We've taken different paths
And travelled different roads
I know we'll always end up on the same one when we're old

-brother (kodaline)

53. brother

Lee Suho was a happy man. He had a very beautiful and loving girlfriend - now fiance - and he got to rebuild his relationship with his father. His company was doing good, exceptionally well to be honest and Suho had everything he needed.

Or so everyone thought.

No one knew why Lee Suho took the reigns of Move Entertainment in his hand. No one knows how guilty he felt - even though it wasn't his fault - at Seyeon's death. And no one could see how scared and nervous he was for his only other friend - Han Seojun - the one person he sworn to protect.

Suho had no interest in running a company. He didn't want to busy himself like his father for fame and fortune and miss out on the better things in life. Plus he really liked cooking and had an interest in culinary arts. Maybe have a restaurant to his name? Some place where Jugyeong could sit with him in peace - without the harsh judgements and criticism.

But all of his plans were washed away when five years ago he got a call from Seojun. This time he didn't make the mistake of ignoring it - and he was glad he didn't.

Han Seojun's wailing and crying were imprinted in his memory.

That day was the horrible most heart wrenching day and gave Suho a flashback to the day Seyeon's dead body lay in front of him. Suho's life had changed since the death of his best friend, he didn't want to imagine the pain Seojun must have felt to witness not one, but two of his beloveds.

The day of the funeral, Suho had cried the entire night in Jugyeong's arms. He had to keep his calm in front of a shattered Seojun but he couldn't hold himself the moment he entered his room. All he did was curse - curse God and all the Gods above - for giving Seojun a cruel fate. Jugyeong had to put him to sleep early morning - whispering sweet words to help him rest.

All Suho did was wonder how Seojun must have past that night. How Seojun kept a straight face in the funeral and how he distanced himself from everyone - including Suho - for the next six months or so. His debut was due and Seojun to everyone's suprise, agreed to debut. He kept a straight face throughout the entire process and played nonchalantly during the performance.

Seojun's suspicious behaviour wasn't what got Suho into Move Entertainment. The crumpled paper in the corner of Seojun's room changed the course of Suho's life.

things to do
• graduate ✓
• debut ✓
• perform at KMF
• meet her ?

KMF or Korean Music Festival was an annual affair that brought famous musicians and bands from all over the world to a five day event. Only highly reputed or famous singers and musicians were invited to perform on stage. To get an invite for KMF was a mark of making it in the music industry.

And this year, Starlight was one of the ten chosen bands from Korea to perform at the grand event. When they had received the invitation, the boys and the management were rejoicing - alcohol and everything - over the email. But Suho noticed for the first time how a smile etched on Seojun's face.

That was not a happy smile. That was a smile of utter relief, of calm and of peace. The peace that he wanted since so long was soon going to envelope him in a good night's sleep.

The only reason Suho joined Move was to ensure that Seojun wouldn't do anything reckless. Given how the pressure of being an idol had taken a toll on Seyeon's health, he didn't want to take another risk. Seojun was all he had. He took the decision when Seojun said he wanted to continue to be an idol and wouldn't talk to anyone about it.

Ever since that day, Suho had worked hard - to build himself higher - and enslaved, so he could be in a position to make efficient changes. His father's popularity also helped him - something he was thankful for - and his brilliant mind added to all his creativity and remarkable decisions. Suho jumped to the post of CEO when two years back, the agency was facing a backlash against a suicide issue.

Suho Lee took matters in his hand and did everything to resolve the matter. He earned the title only by sheer determination.

Determination to help his friend - to protect him - to save him.

The crumpled note was forgotten by Suho as Seojun showed no signs of relapse after the incident two years ago, but when the invitation letter was handed to him - Suho remembered it all. He couldn't believe all this while Seojun had waited for the KMF festival. It made sense why Seojun wanted to debut and work harder - getting an invite was tough - but he didn't know what was Seojun's intention in the first place.

What was the reason?

Regardless of the lack of any reason, Suho knew that Seojun was looking forward for the month to end. He had seen the flicker of hope on the face of a man who seemed hopeless for years. What sealed the deal was when Seojun asked for Move to shake hands with HFA - the non profit - for the branding deal.

Suho didn't get it. Why HFA when Move and Starlight already had a deal with another non profit association. He didn't understand why Seojun - for the first time - voiced his suggestion aloud.

HFA had something he desperately wanted to see.

Suho had put his sources to find what was in HFA that could have interested Seojun. Their projects, any sort of deals with other idols and bands, any other agenda - anything that connected Seojun to the association.

But he found it only on the day of the meeting, when he saw a very familiar woman almost trip on the set of files she was carrying.

Kang Soojin.

