Escape - Chapter 14: Lobster

[swallowtt]

The bath did wonders for Changmin’s complexion. The redness had subsided and his body had calmed as the drugs wore off. Se7en found a T-shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants for the boy to put on.

“Gosh, your legs are long.” Se7en commented. “My pants look like shorts on you.”

“You’re over exaggerating,” snorted Changmin. “They aren’t that short.”

“Trust me. They are. Shall I take a picture of you to show you?”

“Ugh! No.”

“Are you camera shy?”

Changmin narrowed his eyes and walked out to the living room without replying.

“Hmm…I guess I should go stash up some clothes that fit you, so that you would have something to wear the next time you’re naked in my house.”

“There’s no need. I won’t be coming over here again, nor will I be seeing you.”

“Do you hate me that much?”

“I do.”

“Is it because I was the reason that your boyfriend left you?”

“Let’s not talk about him.” Changmin averted his gaze away and went to sit down at the dining table.

“Have you ever considered that I might be in love with you as well?” Se7en pretended to chuckle at the sight of Changmin’s surprised expression and left to the kitchen to get him a large bowl of chicken noodle soup. Placing it in front of the lad, he noticed something when Changmin lowered his head to stare at the bowl. “That won’t do.”

“What?” The younger male lifted his head to look at Se7en and watched as he disappeared and reappeared from the bathroom. “What are you…?”

“Don’t move.” Se7en combed Changmin’s long blond tresses with his fingers and gathered them together. With the black fabric elastic, he tied the lad’s hair into a low ponytail. “There. That’s much better. A beautiful face like yours shouldn’t be concealed.” Taking the seat beside Changmin, Se7en reached out a hand to press a palm on the boy’s forehead and sighed in relief. “You’ve cool down quite a bit; almost back to normal.”

Changmin pulled away from Se7en’s touch and scooped a spoonful of the piping hot soup into his mouth. His cheeks turned red as he anxiously rolled the liquid in his tongue before forcing it down. “H-Hot!”

“Aish!” Se7en grabbed hold of the bowl and stirred its content for him. With the spoon, he rimmed the inside edge to collect the soup and blew at it before raising it up to Changmin’s lips. “Drink it slowly.”

“I…I could eat it myself.” Changmin wanted to grab the spoon, but Se7en waved his index finger ‘no’.

“Eat.”

With no other choice, the boy opened his mouth to accept the spoon. He chewed the tiny noodles and swallowed them.

“How is it?”

“Good.”

“I’m glad.” Se7en pushed the plate of toast to Changmin. “Have some. They go well with the soup.” Listening to him, the younger Park snatched a piece and took a bite. Se7en smiled when he saw that the bread was to the kid’s liking since he picked up another piece right after. Repeating his previous action, Se7en proceeded to feed Changmin the soup until the entire bowl had been emptied.

“Aren’t you obedient tonight?”

Changmin’s face heated up noticing Se7en’s piercing gaze.

“If you don’t stop looking like a lobster, I’m really going to eat you.”

“I’m not edible.”

“Oh, but you are.”

Shooting up from his seat, Changmin felt winded and plopped back down on his chair.

“Are you okay?” Se7en removed the bracelet he had on and fastened it around his Sir Park-sshi’s wrist. “Wear this. It’ll help.”

“This,” Changmin looked at the accessory and then at Se7en, “has the same purple gemstone as my brother’s ring.”

“I managed to get my hands on two fragments of the moonstone. One I made into a ring, which you exchanged for a price. I heard it had become quite an asset to your hyung.” Se7en smiled. “The other one was made into this.”

“What about you?”

“I’m up and well. I don’t have a need for it just yet. You keep it on for the meantime.”

“But…”

“No worries. This time it’s for free. You need not return a favor.”

Changmin blinked with wide eyes but didn’t retort.

“I made rainbow gelatin this morning. I’ll go get you a cup. It’ll cool your blushing cheeks. Then again, maybe it’s not a good idea. I do enjoy seeing your face flushed crimson. It reminds me of a kind of seafood that I love.”

“I…” Changmin opened his mouth wanting to say something, but Se7en had already vanished to go get him his dessert.

The doorbell rang and Changmin looked over at the kitchen and then the front door.

“Could you answer that for me?” Se7en shouted whilst rummaging the fridge.

Changmin got up and went to do as the man asked. A shorter male with a head of platinum, double-cut blond hair glared up at him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked rudely. “Haven’t you done enough to him? He almost died because of you.” Noticing the bracelet Changmin had on, the guy barked. “Do you have no shame? How could you take the other one from him, too?”

“I…don’t understand.”

