⭑ 16:

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⭑ Hongjoong couldn't understand what was going on and how he even got here. Not a single part of his brain could form a coherent thought and all that because right now he was being kissed by Seonghwa himself. It was a slow kiss but there was something in it that made the smaller feel weak on his knees as if gravity was pulling him down. Once they pulled apart Seonghwa brought his hands near his lips and wiped them staring onto the other's face with his dark orbs. Hongjoong slowly opened his eyes, his heart racing against his chest as he saw the other staring at him. A faint pink colour rose on his cheeks.What in the world just happened?

.

"There isn't a need for that Mrs. Park. I'm not letting Park Seonghwa leave."

These words were enough to infuriate the old woman to such an extent she could feel her anger rising to its peak, probably above that reaching the stratosphere. How dare this man speak to her this way? Who allowed his filthy, broke self to say no to her when she was even willing to give him money which could've helped him?

A loud thud was heard from the table. Mrs Park has gotten up from her seat and went towards Seonghwa grabbing his arm.

"Say it to him. You need to leave this place boy! Listen to me and don't ruin your future-"

"No." Seonghwa looked up from his lap and stared at her face which seemed in complete disbelief. He observed the look on her face and the silence that followed her before continuing, "I'm not leaving with you. I don't want to take over my father's business, he would've wanted me to chase after my dreams too and you know this."

"Have you gone mad!? You know your father was just a fool like you, marrying your mother who was nothing before she became a part of our family! If it weren't for me he would've left the business to stay with that woman for 'love' and you wouldn't even be here and chasing after your dreams you say?"

The boys stayed quiet and the CEO himself was decided not to interfere. Jongho was nearly ready to stand up and start bashing her but Mingi held him back, shaking his head a bit as a little "stay calm."

"He was no fool and you know it. I don't want to talk about any of this especially infront of my friends. Leave. I have nothing more to say to you. I'm going to stay. Maybe you can hand over this business to Yeonghwa. You've always seemed to find him better than me anyway."

Yeonghwa? Who's that? Yunho thought to himself and then remembered. This must be his cousin who lives in London. A sigh left his mouth as he gathered himself to continue to listen and watch this drama being aired infront of him. Yeosang, San and Wooyoung already looked like they were about to cry and Hongjoong was trying his best not to let go of the tears in his eyes but constantly failing as they dripped down his face however his hands would wipe them off.

"Okay. I'll give all this Yeonghwa and when you see him succeed and yourself failing miserably do not come back crawling to me, your grandmother who raised you after your parents' death, asking for having you back. I can't believe you'd hand over your own family's business to a cousin. How shameful."

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Seonghwa could tell how confused and embarrassed Hongjoong was and to be fair he himself was shocked by why he had done that and what had taken over him for him to kiss no other person in the world by his childhood bestfriend who he was only learning to be close with again.

He saw the other opening his mouth to speak which made him panic a little so he cut him off, "I- I'm not sure why I did that. Don't ask me yet, I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated"

And after hearing that Hongjoong quickly closed back his mouth instantly nodding in embarrassment. He felt shy and he knew even if he opens his mouth to say something his voice would fail him.

Hongjoong first found out that he was gay when he was 12, he had developed a crush on a senior in his school, Sunki and he was so horrified by his feelings he tried everything to make them go away but nothing changed after a while he just decided to accept the fact that he might (is, actually) gay. He became friends with Yunho first who later introduced him to the older and well the three of them really became the bestest friends. Their chemistry was something truly beautiful and the boys enjoyed eachother's presence in their lives dearly until the incident took place— anyways Hongjoong has developed a crush on Seonghwa no later than when he was 14 after moving on from Sunki who already had a girlfriend.

All this seemed a lot for him take in. Just two hours before the boys sat with their boss and the black haired male's grandmother who seemed to furious over his decision to stay and left cursing all of them behind. All this totally freaked the leader out, it reminded him of his own childhood although his parents were nicer to him as soon he came out to them they became so unhappy that if Hongjoong could he'd give them an award having 'World's Worst Parents' as the title. Before the male could go further dive into the pool of that surrounded him now as if it wasn't completely void a few minutes before he was interrupted by hearing sniffles pulling him away from those thoughts at once.

"H-hyung why are you crying?"

The older didn't reply however he extended his arms towards the smaller's body and pulled him into a tight hug, his tears falling down on the younger's white shirt changing it's colour to some gentle gray. The two stayed like that for a couple of minutes which slowly calmed down Seonghwa, not that he was making sounds in the first place but the salty tears from his eyes had finally stopped flowing although the sniffles could still be heard.

Hongjoong's heartbeat was so fast he felt like his heart would jump out of his chest any moment. Him and Seonghwa had only last hugged after he apologised to him which was weeks ago. And now not only was he hugging him but he was crying in his arms. This sight of the older had always been mostly hidden even back when they were kids he tried his best to always stay strong and not cry. This precious and vulnerable state of the black haired male only saddened him more.

How many more troubles could Seonghwa be hiding from them?

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