In Between Time | Seongjoong

10

"When will you and dad come back home, I have someone I want you to meet." Yeosang stood in the doorway of his parents room watching his mother pack.

"I don't know Sangie, this is a big deal for your father. Maybe we can meet them some other time sweetie." She huffed finally getting her suitcase to close. She turned on her heels and gave Yeosang a kiss to the forehead before gathering her things and leaving.

Yeosang knew how much his parents loved him. Everything they had done was to better the lives of him and his sister. There was a time that Yeosang had no clear memory of when his parents had been struggling financially. His father did not want for his family to suffer, so he sought out any opportunity he could grab at until he landed his current job that he's held since Yeosang was 7.

On the rise, his parents left home more frequently leaving his older sister to play both parent roles. They had always made time for holidays and birthdays and growing up on Sundays they'd usually have meals together. As the kids grew and hit high school and the other in college they stopped coming home on Sundays.

Yeosang wasn't going to gain attention by becoming a troublemaker. He wanted his parents' attention for the right reason but he was growing desperate. When he had noticed Seonghwa he hadn't caught on to anything at first but then he'd start to look at him more and realization hit. The younger had no particular interest in the male other than the fact that he was on the dance team. To Yeosang he was nothing but a chance to make his parents look at him. Ever since Hongjoong had stepped into the picture he had noticed the gears turning, but of course Seonghwa was too dense and Hongjoong too focused to notice.

"Mom I like someone," Yeosang muttered into the phone.

"His name is Seonghwa and I really want to be with him." He paused for a few minutes before hanging up the phone. It was low and he knew it but he wanted to feel something so desperately he couldn't help himself. Yeosang was incomplete.

"Yeosang!" San latched onto the other in the hallway.

"Hey," it was Seonghwa and beside him was Hongjoong.

Hongjoong had sensed that Yeosang didn't really like him but simply thought it was due to the whole drink incident. The three males talked amongst themselves while Hongjoong followed along in silence he had never stayed after school so things seemed a little awkward.

"At least this is the music department," Hongjoong thought to himself. Once the others began he'd just slip away into another room.

"Okay you can chill here the benches are usually open because people just flock to the windows." Seonghwa explained.

"How long will you be?" Hongjoong looked up at Seonghwa as he sat on the bench. He still looked tired like a small child in need of nap time. A small blush crept onto Seonghwa's face as he pondered a way to break it to Hongjoong that it would be awhile.

"I'm usually here for an hour or two is that okay?"

"Yeah I'll be fine here."

"I'll see if I can leave a little earlier than usual." With that Seonghwa left.

Hongjoong watched as it became increasingly louder due to all the girls in the hall so he moved to one of the other rooms. It was a small practice room with a guitar and piano. This room had become almost like a second home to Hongjoong.  He spent a lot of time playing the instruments and writing his own songs.

Seonghwa had gotten out of practice an hour before usual, he originally asked for thirty minutes but luck was on his side. As soon as he left a few girls had tried to speak to him but after noticing Hongjoong was absent he was invested in looking for him. He checked the bathroom first but the red head was nowhere to be seen. He wandered around into various rooms before stopping in the one that contained small practice rooms.

The light was on in the first room and music could be heard from the door being cracked. Hongjoong was messing around on the piano as he rapped. He would stop frequently to erase or write something down and Seonghwa sat and watched him. The action was kind of creepy and Seonghwa knew but once again there was something different about Hongjoong in that moment. Hongjoong dropped his pencil and in an attempt to pick it up he noticed Seonghwa.

"Uh how long have you been there?" Hongjoong awkwardly asked.

"Long enough, ready to go?" Seonghwa grabbed Hongjoong's bag for him slinging it onto his other shoulder.

"I could've got it." Hongjoong tucked his notebook and pencil into his bag.

"Yeah, but you still look really tired." Seonghwa pointed out.

"And you're fine? You look pretty exhausted yourself you're the one who just came from rehearsal," Hongjoong countered.

"This is everyday for me so no need to worry. Anyways you're really good at piano how long have you been playing?" Seonghwa changed the subject still holding onto the younger's bag.

"I got private lessons when I was six until Jr. High."

"Why'd you stop?"

"Life happens," Hongjoong spoke vaguely hinting on not speaking about the subject more.

"Well this is my house." Hongjoong continued into the house while Seonghwa followed behind.

As Seonghwa stepped in he noticed how homely it felt and looked. Children's art was displayed on the wall and many family photos. It was different from Yeosang's home. His looked dull and untouched and as if it belonged on a set in a movie. Hongjoong's, on the other hand, looked warm and inviting.

"Hongjoong you're coming home...late..." A beautiful lady trailed as she walked down the hall.

"Who's your friend?" His mother gestured for Seonghwa to have a seat which he did.

"Seonghwa is just coming to grab his notebook mom."

"Oh please, he can stay for dinner, right?" She looked over to Seonghwa.

"If that's not too much trouble," Seonghwa smiled.

"Of course not! Dinner will be ready soon." Mrs. Kim patted Seonghwa on the shoulder before moving to the kitchen.

"She says that then she holds people hostage. You should've left when you had the chance." Hongjoong shook his head.