It couldn't be helped. Zen would have to get Jumin to bed somehow, because there was absolutely no way, he could spend the night on the floor, especially not on top of Zen.
„Jumin?", Zen asked carefully while shaking Jumin's shoulder a little. But the corporate heir did not react at all.
„Jumin…! Please, wake up.", Zen repeated now in a very desperate tone. „Jerk?" The familiar insult was his last resort, even if this could have easily meant just another round of banter if Jumin were to wake up. But at this point anything was better than having a drunk and unconscious Jumin Han lying on top of him.
Zen sighed. He wondered what to do next. How could he possibly get Jumin up yet alone carry him to his room? Of course, Zen did not belong to the weak type of men. He worked out daily and his stamina was remarkable. Carrying someone lighter than him like a woman or a tiny lightweight like Yoosung was no problem at all. However, Jumin was neither a woman nor was he Yoosung. Why couldn't he be Yoosung? Zen shook his head rapidly to try clearing his mind. Wishing Jumin to be Yoosung so that he could carry him was definitely a sign of utter despair. „Fuck…", Zen groaned and let himself sink to the floor.
He closed his eyes and began thinking about different ways to get Jumin to bed. „I could pull him onto a blanket and then pull the blanket to wherever his room is… or I could pull him on the arms… or the legs… or I could put his tie around his head and pull him that way. Or I could try finding the bed, take out the mattress and bring it here and then I could roll him onto the mattress and then pull the mattress back into his room." Zen punched his face with both of his palms. „What the hell, Zen?", he shouted, before he took a deep breath to calm himself down. He let his arms sink down to the floor again and sighed one more time with his eyes closed hoping that he could somehow vanish that way. „I'm screwed."
Suddenly something warm and soft stroke Zen's hand. He opened his eyes and just the sight of Elizabeth III's white fur made him not only scream loudly but also jump up to his two feet and run towards the door in sheer panic. „Furball!", Zen exclaimed. „FURBALL! Go away! Go away from me! Shhhu Shhhu!" But Elizabeth was not impressed with Zen's terrible screams. She was only interested in her human Jumin lying on the floor and bumped her head against his while meowing softly in an attempt to wake him up.
Looking at the white cat being so gentle with Jumin made Zen realize that he had probably overreacted even given the fact that he was highly allergic to cat fur. Zen remembered Jaehee's words about the allergy medicine she had given him before and slowly started to calm down. „Ok, Zen. Be a man. You can do this. You already saw the trust fund jerk throw up outside. What could possibly be worse?", Zen told himself and slowly moved towards Jumin and Elizabeth.
„Furball… he is fine. He is just sleeping. Nothing to worry about, ok?" When Zen was only one foot away from them he reached out to Elizabeth with his right foot trying to shoo her away. „Go away now furball… please…? Let me take care of this. Jumin has to go to bed." With Zen's foot in her and also Jumin's face Elizabeth started to feel anything else but amused and began hissing at Zen. „No, no… Furball… please… I am a nice guy… see this smile?"; Zen told Elizabeth and showed her a tormented smile before adding a „Pretty please?", to his speech. But even his „pretty please" would not mollify Elizabeth. „Ok, ok… I get it. Elizabeth III! You are Elizabeth III. Not a furball. Let me please now help your master or whatever you call him!"
Yet, Elizabeth was still more than unwilling to leave her beloved human's side and just continued giving Zen an evil looking glare. „Gaaaaaaaaahhhhh! Really?" It was actually astonishing that Jumin wouldn't wake up giving all the screaming that the idol couldn't hold back anymore. „GAWWWWD! Fuck this!" He tore his silver hair and huffed loudly before unlocking his phone. „I need to call Jaehee…", he thought and already picked her contact to hit dial when the image of her troubled face came back to his memory. „No… I can't do this now… come on Zen… there's gotta be another way…"
So, instead of calling the world's most organized person and clearly the world's best assistant Jumin could ever have, Zen opened the world's most well-known everyday assistant on his phone: Noogle. „How to get rid of… no that is a little too much… how to… hmmmm…. Ah yeah! How to shoo away a cat." Zen typed in and quickly scrolled through the suggestions. „Lavender oil….? Fences? Pine cones? The heck? I am not in a fricking garden! Ughhh!" The next search „how to distract cats" wasn't very promising at first since it provoked Noogle to answer with the same suggestions as before but after scrolling a little Zen hit pay dirt in a section called „entertainment for cats". „Tossing things that resemble prey to let them… hunt. That's it!" Overly happy about the hint the idol's ruby eyes widened almost happily, as he began looking around for something to toss. Ideally something that could fly veeeeeery far. The close-by options didn't look too promising though since they were all attached to Jumin's body… like his tie or a shoe… Like hell Zen would toss his own shoe! Plus… they wouldn't fly far enough.
