23.12

Hwan looked around in discomfort as Xander continued to stare at the ground and Joo-Won was anxiously waiting for the doctor to come.

Hwan's examination period was finally over and now that he was better, they decided it was time for him to get the operation. The operation was today, but none of them were ready. They were very stressed because there were many risks, but they all tried their best to prevent showing their fear to Hwan.

When he realized nobody was coming soon, Joo-Won went beside Hwan, who immediately opened a space for him to sit. Joo-Won shoot him a small smile before sitting there and hugged him with one arm. Hwan rested his head on his shoulder and sighed while Joo-Won planted a long kiss on his forehead.

"Hi, love birds." Everyone turned their heads to the door, where Min was standing and watching the two with a smile.

Hwan lifted his head a little and looked at her. "Hi..." The room fell in complete silence before Hwan mumbled in hope. "Is he..."

Min shook her head as no before hesitating for a few seconds. "I'm sorry Hwan, but I don't think he is going to come in time."

Xander felt an extreme wave of guilt washing him down as Hwan tried to smile and he forced himself not to cry again.

Joo-Won rubbed his back to calm him. "It's okay, it's okay... Is there any update?"

Min nodded and checked the papers she was holding. "It will start in a couple hours, so you can just try to relax now."

Hwan nodded and sighed in relaxation. He felt a weight off his shoulders.

But Joo-Won on the other hand couldn't help but get nervous. His body started to tense up as his eyes frantically wandered around the room. Because his head was on top of Hwan's, he couldn't see Joo-Won's reaction.

But Xander did. He slowly got up and signaled Joo-Won to meet outside the door.

After he got out, Joo-Won looked down a bit to see Hwan's face. "I will be back."

Hwan nodded with a smile and planted a kiss on his lips, to which Joo-Won responded by putting one of his hands on his cheek and caressing him. After planting a few kisses more, Joo-Won got up and went beside Xander.

Xander chuckled and patted his shoulder. "I see that you guys are finally together?"

Joo-Won scratched his nape and looked down. "Actually, we haven't talked about that. It just... Happened?"

Xander nodded and sat on a chair. "Look, I saw your reaction. I know that you are scared and I get it. Hwan and I are not that close but even I am terrified."

Joo-Won sat beside him and fixed his stares on the ground. "Not very helpful..." His uncomfortable voice made Xander want to punch himself.

He got up and kneeled on the floor in front of him and put his hands on top of his brother's. "I'm sorry. What I mean to say is... You know that these following months, or maybe even years, are not going to be the easiest ones. There will be times where everything will fall apart and you will feel like there is no hope, but you need to go through them to achieve the time where everything finally goes back to normal, maybe even better than normal." A smile formed on his face. "You need to hold his hand in the worst to be able to hold them in the best."

A tear fell to his hand before Joo-Won quickly closed his eyes with his hands and sobbed in silence. "I know it... I am just scared. I don't want him to go through this all. And even if the operation goes well, where are we going to go? What if his family finds out and tries to hurt him again? Will we be able to hide? Will he continue to be prisoned in here?"

His brother's helpless voice made Xander's heart ache.

He was right, but not completely.

Finally, there was a way Xander could help them.

Xander got up, making Joo-Won lift his head and look at him with teary eyes. "I might know a way."

Before Joo-Won could say anything, they heard footsteps getting closer and stopping beside them. They both turned their heads to see Kyong, who was standing in discomfort besides the door.

Joo-Won silently got up and wiped his tears while mumbling. "I will get some water..." He looked at Kyong for a second before walking away with an expression mixed with disappointment and anger, which made Kyong want to jump out of the window right then and there.

Now, Xander and Kyong were left by themselves. But it didn't take long because neither of them tried to say something. They just stared at each other before Kyong moved towards the room and Xander turned his back on him to leave.

After watching him turn the corner, Kyong sighed and took a deep breath to calm himself. He knew there was huge damage between them right now, but was hoping that they could go back to how they used to be. He shook his head to focus on why he was really there and knocked on the door before slowly getting in.

Hwan turned his head to the door, expecting to see Joo-Won and Xander, but the small smile on his face slowly faded to a shocked expression when his eyes met with Kyong's, who immediately averted his gazes. He watched as the younger one slowly came closer and closer, eventually sitting down beside him.

For a month, Kyong was actively avoiding Hwan at all cost. He knew his agenda and where he would be at any time, so he was very careful to never bump into him.

But now, he had enough. He didn't want to hide or run away anymore.

Kyong looked at the floor and talked without lifting his head. He couldn't even look at the other one's eyes because of how ashamed he was. "Hwan I am so sorry..."

When he realized these were the only things he could say, Hwan scooted over and suddenly pulled him into his arms. At first, Kyong couldn't do anything because he was not expecting something like that, but then he tightly hugged him back and buried his face in his neck.

Kyong suddenly felt extremely safe and happy beside his friend, unlike a month ago, when he was scared to even look at his eyes. He felt ashamed of what he did and the fact that he was trying to avoid him like that, but the past could not be changed. Also, the last thing Hwan needed was more sadness in his life before his operation.

