Chapter Text
“Are mimosas still mimosas if you put vodka instead of champagne?”
“Taeil hyung…”
Donghyuck observed, worried, Taeil drink his entire glass.
“It's better if you just go with the flow.” Sicheng said.
It was the annual polo game promoted to raise funds for charity. Every year one of the richest families, the Yoon, holds this event including brunch, fancy drinks and a polo game. The custom was for all the guests to wear light colors, which they all dressed elegantly and some ladies even took the opportunity to wear big hats.
Donghyuck loved these events, he enjoyed watching the game with his friends, trying his best to learn by observing with Jeno and Yangyang, the only ones who would usually play polo with him. It was almost perfect, they would enjoy the sun while drinking fruity drinks, that were too light to get drunk, and eat canapés.
It was just like a picnic. Donghyuck got lost in his inner thoughts if Mark liked picnics or if he knew something about polo, or any kind of other sport, he didn't seem like someone who enjoyed sports.
“Who is going to start this year's game?” Jaemin asked.
They were standing beside the bar that was under one of the many tents that were distributed around the place, trying to run from the strong sunbeams that were burning their skin.
“Jaehyun was not a good choice last year.” Sicheng said “But he was beautiful with that white shirt.”
“Own! Thank you, Sichengie!”
There it was Jaehyun, smiling like he ate the sun, appearing from behind Sicheng with Doyoung by his side. But Sicheng didn't even get the chance to be happy to see his boyfriend before Jaehyun was wrapping him in a hug just like a snake.
Making Sicheng really annoyed.
“Christ Jaehyun, let me go!”
“Kissy!” Jaehyun plumped his lips and Sicheng pushed him away.
“Jaehyun let the poor boy go, he's been winning about kissing Doyoung the whole day.” Taeil said.
Jaehyung laughed loudly, detangling himself from Sicheng.
“Taeil hyung stop saying these things in front of the kids.” Doyoung arrived a couple steps behind Jaehyun.
“Hey!” Jaemin said.
“We are not kids anymore!” Donghyuck said.
Doyoung pretended not to hear what they were saying by drinking from his flute. And Sicheng pushed Jaehyun away so he could drape himself in Doyoung, smiling once again while whispering to his boyfriend.
They got distracted from the main talk really fast when Jaehyun began to talk about his future wedding, he had just asked the hand of his girlfriend. No one could say they were surprised when he proposed. A month prior to it Jaehyun reunited with the Lee brothers and told them about his decision to marry Chaeyoung, even showing the ring he chose.
“You two are the closest thing of a family I have.” Holding their hands Jaehyun began to sob.
“We feel the same, we love you.” Taeyong said “Now Chaeyoung will also be part of our little family.”
One tear went down Jaehyun´s face when he kissed Taeyong´s hand.
“I hope you give me many nephews.” Donghyuck tried not to cry, but he was smashed in his brother's embrace with Jaehyun, causing him to succumb to it.
“My two beautiful baby´s, how could you two grow so fast?” Taeyong pressed them closer to his chest like he didn't want them to grow more.
After so many years together, Donghyuck could not imagine or wish for something different for them.
“And I want all my friends beside me!” Jaehyun said.
“Talking about friends,” Donghyuck remembered, “Where´s Taeyong?”
Jaehyun´s smile flinched but he keeped it up.
“He went to the car to pick something for Chaeyoung.” He answered.
Now, Donghyuck knew that it was probably not the true reason Taeyong went to the car, but he chose to believe in it for the sake of his and his brother's truce. So he smiled back at Jaehyun, changing the subject to once again Jaehyun´s wedding.
He noticed, in the middle of Jaehyun discussing with Jaemin and Doyoung about the best destination for vacation, that Sicheng and Taeil have been strangely quiet for some time. They were usually bubbles of gossip when the subject was wedding planning, principally Sicheng, who would always give hints to Doyoung. Sadly for him, his boyfriend would take it as a joke.