Still thinking about what to toss, Zen started scratching his head when he suddenly touched the one thing that could easily fly to the other end of this long hallway when being snapped the right way: his hair tie. With a little bit of hesitation Zen carefully slid his hair tie off his silken hair and then pressed his hands together as if in payer „Please! Let this work!", he mumbled and stretched the hair tie like a slingshot. And snap! It was gone and with it Elizabeth III whose hunting instinct was immediately triggered by the flying object. „YAAAASSS!", Zen shouted and even jumped a little in excitement while clapping his hands once, almost forgetting what the actual purpose of his earlier action was. „Shoot! Ok, trust fund kid! Let's go, let's go, let's go!"
Overly motivated by his earlier success, Zen got into a squat position and manhandled Jumin onto his shoulder with a heavy grunt. „Gawd… why must you be so heavy!?", Zen groaned as he got up and set off to go. „Geee…. ok…. now to your r… room...?" And that was when yet ANOTHER obstacle presented itself to the singer, as he only now really got aware of how big of a place they were in and how many rooms and doors there were ready to be explored. „Fuck my life…", Zen thought and groaned again while making sure Jumin would not fall down once more.
The first door he opened was an office room. The next a bathroom. The next a… fitness studio? „Why the heck are you so rich, jerk, ugh?" Two more rooms later Zen finally opened the door to a room with a bed inside. A huge, round bed, in fact, right next to a massive fish tank. „Dude… if that is a guest room I don't fricking care, you are gonna sleep in this bed tonight." And with these words leaving his mouth Zen lowered himself in front of the bed and placed his friend onto the sheets as carefully as possible.
An exhausted „phew" escaped his perfect lips before he stretched a bit after this unexpected workout. Remembering Elizabeth III outside, Zen rushed to the door to close it. „Better safe than sorry…", he thought and ran his fingers through his now open hair. „Finally!", he sighed and returned to Jumin's side to take off his shoes and to cover him with a blanket. And in the moment when his hand touched the heir's shoulder while smoothening the fabric of the blanket, worry rose again in Zen's mind. „I never thought… I would see you like this… Jumin.", he whispered and pulled a nearby standing armchair closer.
It is not advisable to leave a drunk person alone, Zen told himself inside his head as he got comfortable on the armchair. „Plus! I am far too tired to get back home safely now! Too tired, yes!" The words that were actually spoken and not just thought, were accopanied by Zen's heavy nods. As if this was needed to convince himself of what he just said. Yet, „too tired" was still easier to believe than „too worried".
How upsetting, draining, troublesome and tiring something must be for someone like Jumin to lose it. How hurt and desperate he must be. And how lonely… But before his thoughts became even heavier a buzz of his phone caught Zen's attention. A message from Jaehee, asking him if everything was ok. Moving his fingers swiftly over the phone's screen Zen immediately answered the message ensuring the young woman that her boss was now sleeping safe and sound and that he – her beloved idol – was comfortable as well. And just when he hit the sent button another message came in. This time from MC which made Zen's eyes widen.
MC: Zen! You're online! ^_^ How did the party go? Tell meeeeeeee!
The cute sounding message made the actor chuckle. It is funny actually how connected he already felt with her even after only having known her virtually for a couple of days.
ZEN: MC?! How are you? Where are you? What about Seven? You ok? Do you need help?
MC: Hahahaha, awwww try not to worry. Seven is taking good care. We are safe right now. We've been driving all the time. I had to force that stubborn man to stop and take a rest. He is now sleeping… with his head on my lap. -^_^-
Having someone call Seven a „man" actually sounded odd in Zen's ears, especially when coming from someone as sweet as MC. It triggered his protective side.
ZEN: LAP? MC… you know… all men are wolves. So, be careful! I tell youuu. WOLVES!
