Hamin pondered how he gathered the courage to ask Siwoo to come over. He was surprised himself for bringing it up, the art room, how did I even thought about it so fast? He asked himself. However, it was evident that he was feeling over the moon that evening. Photoshoot was a success, he did so well it actually ended earlier than scheduled. The photographer was showering him with compliments and this time, it was a shoot for a local brand selling bags and men's perfume. "You're so photogenic and comfortable infront of the camera, Hamin-ssi! You look like you're in a good mood today!"
Hamin felt happy and gave the photographer a wide smile. Not only that, he had ordered the road manager to get food for the team on set and they are having dinner at the moment. Hamin was seated at the middle and beside him is the road manager, Seungchan. "I am! Thank you so much. Please enjoy the food!" Hamin ate a few slices of pizza and excused himself right after, the road manager too left with him to send him home.
The ride home felt peaceful, the city lights weren't as blinding to Hamin today like it was all this time. He could see people walking around at night, the night is still young definitely. The song on the radio too, was his favourite song from the artist, Bruno Mars's song 'When I was your Man' played as it was requested by one of the radio's listener.
He hums the lyrics and his road manager smiled and notices how Hamin looked thrilled today albeit the fact that he kept looking at the time makes him feel there was something Hamin was looking forward to after the schedule ends. Seungchan, who has been with him for two years, could feel that the actor is happy about something. He doesnt know exactly what, but he was happy to see him smile and looking forward to the day.
Hamin were always either playing games on his phone or dazing outside during the ride home or to a schedule. The song playing and Hamin humming triggered a memory from his first month working as his manager. He picked up Hamin, Jihyun and Jimin from a bar and the same song was playing, he remembered how Hamin was sobbing, albeit drunk but was conscious. It was one of those days where the trio cleared their schedule to hang out. This time, Hamin wasn't crying, he was smiling. Seungchan felt relieved and kept his feelings to himself. He knew he could pry and Hamin would tell because Hamin, out of all the artist he worked for, is the most unproblematic and respectful of all.
"Seungchan-ah." Hamin called out. "Yes, hyung!" The latter cheered but keep his eyes on the road. "You don't have to pick me up tomorrow for the night schedule. I'll drive myself." Seungchan nodded and five minutes after that, Hamin reached his building. He bidded goodnight to Seungchan, who needed to send the car back to the agency to prepare for tomorrow. Light schedule tomorrow and Hamin planned to sleep in.
His apartment complex had high security, in order to access the elevator, one would require facial recognition and for guest, they would require to register at the security post which is at the entrance. Once Hamin reached his apartment, it was already 9.10pm, he scanned his home and realised, how dull it actually looks. He sighed and turned on the lights and open the curtains. Letting the city light serenade his living room. His windows were glass windows, floor to ceiling and its practically like that throughout except the kitchen.
Go Hamin took a shower and ordered food just in case Kang Siwoo gets hungry. Once he was done with that, he stood up and dash to the art room. Recalling that the art piece he had of Kang Siwoo was still hanging on the wall. Carefully, he placed it inside his closet. He fidget around his own home, making sure everything looks neat and not gloomy. Go Hamin isn't sure why he's nervous, but he definitely didn't want to look messy or unpresentable. At this time, the clock is ticking, we're left with 5 minutes to 10pm. Kang Siwoo is neither a person whom we could consider impunctual nor is he one to come early. Just, always on time.
Go Hamin gets his grip together realizing that he needed to contained his excitement, he turned the television on and decides to watch some shows until Kang Siwoo arrives... It's been an hour and his guards have not contacted him.
He looked up at the digital watch on his wall and pondered whether he should ask Kang Siwoo if he was coming... Since... It's already 11.45pm now. Go Hamin sighs, tilting his head back and letting his entire body weight sink into the sofa. "I can wait... I've always been. This is nothing... Or he's busy, right?" He asked himself loudly. Go Hamin already ordered the security guards to let a man in the name Kang Siwoo and to assist him with the facial recognition. He's not waiting for someone to ring his doorbell, he's waiting for the guards to call him when someone by the name Kang Siwoo arrives.
"Or maybe... He changed his mind..." He pouts, he had lost track of time thinking and it's already past midnight, though it's too early to hit the sack, and the food he plated was already cold, he poured himself a glass of Ballentine and watched its amber liquid gently swaying in the glass as he swirls it around.
Hamin was alone in his sofa, wearing a white shirt and grey straight-cut sweatpants, waiting patiently. No text, no calls, he was sure that he was stood up. He knew he was out of his mind preparing all this, but he... He knew the look in Siwoo's eyes all the while they encountered each other after the break-up.
