777 Ways

CHAPTER 41 - ENEMY

"Bam, I received a weird text from an unknown number saying that you needed me home ASAP. It also said it was a matter of life and death! I had to tell my boss at JYPE that my grandma had passed away so he would let me leave work earlier. I tried to call you but you weren't answering my calls." A worried Yugyeom entered the apartment in a hurry and threw himself in his boyfriend's arms. Then they both examined each other to make sure they were both all right.

"Damn, I was trying to get a hold of you too. Maybe we were trying to call each other at the same time? I also got the same text. Hell, I left everything at the bar and came here. Thank God, you're okay. Who sent those messages? Is this some sort of joke?" Bambam gave him a puzzled look. The doorbell rang once, and then twice until one of them decided to check who was there.

"I guess we're about to find out what this is about." The young Korean said as he went to the door.

"Annyeong! Are we too late for the party?" Youngjae asked as he entered the place with Jaebeom behind him. Both of them had a box in their arms. The publicist put on his best smile. Even his husband was still oblivious of his inner turmoil. The publicist did not tell his husband about what happened at their house earlier, he knew that there would be an appropriate time to discuss their problems. He wasn't in a hurry. Since JB was hiding things from him, he didn't feel bad about keeping secrets either. Youngjae never acted on instinct. He pondered every single move he made. He knew that Mark and Jinyoung would certainly be at that event, and he had no intention of washing his dirty linen in public. His last Korean class with the American was quite unsettling. Mark confounded him. He didn't understand why the American hadn't confronted his boyfriend, even though the foreigner already knew about Jinyoung and Jaebeom's hook up. Youngjae was unsure of how to act around the couple once they were face to face. He didn't know how the American would behave, so he told himself that he would decide what to do according to how things developed during that housewarming party. It was a special occasion for Bambam and Yugyeom, and he swore to himself that he wouldn't ruin their day.

"Party? What party?" The maknae furrowed his brows as his hyungs walked past him and took off their shoes.

"Oh, please! Don't pretend you don't know. Jackson personally told me to leave work earlier to join you guys. You two should've given us the heads up earlier. I had to stop by the supermarket to buy cleaning supplies, tissues and toilet paper." The editor complained as he placed the large box in his arms in the middle of the living room.

"Come again? Why did you have to buy this stuff? Are you guys going to clean up our place or something?" Bambam was completely lost, as he eyed his two guests with puzzlement.

"That's how housewarming parties work in Korea, dear Bambam. It's called jipdeuri. We're gifting you these items because we wish you both a clean and prosperous place to live. Don't look so shocked." Youngjae explained to the confused foreigner, as he also placed a smaller box on the carpet. There were a couple of holes around the box and for some reason, there were strange sounds coming out of it.

"Guys. We own the place and we never heard anything about a housewarming party today. What the fuck?" Bambam was still as skeptical as Yugyeom.

"What are you talking about? Come on, I don't have time for pranks, kids." Jaebeom announced impatiently as he turned to the maknae. "Gyeom-ah, did you buy enough food and drinks? How many people did you invite?" The editor asked the maknae, who tried to explain himself one more time.

"Hyungs, I seriously have no idea of what's going on here. I just came from work, because I thought Bam needed me here. I never told Jackson hyung about any of this. I wouldn't throw a party any soon after what happened at the last one. I don't know-"