Chapter Text
Wong Yukhei, Xuxi, Lucas. He was known by these three names. However, for the moment he prefered Lucas. He always introduced himself with that name, for a reason he never shared to others here. If you asked his friends about him they would say he was a loud, clumsy, all-smiley kind of guy who wore his heart on his sleeve in which people could know what he felt just by looking at his expression. When he felt dejected because his friend canceled on him or because a sad movie, it would show on his face. He talked with big gestures and very touchy to the people near him. He loved skinship. A cheerful and friendly boy who talked confidently even with his strange accent and limited language. A guy who often made dumb and rash decisions to have fun but was loyal to his friends. In addition, he was blessed with good genes: tall body, long limbs, big eyes, attractive face, and broad shoulders. In other words, he was handsome, attractive, and hot. His visual and strong characters made him well-known in campus, though not many can be considered his real friends.
His friends liked to hang out with him and trusted him to make the mood. He was observant and could read the situation well. He could be attentive and he could be the distraction as he often yelled his thoughts loudly. His character seemed easy to understand. They knew Lucas. They knew Xuxi. They knew Yukhei. At least they thought so. But, did they really know him?
“Guess what Lucas just did again?” Mark said as he sat beside Jeno in the cafetaria. Lucas was right behind him and took a seat beside Jaemin.
“Picking his nose during presentation?” guessed Renjun, not interested as it was almost like their daily routine to head Mark reported another dumb-weird-fun-annoying-unusual things Xuxi did.
“Accidentally slapped someone with his huge ass hand?” Donghyuck added.
“Another mistaken identity?” Jaemin voiced his thoughts.
“Sleep talking loudly in class?” Jisung said as he grinned.
“Ah, ah I know, I know. Gege must be yelling his motivational phrase which almost made everyone got a heart attack,” Chenle added excitedly and then he imitated Lucas as he yelled “Fighting Haeyadawae!!!” then Chenle laughed.
“Wao guys, I'm so hurt with all your love you gave to me,” Lucas pouted and put his hand on his left chest, pretending to be hurt.
Renjun rolled his eyes. “that’s not even how the saying goes.”
“Ah, Little Huang, you know you love me. I say what I said” Lucas grinned cheekily. “Really guys, don’t you have faith in me?” Lucas addressed all of his friends. He put an effort to widen his eyes and put an innocent, puppy-face. His friends just looked blankly at him as an answer.
“So what I was saying is,” Mark tried to redirect the conversation to his story, “he walked into a damn glass door and even made such a loud sound that few people turned around to look at him. Then when someone tried to help him he acted like he lost his memories.” The story made all looked at Lucas' direction again.
“What? I wanted to try that scene, you know, like in those movies and books. Maybe I can find my true love.” Hearing those nonsense answers, the others groaned.
“So is that why there is a red spot on your forehead, hyung?” asked Jeno.
Lucas blinked. “There is?”
Jaemin reached out to that spot and poked it, making Lucas flinched away. “Yup. Right here.”
“Ouch that hurts,” Lucas let out a whine.
“Want me to kiss it better?” Jaemin smiled teasingly. Lucas panicked for a moment before he shrugged and decided to go along with it.
“Sure, my pleasure.” Lucas grinned and leaned down to Jaemin while Jaemin streched out his neck to give a quick peck to Lucas’ forehead.
“Ugh, can’t you be gross elsewhere. I’m trying to eat here.” Protested Renjun.
“Aaaw Little Huang, do you want to give me a kiss too? Or do you want to be kissed?” teased Lucas. “Who else want to kiss me? I'll accept all your love and kisses,” Lucas said as he smiled widely. Immediately, mumbles of protests and streams of protests can be heard from all around the table.
Their chatters and banters were interrupted by a shout of Lucas’ name by a very familiar voice. Even without looking, Lucas knew who the owner of that voice was. So he started talking even before he really saw the caller.
“Jungwoo hyung, wha-“ Lucas’ words stopped when he saw who came along with Jungwoo. He was surprised. His body tensed for a few seconds before he forced his body to relax and forced his smile back. He needed to analyze and judge the situation quickly before taking an action. He made a quick eye contacts with the newcomers before continuing his previous phrase. “What’s up hyung?”
