Chapter 15: Lost

*Rewind *

HyeRim POV

It’s been 6 years since then. YoungJoo was growing older and becoming more independent as the days pass. He is currently 16 years old. He works so hard and studies well too. I was in the kitchen cooking dinner for Chanyeol and YoungJoo. YoungJoo was out at the library studying for his midterms, whereas Chanyeol often came home late because of work.

*Door opens *

“I’m back.”

Chanyeol said.

“Ah, Chanyeol-ah. I’m almost done cooking dinner.”

I said.

“Where’s YoungJoo?”

Chanyeol asked as he began taking off his shoes.

“He’s still at the library studying for his midterms.”

I replied. Chanyeol made his way to me as I cooked the food. His arms wrapped around my waist as I cooked.

It reminded me of that time when Kai had just woken up after he fought with Chanyeol and he wrapped his arms around me the same way while I cooked.I miss him…… So much…

I thought. A tear fell from my eye. I quickly rubbed it away before Chaneyol could see.

Chanyeol hugged me tightly and his head nuzzled into my neck.It all felt too familiar. Too similar…. To Kai’s……

Chanyeol continued to watch over me as I cooked until, we both heard the door open.

*Door opens *

“I’m home.”

YoungJoo said as he took off his shoes. He passed the kitchen and glanced at us. He didn’t seem to be surprised, as he knew of Chanyeol’s feelings for me. Although, I would often worry for YoungJoo as he would never share his thoughts with me. He would always keep it to himself. The last time that I ever heard his thoughts were when we talked about Kai…

*Flashback to 2 years ago *

“Noona…. I miss Kai hyung..”

He said quietly.

“Ne… I miss him too.”

I replied as I laid my hand on his.

“Why can’t we go back?”

He asked.

“Eh?”

I said confusedly.

“Why can’t we go back to Seoul? Why can’t we go to where Kai hyung is? Why can’t we go back to the city, instead of living in the country?”

He repeatedly asked. Tears were leaving his eyes. I actually never told him the reason as to why we left Seoul. He always knew he had an uncle, but I had never told him about his uncle, he was too young to remember what his uncle was like at the time. I decided to keep quiet about his uncle and tried to calm him down about going to Seoul…. And Kai…

*Flashback End *

“Well, this isn’t unusual at all.”

YoungJoo said as he passed the kitchen.

“Bring my food to my room. I too busy studying, so I won’t be eating with you guys.”

He said. Chanyeol released me to protest to him that he should eat with us, but I stopped him.

“Chanyeol… Don’t… Just let him be. He has midterms, so just let him study.”

I said to him. Chanyeol nodded and began to set up the table to two, instead of three.

“So how was work?”

I asked.

“It’s was okay…”

Chanyeol replied. We both ate in silence as the minutes passed. YoungJoo came back about 15 minutes later with his empty plate. He looked at Chanyeol and I with a blank face as he passed the dining room, and put away his dishes. He walked back to his room in silence as if Chanyeol and I were never here.

Chanyeol sighed and I knew what he thought of as well. How could a bright, young boy turn from a playful boy to a silent, monotone teen? The years passed by too fast and YoungJoo grew older and older. I remember he used to play with his Digimon when he was younger, but now all he thinks about is either Seoul or studying. YoungJoo…. What are you thinking of right now?

“HyeRim…. HyeRim… HyeRim!”

Chanyeol shouted across the table.

“Ne?”

I replied immediately, as I was playing with my food as I zoned out.

“Are you okay? Is it because of YoungJoo?”

He asked worriedly.

“Ani… I’m okay.”

I replied.

10 minutes later…

I didn’t even finish half my plate and I was already on my way to the kitchen to throw it away. I slowly moved my fork up and down on the plate as I slowly removed the food from my plate to the trashcan. I began to wash the dishes, as I showed no emotions on my face whatsoever. Chanyeol suddenly came out of nowhere and back hugged me tightly.

