บท 38: To Come Clean

"If that's your way of apologizing, then stop."

Irene had spoken as she fixed Eungoo's tie. They haven't spoken to each other since the incident. She was currently fixing his tie, not looking at him at all. This gesture gave Eungoo the idea that she was still upset with him. So, he asked for Irene to come help with him in putting on this suit for Yejun's event. As soon as she came into the guestroom, where he was currently staying, her eyes landed on a bouquet of familiar looking roses.

"I've already forgiven you."

Eungoo pouted and still had the flowers out for her. It was a cheesy way to say sorry but he really couldn't say the words. This was antic that he had developed whenever he did something to Kwan and he had to apologize for it. He batted his eyes at her and did a cute face trying to convince her to take the bouquet.

"No."

Irene said with a stern face. She has never really enjoyed roses or that much of. She was a maid and not a gardener. She had always thought they don't suit her at all so she tried her very best to stay away from them.

"It's from the gardener you like so much." Eungoo smirked when Iren paused.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh well, I asked for help with some roses and since I can't get out of this house I asked for his help and well he-"

"No! I mean what do you mean I like so much."

Eungoo raised a brow at Irene's obvious rosy cheeks and redness creeping from her neck. "Not only do I have eyes but also am very smart."

"Is it that obvious?" She whispered and looked down in embarrassment.

"Oh yeah." Eungoo smiled wider and hugged her. He was relieved that she was now comfortable with each other and how she hugged her back. "If it makes you feel any better, she checks you out too."

Irene gasped and looked up with wide eyes. She couldn't even fathom the fact that her long-time crush looks at her or basically 'checks her out'. There wasn't very much to look at her, in her opinion.

"And she handpicked these, saying that you look beautiful with red roses."

Irene's heart fluttered at that. Her crush thought that roses looked good on her when she dared not even look at the flowers in the garden when she knew herself, didn't deserve such beautiful things.

Eungoo's heart ached a little when Irene's face saddened. He thought she didn't like the roses.

"If it bothers you that much then I could tell her that-"

"No! Wait! It's just… No one has ever thought about me that way before."

Eungoo nodded and grabbed her hand. He wrapped her slender fingers around the ribbon that tied the roses all together and smiled.

"You can thank her you know. A date in the garden maybe? She's free today."

He chuckled when Iren began to purse her lips and looked out the window. She noticed how cute she was when she's this shy and because of a beautiful gardener.

"Will you be okay at the party?"

"I have Yejun. So yes."

"Eungoo, be careful. Don't trust anyone at that party and always stick to his side no matter what. Promise me that, okay?"

Eungoo bit his lips and nodded. He wasn't exactly sure as to why she seemed very concerned with him going to the party. Although he had the slightest clue as to why. The rich and the famous will be there and maybe Park Yejun's mafia friends as well.

As soon as he found himself by the door familiar looking door, his stomach churned as he remembered how he walked through them with just an oversized sweater and had nothing underneath. It brought back so many memories that he had to calmed down a few minutes before taking a deep breath and slowly pushed the doors open. It revealed a countless number of women men all dressed up making everything all too familiar.

Everyone had their eyes on him and like a lost looking puppy, he slowly walked towards Yejun and stayed right behind him. Yejun quickly noticed him right away and instead of letting his pet stay behind him he swung his arm around Eungoo's shoulder and brought him closer as he had a conversation with one of his investors.

"Mr. Han, this Kim Eungoo, my sub." Yejun introduced him all of a sudden.

Eungoo smiled politely and shook their hands. He was quite nervous to meet these people.

"I didn't know you had a certain type, Mr. Park. And well… all for the same team as the kids nowadays say it. Did I say it right?"

Yejun smiled at that and didn't bother to answer that and instead answered, "Well I don't think my love interests should be limited by gender."

Eungoo looked up at Yejun and wondered how he could come out to people just like that when the whole world knows that he's practically straight. He looked away and frowned, he knew how harsh society can be in the lgbtq community. Oh, how he wished he had his confidence.

"Eungoo, dear. Are you hungry?"

Eungoo looked back at yejun who was giving him a soft stare. His gentle voice rung in his ears as they were like soft music. He could feel his face heat up and dared not answer.

"There's a buffet right around the corner." He then leaned forward and whispered, "You should enjoy the party too." He smiled and gave him a little push before turning his attention back at Mr. Han.

Eungoo nodded and turned away from the two since he thought that they needed some privacy to talk about certain stuff. As soon as he got to the said buffet his eyes sparkled as soon as they landed on the various delicious-looking treats infront of him.

He grabbed a plate and began to put multiple foods on it, mostly meat covered in delicious-looking sauces. He was humming quietly until he heard a whisper at his right ear,

"Eungie, you should slow down. We don't want to upset your tummy."

Eungoo froze as he looked slowly to the side. A familiar-looking gummy smile. His heart sank and his stomach was doing backflips on its own. He stared at the beautiful raven boy wearing a gorgeous crimson red suit that complimented his porcelain skin.

"hyung…" He whispered and slowly brought down the plate down and pulled Min Kwan in a tight hug in which the other happily returned. And because they were around the corner, not much attention was paid to the two except for two people at the party.

Kwan was the first to break up the hug and was tearing up. He held Eungoo's hands and smiled. His heart was overjoyed when he finally saw his best friend for some quite time now. Just when he thought that he wouldn't be able to see him anymore, there he was, Kim Eungoo in the flesh.

"How are you? Have you been eating well? Have you been sleeping properly? Are you okay? Is-"

"hyung…" Eungoo chuckled at Kwan's sudden ranting out every question in one breath. His tears began rolling down his cheeks. He couldn't stop letting them pouring out and compete with the Niagara falls. It hasn't even been a week that his master had offered him to make a decision to either choose his life or Kwan's. He hasn't made the decision yet but seeing his hyung made everything hurt, confusing and harder for him. He was happy to see him but he just…

"Come on…"

Kwan pulled him out of the party and looked at Jeon Wonshik who had his eyes on him the whole time with a champagne glass on his hand. The man smirked and gestured to his wrist which meant, that time was running for both of them. Kwan needs to return Eungoo to Yejun before the event truly begins.

He didn't know where they were going but got out of the house and went somewhere, he thought was at the back of the house. As soon as he saw the gazebo sticking out of the backyard landscape he smiled and pulled Eungoo to it.

"How did you even get here?" Eungoo said as he began to sob.

"Well, I wasn't exactly sure how but since I haven't been exactly been to this house so-"

"Hyung" Eungoo whined and gripped his hair with both hands. "I mean, how are you here? In this house, here?" He exclaimed as his heart was beating a thousand miles per hour. And his mind has been overthinking and his anxiety was not exactly helping.

Kwan bit his lips and sighed. He then took a deep breath and sighed. It was now time to come clean to his best friend. If he truly is his friend then Kim Eungoo would accept him no matter what.

"Eungoo, I have to tell you something…"