Chapter 107 - You Cannot Run

[Shun was waiting all day, and he was so hungry!

Lying on the grass, up on the hill and under the large oak tree, he sighed rubbing his stomach. Shun looked over to his side and frowned. Prince Peter had told him he had something special for him for his birthday. His birthday was a couple weeks away, so he was confused when the brown haired prince told him this.

He also felt… giddy.

Prince Peter said he wanted to spend the day with him, meaning the princess the man was courting would not be around them. Humming to himself, he closed his eyes and thought of what gift the prince could have brought for him. Was it something made or bought? Was it big or small?

As his mind drifted trying to figure out what it was, he fell asleep under the warm sun. Hands landed on his shoulders, shaking him from the realm of sleep. Blinking his eyes slowly, his purple eyes saw his kind older brother looking at him with furrowed brows.

“Brother?” He mumbled quietly as he sat up.

“Ah Shun,” his brother’s eyes were sad and lips wavered, “There was… an accident.”

Sleep left him abruptly and he sat up straight as a rod. The way his brother was looking at him, the way those eyes did not want to look at his face, and the way fingers on his shoulder were squeezing tightly caused a shiver to run up his spine.

Cold and dark… just like the night.

A white glove, one his dear prince loved to wear on his right hand was handed to him. It was worn down and there were dirt covering much of the white. The glove was torn and ripped. Shun knew… He knew something bad had happened. Prince Peter would had never gone anywhere without this glove!

“I am sorry, little brother.”

His eldest brother whispered softly and he squeezed the glove in both hands.

“Ten minutes ago… on his way here to see you, brother. I… I am sorry.”

“No! No, no, no, no!” Shun cried loudly pulling his glove to his chest.

“I believe this was for you,” his brother spoke softly, placing a leather pouch before him.

Reaching in with his shaky hands, he pulled the pouch closer to him and opened it. Pulling out the necklace of his family crest, he stuffed his face into his brother’s chest. Crying, so much crying he did that night and the many days after.

He lost Prince Peter forever.]

“No!”

He cried out, sweating up and down his back. Clutching his chest, he closed his blue eyes and did his best to breath like his big brother had taught him. In and out. In and out. As his tense shoulders relaxed, he let out a deep breath and stared at his hands as if the white glove was still in them.

“Are you alright?”

He turned to see the female beside him in her thin night dress staring at him. He sighed and got off the bed to the restroom. Closing the door behind him, he grabbed the sink and shut his eyes. His body shook and he gritted his teeth, trying to tell his body that it was the past.

‘Prince Peter is still with me,’ he reminded himself and clutched to his gifted necklace, ‘Right? Prince Peter? PRINCE PETER?!’

“Ah Shun,” Prince Peter’s voice floated in his mind and he laughed softly, relieved.

‘Prince Peter,’ he smiled, ‘I… just wanted to hear your voice.’

“Ah, you miss me?” Prince Peter chuckled, “I miss you too.”

Shun grinned and washed his face. Prince Peter was still here, even if it was just in his head. That was fine. He was fine.

On the bed, Gina sat up and stared at the locked bathroom door. Her fan count was growing and she was gaining fame again thanks to the silver haired man. Yet, money wasn’t coming as fast as she wanted.

Grabbing her phone, she had turned off the notification prior so she didn’t wake from it. 3 new text messages from the same number. The contact’s name she put was H. She didn’t dare right the full name. It would only make her stomach twist until she threw up.

“You cannot run, bitch. Pay back what you owe. You have 1 month or I will come get what I am owed.”

‘Dammit!’ She gritted out and rubbed her face. She would need to come up with some sort of plan so she can earn more money. What could she do?

She wished she never went to that damn party and she wished she never left Suu Jin.

If she never did any of those, she wouldn’t be knee deep in debt that she wasn’t sure she would ever pay off… not to mention-

She placed a palm on her stomach for a moment.

What the fuck was she going to do?

==

Suu Jin was currently writing a song. He had written three others during his time on break, but this one… He thought this one was good enough to be a single. Drinking his tea at his dining table like his dear baby cousin nagged him about, he read over the lyrics.

“Who am I when the lights go down and the cameras fade away. Who am I when the world leaves me alone to myself? Can I… find who I am?”

Jin sang to himself as he finished reading the rest of what he had written. Heading to his piano, he began playing the tune in his head, letting his fingers guide him. He had not see Shun since the arcade a week ago and since his lover said…

“I hate you.”

Those words from the silver haired idol hurt him, like sharp knives digging into his guts for treasure. Lisa and the others had reminded him, told him Shun was being used and what he said was not his true feelings. Jin knew… what they said was true, but he didn’t understand why Shun would go through with it.

He warned the man about Gina, but Shun and his forgiving heart thought she was better.

“Will I find love, in the abys of the dark? When no one is watching me, can I still sleep alone? Oh, oh…”

Jin sang quietly and sighed. He was going to visit Pengu and Yanny at their concert later. It would be nice to see old friends, or at least those that knew the real him… maybe. He had seen the reports of some people with NDA speaking up about their experiences with him. Some were good and others painted him in a bad light.

Shaking his head, he left his piano and went for a warm shower. He had to get ready to meet with his old bandmate to rekindle their friendship. It was time. He neglected so much for so long.

He walked by a picture hanging on his wall and smiled. The image of 1Luv, so young and happy with bright smiles. His eyes stared at Genu, his best friend with the weak body.

[“Jin! Look!” Genu grinned, pointing at the picture he just drew, “I’m pretty good, huh?”

Little Suu Jin looked at the drawing of the four stick figures smiling together. He laughed and grinned.

“That looks like a kindergarten drew it.”

“Hey! Don’t be mean,” Genu pushed his friend, “I’m not an artist, just a singer,” the boy laughed.

“Hey guys,” a 16 year old Pengu walked in holding cookies on a plate, “Do you remember Donny Wang? He’s going solo.”

“Why? That is wrong to leave your friends,” Genu stated eating a cookie from the plate, “I would never leave any of you.”

“We are together forever,” Pengu fist pumped as Yanny joined bringing glasses of milk for everyone.

They all agreed and finalized it with the clinks of their milk glass.]

That promise didn’t last long. He bowed his head for a moment and closed his emerald eyes.

‘Watch over me, Genu.. I always need your guidance, please.’