It was only few seconds at most but Jaemin felt Lucas’ hand on his thigh went rigid and squeezed his thigh tightly. It was painful and Jaemin flinched. Lucas had the habits to touch the thighs of the people near him and his friends were used to it. He didn’t even realize that action as it was natural movement and just some kind of reflex. When Jaemin wanted to tell Lucas and had opened his mouth, but he stopped when he saw Lucas wasn’t smiling and was that a frown he saw? But Lucas changed his expression quickly and continued talking before Jaemin could ask another question. He then started to feel something was off, he decided to pay more attention to the scene that would unfold in a few moments.
Jungwoo and the others didn’t notice as it was usual for Lucas to pause in the middle of his sentences. Jungwoo just greeted the others for he was also part of their circle of friends, though he mostly hang around Lucas. After gave a quick acknowledgement to Jungwoo and the strangers, most went back to eating. Only few were curious to the strangers Jungwoo brought along. It was probably another acquaintance of Lucas, as he knew a lot of people.
“These guys here are looking for you. I found them when they were asking some people if they know you. Do you know them?” Jungwoo explained as he gestured toward three persons behind him.
Before Lucas could answer, one of the newcomers spoke, “Xuxi,” then he grinned and continued in a foreign language, an unfamiliar one for most of the people on that table, making them curious. It took them a few moments before they finally realized he was speaking Thai. No one seemed to understand him, or at least they thought so.
Jaemin who had been observing Lucas had a guess that he fully understood what the stranger was saying as his eyes showed that he was paying attention to the words being said and his expressions kept changing like they were the result of the stranger's words. He could see Lucas flinched when the stranger started talking then pouted slightly at some words.
The stranger’s stopped talking and seemed waiting for someone, perhaps Lucas, to reply. Lucas let out a sigh. “Fine,” he mumbled and slightly grimaced thinking of the questions about him that his friends most probably would have after this.
“ Okay, I'll introduce you to them. But I have a feeling you already know who they are. And can’t we just talk elsewhere? Why did you guys even choose to come here instead of waiting for me to go home?” Lucas replied in fluent Thai, surprising all. They didn’t know that Lucas could speak Thai. This certainly made the others focused on the two who were conversing.
“ What’s the fun in that?” the stranger smirked.
Lucas let out another sigh. He then turned to the table to talk with his friends. Just like his prediction, all of them were looking at him. He could see questions in their eyes. What he would do in a moment perhaps would create more questions.
Lucas blinked, “What? Curious much?” he said. Some feigned ignorance, some rolled their eyes, and some admitted.
“I don’t know you can speak Thai, Lucas” that was Mark, voicing the others' thoughts.
“Cause I never told ya,” replied Lucas and he took a breath, “Hey guys, I'll introduce you to each other.” Another surprise to them. Lucas rarely introduced his acquaintance to them. He only introduced his friends to each other and when he believed they would often interact with each other.
Lucas gestured to three strangers. “They are practically my family. He is Ten,” he pointed to the one who was speaking in Thai. “He is Hendery, and he is Yang Yang”, he gestured to the other two. The three smiled and waved their hands, saying greeting in Korean. The others replied the greetings.
“Now usually I would let you talk to each other but we have to go, so see you, I guess” Lucas then stared packing up his things.
Hendery gave a chop to Lucas’ neck as he said something in foreign language, but this time it didn’t sound like Thai, making Lucas groaned in pain. “That’s not how you introduced people. And why don’t you look happy to meet us?”
Renjun and Chenle perked up at the usage of the language. They immediately recognized the language. It sounded like Mandarin but it wasn’t. It was Cantonese and sometime they heard Lucas spoke in it.
“ Oh shut up! I know your appearance here means bad news for me, especially when he is here,” he pointed to YangYang who just kept grinning . “Let’s just go out from here,” He stood up.
“Do you really have to go, Ge?” asked Chenle. “You haven’t even finished your food,” Chenle pointed at his barely eaten food. Lucas just shook his head and pushed his tray of food toward Jisung.
“Jisung you can eat it, you need it more than me.” There were a collective gasps of disbelief. Oops wrong words Lucas. It just created more questions. Lucas never left his food unfinished even if it killed him. He didn’t give people his food, he asked for others' food and finished others' food.
