Chapter Text
The symptoms started showing slowly. Kihyun was 19. It was little things that could have easily passed off as clumsiness. There were times when he would fall or had difficulty calculating distances.
It was summer.
Kihyun returned home having opted out of taking summer classes. If he was honest with himself, it was because he was lonely, and not because he wanted to rile his parents up. He liked to come back home unannounced to visit his brother and friends much to the chagrin of his parents. They have exiled him to the states under the guise of getting an education, but it was their way of sweeping the revelation of his sexuality under the rug. His parents hoped that the time spent away would prove this ordeal to be a passing phase.
He knew the help would have to inform his parents of his arrival but a quick visit to Soyou, head of the household staff, would buy some time. He went into the kitchen and found her humming while she cleared the counter.
“Hi nuna.” He walked towards her and hugged her.
“You scared me.” She lightly slapped his arm. “Kihyun-ah, you’re looking thin. Have you been eating well?”
“Of course. You taught me to cook.” He grinned proudly.
She smiled at him fondly. Through the years, Kihyun liked hanging around the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and as a result, the kitchen and household staff particularly doted on him.
“Is hyung home?”
“I think so; he asked to have his lunch served early. If you hurry, you might just catch him.”
Kihyun nodded. “Nuna can you not let Mr. and Mrs. Yoo that I’m home yet?” He said quietly.
“Not a word.”
“Thank you.” He gave her a cheeky wink as he walked out the kitchen.
He snuck into his brother’s room and went straight to the bed. Despite having similar-sized rooms, they would often hang out in Hoseok’s room – Kihyun always in bed and Hoseok on the lounge chair.
Hoseok came out of his ensuite bathroom and sighed heavily after seeing Kihyun looking snug in his bed. “You have your own bed.”
“I don’t see you for a few months and this is how I’m greeted??? I missed you too, hyung.” Kihyun gave him a toothy grin.
“Does mom and dad know the prodigal son has returned?”
Kihyun rolled his eyes. “Save the lecture, please. I’m still jet-lagged.”
“You should exercise. It will help. I was just about to go to the country club. Come with?”
“You know I don’t like to work out.”
“It’ll be fun. Besides, it’ll spare you time before mom finds you home and lectures you.”
Kihyun groaned. “Alright, alright. I’ll go change.” As he got out of bed, he miscalculated the distance and fell headfirst on the carpeted floor.
“You ok?” Hoseok breathlessly laughed as he helped him up.
“Yeah, I must be tired…really, hyung. I’m ok.”
“You know most people would put their hands out to break the fall” Hoseok shook his head.
“My leg got caught in the duvet is all” He straightened the duvet on the bed. “I’ll try to be quick. Gimme 10 mins?”
“Ok, I’ll be waiting in the car.” He watched Kihyun walk out of the room. “Kihyunnie, did you lose weight again?”
“Dunno” Kihyun shrugged as he walked out the room. He brushed off his brother’s comments thinking he must’ve looked haggard from the flight.
As they walked into the country club, Kihyun made eye contact with a tall stranger. The stranger smiled at him. The look forced him to take a sharp inhale. Concerned, Hoseok looked at him.
Kihyun whispered to Hoseok. “That guy is kinda handsome.” He subtlety gestured towards the stranger.
Hoseok grinned. “You think so?”
“I mean, he is alright.” He tried to act unaffected, but the stranger was still looking straight at him. He looked at Hoseok and said under his breath. “Hyung, get that shit-eating grin off your face – you’re being too obvious.”
Hoseok waved at the man. “Hyunwoo!” He called out.
Hoseok turned to Kihyun and grinned as wide as he could. “We went to school together.” He said loud enough for the stranger to hear.
Kihyun’s face dropped. “I’ve never seen him before.” Kihyun whispered, desperately tried to avoid making eye contact with the stranger again.
The man walked towards them. “My scholarship only lasted a year. I wouldn’t be able to afford that posh school otherwise” Hyunwoo explained. “I’m Hyunwoo, by the way.” He offered his hand for Kihyun to shake.
“Kihyun. I’m his younger brother” Kihyun mumbled as he lightly shook Hyunwoo’s hand. Hyunwoo’s hand felt hot. Or his own hand felt hot. Maybe it’s his ears. He wasn’t sure. He normally wasn’t timid but being around Hyunwoo made him want to hide behind someone – anyone, really.
“So, Kihyun. You ready?”
“Hmm? What?” Kihyun looked at Hoseok and then Hyunwoo.
“Hoseok didn’t tell you? I’m teaching you guys how to wakeboard.”
Kihyun sighed. “I actually just tagged along. I didn’t plan on… I-I just came off a 13-hour flight.” He gave Hoseok a pleading look. He just wanted to hang out with his brother; catch up on the things he missed before they go home where he will no doubt be reprimanded by their parents. “and besides, I’m not a strong swimmer –”
“– I swim well. I can save about 30 people.” Hyunwoo interjected. “So, don’t worry. I’ll save you.”
“I guess. sure.” Kihyun replied unenthusiastically. ‘Joy, now I can show hot guy how terribly uncoordinated I am.’ He thought.
“Great! But before we drive out to the lake, I just need you to sign this waiver form stipulating that if you die while wakeboarding, I inherit the Yoo family fortune.” Slightly panicked by Kihyun’s silence, Hyunwoo looked at Hoseok and then back to Kihyun. “I was joking... I’m sorry. They call me Alphago; I’m told I have no emotion and –“
“No, no. it’s cute” Kihyun interrupted. ‘Yup, I just said that out loud.’ If he had any doubt before, he was sure now that his ears were red.
Hyunwoo smiled and gave him a quick nod. “Right. I’ll give you a few minutes to read through it. I just need to make sure all the equipment’s in the car.”
They watched Hyunwoo walk out.
“it’s cute?” Hoseok teased Kihyun as he stroked Kihyun’s reddened ear with his thumb.
“Shut up.” Kihyun swatted Hoseok’s hand away. “Hyung, I’m serious though. I’m tired.”
“Just try it out – It’ll be fun. Hyunwoo seems really eager and he's never this forceful.”
Kihyun nodded and looked down at the waiver form. It looked blurry for a moment. He rubbed his eyes. He must be exhausted.
‘It’s going to be a long day.’ He sighed inwardly.