The stifling and dizzying number of ten people in his room had now lowered to three, Ari, his supervisor, Gwen, his makeup artist, and Sana, Gwen's assistant.
The three of them escort him out of his large chamber, trailing his small, conscious, and stiff footsteps. Jin refrained himself from biting his lips out of bad habit as he felt Gwen's gaze had not left his face at the moment.
"Do you need anything, young master?" Ari comes to check up on him again as she kept a mindful and friendly distance between them.
She has been here accommodating his needs and had treated him with nothing but warmth and kindness the entire time, which he deeply appreciates it. Somehow, it has reduced his troubling feeling of uneasiness regarding the fact that he's alone inside a foreign home and land.
"Parched? Or perhaps a little hungry?" She further asks.
Jin shakes his head from side to side and gives her a small smile. "I'm all good, thank you."
If he eats more, he'll eventually throw up, especially now that he's feeling more agitated than usual.
He gulps, a bit alarmed by that inkling concern that's likely to happen.
He watches how Ari's smile widens as she responds to nod her head politely at him, and they eventually resume their journey towards the entrance of the rest house. He did not notice how terrifyingly large it was contrary to how it was when they entered while Hiro was carrying him in his arms.
Hiro . . .
He misses him.
"Did young master Kai return?"
Jin's ears and eyes popped open to an inquisition after hearing the name of a person that has been constantly troubling his head from worry.
Hiro? Return?
"I'm afraid not, Ms. Ari. That's what the chief supervisor is panicking about. The poor man nearly passed out twice."
"Good grief! Is that so?"
He scarcely tilts and turns his head to the side to hear the conversation more. His steps had purposely slowed down as his eyes aimed behind him and saw the stressed and pale complexion on their faces.
His heart nervously thrashes inside his chest.
"I believe the young master would rush late and head straight to the venue instead. He received a call from the great headmaster this morning."
He stopped in his tracks, startling his makeup artist and her assistant, who glanced at him, wondering what was wrong.
Jin inhales, his chest tightening.
He's not here? Hiro's not here?
"Young master?"
Jin clenched his hands into balls of fists, his knees buckling and weakening. He . . . he thought Hiro was just too caught up in his preparation for the wedding for him to manage not to show up this breakfast.
But for him to leave the house suddenly . . .
Did he at least eat?
"Your bow is crooked, young master. Excuse me."
Gwen, who is fluent in Korean despite being an American makeup artist says, awaiting his permission before stepping a heel forward and fixing his pink bow with her slim and manicured nails. Her goldilocks hair flocks right above her shoulder, adding great contrast to the blue semi-formal dress she's wearing.
"The car is ready."
Jin immediately concealed his frown when Ari-nim concluded her conversation with the house attendants and came to approach them.
Now, where did that moody cougar run off to?
Ari gestures him to the opened door of the parked car about five meters away from them, and he swallows, his fear building up, but soon vanishes when he sees the familiar interior of the limousine.
Before even realizing it, his body moved on its own while his sanity brought him back to the multiple memories this car has given him—has given them.
A lonely and longing feeling slowly started swallowing him.
All this time, he's been alone since hours ago.
What if he does something wrong and messes up?
No.
That cannot happen. He'll embarrass his mother and Hiro's family.
He doesn't want that.
'Stay calm,' he chants positively inside his head as the car starts to move with an SUV trailing them from behind.
Hiro will be there . . . His mother will be there, too.
He has to go see them.
Even though after this day, he knows his life will not be completely the same as it was.
___________________________
"Bring that paper bag over here!"
Jin heard Ari yelling from the distance as Sana cautiously guided him to the nearest bench she could find. Gwen was holding a rechargeable mini fan in her hand as she aimed it at his face despite hers being bathed in sweat.
They had arrived at the private dock in Cheon safe and sound and currently treading away from the boat they had ridden from the island.
And he can say the whole forty minutes ride was torture to his weak stomach. He nearly vomited what he ate this breakfast again.
"Young master, please throw up here." Sana worriedly offered to open her luxury bag after seeing how pale his face has gotten.
Jin's face only grew horrid, and he sickly shook his head, "I-I'm fine." He breathes deeply and tries to calm himself down and his wimpy belly.
He cusses himself.
He cannot give further inconvenience to everyone like this.
Just . . . Just when will his body grow tired of this?
Even after a few minutes, his body could still discern the sickening motion of the boat. He was still dizzy, but at the very least, his stomach had settled down after two or three strawberry mint candies he chewed.
It was a good thing that the bench he was sitting on was shaded by a large tree, when he looked up, he watched the birds steadily spreading their wings and gliding freely in the clearest and bluest skies.
He shut his eyes and listened to everyone's hasty footsteps.
Hiro . . . I hope you are okay.
The moment he spread his eyes open, his head was a bit better and caught Shun Ahjussi marching in his direction.
"Are you alright, little master?"
Ahjussi says, dismissing Ari, Gwen, and Sana, who looked like they were about to shed tears in his poor state.
He beamed and slowly nod his head at Shun Ahjussi. "I'm sorry I caused a commotion." His bright amethyst eyes look up at him. "Where's hyung?"
Shun Ahjussi appeared to be taken aback by his question before kneeling one knee in front of him to wipe the faint stain on his white shoes.
Jin watches him, mortified as the man dabs his handkerchief on his shoes, "A-Ahjussi! That's dirty."
"Are you feeling better, princess?"
Shun Ahjussi caresses the tip of his shoe with his thumb covered by the cloth of the handkerchief, and as he stands upright he shoves it casually into the back pocket of his trousers.
"It's not my place to tell. I apologize but I prefer you would ask my master instead." Shun bowed to his waist, apologizing.
"Let this humble servant go to fetch your car."
Shun jogs back to the other side of the dock and Jin sighs, seeing his far figure talking to two men who just came out of the newly arrived boat.
"Do you want more candies, young master?"
Sana offers to him, and he gladly accepts it. He fiddles its wrapper between his fingers, wondering where and what Hiro is doing now.
But he was utmostly stunned when Sana unexpectedly grabbed his arms and helped him up.
"The car's ready."
She says to him with a smile, and he blinks, a bit uncomfortable by her sudden advances.
However, there was no car seen at present.
"Where?" He asks.
Where is Ari? And Gwen?
She pointed at the corner behind the stocked cargo where a familiar car was parked and shaded from the sun.
"The master is also waiting for you," whispers Sana to his ear.