Lucas raised one of his eyebrows, “Really, guys? All of you really have such a low opinion on me?” Lucas complained. “I’m going to eat with them as we talk, it seems they have something important to say to me and that can’t wait.” Lucas picked up his bag. Then he saw Ten smirked and was about to say something that would corner him a.k.a denied his words. So he hurriedly said his goodbye.
“Adios Amigos! Oh and I think I'm going for a long time so don’t miss me too much.” Lucas gave a wink and then dragged Ten away to prevent him saying something that would disadvantage him. He put his other hand on Hendery's neck, keeping him on a chokehold, a revenge for the previous chop.
“Nice to see you guys! Bye!” YangYang grinned and gave a slight bow. He represented them to say the goodbye. He could not forget his manner like what his elders did, couldn’t he? Then he followed the others three and pulled Lucas’ shirt to make him slow down. Lucas let Hendery go and instead pulled YangYang to walk beside him, but he did slow down for the others. YangYang then clinged to Lucas.
Meanwhile the rest was left in silent, still left in the aftermath of the stormy departure of Lucas.
“So, is it just me or that Lucas’ quite rude today? That brat didn’t introduce them properly nor he said his goodbye properly,” Jungwoo said as he sat on Lucas’ seat. Noises of agreement were heard.
Jaemin decided it was time to voice out his questions and concerns or at least some of them. “Woo hyung, did you know that Lucas hyung speak Thai?” Jungwoo shook his head. “Did anyone know?” he asked to the rest. Negative. No one knew.
“Then do you know about any of his family, hyung?” that was the second question. Jungwoo seemed to think for a moment before he finally shook his head. “Mark hyung?” Another shake of head. “Renjun? Chenle? Anyone?” Jaemin asked those four mainly because they were the closest to Lucas. But the answer was still negative.
Hearing the answer or rather the lack of it, further cemented Jaemin’s thoughts and concerns. While he was observing Lucas talked to his so-called family, he was trying to recall some personal information he knew about the tall boy. He couldn’t find much and that kinda bothered him.
“Where are you going with these questions? Why do you suddenly become so nosy?” Mark asked, feeling confused. However, Renjun and Jungwoo seemed to have one or two ideas of what Jaemin's intentions were. Suddenly there was a strange tension around them.
“Yeah what are you trying to say, hyung? Seems too intrusive.” Jisung also asked.
Jaemin licked his lips before responding. His lips suddenly felt so dry. “One last question, has he ever shared his struggles or problems to you? And how much or what do you know about Lucas hyung personal life or past? Not to be too intrusive or something. I just have several concerns.” After this question, it was evident that the tension rose.
Mark laughed, trying to ease up the tension. “Nana really what are you on? That’s really intrusive. Of course he has. He kept whining about those papers, and we know he struggled because of the language barrier. We can’t just put our nose into others life and we don’t need know much nor all information about a person to become his friend. Here some facts: Lucas is our friend, my fellow 99 line. His real name is Wong Yukhei. He is from Hong Kong, he got part-time job, he is Renjun’s roommate. He loves puppy and looks like one. He loves food. He moved here for study, and apparently he can speak Thai. And.. and….” Mark seemed trying to find more facts but couldn’t find any, but he continued, “and still those information are enough for us to become friends.”
“See? Those just basic info. Do we even know where he worked or what he did? And does he ever really share his problem, other than the academic one, willingly? Like how often he talks about himself?” The questions were met with silent again. “Listen, I'm not accusing him of something, I just realize this fact today that Lucas didn’t really share about his personal life nor he shared his problems with us while he was always readily to help any of us. And I’m not sure about this but…” Jaemin was hesitating, but decided to continue, “but I felt like he wasn’t happy to meet those people he called family. Okay, they seemed playful with each other but he squeezed my thigh tightly in reflex when he saw them and even frowned. Don’t you guys think he seemed to get away from us as soon as possible when they came or to get us away from his family? I had a bad feeling and just concerned for him. I'm not saying that we should intrude or force our help which might not even be what he needed. It might be family matters and we can’t intervene family business. I just want to say that probably we need to pay more attention to him, look pass his actions of being the mood maker, and just be there for him. He always smiling and openly crying for small things, and that perhaps what made us think we can read him and knew about his feeling. But has you guys see him really upset, angry, or any strong emotion? These are just my thoughts though.”