“HyeRim…. Are you really okay?”

He asked.

“Ne… I am… I’m just tired.”

I replied.

Chanyeol knew from my face and tone that it wasn’t nothing or tiredness. Chanyeol began to nuzzle his head in my neck and started planting kisses.

“Chanyeol… Stop…”

I said trying to push him away with my wet hands.

“Waeyo?”

He asked as he continued to kiss my neck. I turned my body towards him and he pushed my body against the counter as he continued to kiss my neck.

“Chanyeol… No.. Stop. I’m not in the mood…”

I said, but Chanyeol didn’t listen, he just continued to plant kisses from my neck to my collarbone.

“Chanyeol… Stop… Stop!”

I shouted as I finally pushed him away. I wrapped my arm around my other arm and looked down.

“Look… I’m not in the mood for doing it right now, so can we just… Not?”

I asked as I continued to look to the ground. I heard Chanyeol sigh and reply,

“Arraseo…”

Afterwards, I heard him walk to his room and close the door. I just stood there in the empty kitchen, thinking.

After washing the dishes, I went to bed.Kai….. I want to see you…. I want you to hold me in your arms and kiss me and… I just want you here with me….. Kai…

With that, I slowly drifted off to sleep, as it was 2 AM.

I groggily woke up the next morning to find Chanyeol shaking me to wake up.

“HyeRim! HyeRim! Wake up! HyeRim!”

He shouted at me.

“M-Mwoh-yah, Chanyeol?”

I asked as I sat up in bed.

“YoungJoo-yah….. YoungJoo is gone!”

My eyes widened as he said that.

“M-Mwoh-rahgo?”

I asked once more. Chanyeol held my shoulders and repeated,

“YoungJoo! He’s gone! We have to find him!”

At that, I got up from bed and immediately got ready. Leaving the house together, we first went to his school.

“Chogiyo. Are you YoungJoo’s guardian?”

A teacher asked.

“Ne.”

Chanyeol and I replied.

“Where has he been? Class midterms started several hours ago.”

She said. At that point we knew that he ditched school as well. We then explained to the teacher the situation and she spread the word. It shouldn’t be that hard to find him as this countryside is quite small and everyone knew every person here.

We ran from houses to stores to alleyways and he was no where to be found until,

“Chogiyo. Are you HyeRim?”

An old man asked. He had many wrinkles that went from head to toe. He wore a Buddhist monk robe, so I knew he was a monk. He was bald and his body shook as he was nearly reaching the last stages of his human life.

“Ne.”

I said as I breathed heavily from the running.

“I’m from the outskirts of the countryside and I heard form some friends of mine that you are looking for your younger brother.”

He said.

“Ne! Have you seen him?!”

I asked with a tint of hope in my eyes.

“Ne.”

He said quickly.

“Where is he?”

I asked frantically.

“He is no longer here in the country.”

He said bluntly.

“Mwoh?”

I said. Chanyeol’s jaw dropped open.

“Ne…. Your brother, YoungJoo, had dropped by my temple earlier, prayed, ate, thanked us for the food, and left without saying another word.”

The old man said. I was on the verge of tears.

“Do you know where he went? Where he could possibly be right now?”

Chanyeol asked.

“No, but I did hear him murmuring to himself while he ate. He said something about going to the city and finding, I think, a friend of his.”

The old man said. Chanyeol and I looked at each other, knowing that YoungJoo was on his way to Seoul looking for Kai.

“Thank you, Monk…. Thank you.”

I said to him and bowed many times.

“I think you should be leaving now because driving when the sun is down is bad fortune around here, so you better hurry.”

He said. I thanked him one last time and so Chanyeol and I went back home, packed, and began to drive to Seoul while it was still daylight. The driving took hours and hours. The sun slowly set down into the rice paddy fields.

“Chanyeol… You remember what that monk said…. Right?”

I asked.

