.
"Please, come in," she says and brushes her long, black hair out of her face. She looks stressed but tries hard not to let it show.
Jeongguk bows his head when he walks past her. "Not much has changed here, huh?"
The woman chuckles. "No, not really." She looks at Yoongi and smiles, and they both bow their heads a little.
"I'm Choi Hyekyung," she introduces herself.
"Min Yoongi," Yoongi mumbles back.
"Nice to meet you." She is pretty, that is out of question. However, Yoongi has to admit that there is nothing unique about her face. She looks just about like everyone else he sees on the streets of Seoul every day, and he would probably not recognize her outside.

Hyekyung leads them down the hallway; everything is white, and it reminds Yoongi of a hospital, which is weird. He can't imagine ever feeling comfortable here.
"Namjoon is in the living room just down the hallway... Jeongguk, you probably still know where it is, right?"
Hyekyung stops and points at a door. "Just walk in there. I'm going to get you some drinks. Any wishes?"
They both ask for a water and thank her, and she walks away with a smile.
"She is really nice," Jeongguk tells Yoongi, as if he has seen the skepticism on his face.
"Wasn't doubting that," Yoongi mumbles.
They enter the living room. It's a bright room and, much to Yoongi's dismay, most of the furniture here is white, too. At least the parquet is dark brown.
A man is standing by one of the huge windows, looking outside and talking to someone on his phone.
He is wearing a white button-down shirt and black pants. From what Yoongi can tell, he seems a little older than Yoongi himself.
This man must be Namjoon – or, at least that's what Yoongi is hoping. A stranger in this house would be terrifyingly unsettling.