MC: Ya, ya, ya! Aye, aye, handsome! I will take good care not to be eaten by a wolf! Lol
ZEN: You betta!
MC: You're funny. But really, how was the party?
Despite Zen feeling confused by being called funny in regards to a serious matter like figuratively being eaten by a man/wolf, Zen was happy to have MC to talk to in this very moment.
ZEN: The party was good. Lots of donations! Also, thanks to your great effort! We are all doing ok here. V's… you know… that… hit us all hard… so the mood was somewhat low. But we did our best!
MC: Ok… glad to hear the party was a success… despite everything. I can imagine how you all must feel like. How… is Jumin? I was worried about him seeing how he reacted in the chat…
Even MC after having known them all for not even two weeks had noticed that Jumin was off. If that wasn't all the more sign how serious all of this was… Zen thought before typing his answer.
ZEN: He… is having a hard time. V is his best friend. Gosh… I am actually fricking upset with him myself. Just disappeared again. Way to go! Really!
MC: Yeah… maybe he has his reasons…
ZEN: And even if! Even if! You just don't disappear like that! Not like that! We are all appalled! And Jumin basically had a mental break down. He got so drunk at the party that he lost it and started making a scene in front of the guests! And then I even had to bring him home cause it was just unthinkable to leave him alone.
MC: Oh… God… poor Jumin…
ZEN: Yes! And poor me too! I am still here taking care of him. And it isn't pleasant at all.
MC: Zen…
ZEN: It's not like I don't know his jerk-side but when he is drunk it is even worse.
MC: Zen, I can imagine, but try having some understanding. You said yourself that he was hurt. And be honest with yourself here, would you have taken care of him if he didn't matter to you? Hmm?
ZEN: I did it for Jaehee!
MC: Uhum…
ZEN: I DID IT FOR JAEHEE!
MC: ^_^
ZEN: What is that supposed to mean?!
MC: Nothing. I am just glad you are taking care of Jumin. I'm proud of you. ^_^
Zen was unable to make sense of MC's words as they made him both feel like he accomplished something good while at the same time having to justify his actions for being off and strange. As if he had to convince not just her but also himself that all of this had nothing to do with him caring for the CEO in line. Who would even think that?
MC: So what's Jumin doing now?
ZEN: He's passed out. Sleeping on his bed. I guess it's his bed… there are just too many rooms here. Like hell I would know which his bedroom is.
MC: hahaha OMG ZEN you are funny!
ZEN: No, I'm not!
MC: Tehehe yes you are. But ZEN! Did you undress him?
In this moment Zen's face turned from ivory to crimson red and he could feel the heat rise to the tip of his ears. Undress? Why would he undress Jumin?
ZEN: WHOAT? WTF?
MC: Yes, isn't it very uncomfortable to sleep in suit and tie? With shoes on?
ZEN: No shoes. Took them off and he had already taken off his jacket and tie on our way here.
MC: Belt? Cufflinks? You should take off any hard and uncomfy things!
ZEN: Why? Why should I do that? Like hell will I take off his belt and cufflinks.
MC: Zen, come on! Be a man here! I know you can do it! Just the belt and the cufflinks. Those things can cause pressure marks… might even hurt! I think he's hurt enough. Don't you think so too, beautiful Zen?
ZEN: Eh? Uhm… but…
MC: Right, beautiful Zen?
ZEN: Uh….
MC: Oh, Seven's waking up. I gotta go now. Take good care of Jumin. Will keep you posted! Byeeeeee
ZEN: Wait… MC!
But Zen's last message remained unread which left him yet again alone with his thoughts sitting right next to his no. 1 frenemy.
ZEN: Take care…
It was good to talk to MC for a bit, especially since it sounded like both she and Seven seemed to be somehow ok. The worry that not only him but all of the RFA felt regarding their friends' safety didn't vanish. Still, having heard from MC had eased the feeling a little.
„Please stay safe…", Zen whispered before he locked his screen with a sigh and let his eyes wander back to Jumin. „What now…?", he wondered when the heir suddenly began to fitfully move in the sheets while groaning quietly as if in pain. Or as if he was fighting a bad dream… „Jumin…?" Worried about the raven-haired man Zen got up from his seat and sat down on the bed right next to Jumin to squeeze his shoulder in comfort. „Shhhh… it'll be alright…" Zen couldn't tell if it was because of his touch or his voice, but Jumin relaxed again and stopped shifting in his sleep. However, his sleeping face still showed signs of pain.
