Ryan was wide awake. 

Frustrated, confused, and disturbed by the man nestled against his chest. Chul was a fortuitous helix in his fucking story. The theory of sleeping with him and letting him figure out his sexuality was a sure thriller at first until Ryan's mind began wandering for something more. He exulted to touch Wes, watching him become breathless under his attention, making him horny. Chul was horny as fuck, not that Ryan was opposing. But he often marveled at how it would be in a relationship with Chul. How it would be to claim in front of the world? To hold his hand while walking on the busy streets of Log Angeles? Ryan always wanted a family, a certain someone to whom he would splash every drop of love amassed in his heart. The idea of love and marriage never repulsed him. Though Chul seemed to shun those heavy terms. Not that he could blame Chul because the man recently discovered that he is bisexual. 

The issue was; that they weren't dating and Ryan wanted to. 

"Why aren't you sleeping? Sleep some more, then we have to get up," Chul rumbled into Ryan's neck, and the male shuddered with his raspy voice and steamy breath. Ryan's hand tightened around Chul's waist as he hauled him closer, slapped by an avalanche of emotions surging through him.

"Sorry, just go back to sleep. I had too much coffee. I have to get up in a while," Ryan said, his hand running through Wes's satiny hair. 

Chul hurled his head, his sleepy eyes flashing at the unruly man. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Ju-"

"Don't lie. Tell me, Ryan." Shuffling away from him, Chul climbed over the top of Ryan, straddling his torso. Ryan's heart was pounding like a hammer. Chul wasn't that hulking or a gym freak, but the man possessed a beautifully lean, and toned body. He had perfect nipples and chest, just enough muscles in his arms. He was just perfect. Very perfect for Ryan. 

Chul leaned forward and kissed him, igniting a sigh from Ryan. Their chest pressed against each other, and the rhythm of their heart harmonized their senses. Ryan's hands steadfastly held his waist and Chul sensuously moved his lips. His tongue grazed Ryan's lip, once, twice, thrice and a small whine erupted from him as Ryan wasn't letting him in. Smiling, Ryan parted his lips, enticing Chul's tongue into his mouth. It was a very slow kiss, like the calm winds on a winter night, like the whispers of waves on the shore. Their tongues tangled with an hymn of desire, their hand touching every part exposed to them.

Ryan abruptly broke the kiss, turning his head away. His jaw ticked because he was losing it. The words had imprisoned his tongue, but the mouth refused to deliver it. 

"What's wrong with you? Why don't you talk to me?" Chul demanded, his voice low and laced with hurt. 

"I don't want to." Ryan often taught Leona that if she doesn't have something nice to say, she should just keep her mouth shut. And he himself couldn't abide by that rule. He couldn't say the right thing, but it was so easy to suppress it by saying the wrong thing.

 "Ryan," Chul pressed, his hands cupping Ryan's cheek as he sought to make him look at him. "Did I do something wrong?" 

"No, Chul. Just sleep, please. It's not even six yet. I have a long day tomorrow." 

"God, why the heck you don't just talk?!" Chul's eyebrows scrunched in a deep frown, a vein of annoyance popping in his neck.

And Ryan snapped. "Talk what? I don't even know what you want from me, Chul. We sleep together that's it. You still flirt with the woman and men in your damn office and get jealous when even if I just glance at men. That's not how it works. That's not how I want it. That's not what I meant when I asked you to use me! I don't want to be your side whore and make excuse for your attitude. towards me"

Wes just stared at him, shaking his head. The ache was a crystal in his eyes. "I...Ryan, I never considered you as just a whore."

"Then what I am? I am sorry, but you know that I always wanted something more. I ignored my feelings to satisfy you. I can't anymore. I-Chul, it hurts. I need to know where we stand. What are we, Chul?"

The poisoning silence drenched their souls as they continued to stare at each other. Ryan couldn't decipher the look adorning Chul's face, but he commenced unraveling his silence. Wes's silence was his answer.

