1 salt✅

It Takes 2 to Tango, But 1 to Love

Not here. Not there. Not anywhere. I leaned against a wall then found myself sitting on my behind. How long had I been searching for Hwanwoong for? The night was fresh. Usually one would be worried about criminals and psychos, but no one was here besides us and animals. After resting, I got back up and continued my search. I tried calling his number and it went straight to voicemail.

"Please be safe..." I muttered as I stared at his contact info.

I looked up dance studios that were around Central Park. There were some, but not around the park. I decided to look through all of them in hopes that's where he went.

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I reached the last one in the area. I walked in then headed up to the third floor. The elevator dinged and I walked out. What would I do if he wasn't here? It was uncertain moments like this that I wished for plot convenience. I pushed open the door and looked around. There he was, all alone, practicing something. I kept quiet as he put on music and started to dance. His movements were sharp yet fluid. It was like he had no bones. I leaned against the door a bit more then found myself falling forward and causing a racket.

"Seo...?" I heard him call out.

I rubbed my arm as I got up. What an embarrassing entrance.

"Yo..." I said, devoid of happiness due to my fuck up.

"Let me guess, you asked Jo for places I'd possibly be." he said then went back to dancing.

He was right. Not long after I left the hotel, I had asked him places he would go when upset. Youngjo was plenty useful in certain areas.

"That doesn't matter. I'm here to bring you back with me. The others are worried, especially Jo." I said as I watched his body carefully. Maybe too carefully. "Please."

"So, they forced you to come and find me? You didn't care what happened to me then, huh? Because I like men too? Because you feel disgusted knowing a man wants to be romantically involved with you? Be-" he said until I shut up him.

I pulled him closer then received a positive response from him. It surprised me too, but it made me feel warm all over. Our tongues greedily tasted the other as neither could seem to get enough. I pull away as I quietly panted for air. Hwanwoong had done the same. I searched his face as my own was probably bright red from embarrassment. Did I move too fast? His face turned bright red as well.

"Seo... you didn't have to do that..." he said slowly and quietly. "You didn't have to force yourself to do it..."

"Force myself? I wanted to do this. I'm new to all of this and it's really weird and scary, but when I think of you, suddenly those worries no longer matter. I don't know if what I'm feeling is love or lust, but I wouldn't mind finding out with you." I confessed as I looked him in the eyes.

"Seo..." Hwanwoong called out softly.

I kissed him again. I couldn't help it. The way his dark orbs bore into mine with such fondness and innocence. The way his lips were slightly parted and almost formed a pout. The way his cheeks were slightly puffed out to go along with the pout. I found him attractive, stunning even. Words that I had suppressed were released, flooding my mind like a dam that had been broken. To me, Yeo Hwanwoong wasn't just a friend anymore, he was an irreplaceable partner.

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I closed the door as Hwanwoong had go on ahead. We both decided to keep it under wraps until the time was right. Youngjo shouting "Hwan!" was heard and soon the others had come running. They all group hugged him with Hwanwoong in the middle. I snapped a picture of the moment. My mood fell as I thought of us finally completing our mission and going back to our normal lives, forgetting both the event and each other. What would become of Hwanwoong and I?

"Everyone, let's get in a circle." I yelled as I wanted to get my mind off of things. They sat down and I noticed Hwanwoong had sat far from me. He didn't have to be extreme about it. "So, as you all know, we found a core and destroyed it or whatever happened."

"There was some silver egg thing, but it disappeared along with Seoho. He came back without it." Hwanwoong added.

I told them what happened when I held it. It made even less sense after telling it to others. And even after going through all of that, the Earth was still empty. At least, in America. We sat in silence as we thought about our next move. I soon heard a small voice in my head. It was speaking incoherently. I looked at the other five, but their lips weren't moving. I headed into a bedroom then locked the door. The voice was still there. What was it saying? The sound of knocking wasn't helping either.

"Could you all leave me alone?" I asked in a raised voice.

I internally sighed as all I could hear was the garbled voice. It kept repeating it like it was it's mantra. It slowly started to become distinguishable.

"'Go home. End it all.' Are we supposed to go back to Korea...?" I asked, half asking myself and the voice.

The voice disappeared and so did the weird feeling I've had since touching that object. I pointed to the bed then sighed in relief that a miniature version of it didn't appear. I unlocked the door and stepped out. They all looked at me worriedly, especially Hwanwoong.

"Let's go back to Korea." I said with my hands on my hips.

"Why?" Keonhee asked after a terribly long silence.

"Just like Geonhak, I have a hunch. Trust me on this. If Geonhak was right, I have to be too." I said as I looked at each of them.

They all looked at each then back at me. None of them said a word. Were they getting back at me for what I did to Geonhak?

"We're trusting you." Youngjo said at last.

"Thank you..." I replied softly, genuinely thankful they were willing to risk it with me.