They fell into solemn silence. All was busy with their thoughts. Jaemin’s words made them thinking and revisit their interactions with the boy they think they knew. They started questioning whether they really knew the tall, cheerful boy.
“Shit! Nana, now you make me feel like I am such a bad friend!” Mark suddenly half-yelled. He felt guilty.
“Nana, don’t you just overthinking and overanalyzing things? Like it was just one occasion, you can’t infer or conclude something just from one case, not enough proof, and not objective enough,” Jeno added his opinion.
“I think not. I sometime also feel that Gege do hide his feelings and not trust us enough to share his feelings. I just remembered once I caught him laying down while staring blankly at the ceiling with tears falling down. He cried in silence. When I asked what’s the matter, he just said he remembered something sad randomly and grinned at me, but I knew he lied. I also know he miss speaking Cantonese, I saw him talking to himself in Cantonese and watched some Hong Kong drama. I know that he's homesick. But he never went back home during breaks nor did I ever see him call home. Jaemin's concerns are actually sounded. I guess there’s nothing wrong in paying more attention to him.” Before Jaemin could defend himself, Renjun had told his experiences that strengthen Jaemin’s worries.
The atmosphere got darker again. None of them expected their lunch would be like this. They even had stopped eating and some lost their appetites. Some felt guilty and worried about Lucas. Jungwoo finally let out a sigh. He got tired of this solemn atmosphere and he didn’t like the expressions on his juniors' faces. He could see that Chenle was on the brink of tears.
“Okay children!” Jungwoo clapped his hands to attract their attention. He then said cheerily, “Stop being so sad and guilty. Like Mark said earlier, we can’t be too intrusive. And remember no one like pity-party. It’s no one's fault, okay? We finally realize the situation and there are some issues but don’t change our actions toward him. We can show our care but not too much, it will just overwhelm Lucas. We can just be there and if Lucas can’t and won’t share his problem just trust him, be there for him, and learn to read him better, to look for the signs. Now finish your food! They have gotten cold!” Jungwoo finished with his commanding voice. As the oldest there, he needed to take charge.
They continued their lunch reluctantly, the conversation was still playing on their head. It had triggered more questions. Now the boy that they thought they knew well, that they could read, the one so expressive who they thought wore his hearts on his sleeve, seemed so mysterious in their eyes. Some of them promised themselves to talk to Lucas soon, for confronting him or other reasons, they were not sure. The seed had been planted, but they didn’t exactly know what kind of plant it was, whether it was seed of trust or distrust, loyalty or disloyalty, or others. What they knew was something was definitely changing. And some even felt that problem was brewing and it would be centered around the tall, cheerful boy everyone had come to love.
Yukhei and the other three were walking toward his apartment. They just bought 6 box of pizzas to eat as they talk. They thought it was safer to talk in the comfort and security of Yukhei’s apartment and decided to just takeaway pizzas. He bought 6, for sure there were already some more uninvited guests at his apartment. No, they were not going to his shared apartment with Renjun. He owned another apartment in town. None of his college friends knew about it.
Jaemin and the others were correct, they should have concerns, no, they should be wary and suspicious of him. He was a man full of secret. Some were very dangerous, but he could keep it as he, himself, was a dangerous one. But to clarify, he did not like to lie. He just omitted some or in other words spoke half-truths in a way that lead people to make their own assumptions.
He opened his apartment to see several familiars faces. He never gave them the key nor let them know about the location of his apartment. However, he already expected them to be there. The presence of YangYang kinda gave it away. He also knew they had ways to get information about his apartment and broke into it. Now inside the security of his apartment with all of the people he really trusted with his whole life - because in his world a trust couldn’t easily given, it was really a matter of life and death - he could finally address the elephant in the room, but there were still some greetings needed to be done first. Some hugs, betrayed looks, and playful punches were exchanged.
“I’m happy to meet you guys, honored even that some even come from such a far country,” he gave a pointed look to Yang Yang, no wait, actually all of them came from abroad to visit him here, but YangYang was the farthest. “But I know the presence of all, not only, some of you means there is an extremely bad news for me especially for you to cross territory.”