It was not much longer after his notice that Taeil would excuse himself saying he got some important business to deal with in another place. Donghyuck frowned at his hyung suddenly business, he not once in his life saw Taeil leave any social gathering to deal with anything.
The pope could be dying and Taeil would still be drinking wine.
“I think the game will start soon, let's pick a good place, Doie.” Sicheng announced, taking Doyoung´s arm on his own and smiling.
“Okay… See you all later.”
They parted not even looking behind to know if their friends they left said any other thing. Donghyuck could only say that he was used to how they were by now, after all they had been dating for what seemed like an eternity.
Jaehyun sighed “They are like an open book.”
He also left smiling while calling for his fiance.
“Am I the only one lost here?” Jaemin asked.
Donghyuck laughed, chugging his drink down.
The Yoon´s were an old family, some may say they came from royal lineages, and that would explain why all their houses were surrounded by big fields. The main house was enormous with stables in the back area also big enough to easily keep ten horses in there.
The horses were already taken from the stables so the players could warm up before the game. Now how Taeyong ended up pressed against the door of the stables kissing Byun Baekhyun was what he kept asking himself.
“You're so hot.” Baehyun whispered.
It was what Taeyong needed to hear to melt in the man's arms, whimpering at the hand inside his shirt. His hair was already ruined from Baekhyun pulling it and now his clothes were all wrinkled.
He breathed harder than he would usually do when Baekhyun kissed his neck, pressing one hand on the other side to hold him still. But he felt trapped and tried to wiggle himself off Baekhyun´s grip.
“Baek, we spent too much time away, your wife will notice.”
“We'll make it quick.” He said, continuing to mark his neck.
With the hand that Taeyong took away from him Baekhyun tried to push him on his knees by his shoulder.
Taeyong giggled, “I will dirty my pants.”
“I will buy you new ones.”
“Baek no, no…” Taeyong pushed him away “No!”
Maybe it was an impulse or any other reason, but when Taeyong pushed him one more time, this time harder, a hand hitted his face. He holded his face, feeling the heat on his cheek like the hand was still there, hard enough to feel like it could break his entire body in little pieces.
“Oh my, babe I´m sorry.” Baekhyun's voice has softened now “You pushed me and I… I´m sorry.”
He flinched when the man's arms wrapped around him.
“I´m sorry, babe… I will take you to dinner and shopping next week, okay?”
Taeyong weakly nodded, feeling relieved when those arms left him just like their owner. He stayed still there in the stables, alone still holding his face not allowing any tear to drop. Feeling numb and weak he stood there, eyes fixed in one point but his mind was not there anymore, like he was just a shell and nothing more left.
“Taeyong?”
He didn't look up.
“Yongie! What's wrong?”
Warm hands were placed in his face, he flinched. The person lifted his face and his eyes took some time to adjust again, but he could identify Yuta´s face, smudged with worry all over it.
“It's okay, I'm here.” Yuta caressed his face “I will protect you.”
“Don´t… don´t tell… Hyuckie.” he whispered.
“Shh… Don't think about this right now.”
Yuta holded him, wrapped his arms around his shoulder, letting Taeyong rest his head on his shoulder. He pushed him to sit on the dirty floor of the stables with Taeyong between his arms still not crying.
They spent a long time there, they didn't speak or anything. And Taeyong didn't tell Yuta why he was like that, he knows he doesn't need to, Yuta would still hold him tight against his chest and he wouldn't question anything.
He wished to stay there for a bit more, maybe forever, feeling warm and loved in the little bubble they created. But they couldn't, it would not feel right.
“We can go home.” Yuta said.
“No, it's okay… Let's watch the game, you like to check out the players”
Yuta laughed.
“I'm okay, don't worry.”
“I will pretend that I believe in you.”
“Just like I pretend you don't like Sicheng?” Taeyong teased.