That made much more sense - Suho was both relieved and glad - to see Soojin being the person Seojun wanted to meet five years back.

Meet her...

She was the last thing to tick off in his list. With the KMF on the way and a last glance at Soojin, Seojun could finally finish off what he wanted to do.

The very thought scared Suho - the always calm guy - to make an impulsive decision of getting Soojin on board too. It was selfish of him - yes - to get Soojin in a mess she wasn't even aware of. It was also selfish of him - that he doesn't deny - to make Seojun face his past after a decade.

If there was anything else Suho would do to save Seojun, he would. All he had left was Kang Soojin and a little hope that maybe - just maybe - Seojun would not go through with the attempt. He didn't know what to expect putting Seojun against Soojin but he needed to put a fight.

Maybe having Soojin back was a mistake. Maybe seeing Soojin would only accelerate Seojun's frustration and heartache but then why did Seojun look so keenly at the girl whenever she was around. Why did those eyes - the hopelessly lost eyes - seem to lit up the moment Seojun saw her.

That counts for something right?

That and the moment Suho entered his room, he was astonished to find Seojun and Soojin at loggerheads - standing way too close - just like old times.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Soojin and Seojun turned - breaking apart - as Suho faced the duo with a cheeky smile. "I see the agreement is signed?" Suho noticed the pen in Seojun's hand and the flushed face of the girl.

"Yes," Soojin cleared her throat - she seemed to be overwhelmed at the moment - "I need to go back to the office -" She greeted Suho with a small smile and ignored Seojun as she moved out.

Seojun's eyes tracing her fading figure.

"You should not have brought her back - Lee Su," Suho's expressions faltered when he heard Seojun's soft voice. "You should not have..."

"Wae?"

"Because she's getting herself into something she isn't supposed to partake and you're going to be responsible for the pain she'll be in."

_

Kang Soojin was breathing heavily when she got out of the room. She had to pause - rest her back on the wall - and reflect on what happened. The words Seojun said were not true - she knew he was trying his best to be rude - but even after a decade, it still stung.

She wasn't pretending - she wasn't trying to wipe the red off her leger - but she was definitely overthinking it. She joined non-profits because she wanted to do something good for the world.

It wasn't a very high paying job but the good things the organisation did for others - especially the fund and drives - they cheered her most times than not. It was nice to know she did something - as little as she contributed - that helped others.

It's stupid how much she was affected by Seojun's stupid words. He didn't mean it - but his words kept ringing in her head.

Soojin spent the rest of the day in sad contemplation about her life. She hadn't achieved a lot of things - anything to be honest - because she was focused so much on surviving. Now, she felt empty - like she was living a life of sham.

He is toying with you. He's messing you up on purpose.

Yet Soojin couldn't help but feel uneasy throughout the day. She didn't go back to the Hotel or have lunch with Suho, nor did she leave the office until it was past midnight. It took Mr. Choi by surprise to see Soojin still working - despite there being no pending work from her side.

"Miss Kang?"

Soojin stood up and greeted the black suit man who greeted her back. He was tall, sturdy and always looked intimidating.

"What are you still doing here? I suppose your work for the day was done..."

Since Soojin was working closely with Han Seojun and Starlight, she was spared from other work. And that also meant, Mr. Choi was her partner so she didn't know what was better and what was worse.

"Yes, its just... I'm working on the advert and the interview - "

"Which we have already discussed and have been set on and even so, there is a week left for it." Mr Choi raised his eyebrow, studying how Soojin's face expressed nervousness. "You're the only one in the office - it isn't safe. You should leave."

Soojin nodded, hands nervously fumbling with each other.

"I would have offered to drop you home - " Soojin looked up, finding a hint of sass in Mr. Choi's words. "But someone mentioned that I'm an arrogant jerk and so I have to maintain that reputation - "

A scoff followed by a smile - making her ten times prettier - made Soojin relax and Mr. Choi content. Why was he so worried about a mere employee? And since when did he care about others? Nevertheless, he felt relief - oddly enough - when Soojin smiled.

"Thank you," Soojin nodded - the smile vanished - and greeted the team leader a goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jang-nim."

Mr. Choi nodded curtly when he watched Soojin leave. He waited back - for a minute or so - wondering what happened back there. Soojin was a hardworking person and Mr. Choi wouldn't admit it loud but she was a good addition to the team. Yet, right now, in the very moment he had seen her in a different light.

Something more than just a employee.

Why?

Was it because he was so engrossed in work, he never really noticed her? Or the arrival of a third person suddenly posed as a threat to him.

Threat to what?

He didn't quite understand, no one did, not even the sleepless Han Seojun who couldn't stop thinking about Soojin.

It was a messy game after all.

_