Suddenly, he received a call from the guard through the house monitor. He ran to press the answer button on the monitor and stood Infront of it, excitedly. "Hi sir, we have a gentleman here in the name of uhh, Kang Siwoo? Yeah. We have let him in as you instructed. Thats all, thank you." Just then, the doorbell rang and Hamin took a deep breath before opening the door. In the flesh, was Kang Siwoo himself all...
Bruised up?
"Hey what happened?!" He screamed frantically. Kang Siwoo had his cheeks flushed red and there was a cut on his bottom lip. It kind of look like a scratch then a cut. It was red and bleeding slightly. Go Hamin pulls Kang Siwoo into his home gently, looks around warily for any paparazzi before he closes his door. Go Hamin's heart sank when he saw the sight of Siwoo hurt. It was obvious that it either came from a punch or a slap. He crouches down and helped Siwoo to take off his shoes and stood up.
Kang Siwoo was looking straight, bloodshot eyes, lifeless and the dark circles accompanied with the eyebags was severely prominent this time. The cap he was wearing is longer in sight and his bangs covered his forehead. He smelled of alcohol too, which made Hamin wonder where did he go and why would he still come here in such a state. Kang Siwoo look around the house as he was pulled in and realised how big it is.
The taller male sat him on the sofa and rush to his kitchen to get the first aid kit. It was an open concept kitchen where the bar was just right infront of the dining table and the living room was a few steps away from the kitchen. Hence, he could here when Kang Siwoo asks him, "Were you drinking again?"
"I thought you ditched me today, so I was watching tv." Go Hamin walks to the couch with the first aid kit on hand and sat beside Si Woo. "I can do it myself, where is the washroom?" Si Woo looks around and Go Hamin shakes his head, denying Si Woo's request to do it independently. "It hurts more when you see to it yourself... Let me just do it for you." Hamin reassures. He opens the kit, spreads the sanitizer on his hands, took out the sterile gauze and brought his hand to Si Woo's face and press the wound with the gauze.
Si Woo winced a little and glances at the male who seems to concentrate on the wound, checking if there's blood soaking through the gauze which fortunately, none did. Go Hamin really wanted to pry, wanting to ask what happened, where was he and who did this to him but he didn't. He knew he doesn't have the right to do so. Once the bleeding stops, he changed to another gauze but this time it is soaked with saline solution. He cups Siwoo's face and cleaned the wound. "Let me know if it hurts." Si Woo just looks away, feeling flustered since their face were a few inches away from each other.
The cut was fortunately at the corner of Si Woo's lip and it was about 2.5 inches. Starting from the cheeks down to his chin, Hamin then daps it with the antiseptic solution and covers it with a long adhesive bandage.
Hamin gets up, swipes the thing he uses in a small bin beside the coffee table and stored the first aid kit somewhere. Then, he grabs the food he order and put it on the coffee table. "Let's eat first, I was starving waiting for you." He joked and smiled slightly. "Can't you just show me the art?" Hamin again shakes his head. "Eat first, please?"
Si Woo sighs and nodded. They were both now sitting on the floor and have their backs rested on the couch. Hamin reminisce how they used to eat like this in their old apartment and swallows the tears welling up in his eyes. He opens for Kang Siwoo the jajangmyeon he ordered and mixes it for him. They were now silently eating while watching some action movie Hamin put on. Hamin realised how small Siwoo's appetite was, "Is it not good? You don't have to force yourself to eat. Maybe your stomach grumbled because you ate a lot before coming here?"
Siwoo puts down his chopstick and wipes his mouth with the tissue Hamin provided. "I eat like this usually." Hamin tilts his head, he remembered when Siwoo use to eat a lot back in the day... However, he shrug that thought away. A lot can change in 5 years, definitely.
Suddenly, Siwoo heard his phone rang and checked who it was. The expression on his face change after checking who the caller was, he deliberately threw his phone across the living room which shocked Hamin who was staring at him wide-eyed. Siwoo could feel the repssure coming from all sides, he feels caged, suffocated and excruciatingly restricted. To his dismay, the caller was his father, and he knew why he called.
"Fuck! We're already getting a divorced! What the fuck does everyone want from me!?" He confessed angrily. His face scrunches in frustration. You see... Amidst the divorce, everyone in the family deemed that the divorce was due to Siwoo's incapability to be a good husband. Little do they know, he was used and abused, and could be described as Younha's dog. The tension that has been build up for the past years, the patience he had, the loyalty he pledged and the one relationship that gave him solidarity which he had to throw, got to him after the incident that happened an hour ago.
Younha tattletale on him, again. The cycle repeats, Siwoo looks down in defeat, as if the entire weight of the world was on his shoulders.. scurrying to bring him down.
Kang Siwoo will never be able to escape his family's grasp.