“No, because I don't like that brat. And stop running from the main thing.” Yuta holded his hands tightly. “I´m your friend and you´re not alone, Taeyong.”
It was natural for him to close himself from the others and take care of his own burdens, maybe it was because of his parents not being able to be there for him, or the pressure of being perfect for the world, maybe even the responsibility of raising his brother at such a young age. How could he be selfish enough to share his pain, his loneliness, so big that it made him run in circles for the minimum of affection he could have, how could he allow himself to be loved?
“I will stand by your side.” Yuta caresed his face, “Come on, let's go.”
He cleaned both of them as much as he could, even tried to fix Taeyong´s hair but it was not a bit close to it. They walked side to side with Taeyong´s arm hooked in Yuta´s, and the man telling him stories about how his dad is trying to teach him to play guitar.
Taeyong could not hold the giggles when imagining Nakamoto Miyavi - famous businessman who was always serious and used to sent his personal security to pick Yuta everytime the boy ran away from home to go party when they were younger - playing guitar on top of the table pretending he's a rock star.
“You're lying to me!” Taeyong said, laughing like a child.
“I´m not, I swear that he was not drunk!” he laughed “Okasan wanted to-”
Suddenly, he stopped walking. Taeyong frowed looking at Yuta´s face, eyes vaguely observing a fixed point away from them.
“What?” Taeyong turns to look too “Oh…”
Distant from them a couple were making out behind one of the many trees surrounding the main house, they seemed happy and comfortable in each other's arms.
“Sorry, Yuta.”
“I don't like him, Taeyong, I just despise Doyoung.”
“You can lie to me but not to yourself.”
He didn't respond but he knew Yuta tensed when he saw Doyoung caress Sicheng´s face, and the boy shone like the sun. Taeyong pressed his lips together, placing his head on Yuta´s shoulder trying not to feel sorry for his friend. If he didn't want to talk about his feelings he should have had a good reason. And that reason stood right there holding the most pretty boy they knew.
“Doie is a good person… Sometimes.” Taeyong says.
“Doie could try to stop stealing my employees.” Yuta huffed “And stop blaming me for that ridiculous sabotage!”
“You two still fight for that? It's been 4 years Yuta!”
“EH! HE'S THE ONE WHO KEEPS BRINGING IT UP, OKAY?” Yuta lifted his finger moving it around.
“Two kids!”
Yuta pouted at him, and Taeyong could care less about his child behavior, pulling him back to the party and away from the couple.
He felt a lot better now, still his heart was tight and heavy inside his chest. But he could live like that, he could live another day and to listen to Yuta´s stories, to watch his brother laugh with his friends, to enjoy another sunset. But he would still wish that this feeling, the emptiness of it all, would go away.
Maybe it was not his best idea, but it was the least he could do.
Taeil walked with confidence, even if he was about to get on his knees and beg for his friend's life he should walk with his head up and chest open. But a cold sweat went down his spine as soon as he reached the entrance, where a black car had just stopped.
A man got out of the car, wearing white clothes similar to Taeil´s and he was alone. The first thing he saw was Taeil walking towards him, he smiled wide to him and stood there in the middle of the decoreded grass field.
“I´m very disappointed in you, Qian Kun.” Taeil made a small run towards the man “But I missed you so much.”
Kun opened his arms welcoming him, who did not hesitate to jump in his neck and crash into him. He was a sucker for hugs, maybe he was a little soft and being raised by his grandma did not help his touch starve.
“Hi, Taeil hyung… I missed you too.”
He could hear in Kun´s voice that he was smiling, and pressed his face closer to Kun´s neck, smelling his cologne, which he noticed to be new.
After a minute has passed, Taeil pulled away even if he knew Kun was the type of person to hold you for an entire day if it was the case. And prayed for him to still be that righteous man.
“I missed you too, Taeil hyung, sorry I didn't call.”
Taeil smiled “I understand, I can only imagine how everything went…”
“Hm, it's still really complicated.”
