That Dog, Young Jae - 2. Chapter 2

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Confucius says:

People wish for the life

Of those they love while wishing
for the death of those they hate,

Once you wish for life,

To also wish for death is confusion."

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2

Min stood up and the ground started coming at him fast. Reaching out to grab on to Shin’s jacket he closed his eyes and opened them again. Thankfully, the ground was right where it was supposed to be. He turned to Shin and grinned.

“I think I’m drunk.”

“No kidding,” Shin chuckled, glancing around the dark street. They still had a few blocks to go before they got to his house. Since they had all gotten tipsy, they’d taken a taxi and stopped at a coffee shop for some coffee to sober up. Min had drunk the most; he was barely half way to sober. “You can’t hold your liquor. This is what happens when we let you loose in a club with free booze.”

“It’s not that bad.” Min let go of Shin’s jacket to show him he could walk just fine, but the world spun. He bent over his hands braced on his knees. “It’s not my fault the earth keeps moving. Make it stop, Shin.”

“You are an impossible drunk.” Shin took his right hand and crouched in front of him. “Get on.”

“Get on where?” Min asked his arm held over Shin’s right shoulder. He blinked as he stared at Shin’s back. “Oh, are you going to give me a piggy ride? Can you even handle it? I’m very heavy.”

“Come on, Min. Jihu and Kaori are already at the house. We’ve been on this road for twenty minutes.”

Min chuckled and wrapped his arms around Shin’s neck. He pressed his chest to Shin’s back his movements wobbly and unsure. He smiled when Shin stood up with him on his back. Resting his chin on Shin’s shoulder, he breathed in Shin’s scent.

“You’re very warm, Shin.”

“And you’re very wasted.” Shin set a steady pace, and in ten minutes, they were walking up the short drive to Shin’s building. “Do you feel like you’re going to get sick? You had better warn me, so I put you down.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you.” Min closed his eyes as Shin reached for the gate to the compound and pulled it open. They walked up to the front door and Shin put in his code on the lock. When it clicked open, they walked in to the quiet foyer.

“We need to get you some more coffee.” Shin dropped him gently onto a bench on the corridor.

Smelling his shirt, he sighed at the scent of beer that spilt on him and shook his head. Leaning back on the wall, he watched Shin pull of his jacket and hang it in the closet. He didn’t want coffee. He’d already had enough to drink. He was about to state just that when Kaori’s angry voice reached him. Frowning, he turned his head toward the direction of the living room.

“Why are they fighting?” He moved to stand up but Shin intercepted him.

“Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make you coffee.”

Waving Shin’s hand off his shoulder, Min started for the living room. “It’s probably Jihu pissing her off. Come on, we have to stop them from fighting, hyung.”

“Min,” Shin started to protest but he wouldn’t hear of it. He used the wall to steady his steps to the living room.

The closer he got the clearer Kaori and Jihu’s voice came to him. “Min, it’s not our business, it’s probably Jihu trying to get with Kaori again.”

“They are our friends, Shin.” Min started to hurry into the living room until Kaori spoke and her words stopped him right by the entrance.

“We should tell him. This is going to affect him too. This acting like everything is fine for two days is not helping. I can’t take it.”

“It’s better this way. He counts on us to distress. We should at least be able to give him tonight without spoiling things.” Jihu’s tone was pleading.

“It’s mean. Min deserves better,” Kaori declared.

Gasping, he walked into the room and glared at the two facing off a couch between them. “Why do I deserve better?”

Jihu glanced up in surprise, his gaze narrowing and focusing on Shin behind him. “You can’t warn us?”

“He heard you arguing.” Shin shrugged and walked to the couch to take a seat.

“Min,” Kaori said quietly, taking a step toward him then stopping her face falling in defeat.

“Tell me what’s going on?” he demanded. He’d been sensing something all night, but he couldn’t for the life of him, figure out what was making Kaori so worried.

“We’re leaving,” Kaori said quietly.

“Leaving?” Min asked puzzled. “You’re not staying over? Is that what this is about?”

“Not leaving here, we’re going abroad, Min.” Kaori clarified with a strangely quiet tone. She looked up and he could have sworn he saw a wince when she said quietly. “We’ll all be gone for a year and a half, give, or take a few months.”

Min stared at her feeling like an idiot. He didn’t know whether to smile or cry. This bit of news would be cause for excitement for most people. It would be reason to be jumping around, and happy, but not for him. These three were his friends. The only people he trusted in the world.

Stepping back, he turned away from them and breathed out. “Uhm…” Even questions were hard to formulate. Walking to a stool, he sat down.

“Say something,” Jihu demanded coming to crouch beside him an arm on his shoulder. “Min, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you like this. I thought it should be tomorrow at lunch when we’re all sober.”

“It’s better this way.” Min looked at him and faked a smile. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going for an exchange program in London.” Jihu nodded to Kaori. “Her mother is taking her to Tokyo. They are launching a boutique there and Shin-

“Shin has been awarded a contract by Vodacom.” Min finished for him. “I heard it through my father, but I didn’t think you would have to leave Seoul. You’re going to Switzerland.”

“I need to for the first year.” Shin shook his head.

“That’s why you called me yesterday.” Min sighed and nodded. “I’m happy for you. All of you, this is good news for all of you.”

Kaori stared at him for a moment. “Min, you don’t have to act like its good news. I know this is hard-

Min shook his head. Squeezing Jihu’s shoulder, he shrugged. “It’s not; you guys deserve so much more. I’m really happy for all of you.”