Zen's eyebrows furrowed as he now had to think back to what MC said about pressure marks. He sighed annoyed and frowned a bit at the thought but maybe MC was right. „Ok, fine!", he chuffed and carefully took of Jumin's cufflinks. In that moment he didn't only notice how exquisite and beautiful these cufflinks were but also how soft and warm Jumin's hands felt like in his own. And those long and slender fingers… perfectly manicured… so captivating that Zen almost automatically intertwined his own fingers with the heir's. A soft smile appeared on the idol's face before Jumin again groaned a little which startled Zen so much that he immediately let go of the other's hand.
„Ok! Ok! Now belt, right? Belt!" Zen cleared his throat and moved the blanket a little to the side. „B…. belt…! Belt, belt, belt, belt, belt.", he kept twittering in an embarrassed manner while undoing Jumin's expensive leather belt and slowly pulling it out of the belt loops. And in the moment the belt was finally taken off Jumin groaned again but this time louder and in a way that made Zen remember, without warning, that he had hear Jumin moan like this before.
The dream.
The sexdream he had had about himself and Jumin just the other day. The sexdream he had successfully forgotten due to the stress, the worry and the pain of the last two days. It was all back. Every picture he had seen in his head. Their bodies glistening from sweat. Hands exploring each other's skin. Every moan. Every sweet word. Everything. Even the feeling he had had after having woken up that morning.
Zen's hand tightened around the belt in his hand as his heartbeat sped up like crazy and the heat rose in his head. Shooting up from the bed his chest heavily moved up and down. „Calm Zen… calm… it was just a dream! Just a dream!" The shock audible in his voice the idol now searched the room in panic as if he was trying to find an actual emergency exit that could lead him out of his thoughts and feelings. As if stung by an adder Zen rushed towards the room's door and was already about to open it when he remembered Elizabeth outside. „No, no, no, no, no…. CAT! No, no, no, no, no… damn!" He swiftly turned around and suddenly noticed another door at the other side of the room. And without hesitation he ran towards it, yanked it open and slammed the door shut again behind himself.
It was a bathroom he found himself in when he managed to find the light switch and his red and wide eyes framed in an almost as red-looking face now stared back at him from the bathroom mirror.
„Fuck… why that dream again! Fuck! Fuck!" Huffing and puffing the idol held onto the sink's edges to steady himself while trying to calm down. But as this didn't really seem to help, he quickly turned on the water tap and filled his hands with cold water just to then toss it in his face repeatedly.
He neither could make sense of the dream nor of why he suddenly remembered it after having stopped thinking about it successfully. Why on earth had this memory returned? And why did it make him feel so off? So strange and confused? Why couldn't he just shake it off like the stupid dream that it was? It was just a stupid dream! A dream! Not the reality. Not even close to reality. He should have just laughed about it and about how off it was. Why did it mess with him so much?
It took a while till Zen's breathing and the color of his face returned to normal. He dried both his hands and his face with a towel that felt softer than any towel he had ever held in his hands and then sank down onto the huge bathtub's edge. „Why are you acting so pathetic, Zen?", he sighed to himself and massaged his temples with the thumb and index finger of his right hand. „Pathetic… really…"
With a heavy sigh Zen got up from his enamel seat and headed towards the door. Yet, he hesitated to push the handle and looked back to the tub wondering if he should maybe sleep in there instead of returning to Jumin's bedroom. But just a second later this thought had him heavily shake his head when he stepped out of the bathroom again to return to his friend. He just had to keep an eye on him in his condition. Jumin was his responsibility now and the others were counting on him. Whether he liked it or not he had to stay close to him now.
Having returned to the heir's side Zen pulled the armchair a little further away from the bed's edge and sat down on it again. And as if he was trying to give himself a bit of comfort, he pulled his knees towards his chest, wrapped his arms around them and let his chin rest on his knees. „You better be quiet now…", he mumbled in Jumin's direction and closed his eyes hoping that like this his heart – the only part of his body that hadn't returned to normal – would finally stop beating so fast.