Only God knows how Taeil wanted to hear “No! Everything is great now with my still missing brother and all.”, but he was not in a teen kdrama. He swallowed hard, cleaning the sweat in his hands on his pants keeping his smile wide.
“So, Kun, I need to talk to you-”
“Sorry, Taeil hyung, but I can´t.” Kun interrupted him.
“Hm?”
Taeil was not sure if they were talking about the same thing anymore, and made sure to not hide his confused expression towards his friend.
“You´re not the first person to come to me to beg for Sicheng´s life.”
Only one year has passed for him, but for Kun it seemed like it was ten or more, Taeil could see now looking better at his face. Eyes blurry and deep with something that he could not clearly know, but it was not good, even if he was smiling brightly at him Kun was not happy.
From the beginning he was aware that it was foolish and the probability of working was lower than 5%, but he had to try, not only for Sicheng but also for Kun´s sake. He could not handle the way their friendship would be after.
Taeil took a deep breath.
“He broke our trust, because of jealousy.” Kun said “He broke our first rule, Sicheng has to face the consequences.”
Taeil could not bare to look at Kun now, it was dumb to ask for that because he knew what Sicheng did was unforgivable, and still he came to ask for Kun´s forgive.
“It was Sicheng who said “Whoever backstabs you, deserves revenge two times worse.”, I´m sorry Taeil hyung you´ll have to handle the damage control.”
He placed his hand on Taeil´s right shoulder, patting it gently. It was pitfull of him to stand there, looking at his feets, so he raised his head and brushed it off his face smiling at Kun. Whatever was destined to happen now it was not in his power to stop, it never was, he could only watch the chaos and collect the fragments of his friends.
Frowning his eyebrows he looked again into Kun´s face.
“Who else knows about Sicheng?”
Laughing filled the place like summer time, and Jaemin felt nice smiling beside his best friend.
They were observing the players warm up, drinking sweet drinks and commenting about a new video game with Yangyang.
“We should do something for christmas.” Yangyang says “Budapest or skiing.”
“Hm, I think skiing…” Donghyuck sipped his drink “We went to Budapest for Hendery´s birthday last year.”
“Oh yeah! I almost forgot because Sicheng locked me into the room.”
“Because you blacked out for two hours, we thought you had died.” Jaemin said.
“It will take more than that to kill me!”
He chugged his drink down to push his point into them. The other two boys scrunched their eyebrows to Yanagyang, who was smiling.
Dumb. Even if Jaemin was not the most careful with his health and well being, he was afraid of death. Sometimes he didn´t know how to continue, moments when his father would throw harsh words towards him, when feeling betrayed by every person he loved, and he could not stop himself thinking what a damn coward to still be here. Alive.
Like he could feel Jaemin struggling with his own demons, Donghyuck squeezed his arm. His smile was soothing and kept him grounded, not only now. Wishing he could have done the same for Donghyuck back then, when everything was suddenly torn from their hands, back when they lost their best friend.
“I will look for Hendery and Jeno, the game is about to start.” Yangyang said, walking towards the other side where they stood.
Jaemin took a long sip from his glass. “I need another one, you?”
He pointed his glass in Donghyuck´s direction, offering.
“No, thanks. I will wait here for Taeyong.”
“Okay, don´t worry too much, you´ll get wrinkles.”
He pinched his cheeks, like an old untie would do, and Donghyuck slapped his hand away.
Jaemin walked in the direction of the big tents, where they were before close to the bar. It was almost empty right now because every guest wanted to have a clear view of the polo game. He asked for his cocktail and the bartender gave him a kind smile before starting to prepare his drink.
While waiting he observed his surroundings. Everyone wearing white in his eyes seemed too fake, like a bride entering the church wearing white to represent purity. What a shame no one could be this pure born in a world like theirs.
Something catches his eye.