“Actually not all Xuxi, but the main one that really matters are here. We decided to keep it between us first, before we talked to the others who also connected. Yuta even pouted when we said he couldn’t participate in this meeting while he was already here. After all he is still from other group,” Ten cut him with a crispy laugh. “He even came into your campus just to meet you, but you decided to do your antics when you saw a glimpse of familiar faces in the crowd. Don’t think we didn’t see that clumsy, dumb, and embarrassing act you did. You in luck Yuta didn’t see you that time and he got another appointment.” So it was really Yuta he saw that made him lose focus and crashed onto the glass door.
“Okay so even some family’s friends are here. Cut the chase. What’s the matter? It’s been years since we last met, what changed it. I thought I made my choice clear. Kun-Ge even helped me. I feel betrayed right now, Ge,” he sent a glare toward Kun, “And YangYang what made you come visiting me from Germany?”
“We go here with official permission and under the order of Dragon Head. We have sent notice, so we won’t step on any wrong foot. Furthermore, most have good relations with us.”
“Sicheng-ge, and do tell what is the order?” He hoped it was not what he was thinking.
“To bring you back,” was the short and straight answer. Hearing it, he wanted to scream and protested, but instead he took a deep breath. He needed more information first.
“I thought I made it clear that I don’t want to come back.” He looked at them one by one. “Kun-ge you even supported me and helped me to get here.” Kun looked guilty, he opened his mouth to say something but closed it again, seemed like he decided to not say what on his mind. But the nudge from Sicheng finally made him talk.
“Actually, Xuxi..” it was clear that something that Kun was about to say wouldn’t please him. “I was able to help you because your father let me. He wants you to make network here. He know that you are a stubborn one but he believe in you.” Kun explained, he waited a few moment to let the informations sinked. “And he asked me to take care of you. So actually I’ve been watching over you and also have been living here for almost as long as you,” Kun dropped the bomb. “And moreover Sicheng and I kinda have been watching over the friends you made here. We… um.. we have interacted with your friends directly, though they don’t know about our relation. I hire some as part-timer in my cafe and my bakery near your campus. And Sicheng teach some of them dances in the studio across my cafe. ”
Yukhei knew those places Kun mentioned, and he knew who were the people he meant. Okay. Breathe Yukhei, breathe. This was just one news, he still needed to hear the main reason. His friends were safe. He just saw them on lunch, didn’t he? But a treacherous thought whispered to him, safe for the moment . “And the reason to bring me back?” he asked to distract his mind.
“The election will be held.”
“And what it has to do with me, DeJun?” Yukhei had a little hope that what he was thinking not becoming a reality.
“You are one of the candidates.”
Yukhei was trying to be calm, but he was at his limit. “Why? Haven’t I been excluded cause I kinda run away?”
“Kun literally just said that you are being watched under your father order. So practically you didn’t run away, you are just sent to study abroad. I know you are still keeping up with your practice. It is your upbringing and your blood, Xuxi,” Ten scoffed.
“You have the direct bloodline, Hei. After all this is also considered as family business. We are still holding into that tradition,” XiaoJun added. Yup, their family was one of the oldest.
“Then why can’t just Hendery who take up the mantle? He is my cousin, though. I know Ten-ge isn’t eligible cause he is from my mother’s side, but why can’t you Wong KunHang?” asked Yukhei frustrated as he directed his question at Hendery and emphasized his name.
“Hey, don’t bring me into this stupid game of thrones,” exclaimed Hendery which was replied by Yukhei with “I don’t want it too.”
“They see us as a team, and as you’re the son of the current Dragon Head, they pick you. I’m not even considered as the candidate and I don’t want to be one. I am already responsible for Macau. So just suck it up and be the head, Hei!” Hearing Hendery’s answer, brought a frown into Yukhei’s face.
“You said ‘one of the candidate’, right? So can’t I just sit pretty and do nothing, let the other take up the mantle?” another attempt to avoid the big responsibility.
“NO!” All of them shouted, startling Yukhei.
“You don’t understand, ge,” Yangyang started, “the other candidate is the worst possible candidate ever. He has a dark ambition that will bring all of us down. He is greedy and want to enlarger our operations. Your father can even see it. He predicts that his ambition will bring war and destroy our family. There will bloodbath.”
