Chapter Text
Minhyuk began to slowly second-guess his plan. He told the others of how sure he was about this plan, but now that it was settling in, he was regretting it. He just couldn’t stop thinking about Eunkwang. Granted, he never really did stop thinking about him in general.
They were college sweethearts. Minhyuk was studying to please his parents, while Eunkwang was studying because he knew who he was going to be, a vocal teacher. They were so different, and yet they couldn’t help but fall more and more in love with each other as time passed. They were together for 7 years, but broke up only 2 years ago. The couple was loved and adored by their friends, family, co-workers, teachers, etc. Everyone loved them and saw them as a fairytale romance come to life. So it was quite the scandal when it was announced they were no longer together. No one knew the reason behind the split, not even their close friends.
But Minhyuk knew why.
The day after informing the group chat of his plan, Minhyuk woke up early for work. As the lead sound engineer and producer of his company, it was his duty to come in early. He got dressed, ate his breakfast, and drove to the studio.
After hours of work, Minhyuk was interrupted by a knock on the door of his studio.
*KNOCK KNOCK* “My son!”
Minhyuk practically froze in place. He could feel his heart fall out of his ass. Slowly turning his head in pure shock, he sees what he feared most, his parents.
He jolts up from the editing bay, he began walking towards them with an awkward smile on his lips, “Uh…. hey mom, dad…. What are you doing here?” Minhyuk gave them quick little hugs, hand still on his mom’s shoulder.
“Well, we wanted to see our son and how he is doing,” Minhyuk’s father spoke first, smiling.
“You are always working so hard and never come to see us!” Minhyuk’s mom lightly taps her son’s arm. “We are so excited to see you! And I can’t wait to see Eunkwang too! That kid is always so busy, too. I haven’t heard from him in so long! How is he? How are you two?”
If Minhyyuk’s heart already fell out of his ass earlier, everything else just dropped. Believing he would have more time to prepare for his parents’ visit, he hadn’t contacted Eunkwang at all yet. Minhyuk, himself, was only informed last night. “Ah, Eunkwang is doing okay…” he gives a little nod.
“Then where is he? It’s lunch time right now, don’t you two normally go out to eat together?” Minhyuk’s father asks, looking around to see Eunkwang.
“Oh, we don’t really do that anymore. Both he, and I have so many clients now that it’s tough to meet each other during the day.”
Mrs.Lee could not believe her ears, raising her arms exasperatingly “Minhyuk! Did you two fight? What happened? You two should be keeping a routine, and keep spending time with each other. Don’t ever let your work get in between your relationship,” she scolded her son.
Minhyuk could feel his headache coming. ‘If only she knew how Eunkwang threw himself into his work.. She should be scolding him, not me,’ he bitterly thought.
“Mom, we are fine. We are just older now, that is all.”
“I guess. Well, call up Eunkwang now, we should eat as a family!”
“Ma, he is working, I don’t think he has time. He has a very important role at his company now days.”
“Well, I am not too hungry right now, we can meet back up for dinner then, so we are all together! You are working right now, we should let him be, my love,” Mr.Lee chimes in.
“I guess we could… but I want to see you and Eunkwang!” Mrs.Lee persists.
“Yes, ma’am,” Minhyuk says. After escorting them out, his parents part from his studio, and Minhyuk can’t help but fall into his chair helplessly. “What am I going to do?” He covers his face with his hands in disbelief. He has only a few hours to get Eunkwang to agree to his plan.
Rushing out of his studio’s parking lot, Minhyuk speeds to Eunkwang’s vocal academy.
The building, the chipped paint, the muffled sounds of melody leaking through the walls, everything is reminding him of Eunkwang. He used to spend hours hanging out at the establishment when Eunkwang and he were dating.
Minhyuk walks through the doors. He knew where everything was. Entering the elevator to the 3rd floor, where Eunkwang’s office and classroom were, Minhyuk stared at his reflection on the metal doors.’Telling them we broke up would be easier than this. I can leave now and no one would know I was here,’ he thought to himself.
Just as Minhyuk decided to make a quick escape, the machine dinged, doors opening, ready to hit the close button, he was met with just the man he was avoiding.
Eunkwang goes wide-eyed.
“Absolutely not,” disdain drips off Eunkwang’s tongue. He begins to walk back to his office with a folder and papers in hand.
‘It is now or never,’ the younger thought.
Minhyuk is too fast for him, speed walking towards him and grabs his arm, “Look, I know I am the last person you want to see, but I need a favor from you.”
The older rips his arms out of Minhyuk’s grip, turning his head quickly and fiercely. There is a fire behind his eyes, “What of ‘I never want to see you again’ was so hard to get? And a favor? Why would I do anything for you?”
Talking to Eunkwang felt different; it had only been 2 years since they last saw each other, but he looked more mature. “I understand you hate me, but this is important. My parents are here and want to see you, see us,” Minhyuk gulped.
“Why would they want to see me? We broke up a long time ago.”
“Well…. About that…” Minhyuk avoided eye contact.
“About what?”
“...They don’t know we broke up……. they are still under the impression we have stayed together….because…. We never broke up in their minds…”
Eunkwang could feel his blood pressure rise in real time, “YOU NEVER TOLD THEM WE BROKE UP????? WHY NOT?”
“I WANTED TO! But it just never came up…” Minhyuk tried to defend himself.
“I want nothing to do with you, and I’m sure you want nothing to do with me. Just tell them we broke up, and that you are a terrible son for lying to them. Keep me out of your problems, Minhyuk.”
“Hyung, please just this once.”
“No. Why do I need to suffer for your stupid decisions? You need to tell them. Get your shit together,” Eunkwang parted from the other.
Minhyuk saw red.
“GO! RUNAWAY LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO, EUNKWANG!”
The speed at which Eunkwang turned to face Minhyuk could have caused him whiplash. “What the fuck did you just say to me?” the older got into the younger’s face. A frown and furrowed brows filled his face.
Through gritted teeth, “Run. Away. Like. You. Always. Do.”
“That is really rich coming from you,” Eunkwang laughed, ”If anyone knows anything about running away, it would be you.” He paused to look at the other. Minhyuk’s lips shut tight, his face unreadable. “You know what? Fine, I will help you. I will help you lie to your parents and live in another one of your fake realities. Because, unlike one of us, I actually do not run away. I just know when to leave.”
Walking a few steps away, Eunkwang turns to face Minhyuk one last time, “Just to be clear, I am doing this for your mother. I don’t care about you anymore. I stopped caring a long time ago.”
“I know,” Minhyuk whispered into the silence of the now abandoned hallway.
Once Eunkwang opens the door to his office, he locks and collapses against the heavy wooden door. Tears flow down his face, a wave of exhaustion and anguish cast over his body.
After everything that happened, Eunkwang can still feel the pain he felt on the day they broke apart. The day Minhyuk broke his heart.