From the corner of his eye he was able to see his father entering the main house, accompanied by no one else than Lee Jeno. They were both laughing and his father had his hand on Jeno's shoulder, Jaemin never saw his father smile like that.
In a matter of seconds he was speeding towards the house, forgetting whatever he was doing before, he was quickly to stand in the front steps of the house. Stooding there for a couple of seconds, with his hands on the handle, he breathed and pushed the door.
“You really grow, Lee Jeno.” his father said.
He sounded happy, and it made Jaemin startled.
“Thanks, uncle Na.”
Right now Jaemin wished to have stayed at home with his mother. His father was standing in the middle of Yoon´s living room pouring a drink to Jeno, who stood there smiling.
Jaemin felt like a fool.
“Jaemin?” Jeno was the first to see him standing there.
“Jaemin, what are you doing here?” The tone his father used was nothing similar to the one he was using right now with Jeno.
“W-What are you doing here?”
“Why are you so disrespectful? Did I not raise you right?” His father said, his words were harsh and created a tension in the air “Can´t you be more like Jeno? Such a nice young man, who actually does something for his family. The Yoon´s even chosen him to open the game today, did you know?”
Jaemin didn´t. In fact he wished he would never know, he wished to never have met Lee Jeno in his life.
In every chance his father had to compare him with Jeno he would do it to hurt, he should be used to it since he did that since they were fourteen. But it still hurts to hear that everytime, he would stand there looking at his father's disappointed face, and worse, Jeno was always there to hear.
“Your father must be really proud of you Jeno.”
“Oh… They are… I think.” Jeno was looking at Jaemin, but he would not look back at him.
“Of course he is, I would be if I had a son like you, your actual dad must be really proud.”
His chest ached.
Jaemin didn´t notice his father leaving, just heard the sound of the door closing and he was alone with Lee Jeno, who was now standing close to him.
“Jaemin? Are you okay?”
Looking up he saw Jeno´s worried face, he was close and his hands too but he did not dare to touch Jaemin first.
“I will go fetch Donghyuck, wait-”
“Shut up, Lee Jeno.”
Jaemin could not be sure what possessed him to pull the boy by the neck. He fitted almost perfectly between his arms, like it was meant to be, Jeno´s hands went instantly to his waist and with their foreheaded glued together. He knew Jeno was trying to look directly into his eyes, but he couldn´t, not now, so he pulled him once again.
Feeling his lips against his own again, the pressure of his hands on his waist pulling him closer and closer. He was suffocating on this, Jaemin was drowning in his sins and taking Jeno with him.
Jeno pulled away first.
And he could still not look into his eyes.
“You-”
“Shut up, Jaemin.”
Jeno pressed him against the wall behind him, hand on his blonde hair that probably messed it entirely, his other hand raising his leg so he could place his thigh between his. He made a trail down into Jaemin´s neck sucking onto it, and Jaemin moaned while holding his hair.
“Fuck Jaemin, will I ever understand you?” Jeno said between kisses.
We will never know. It's what Jaemin wanted to say, but he only moaned again. Jeno´s hand that was holding his thigh trailed up his side once again resting in his waist. The boy pulled him away from the wall, while still kissing him, and he blindly looked for the door of the room next to the living room.
Jeno opened the door, bringing Jaemin with him.
“Ouch!”
Doyoung had hit his head into the tree behind him when Sicheng tried to kiss his neck. It was probably hurted by the look on his face, plus he was holding his head with one hand and bringing Sicheng up with the other.
“Sorry, Doie.” Sicheng caressed his face “Maybe if we go inside I can give you-”
“No, no, no. It's okay, I think the game it's going to start, let's go back.”
“NO!”
Doyoung looked confused and startled at the boy. “Why not?”
He sighed.
“I just… We haven't seen each other much since my birthday.” Sicheng said, looking at his feet “I know it´s kind of my fault but…”
Even if his initial plan to distract Doyoung was not about his birthday, he was not lying about this. He has been purposefully avoiding Doyoung, who didn't even know why but still sent flowers and chocolates to him anyway. Did it fill Sicheng's ego? Yes, but he was still not happy when he laid in his bed admiring the beautiful necklace he was gifted.