“Yes, I know… Not to drive at night, but this is an emergency, we have to get to Seoul by tonight.”

He said. The monk said that driving in the night around here was bad fortune and I began to worry. Will we be able to find YoungJoo in a big city? How will we be able to find him? What if something bad has happened to him already?

My hands clenched together and I bit my lip. Why won’t time pass by faster?

Night was falling, but Chanyeol refused to stop even after I kept on reiterating the monk’s words.

We arrived in Seoul after about 6 and half hours throughout the whole trip. It was already dark by the time we reached Seoul. At first, Chanyeol and I didn’t know where to start, until Chanyeol got a phone call from YoungJoo.

Chanyeol POV

*ring ring *

“Yoboseyo? YoungJoo! Where the hell are you!?”

“Yah! Chanyeol-ah! I haven’t heard from you in years! How are you?”

The man on the other line asked. My eyes widened with shock and anger. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists.

“YoungMin……”

I growled

“Woah, woah, woah there tiger. I know. I know, you were expecting a phone call from YoungJoo, right? Don’t worry! He’s right here at home…. With me.”

He said with a malicious voice.

“Yah…. Don’t you dare hurt him…. Or else I’ll really kill you…”

Chanyeol said with a menacing voice.

“Woah there! Don’t worry about it… Just come and visit SM Entertainment tomorrow and we’ll talk about it, hm? Don’t worry! I’ll bring YoungJoo too. Safe. And. Sound."

YoungMin said. I clenched my teeth and replied.

“Fine….. We’ll be there.”

After hanging up with YoungMin, I didn’t realize the whole time I had the conversation, HyeRim was begging to talk to him on the phone.

“Yah! Park Chanyeol! What the hell! I wanted to talk to him!”

She screamed at him as his chest multiple times.

“HyeRim…. Calm down… I know that you are scared and nervous, but you have to relax….”

Chanyeol said to her as he hugged her tightly and patted her head. Slowly, HyeRim began to be more relaxed in the situation, but uneasiness still lingered in her heart…

HyeRim POV

Afterwards, Chanyeol and I went to stay for a hotel for the night. Chanyeol took a shower first, whereas I just paced around the room. Moving from corner to corner of the room, I paced and folded my arms. What if HE did something to YoungJoo already? What if he started to torture him? What if YoungJoo is already dead? Andwae… I can’t think like that. I know that YoungJoo will be safe when Chanyeol and I go the SM tomorrow… Ne… That’s right… Calm down, HyeRim…. Calm-

“Woah-“

Chanyeol said as he got out from the shower and bumped into me. He saw my worried face and sighed.

“HyeRim….. Are you pacing? You have to stop. I know that YoungJoo being with YoungMin is nerve wracking, but you have to know that YoungJoo is strong. No matter what happens to him, you know that he will always find a way out of this situation…. You too….”

Chanyeol said as he held my shoulders tightly. I nodded in agreement and decided to finally let it go for the night.

I took a shower and then I went to bed, but that lingering feeling…. Why won’t it go away?

The Next Morning

Narrator POV

Somewhere in Seoul

In the dark room once more, Kai stood there with more scars than the last time. He wore a tank top, but it was all stained with the deep red color of blood. From the holes of his tank top, you could see bruise marks that would never go away and pale marks from the scars of torture that he had gone through for the past 11 years. Kai’s face had more scars than before that covered his face. Kai just stood there under the hanging light. Hands clasped together in front of him, he looked forward and heard YoungMin.

“Ready Kai?”

YoungMin said.

“I’m ready…..”

Kai replied in a monotone voice, still looking forward from where the voice came. YoungMin came out from the darkness and patted Kai’s shoulder.

“Looks like HyeRim will have a big shock soon…”

 This Kai…… Has changed completely… But how? What will happen later? Will Kai be at SM Entertainment and meet HyeRim for the first time in 11 years? Will YoungJoo be dead or alive? For all we know…. Kai might be siding with YoungMin...