Chapter 6

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Yoongi steps out of the shop with a bag with several bottles of Soju and walks in the direction of Hyun-woo and Yumi's. It's almost 7:30, he's early, but he knows his brother should be home if he is coming home. He picks up the pace hearing the glass bottles clink together in the thin bag.

He hasn't decided if he wants his brother to be home or not. On one hand, he doesn't want his brother to make her sad, but on the other, he likes the idea of having Yumi to himself. Just having time to talk together and not feel the weight of his brothers stare. He's almost positive that his brother has no idea how he feels about Yumi but he probably suspects he used to have a crush. He probably is one of many of Hyun-woos friends and coworkers who have a crush on her.

He turns the corner onto their street and stops in front of the high building. He looks up to their apartment and sees the lights on. He pushes the button to their apartment and hears her voice, trembling.

"It's Yoongi, is this an OK time? I know I'm a little early," he apologizes.

She doesn't respond but the buzzer sounds to let him inside. Stepping through the outer door he gets on the elevator, unsure if this is the right decision. He doesn't know what to expect. As he steps off the lift he can see that their apartment door is slightly open. He approaches it quietly, listening for sounds from inside. Hearing none, he steels his nerve and pushes the door open, stepping in to see Yumi standing across from Hyun-woo, with a look of sadness and embarrassment. Hyun-woo looks up at his brother, a smile spreading across his face, and walks over to greet him.

"There you are little man, orange hair huh? That's new!" he says, sloppily wrapping one arm over his taller younger brother. Yoongi can tell he's already had a bit to drink. He looks up at Yumi as his brother embraces him, she averts her eyes.

"It's red. Hyun-woo, did you start drinking without me?" He tries to even his position. He hates being called 'little man' particularly in front of Yumi and since he's been taller than his brother for the last several years.

"Just a few after work, plenty of room for Soju." He takes the bags from Yoongis' hands and holds them out behind his body for Yumi to take from him, almost as a command.  She steps to the kitchen and gets out two glasses, handing one to each of the men.

"You aren't having any?" Yoongi asks, trying to judge what has gone on.

"No, you two catch up, I have to be up early for work." She avoids looking directly into Yoongi's eyes as she walks toward their bedroom, closing the door. He turns to look at his brother who has already started drinking from his glass.

"Never mind her, we have all night." He sits down awkwardly on a tall stool at the kitchen counter near the Soju bottle. "So what's been going on little man, I haven't seen you in a few months?"

Yoongi takes a seat next to him, studying him. He looks older, he looks tired, a little run down. He wonders if they had been fighting before he came over.

"I've been busy since the album came out. They have us doing photo shoots and interviews every other day. And the cameras are everywhere in my dorm. It's just hard to have a moment to myself." His brother seems to nod as though he understands.

"Still, it's pretty cool to be on tv and awards shows isn't it?" He seems to have actually missed the point of what Yoongi was trying to say.

"Sure," he says tentatively, "but it hasn't left me as much time for writing songs as I would like." His brother brushes off his comment with a sloppy hand gesture.

"You can get other people to do that for you now. Let them worry about it, you just have fun," he says. Yoongi shakes his head.

"But that's the part of it I actually want to do. I don't want to be an idol, not really. I want to write and produce music." He's sure his brother knows this about him, he thinks maybe he's had more to drink than he has let on.

"Well, we don't always get what we want." He holds the Soju up in a toast and then downs the drink in one gulp. Yoongi notices he's frowning. He nods.

"Yeah, that's true." He thinks of Yumi, laying in bed on the other side of the closed door, alone. "We don't."  Hyun-woo pours another glass for himself. Yoongi turns to him, finding the courage to confront him, if he waits much longer his brother might be passed out. "Hyung, is something going on with you and Yumi?"

He studies his brothers reaction closely. He stares directly in front of him, at nothing, but focuses hard. He takes another gulp of the drink in his hands.

"Everyone goes through difficult times. Nothing to worry about." He brushes off the question but Yoongi can see that there is hurt in his eyes.

"Are you seeing someone else?" he asks him point blank. His brother looks up at him quickly, shooting daggers at him.

"Shhh!" He looks back to the bedroom door before he speaks. "No! How could you ask me that?!" He feigns innocence, forgetting that Yoongi lived with them during one such dalliance early on in their relationship. "Just because a couple are going through a rough spot doesn't automatically mean there is someone else," he says as if lecturing him.

Yoongi stares at him and his face tells a different story. Something is going on that he isn't going to talk about. It's clear that Yumi is upset, his brother is upset, and he's come at a bad time. 

"Maybe I should come by another time," he stands in preparation to leave. Hyun-woo puts his hand on his arm, stopping him.

"Stay, we have another bottle to open." He smiles feebly at him and Yoongi reconsiders. He looks like he could use someone to stop him tonight, before he has too much. He allows his brother to pour them both a refill and follows him to the couch to turn on the gaming system.  Maybe he can get him distracted enough to sober up before bed.

***
Yoongi wakes up in the early morning light, cramped on his brothers couch, with a throw blanket over him barely covering his limbs. He blinks hard trying to remember why he's there, and not in his own bed. He remembers a few games, a few more drinks, and feeling really exhausted. And, that's it.

His brother must have gone to bed soon after and covered him up. He hears a noise and he pretends to still be asleep. The bathroom door opens and Yumi comes out. He peeks through a slit in his eyes and can see her dressed and ready for work. She comes over to the couch, standing in front of him for a moment. He wonders if she knows he's awake. He feels her bend over him, her face hovering close. She presses her lips against his forehead in a kiss, leaving them there for a long moment as he lays motionless, every nerve ending in his body burning at the sensation.

"Thanks for trying," she whispers to him. He feels her pull back and he opens his eyes, pretending he's just woken up.

"What?" He stretches as he looks at her. He can tell she knows it's an act.

"Thanks for getting him to stay in and go to bed at a somewhat reasonable hour," she says to him.

"Sure," is all he can think of to say back. They both know there is so much more not being said.

"I'm leaving for work. Can you please make sure he's up by 8?" she asks grabbing her bag off the table nearby.

"I will," he sits up on the couch. "Yumi?" She turns to look at him as she gets out her keys. "Is everything going to be OK?" She stares at him for a long moment before she looks down at the keys in her hands.

"I don't know Yoongi. I don't know anymore." He tries to stand up to move closer to her but she holds out her hand to stop him. "I have to go to work."

He stops moving towards her and nods. He watches her walk out of the apartment door, and hears the ding of the elevator. He slumps back down on the couch and sits with his head in his hands. He wishes he could make this better for her, but he's also worried that he is losing her.

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