Conceal

8. Talk

"Stop fooling around and do your job properly." Flame's voice boomed into Enigma's ears, but he didn't even wince.

"Yes sir."

"I hope you realize how long it's been since you took action. You should've completed your task a long time ago."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry." Enigma never apologized to someone like Flame before. That made him clench his teeth.

"Good."

-

One and a half week later, Wonho met Jooheon on the streets when they were both heading home after a long day of work.

Lately, all of them had been so busy they had barely seen each other. Even so, the first thing that came to his mind when Jooheon saw Wonho was how he knew about Kihyun's incident and still haven't said anything about it yet. Jooheon knew he could trust Wonho not to disclose the secret, but somehow it bothered him slightly that Wonho never mentioned it even once.

Jooheon had just decided to be straightforward and ask Wonho about it when Wonho, who crossed the road, spotted him too. "Jooheon?"

Jooheon put on his signature eye smile and greeted his friend. He was about to open his mouth again, but Wonho beat him to it.

"Wow, it feels like ages since we've seen each other. I guess we're all workaholics." Wonho let out a chuckle, and Jooheon joined in naturally. This had been an on-going joke between them and Kihyun for who knew how long. "By the way, how's your new song coming up?"

Jooheon beamed with pride at the mention of music. "Oh, it's going to be awesome. Just wait and see. It's due to release next week."

"And I'll be your first listener." Wonho replied, and that made Jooheon laugh, because Wonho said that every time a new song was produced, but he was always asleep or distracted during the time of release.

After their laughter died down, the pair continued walking in silence. Usually it would've been totally normal for them – they've been together for so long that it was only reasonable they ran out of topics to talk about – but today the air between felt awkward, as if there was something to discuss about, but no one came around to put it into words.

It struck Jooheon then that Kihyun would've told Wonho about what Kihyun had texted him that night in his house. Wonho probably knew what Jooheon knew, and that explained his unusually quiet behaviour.

Jooheon thought he should be the one to start the conversation. After all, he still had to apologize for not telling Wonho in the first place. As Kihyun's best friend, Wonho had every right to know. "So... Kihyun told you everything, huh."

"Yea." Wonho's lips curled up sheepishly. This was one of the many benefits of talking to friends: they understand you without the need to say much. "I just kept it quiet because I didn't know how you'd respond."

A stab of guilt pierced through Jooheon's heart. "I'm sorry. I should've told you. I was..." Jooheon wanted to explain, but that would sound like an excuse, wouldn't it?

"I know." Wonho smiled, kicking a small pebble on the pavement. It was weird to feel embarrassed by heartfelt conversations like this even despite the long history of friendship between them. "I wouldn't want too many people to know about it too. It's a human instinct. Don't trouble yourself over that."

This was one of the rare moments when Jooheon felt the need to hug someone. Jooheon would've done it if it weren't for pedestrians strolling leisurely on the streets.

Suddenly Jooheon remembered what he saw on his phone a few days ago. "I heard Dawon was finally arrested."

Wonho didn't seem surprised by the sudden change of topic. "Oh, yea I saw it on the news too. And I heard your colleague was released without any charges. That's a relief."

Jooheon recalled the text messages he sent to Minhyuk the day he was released. That was the first text they had ever sent to each other since they meet every day at work anyway, and Jooheon decided to text him only because it would probably be uncomfortable for both of them to discuss it in an office where people are constantly around. But Minhyuk never replied, and that worried Jooheon, considering Minhyuk's sociable and lively personality.

"Jooheon?" Wonho patted his friend's shoulder. "Are you ok?"

Jooheon realized he was so deep in his thoughts he had forgotten to answer. "Oh, sorry. I'm fine, just...thinking."

"Thinking about what? Isn't this what you wished for all along?" Wonho put his hands in his pockets. "Someone is arrested for smuggling drugs, and no one knows about what happened to Kihyun. Everyone thinks this is the end of it. Nothing will happen to us."

Jooheon's paranoia made him look around to check if anyone was listening on to their conversation, but just like the logical part of him expected, people these days were too busy to stick their nose in others' businesses. "Yea, you're right. I hope Kihyun will finally stop worrying."

"I know right? He pretends to be fine since day one, but I know he's restless inside. I bet he can't even get a good night's sleep these days." Wonho said, suddenly feeling the urge to call Kihyun just to check on him.

"Well, it's going to change now. He's strong enough to act normal in front of us; I would've had an emotional breakdown ages ago. And Shownu hyung is returning soon right? When that day comes everything will be fixed." Jooheon laughed, imagining the emotional reunion between the couple.

Just as they were nearing their apartment buildings – which were literally opposite of each other – Wonho felt a vibration in his back pocket. He pulled his phone out and read the caller ID. When he saw who was calling, he walked to the side and stopped near the side of a building, prompting Jooheon to do the same.

"Who's calling?" Jooheon asked, but Wonho was already raising his phone to his ear.

Jooheon listened to the one-sided phone conversation, and soon found out how frustrating this could be.

"Jongho?" Jooheon heard Wonho say. At least he now knew who the caller was – Kihyun's colleague. No wonder Wonho stopped; it was a pleasant surprise.

"What's up?......what?......Wait, Jongho, slow down." There was a long pause after that, where Wonho's eyebrows creased into a frown that grew deeper and deeper.

Jooheon noticed his friend's worried expression and never wished so bad to be able to hear the other side of the conversation. There was really only one reason why Jongho would call so unexpectedly. Jooheon didn't want to accept it, but it was the only reasonable explanation, and the truth was right in front of him, written on Wonho's face: something happened to Kihyun.

"Ok, thank you." Wonho ended the call with a grim look. Even though his skin was white to start with, Jooheon could still tell that Wonho had paled after the phone call.

Before Jooheon could start asking questions, Wonho looked towards the direction where they came from and said, "We have to go to Kihyun's home."

Taking a few strides, Jooheon caught up with Wonho while he tried to wrap his head around the situation. "Hyung, tell me what happened." He was taken aback by his surprisingly calm voice.

Staring straight ahead, Wonho replied sternly, "Kihyun skipped work for five days in a row."

And with that, both of them broke into a sprint towards the bus station ahead. Because they knew Kihyun adored his job and never missed one day of work, and because Dawon was arrested exactly five days ago.