Ryan nodded, haltingly, in understanding. He rose, looking around for his clothes. 

"Ryan, don't go. Li-" Chul was hindered by the ringing of the phone. Ryan was prompt to receive the call and dismiss him. 

He was grateful to Leona to have her break off their conversation as he assailed the phone to his ear. "Hello, darling?"

"Ryan," There was a pulse of silence on the line before she pleaded, "I want to go to London."

Ryan's heart sank at the tone of her voice. Just like Leona had memorized the beats of his footsteps and the rhythm of his breaths, Ryan had memorized her voice in certain situations. He figured this was the situation where she was close to falling apart, "What's wrong? Where is Jimin?"

Another long pause. "He just left."

Ryan was already hustling his pants with one hand and grasping he was in hurry, Chul assisted him to put on his shirt. Ryan's attention was solely on Leona. "Leona, you are scaring me, darling. Is something wrong? I am heading there."

"Just book the flights. I don't want to stay, Ryan. I don't want to stay near him. I don't want to see him. We need to go. Please?"

His heart thawed in a staggering sense of protection over her. He knew he could die for this woman. She was a piece of his heart that he loved with his every breath. "Okay, okay. I am booking the flights. I will come and get you, and Leona?"

"Yes?"

"Please be okay while I come." He prayed because he had witnessed her shattering. He had witnessed her lying in pools of blood, he had witnessed her heart collapsing and bleeding against her own feet. It was ugly. Ryan couldn't bear it again. Leona thought she needed Ryan, but she would never know that Ryan needs her more. The mere thought of losing her makes him want to perish. 

He hung up, earnestly plunging his shoes as Chul pranced towards him with his wallet and glass of water. "Here, drink this."

With heavy eyes, and heart, Ryan accepted the glass and guzzled the water in one go. Then they stood awkwardly for a flash. Ryan toppled his chin back at the door. "I...um..leaving. Probably to London."

Chul was already nodding, but it was a terribly tragic nod with a sickening sad smile that stabbed Ryan's gut. "I don't know what's going on. Chul isn't receiving the call. I will look into this. You...I...just be safe, Ryan."

Ryan tiptoed closer, coveting to drag him back to the bed and cuddle until they are nauseous, but he just sowed his lips on Wes's forehead, acknowledging the hitch in his breath and relief in his eyes. 

"We will be okay," he sighed, and then he was out. 

.

.

.

I shouldn't have looked in her damn eyes. There everything went wrong.

Jimin screwed his eyes shut, feeling the frosty gust flirtatiously rapping on his skin, gently stroking his silver lustrous tresses over his forehead (just like the previous night she did).

She was nervous, more like ashamed of her body while Jimin was spellbound, dazed, enthralled. His fingers delicately traced her every harrowing scar as her shaky breaths drummed against his ears like the music of oceans reaching up to the celestial stars. The peach taste on her lips, as they keep kissing and kissing all the while their eyes locked. If she looked away, Chul would grab her jaw and turn her face to look at him. He could never get those cherry lips, flushed apple cheeks, and bitter scent out of her soul. 

She just wrenched his heart out of his chest and left.

He let out an acrimony groan, and the car curtailed across the magnificent crystal skyscraper away from Seoul.

"We are here. The shoot will start as soon as you and Hyun are ready," Chul informed in a concerning tone because Jimin was quiet. Devasted was a precise term. When the day he read her note, his initial thought was to get on the private jet and get her back. But he couldn't. She left him. She abandoned him without a thought. The pain slowly turned into a rage as days passed. she left exactly eleven days ago.

Merely bobbing his head, Jimin clambered out of the car and gleams of cameras along with a corral of media dived on him. The security kept them at a soldered at a considerable distance from the star.

"Sir, here, here!"

"Jimin! Jimin!"

"Park Jimin!"