Standing up, he hugged Jihu and moved to hug Kaori. Pressing a kiss on her cheek, he wiped at her cheeks.

“It’s not like we won’t call each other,” he soothed.

Letting her go, he turned to Shin. “You should have told me sooner. We would have opened a champagne bottle and celebrated. That contract is worth a lot of money. Your company is set, Shin.”

“I didn’t want to brag.” Shin laughed and stood up. “Besides, I’ve yet to win you in net worth. Bragging rights will only happen when I’ve bested you.”

Min was about to hug Shin when the doorbell rang. Shin frowned and headed out of the living room to open the door. Kaori came to stand beside him, her hand slipping around his waist. “I know what you’re doing. I’m not stupid.”

“What is that, Kaori?” He turned to smile at her and the smile froze when he saw Young Jae at the entrance. Kaori gasped beside him.

“Let’s go.” Young Jae ordered. Two men stalking in toward him followed those words. Kaori held on tightly to his waist as the men stopped right before him. One of them reached out to grab his arm and he gave the gesture a warning glance.

“This is Shin’s house. Can’t you show some respect, Young Jae?” Min demanded glaring at the two suits.

“You show some respect first.” Young Jae stood with his hands at his hips. “Please don’t make this any harder than it needs to be.”

“Leave my house.” Shin demanded appearing from the direction of the door. He looked flustered, like he’d just been arguing. He ignored Min’s concerned gaze and glared at Young Jae. “You can’t budge in here like you own the place.”

“Don’t get me started.” Young Jae warned. “Min, come on. If you don’t want your friend here to be hurt, you know the drill.”

He really hated Young Jae at that moment. He couldn’t believe how much, his disgust for the man threatened to choke him. Shin had his hands clenched in fists. One more word from Young Jae was probably going to trigger him.

“Don’t,” Kaori started, when she felt him shift. “We can bargain with him. This is the only time we’ll be together like this. Jihu and Shin are leaving on Monday.”

“Move it, Min. I still have work to do. Your father is landing at six in the morning.” Young Jae glanced at his watch. “That’s three hours from now. Stop playing around.”

“You can’t talk to him that way.” Jihu shook a fist at Young Jae. “Seriously, have you lost your mind? He’s a national assembly member’s son. Who are you?”

“Jihu, stop,” Min said wincing at the reference. He didn’t like it when people treated him different for being a politician’s son. He hated it more than he hated why Young Jae was standing there looking at him expectantly. “I’ll leave with him. You guys need to sleep.”

“Min,” Kaori said holding him in panic. “We won’t see you after this.”

“It will be fine.” Hugging her, he held her for a moment before he let go. “If you run into problems call me.”

“I will.” She let go of him and he turned to Jihu. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“I’m a bit wilder than you, Jun Min Ho.” Jihu patted his back when they hugged and he pulled back. “I’ll come back to beat that jaebol shine off you. I wouldn’t want it to settle.”

Min laughed. “I’ll expect it.”

Young Jae glared at him as he walked toward him. Ignoring the bastard, he turned to Shin. Taking a fisted hand in his, he pulled him toward a private alcove just off the main corridor. Leaning up, he wrapped his arms around Shin’s neck and pressed a kiss to his lips. It was a light kiss, one meant to soothe instead of arouse. They had a lot of history between them. They had once dated. A long time ago, it felt like ancient history, but kissing him now, it felt like yesterday. His heart surged with nostalgia.

Shin pulled away first, breathing hard his hands sliding up his back pulling him closer. “I wanted to tell you myself, but it was too hard. I worry about you, Min, even when I shouldn’t.”

“I think that has always been the biggest problem between us.” Min looked up into Shin’s eyes. “I love you, hyung. That will never change.”

“I love you too.” Shin shook his head. “I don’t like how that Young Jae looks at you. Find a decent boyfriend, already.”

“I used to have one.” Min smiled. “He ended becoming my best friend.”

“Well, your best friend is telling you to find a nice guy to love you more than me.” Shin brushed his fingers through Min’s hair. “Be good, Min. I’ll email you everyday.”

Min smiled and nodded. Pulling away from Shin, he stopped him when he started to follow. “Don’t, stay. You and Young Jae fighting is something I’d rather not see. Goodbye, Shin, I hope you find what you’re looking for in Switzerland.”

“Min,” Shin said quietly.

Ignoring the soft call, he hurried out of the alcove almost running into Young Jae. When the man reached out to steady him, he slapped his hand away and headed for the front door on his own steam. Outside he found three men waiting for him. He followed them to the black SUV and once he was in the back passenger seat, he leaned back and held on to the pain. When Young Jae slid in beside him, he’d recovered his composure enough to glare at the bastard.

“You’re a pain in the ass. I’ll be sure to have a talk with your father tomorrow morning.”

“Who’s stopping you?” He grumbled.

It really was confusing, he thought. Loving three people so much, with his heart, and hating another as much with the same heart. No wonder it was so painful. All the conflict was driving him crazy.

strong>**hyung - means "older brother." It is viewed as a sign of a close relationship and respect among men. As the older brother, a hyung often has the burden — or honor, depending on your point of view — of picking up the tab  or taking responsibility for everyone younger.**jaebol - (pronounced 'chaebol') - means a family/clan with big business. A conglomerate in american terms, except family controlled for many years.  Only blood family inherit, so oldest son/daughter...