He was stressed. Avoiding Doyoung, and trying to make him not notice Kun´s return, was making his life a little bit too difficult.
“I thought if we came here you would remember when we started dating, making out behind these same trees…”
Doyoung smiled, pressing the boy into his chest.
“Dong Sicheng you´re an evil mastermind, if you wanted more attention you just had to ask.”
Sicheng looked up, eyes shining towards his love. It warmed every bit of him to be like this with him, he could even forget about everything he was hiding and breathe happily again between those arms. He wished he could tell Doyoung about everything, but it would hurt too much to see the disappointment in his face.
“Let's go back, okay?”
“Hm.”
Sicheng once again draped himself in Doyoung´s arm, smiling at his boyfriend telling him something about his day at the office.
But the universe could not give everything to him like that, peace never came easily.
Because there he was, standing beautifully dressing in all white, talking and laughing like he never went away. And he looked in Sicheng´s direction, raising his glass towards him, smiling. Giving chills to Sicheng´s entire body, he stopped and Doyoung looked at him worried.
“It's everything okay, love?”
“I… I... '' Sicheng looked at Doyoung, pondering all his choices to tell him the truth right now “No, I think I ate something bad, I´m not feeling well.”
“Oh my God, do you want to go to the hospital?”
“No, no… Let's just go home, can we?”
“Of course, love. Let´s go.”
Doyoung kissed his forehead, guiding him to the exit of the party where his car would be parked. He sighed, but he knew he could not avoid Kun forever.
He looked over his shoulder, Kun was still looking at him, smiling.
Everyone was already standing closer to the fence, waiting for the game to start while looking at the players already waiting for the opening of the game. It was kind of a tradicion where the Yoon´s would choose one of their guests to hit the first ball, and the next day that person would be all over the magazines and pages of the internet.
It was a very prestigious thing to be the one chosen.
But it seemed like the person was late, and it was making everyone really annoyed. Principally, the Yoon´s, they were doing their best to try to entertain everyone but they seemed really pissed.
“Uhg, why is Jeno taking so long?” Yangyang groaned beside him.
“Hm?” Donghyuck asked.
“Hm, Jeno was supposed to start the game this year.” Yuta surged beside them, with Taeyong right beside him.
“Really?” Taeyong said surprised.
“Jeno is really good at polo, and he really stood out last year, and they love a pretty face.” Yuta giggled while drinking from his glass.
“Strange.” Hendery pondered beside Yangyang “Jeno is not usually late, maybe something happened.”
Donghyuck scrunched his eyebrows.
“Yangyang didn´t you look for Jeno earlier?”
“He was talking with Jaemin´s father, so I came back.” The boy shrugged.
A strange feeling tightens Donghyuck´s chest. Jaemin didn't come back, and Jeno was talking with his father, he did not like how this was turning out. He wanted to go find his friends, but knowing Jaemin he would be more pissed if he tried to get between him and his father, even if he only wanted to help.
“I'm sure they're okay.”
He was so lost in his head he didn't notice Taeyong changing places with Yuta and standing beside him now. He was resting one hand on Donghyuck´s shoulder giving him a simpatic smile, trying to calm Donghyuck.
But looking at his brother he got more worried, his hair was all messed up, and his eyes were puffed like he had been crying.
“Taeyong-”
“We would like everyone's attention.” the robotic voice coming from someone talking through the mic sounded “The Yoon´s would like to thank every person present today to this charity event, it's always a pleasure for us to welcome and help everyone.”
Yuta huffed. They all were really trying not to roll their eyes.
“And to finally start the game, please welcome our guest…”
Donghyuck´s eyes almost jumped from his face. Coming from behind all the players on a white horse, smiling as always.
“Qian Kun.”