"Mr. Park"

Jimin fluttered his hand, posing for the camera, performing his most practiced smile.

"Sir, we heard that you are in talks to work with Lee Sara in a romantic thriller. Are you going to debut as an actor?" A petite blonde asked him and he smiled down at her.

"Really? Wow, you guys know more about my life than I would ever know. Now, would you like to tell me the source of your information, sweetheart?" He arched his brows, and the blonde's cheeks glowed crimson while others chuckled at his jaunty personality.

Soon, the staff took over the media and Jimin slumped his shoulders. This was the shoot he had been dreaming about the day he onset on his modeling career. In a few minutes he would be sharing the screen with his role model; the heartthrob of Hollywood.

Waving his hand one last time, he was about to turn when he attended the reporters screaming that one name that had his footsteps halt as his gaze darted towards the herd of reporters and flying to the sexy car. A sumptuous black car froze a bare ahead of Jimin.

"Here's your lovely friend" Chul commented and Jimin rolled his eyes at the obvious sarcasm. He was jealous because Jimin admired Hyun for his work, and they were somewhat friends.

A handsome man decked in a leather jacket royally stepped out of the car and reporters' howl intensified.

"Hyun!"

The man was the epitome of power.

His dark sleek hair fell over the arch of his eyebrow and the side of his luscious lips curved in a charming smirk. His dark eyes were like a toxic starless sky as they held leverage to enthralled.

The way he moved with a leopard-like glid, a mysterious smile, and bright cheerful glints in his dark eyes. He was born to be an actor cause he was good at concealing. Jimin didn't recall when he saw Hyun losing his temperament. That man had a thrilling aura swirling around him, and a heart-melting smile that forever adorned his face. Being the artist of the same agency, and Hyun being the elder brother of Chohee, their bond was good. Not close, but good enough. 

"Jimin, man," his deep powerful voice reverberated in the hall and every person was hooked by the texture of his tone and charming aura.

Hyun engulfed Jimin in a manly hug. "It's been ages, bro."

Hyun; the monster cloaked in an innocent face mask. The one who was known worldwide for his kindness, his cool facade, and brilliant work. Only the moon knew his sins.

"It is. I can't believe we work for the same agency but haven't crossed each other for months. What's keeping you busy?" there was a malevolence tint in his thick voice, but it was overlooked by Jimin because he knew Lee Hyun as his mentor and idol. He was the one who inspired Jimin to be a model and supported him during his trainee years.

Jimin cleared his throat, mind drifting to Leona as she was the one who kept him occupied with her eyes, with her scent, with her presence. "Nothing much. Work, work, and work."

Hyun smirked, being aware that it was a white lie. Since the day Leona landed back in the city, he made sure to compile every detail about her. The fact that Jimin was going beyond his boundaries to protect Leona and her identity triggered him. She was his after all. He pushed his sleek hair behind his forehead. "Come on, no hookups? Maybe we should get rolling with a threesome and spice up our lives."

Jimin let out a throaty laugh. "I don't share, Hyun. Once what's mine it's mine."

"Really? Too bad. Even I don't share. Once what's mine is mine, forever." Hyun said, attempting to not break his cloak and a smile graced his lips, recalling Leona. She was still weak. A stupid girl that he could mold however he want. He enjoyed that sickening power, especially over her.

"Did you visit Sung-Hee's wife?" Damian asked nonchalantly as they walk to the green screen, Lights and cameras flashing in their direction and the makeup artists again surrounded them for the last touch-up.

"No. I am caught up in work. Maybe I will pay the visit soon."

Jimin nodded. "Let's visit together. That way we can catch up with Sung-Hee as well."

"That would be nice."

The shoot went serenely, barely taking an hour and a half as both the men were compatible and capable with their work. Jimin wanted to see her, but he was pissed as well as hurt. How could she just perish? Like she was never even here with him. He suddenly despised himself for going out for a run. But a part of him was grateful because he wasn't there, he couldn't have witnessed her trampling all over his heart, and flying to London. She a damn maze, where was abso-fucking-lutely lost.

