Why do people do the things they do? Why do we really hurt those we care about?
Life's lessons can be harsh and misunderstandings can tear us apart. When communication breaks down - will we be able to fix the damage we've caused or are the rifts too...
BamBam's heart dropped in his chest and he felt as if lead had been poured over it.
"I don't know how I can prove anything to you except to say that Jinhong Eijirou, Lan Yibo and Lan Wuxian and my boss, even, can vouch for me being here most of the time, even though there was this one time when I went overseas and I'll show you my passport if you want evidence for then because it got the airport stamps in it from both ends. I can give you a list of other people I know if it would make you believe me. Mitzuki I want... I really want you to believe me. I'm... "
He tightened his grip a little on Mitzuki's hand, not wanting to show the younger how much he was worrying about how he would get Kim Mitzuki to believe in him. He needed to convince the younger. A quiet sigh left his throat as he leaned over the table and he laid his head on his forearm.
"I don't know. All I know is that I left Qīpiàn City three and a half years ago." The tiniest movement of one corner was all that was seen on Mitzuki's lips before he spoke.
"I want to believe you, BamBam, I do more than anything but... If it wasn't you doing... *clears throat around another lump of tears threatening to fall* ...that stuff... if it wasn't you then who was it? It had to be somebody."
"Sorry to interrupt Kim, Kaard, but why don't you guys try to work out who was there when you were there instead of focusing on that it wasn't this delinquent here. My alien soulmate, it's true that B really has been here for the last two and a half years. Focus on who else you DO remember being there instead of focusing on this sexy son of a bitch sitting here?"
Eijirou winked at the pinkette who scowled in return as he placed their drink refills and food on the table before playfully nudging him with his hip.
"Look. I don't know shit about what you've had to deal with in the past or whatever and I don't know if I even want to know, from the 2 sentences I just overheard. But if you wanna try and find someone the best way is by the process of elimination, ya know? Start from who you both remember who was there at the time.
"Bam, just... don't be upset or shit what he can't remember though 'cause the kid was messed up as fuck when the Lan's brought him back last year. I remember that Lan Yibo got me to close the bar and he sent us all home early, and I mean four hours early. It was weird as shit because it was a Thursday bro. I didn't know it was Kim back then... Not 'til this afternoon when he called ya 'BB' so I assume you two have massive history or some shit like that 'cuz as far as I know you bro's haven't met before today." Eijirou raised his eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest.
The pinkette looked at the boy sitting across from him, whose lap seemed suddenly very interesting and squeezed his hand gently. The light brunette sniffed a few times as he wiped his cheeks mumbling something BamBam didn't catch. He looked questioningly at Eijirou who had glanced towards his post before shuffling in beside Mitzuki wrapping a comforting arm around his shoulder and pulling him in. The bartender hugged the youngest as he tried to quietly cry in his arms, the dark brunette rubbing a calming hand over the other's back in soothing motions. Eijirou looked at BamBam with a cool and measuring stare.
"Look bro, I don't know shit about your past or whatever but if I ever see him like this because of you- I will personally gut you like a fish and feed you to my piranha so nobody will ever find you. You hurt him and you're dead. Understand me?" The pink haired male nodded. BamBam hesitated a moment before speaking, unsure if he should expose himself but decided since he'd already told Kim Mitzuki how he felt about him, he could tell Jinhong Eijirou.
"Do you remember since I met you I'd talk about a person who I love more than anything and that I would do anything for?" Eijirou's eyes narrowed in suspicion before widening as it clicked to what BamBam was implying.
"The person who I always said was 'the one that got away'?" Eijirou nodded with understanding. BamBam gave a very pointed look at Mitzuki for a few long seconds before looking back at the dark brunette and added softly,
"Eijirou, Kim Mitzuki is my one that got away. Until this afternoon when you sent me upstairs to check on your friend, I also believed I would never see him again, not alive, anyhow. I swear, not by the moon or any stretch of my imagination did I ever think I'd see him alive again." Jinhong Eijirou froze for a moment as he absorbed the news.
"I love him with all my heart, Eiji, I left because my ex-boss and the person who I'm guessing is also now his ex-boyfriend because he is a violent bastard who found out I was in love with the very same person that's in your arms. I don't even know how he found out about it but my ex-boss threatened to kill him in front of me unless I left town straight away - without saying goodbye or telling him I was leaving or anything. Boss Yang said he would supposedly pass on a message I'd had to leave. It was the absolute hardest fucking thing I've ever done. I wanted so badly to take him and run away with him but I didn't know if Kim felt the same way as me so I just left thinking, and hoping, that he would be okay." Pale crystalline blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears,
"I abandoned him Eijirou. I left him with that monster when all I wanted to do was bring him back and hide him from that fucker. Zuki doesn't deserve anything that was done by Izu-"
"Shut the fuck up." Jinhong interrupted the pinkette, then repeating himself,
"Shut up. Don't. Don't speak his name in front of me ever. I don't want to know because if you tell me I will go and kill the motherfucker who did this to Mitzu and don't you let the Lan's hear you even think that fucker's name either because I'll bet my bottom dollar he'll wake up dead or some shit if they ever find out who he is." BamBam's soft lips formed an 'Oh' but the word didn't leave his lips as he nodded slowly, a little stunned at the fierce statement from the hot bartender. A small gnawing feeling began to itch in his stomach, which he ignored. He lowered his head in agreement with the dark brunette's statement.
"Okay I won't say it. That can stay between me and Kim then." The other nodded curtly.
"Good." BamBam's icy blue eyes met Eijirou's, he spoke quietly but firmly,
"But... if... If Mitzuki wants to talk about it I hope you'll listen."
"Hey, you guys know I'm still here right?" A soft voice interrupted as the light brunette wriggled out of the bartender's arms. Two sets of eyes landed on him.
"Mn. You're still here. Wei Ying and I already know who everyone is. Only not doing anything without Kim Mitzuki's say so." Spoke a solemn new voice, as the owner stepped into view a small smile appeared on the light brunettes face.
"Lan Yibo, you're here." A slight nod came with the answer,
"Mn. My Wei Ying saw you run out. Wants me to make sure you're okay." The smile blossomed a little brighter.
"I am okay now. Kaard BamBam knows me... From before. I worried he was going to try and take me back to hi-him, but BB says he won't, and that he has lived in Liánhuā Hú for a while now, but that you've known him from when he first moved here?" Frosted golden brown eyes studied the pink haired male for a moment.
"Mn. Almost three years ago he came here. Failed as bartender, offered him waiting position which he rejected. Comes here too often. Still won't work for us." BamBam saw some of the tension drain from Mitzuki's frame and the release of the breath he himself didn't know he'd been holding was a relief, then the light brunette giggled.
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ABOVE: Wang Yibo as Lan Yibo / Lan Wang Ji / Wei Ying's husband
