-^* Are we clear? *^- | Haobin

-^* 10 *^-

I made my way down the street, the darkening sky looming over me as the breeze blew my hair in front of my eyes. The car lights passing by blurred my vision and my face began to feel cold.

Why was I feeling so down. Had I forgotten something?

I found the bar and spotted Gyuvin waiting outside. He waved and smiled at me.
"Hey hyung! There's a good band playing, let's go in." He took my hand and pulled me through the doors.
It felt like more of a club than a bar, the bustling atmosphere and the low lights. He sat us at a table as the live band's music boomed through the walls, making vibrations through the floor.
"I'll go and get us some drinks, you stay here."
That's right, he had graduated today. I chuckled and nodded, watching him carefully as he moved through the crowd of people and towards the bar.

We sat there, eating snacks and talking as I drank. He didn't drink much, he was mostly interested in asking questions about the dance studio.
"Congratulations on finally escaping high school," I giggled. He returned the laugh and looked down.
"Honestly Hanbin, I'm glad we met properly at the cafe, I was always too scared to talk to you at school..." he confessed, seeming slightly embarrassed.
"Scared?" I replied, "why scared?"
He scratched his head and laughed.
"Well you know...you were always with those foreign transfers and I was a few years younger so- since you were so popular and confident- I felt like it was too daunting to talk to you..." he explained.
I laughed and sighed.
"I wasn't that confident and popular...just-"
"You seemed different though, when I met you at the cafe. You used to have this like...powerfulness about you. But when we met at the cafe you seemed so melancholy in comparison to that version of you. I mean we knew you'd had some kind of injury at the end of term but I always presumed it was like you broke a leg dancing or something."
I poured myself a drink and took a long gulp.
As I looked at him, he seemed like he was searching in my gaze for something. His expression was strange.
"I had a head injury. I'm not sure myself how it happened but I was in a coma and lost about a year of my memory that I can never fully get back."
Gyuvin seemed taken aback for a second before he let out a deep sigh.
"Gosh- I'm sorry...I was really insensitive just now..." he stared at me with a glimmer of sadness in his eyes.
"Ah it's okay, you didn't know. Hell, I didn't even know until last week..."
"Really? Wow it's been that long and you had no idea? Why did no one tell you?"
"I'm asking myself the same question..."
We fell silent for a moment before I chuckled.
"It got too serious too quick there, let's talk about something happier...how about I tell you about the people you'll be working with?"
His eyes lit up again.
"Yes please! I can't wait to meet everyone!"
"Well, you know me and Mrs Kim of course but there's a few others working there. Taerae is Mrs Kim's son, the one who accepted your application. He's really nice and he laughs really loudly. His smile is so contagious and he's always up for a good conversation. There's also Kyungsook the desk girl, she's quiet but she's nice. She plays games on her work computer when she's not got anyone around. And then there's Jiwoong, he's a couple of years older than me and he's super sweet. He's really handsome and sometimes he seems like he's looking at you really flirtatiously but I promise it's just the way he looks. And then-" I cut myself off, picturing the final person in my head. I felt a weight fall on my chest as I began talking about him. "And then there's Zhang Hao, you might remember him from high school...he's uh- he's just, you'll get to know him. I'm sure you'll like everyone."
Gyuvin nodded and stared at me with concern for a moment before he let his concern wash away.
"I'm very excited now, I just want to start already! If they're anything like you I'm sure I'll love them, hyung."

I continued to drink until Gyuvin thought it best to bring me home. That afterthought of Hao had left me in a bit of state and I'd got a little carried away. Gyuvin held me up and walked me out of the bar and onto the pavement.
"Gyuvin I'm sorry...I just...feel so sad..." I slurred my words, letting my body fall into his side as he aided my steps along.
"It's okay hyung, no worries. Just tell me how to get to your apartment..."
His voice trailed off. I squinted, feeling the heat in my cheeks as I glanced up at him. His face was fixed forward.
"Isn't that- the guy- Hanbin hyung?"
I turned to see what he was looking at.

What a sobering sight.

Hao stood there, looking straight at me, into my blurring eyes with frustration in his gaze.

Why was he frustrated at me.

It made me pissed off.

And as I opened my eyes more, I spotted another body beside him. It certainly wasn't Jiwoong. He was shorter than Hao, skinnier and had a more venomous look in his eyes. His hair was short and his face thin. His monolid eyes stared into mine as Deja vu washed over me.

It must be Yuxuan.

"Zhang Hao- what are you doing here..." Gyuvin uttered.
I on the other hand remained silent as I swayed slightly, causing Gyuvin to tighten his hold on my body.
Hao's expression only darkened. His eyebrow twitching as he flickered his gaze between the two of us.
I straightened my body and took Gyuvin's arm off of my waist, taking a wobbly step forward.
"Ahhh, look who it is! How was the trip? Did Yuxuan here have a good time? Seems like you did from how busy you guys were last night..." I slurred with a sly grin.
Hao turned to Yuxuan with confusion.
He went to speak before Yu interrupted him.
"Sung Hanbin, I thought I wouldn't see you again after all that baggage you suffered." He chuckled with a smirk plastered on his lips.
"Mmm, I thought I wouldn't either. In fact, I didn't know who you even were until Monday. Hao didn't seem to want to tell me." I continued as I avoided Hao's saddening gaze.
"Well, here I am. What do you think? Do you remember now?"
"Don't Yu-"
"Mmmm, you look just as much of an asshole now as you did back then. I had to get Matthew to tell me all about what a bastard you were." I laughed loudly.
Hao looked mortified. He stepped between us and stared at me whilst I continued to avoid looking at him, my eyes fixed on Yuxuan.
"Takes one to know one, Hanbin. Let's not forget how you got all cozy with those guys in your class..." his eyes moved to Gyuvin who had moved his arm to support my side as I stood in front of him, "seems like you haven't changed-"
"That's enough, Yu. Let's go." Hao finally managed to say, turning around and pulling Jia away.
I stumbled back into Gyuvin and narrowed my eyes as Yuxuan stared back at me as Hao dragged him away by his arm, his grin making me knot up with anger. Rain began to patter down, cooling the heat which was burning my cheeks.
"Come on Hanbin, I'll call Matthew..." Gyuvin muttered, taking me in the opposite direction.

We walked through the pouring rain until Gyuvin sat me down on some stairs and called Matthew from my phone, asking him to come and get me. Matthew arrived not long after in a cab.

I ended up passing out in the back of the cab that Matthew picked me up in. He apologised profusely to Gyuvin and took me home.

Once I regained consciousness, I lay in my bed in the pitch black, my clothes stuck to my still damp body, and stared up at the shadows on my ceiling which were cascading over as the sound of cars passing vibrated through my limp body.
I had completely forgotten that Hao would be home today. I was sort of glad I didn't remember sooner. If I'd have known he was bringing that guy, I probably would have locked myself away all night. Then again, maybe that would have been better.
Who did Yuxuan think he was? Why did he feel like he could look down on me like I was absolutely nothing, barely even human. He was just giving me more reasons to dislike him.

How could I face Hao now...