Even though things were getting better with Hwan as they started to talk about what happened, the same could not be said for Xander, who was just staring at his father's door for the last 10 minutes.

He took a deep breath once again and finally found the courage to get inside. He didn't even let his father ask him anything and cut him off. "I need a favor."

Mr. Park continued to work on the papers in front of him and talked without lifting his head. "You know I don't do... favors." He stressed over the word 'favors', stopping a second before saying it.

Xander came closer and stopped beside him. "You will call Hwan's parents right now, and explain to them that the deal is off with the guarantee that Hwan won't interfere with them ever again. You will also tell them that if they try to protest, you have enough evidence to take everything in their hands and send them to a lifetime in prison. And then, you will admit Hwan to a different hospital. The best one. Right after he gets back to his senses after his surgery."

Mr. Kim suddenly stopped what he was doing and lifted his head. "Wha-"

"You won't intervene with Joo-Won and Hwan and their relationship. Also, you will continue to financially support Joo-Won."

"Is your ridiculous Christmas list over? I have work to-"

"In return, I will come back to China with you." Xander looked at his father's now curious face and continued. "I won't complain anymore and will help you with everything. I will do everything you ask me to do, without a single question. Just like how you always wanted, right?"

Before they got back to Korea, Mr. Park always tried to make Xander stay in China and continue their lives there. He never really understood why, he still couldn't, but his father had a strong dislike towards where he used to live before coming to China. That's why, Xander knew exactly how to make an agreement with him, even though it was going to have great damage on him.

Mr. Park slowly got up and looked at Xander to see if he was serious, which he realized he was. After a few seconds passed in silence, he sat down again and looked at his papers before looking up at him and talking. "Joo-Won won't know about this. Or else-"

"He won't. You do your part and I will do mine."

Xander's firm voice made his father smile and nod proudly. "We are leaving this night then."

(...)

"Hwan I will come back to get you in five minutes, okay?"

Hwan nodded to the doctor before she left the room, leaving the four men alone.

Kyong hugged Hwan for the last time before getting out of the room and messed with his hair. "I will see you after." He waved goodbye to Hwan and Joo-Won, then fixed his eyes on Xander, who was standing beside the door. He tried to put his hand on his shoulder but Xander pulled his shoulder to himself and walked away, leaving Kyong just standing there.

Both Joo-Won and Hwan watched them in surprise.

After Kyong got out, Xander tried to take a deep breath, but he felt like he was suffocating. Trying to not show this, he sat beside Hwan's bed and looked at the two. "I know you will be okay. But I want you two to remember that asking for help is okay. If anything starts to become too much for you two to handle alone, I am always one phone call away." He placed his hands on their hands and squeezed them. "I will always be there if you need me."

Hwan smiled as well. "Same goes for you as well. I will miss you, and I am so glad that I met someone like you."

Joo-Won sniffed and forced himself not to tear up. "Oh god, you two are going to make me cry." Both of them laughed before Joo-Won continued in a curious voice. "Why are you going back to China anyway? I thought you were happy here... with your family... with us... with me." He couldn't help but start to cry.

Xander let go of his hand and placed it on his cheek before wiping the tears. "I told you it's personal and you don't need to cry, I will be back to visit you. I just want some time to..." He looked at the floor and sighed. "Take my mind off of something. Now, I will leave you two alone, okay?"

Both of them nodded before letting go of Xander and watching him leave.

After he got out as well, Joo-Won wiped his tears and sniffed. "I'm sorry, it's just that he didn't tell me he was planning to go back and it was a... surprise. Not a pleasant one."

Hwan chuckled lightly and placed one of his hands on his cheek and the other one on top of his. He pulled the taller one closer and rested his forehead on his, which instantly helped Joo-Won relax. After a few seconds that passed in silence, Hwan backed away his head and planted a long kiss on his lips.

This kiss was way more gentle and emotional than the other ones because they both knew there was a chance that this might be their last kiss. They both felt helpless as they couldn't let go of each other. They knew that it could be the last thing they did together, so they tried to make it last as long as their breaths allowed them to.

After Hwan backed away between quick breaths, Joo-Won gave him a couple more kisses with his tearful eyes and held his cheeks. He was scared to death but tried his best to hide it and be by his lover's side.

Hwan caressed his cheek and kissed his forehead. "After everything, can we go on a date? Like an official one."

Joo-Won nodded quickly and sobbed. "Of course we can. I will take you anywhere you want."

Hwan smiled and continued to caress his cheek. "I love you."

Joo-Won suddenly stopped sniffing and looked at him with a surprised expression. Then, a smile formed on his face as his eyes filled with happy tears and he hugged him close. "I love you too. I love you so much."

The knock on the door made them turn there and see the nurses. "We will take you now."

Hwan looked up to Joo-Won again and pulled him to himself. When their lips met, Hwan kissed him passionately. Even though the kiss lasted for only a couple of seconds, the effect of it was not going to get out of Joo-Won's mind that quick. "I am looking forward to the date."

Joo-Won got up from the bed and nodded before the nurses came to take Hwan.

Before getting inside the surgery room, everyone said their last goodbyes to Hwan and watched him being pushed to the room with a bright smile on his face, being sure that finally, everything was about to change for good.