"Want to grab a cup of coffee?" Hyun asked as they walk out of the sets.

Jimin sprinted his mind to his schedule, then nodded with a sigh. He needed to prepare before he has a conversation. Leona rejoiced to make him speechless. "Sure, I can't put my mind to work anyway."

They emerged in the bright daylight, wincing at the atrocity of the sun. Hyun spoke, "Let's talk over the coffee. Shall we take my car?"

Before Jimin could respond, abruptly, his eyes fell on Damian's car.

Jimin's heart briefly staggered and his mind cut across to the night when he found Leona in the bathtub, trembling like a withered flower. He recalled bumping into the unidentified man and memorizing the last two digits of the number plate of that familiar car.

His heart thudded like a beast, as his gaze skimmed over Hyun's car. It was the exact same model.

What the hell. Am I mistaken?

He closed his eyes, trying to cease his fogging senses.

It's the same car, Jimin. It's the same car.

"Jimin." Suddenly the fluid and deep voice appeared to be the swords of malevolence, jabbing every cell in Jimin's body.

Hyun was lingering for his response with a kind smile, but why out of sudden Jimin could only look at malice seething behind it? Why did the midnight and comforting eyes now appear like a crevasse of a sinister's cave?

"Man, are you fantasizing?" Jimin slugged his arm blithely, ripping Tayson from his reverie.

"Nothing, just work," he absentmindedly replied and tramped with Damian, staring at him with skeptical silvered stone eyes. 

If this damn car is the same one I witnessed, then how Hyun is related to Leona? What he was he even doing at her house that night?

"Jimin, nothing is concealed in this industry. Your secret fling isn't a secret anymore, man. So, who was the lucky woman? You are literally blooming," Hyun pressed. His somber wavy hair tousled to his right when he warped his head. The slab of black woodland swelled in his orbs and Jimin was flabbergasted over how he could witness a Viper creeping amidst them.

No. I must be overthinking. It can't be. Hyun can't be the one to hurt her.

"Is she that special, huh? You aren't even offering me her name." Jimin's smirk looked harmless but at the same time satanic.

Jimin straightened his shoulder, slipping into his businessman mode to make sure his psyches were right, though he was hoping to be wrong. Hyun couldn't be a bad man, he was sure. He was his only close friend in the film industry, with whom he had spent marvelous years of friendship.

"Yes. She's way too special and she's mine," Jimin revealed just as they halted at the ridge of the hallways to part the paths.

Strangely, the ambiance around them was stiff with clashing ebbs. Both had their fists hustled in their joggers and kept staring at each other.

Jimin chuckled. A phony chuckle that Jimin could now recognize. "Woah, what's wrong? You seem a bit intense today."

"Just discovered how brittle the world is and how bogus the people are," Jimin rebutted, with a shadowy smile that mirrored Leona.

Something blazed in Hyun's eyes, more like a silent declaration of war.

"Can't agree less on that. I guess having coffee is a bad idea right now. See you soon, Tayson." Hyun raised his fist, but Jimin didn't make any move to bump it.

"God, Chul give him some ice water. He's in a really bitchy mood today." The evil man patted Wes's arm and swiveled around.

"Hyun?"

His legs halted making Jimin smile when he turned around.

"What?"

"Nice car." There was a heavy stain in his voice that screamed— Bastard, now I know something is off with you.

Jimin bit on his ruddy lower lip, grinning. "Thanks. My sweetheart likes black."

Fuck you.

"Really? So does my woman." With that, Jimin whirled around, allowing his fake smile to slipe off, and a dark look dusted his glimmer.

"What was that? Why were you talking like that? I thought you were going to kill him," Chul whisper yelled, endeavoring to keep up with his furious strides.

"Chul, find out how Leona's related to Hyun."

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