“He become a candidate through the means of dirty politic. He’s not one of the bloodlines, but he gathers supports and create a new movement to make it possible for people outside the direct line to become a Master. He gathers the people with the ambition. He has great record in making profit and doing his mission, so he able to get supporters. There is actually a growing cancer in our family, Hei. He makes us fight each other. Your father doesn’t have any choice, but to consider him as he got cornered by the others especially when you are not there.” XiaoJun added.
Yukhei was left in silence. He knew those scenarios and they weren’t pretty. The consequences would not be experienced by them but it would spill over to the civilians. He could imagine the horror, the chaos, the violences, the deaths, and the fear. Not pretty at all.
“Xuxi,” Yukhei looked up to the man that called him softly, “remember the reason you choose to walk away?” asked Kun. It was a rhetorical question, he continued immediately, “You don’t like much violence unless it is necessaire, you don’t want bloodbath, you hate drugs and human trafficking. You don’t like humans’ greediness and bottomless ambitions,” Kun took a breath, “Now there is a person who will bring those into our family, will you just let him like that or will you fight him? You have the power and the means, you have our supports and undying loyalty, we got your back.”
Yukhei was hesitating. He loved his family and he didn’t have the heart to leave them crumbling. But he had made new life here, although he hadn’t left his old habit and practice. He loved his new life.
“Xuxi,” Kun called him again softly, “Remember you used to talk that you wanted to become like your Baba, that you wanted to protect our family? the time when you wanted to become the head and change it for the better? Remember your vision? Our vision?” Kun talked with a hint of nostalgia, the rest were focused on him. They didn’t know these, they also wanted to hear it.
“You have your own vision of how we operate in the future, how you want to make our organization less brutal, more humane, that you will set certain limitations but at the same time expanding our outreach by maximizing our front business. That’s why you study business, and I know you have built your public persona, your image. I know you have chosen modeling as another mean of safety net, it is your chosen image to build your reputation. It is also the way you build network, such a smart choice. Here, entertainment industry is such a big thing, and that industry is often mixed with our world. Deep inside, you still care, you still think what’s the best for our organization and family. All those practices and lessons are deeply embedded within you. You can’t run away, all that do just delay the inevitable.”
Yukhei lost. Kun was always able to read him better than the others and sometime even better than Yukhei himself. Kun also knew his weakness. Family and friendship bonds were his strength but also his weakness. Kun was one of his weakness. He couldn’t really get angry nor say no to him. But did he have to cut the budding friendship and relationship with normal people, the civilian, that also one thing he dreamt of? He didn’t want to drag them in danger. Ah, Yukhei could feel a headache coming.
Yukhei felt someone grabbed his hand. It was YangYang. The youngest was smiling softly and was looking at him full of adoration, “Ge, hearing Kun-ge, I know you’ll be, no, you’re the perfect Master for us. So please do it. At least for us, your family?” Yangyang went for the last attack. He used the ‘us, family card’.
Yukhe had clearly lost. He couldn’t disappoint all of them and abandon them. He let out a sigh and buried his face on his palm that wasn’t held by Yangyang. He then mumbled, “Fine.”
“What?” asked Yangyang. Yukhei lowered down his palm from his face and looked at each of them.
“Fine, I’ll do it for you guys.” Shouts of reliefs were immediately heard. Yukhei was tackled down by a hug from Yangyang. He couldn’t stop his smiles from blooming. He indeed love these people.
“Okay, now that Yukhei has said yes. Let’s go to the airport!” Sicheng interrupted the moment.
“Are you coming back today hyung?” Yukhei asked.
“All of us are going. Remember, we’re here to take you back. We took the liberty to package your things,” said Sicheng with a grin.
“WHAT?!” Yukhei exclaimed.
“The meeting for the declaration of the candidates is tonight.”
“WHAT?!” Seriously couldn’t these people not dropped all the bombs in one day.
“But.. but.. what about my classes? Oh and my job! I got a photoshoot tomorrow morning!” Yukhei started protesting.
“All taken care of. We already contacted Doyoung for canceling your job for undetermined time”replied Kun.
“You know Doyoung hyung?”
“Of course. I said you made great network, Yukhei. He has deep connections,” Kun said.
“You have prepared all of this. What if I still said no?”
“The we’ll take you with force. We bring sedative,” shouted Ten from the kitchen, already looking for some snacks.
It seemed Yukhei really didn’t have the choice nor could run away. To the airport he go.