“Stop it, Jiyong!” Se7en shoved the visitor back out to the porch and turned to look at Changmin. “Your gelatin is on the table. Go eat it. I’ll be right in after I talk to him.”

Nodding, the lad headed in and returned to his seat. Se7en closed the door and huffed at his friend.

“What are you doing?”

“Kibum saw you leaving the bar with him earlier.”

“Well, Kibum should have kept his mouth shut.”

“He’s worried about you and so am I. Damn it, Dongwook! Did you forget that you nearly died getting those stones? It took you half a year to recover and you’re left with that freaking scar across your upper back. You already gave one to him. How could you give him yours as well?”

“He needs it more than I do at the moment.”

“You’re an idiot! Is he worth your life?”

“He is.”

“You’re blinded by his good looks. Don’t let him trick you. The kid was marked by his boyfriend, yet he went and slept with you to get what he wanted. He doesn’t deserve you.”

“Just let it be. I could handle it.” Herding his friend toward the gate, Se7en waved. “Go home. I don’t want Seunghyun to come looking for you.”

“Only if you promise to call me tomorrow.”

“Fine. Quit whining like a woman and leave.”

Se7en gave out a sigh of relief seeing Jiyong departing the metal gate. He went back inside, locked the door and joined Changmin at the dining table. The lad was talking to someone on his cell phone but hung up shortly.

“Is something wrong?” Se7en inquired.

“No. My butler went to the bar with me at first. I had to make sure he was okay and notify him that I was safe.”

“Your butler?”

“Yeah. His name is Joongki.”

“Is he all right?”

“Yes, he’s on his way home.”

“I see.” Se7en sat down and picked up his spoon to eat his cup of gelatin. Peering over at Changmin, he gestured for the boy to follow his lead. “Try it.”

***

Joongki entered the Park’s mansion and was immediately approached by a couple of the workers at the sight of his bruised face. Laughing it off, he joked that he slipped at the bar and hit his cheek against the counter. He quickly excused himself and headed to his own room to hide from further evaluations. If he let them examined him anymore, they would probably find evidence of the incident.

Locking the door, he slowly removed his clothes and stepped into the shower in attempts to wash away all remnants of Ahin ever touching him. The thought of the man who used to be his best friend hurt his heart even more than the hurt his body was suffering. The bruises that Minwoo left on him were escalating into a greenish gray color on his skin. Frowning at his reflection in the mirror, Joongki took in a deep breath to hold in his emotions. He didn’t want his young masters to catch him shedding tears. No one was to find out that he was raped by someone who had sent him as a spy.

Yoochun ended up staying over at the Jung’s because the animation he was watching with Junsu lasted for more than three hours. He called Joongki the next day, a little after one o’clock, asking him to pick up some groceries for them as well as bring him some clean clothes to change into. Joongki packed Yoochun’s outfit, bought everything that was requested and went home to drag Changmin along with him after Se7en dropped him off.

“Do I have to go?” Changmin uttered.

“Yes, I was told to bring you with me,” responded Joongki as he pulled the car out of the estate.

“Are you okay? That bruise looks pretty bad.”

“I’m fine. It’ll heal in a couple days.”

“What did they do to you after I passed out?”

“Nothing much.”

“I don’t believe you. Tell me, Joongki.”

“I got punched and kicked a few times. Afterwards, they left us seeing that we were unable to fight.”

“Then, how did I end up with Se7en?”

“I managed to get up on my feet, so I decided to go get help,” he made up. “When I came back to the room, you were gone. I spent the rest of the night looking for you.” He forced a smile as he patted Changmin’s hand in reassurance. “I was so happy when I received your call hours later. If I guessed right, you fainted because you were drugged; not drunk.”

“Please…don’t tell hyung. I don’t want him to worry.”

“I won’t.”

Joongki parked the car in the garage and collected everything from the trunk. Changmin carried some of the bags for him, since there were so many. They were greeted by four smiling faces once they walked in from the tunnel. After a short introduction of all the attendees, Jaejoong retrieved what Changmin was holding and took them to the kitchen. Yunho trailed after him given that he was the one doing the cooking. Being the butler, Joongki followed to assist them with the preparations.

Seated in the living room with his brother and Junsu, Changmin was puzzled by their laughter. They were watching a random variety show on television where the cast was split into two teams; one running and one chasing. Changmin ended up lost in his own thoughts and recalled what Se7en’s friend said to him.

‘Se7en almost died because of me? Why?’

“Look at that steamed lobster!” Yunho announced in excitement.

Changmin woke from his trance and jolted. “I’m not a lobster!” he exclaimed. Discovering that everyone was staring at him, he shrank in embarrassment. “I mean, I’m hungry.”