"Mijin seemed a little too quiet on the way back. Do you think she will be okay?" Her dad asked.
They had been at the baggage belt waiting for their bags and Mijin had been following behind quietly without saying a word which was unlike her. Afterwards, she'd excused herself to make a phone call, leaving her parents alone for them to freely gossip about her.
"Serves her right. I warned her about this but she wouldn't listen. Now she has lost another opportunity yet again." Her dad said, frowning as he looked at her daughter a distance away from them
"Don't say that sweetheart. Let's get our bags and head home. I shall be heading to the gym afterwards. I feel awful having left Suzzie to handle everything on her own..."
"We just got back and I'm quite fatigued. We can resume tomorrow..."
"Mom...dad!" Yeon called out as he waved at them. "We got our bags so we will be leaving first..."
"Wait...! At least let me know when I'll see you two again!" Yeon's dad spoke as he quickly strode toward his son who was standing beside Stan. "Stan, reflect upon the things we discussed. If you don't take heed to any of our advice, I'll quickly notice since I'll be watching you like a hawk. Keep your word too about visiting the gym as promised. I will not accept any excuses from you unless it concerns Yeon's well being."
"Dad, you're being too hard on him. We just got back and you're already threatening him..." Yeon complained.
"Stay out of this son. He greatly disappointed me at how unfit he was yesterday. He couldn't withstand a thirty second plank and was shaking like a leaf. Unless you want to join him too..."
"Fine. It's none of my business." Grabbing onto Stan's hand, he insisted. "Let's go before mom starts weighing you down with her own threats and keeping us here longer..."
"Show off! I'm fated too you know." Yeon's dad mocked. "Run away then. I'm sorry for making you jealous for hogging Stannie yesterday but it was for your own good..."
"I'm not jealous dad. Stan's home is far from the airport and we just want to get there early enough. That's all there is to it."
After their mini argument which seemed to have amused Stan, they were finally on their way.
"I don't mind you being jealous you know. I'm always envious when I see you talking with Elric looking calm and relaxed unlike when we are together."
"Jealousy is a burden to my character. Its too much work."
"Still, a little wouldn't hurt. I know you were pushing your parents away since my parents are cooking today. We could have invited your parents over. They need to at least see for themselves where you have been staying the last couple of months."
"Maybe next time. I feel anxious over what you said yesterday concerning my eyes. I do not wish for them to start worrying about me before I speak to your uncle."
"I can drive us to see him before we head home..."
"No need. I'm still digesting Elric and Niels sudden companionship. It almost feels like Elric suspected Niel might be his fated mate for he kept following him like a shadow."
"I assumed he was shamelessly looking for a new prey. He never mentioned anything to me...though I must inquire how your sister feels about it. Did you speak to her today morning?"
"Mijin's relationship and mine has taken a different turn for the moment. I also do not think she is in the mood to talk to anyone right now after being there to see Niel scent manifest because of her lover."
Tapping the steering wheel, Stan laughed at the idea, unable to take in the turn of events. "Elric and Niel together is definitely not a sight for sore eyes, that's for sure. It's good we left them behind for them to sort out their new path by themselves. Once they return, they'll be the new talk in town and people will forget about us for a while."
After a brief silence, Yeon asked Stan. "What did you and Mijin talk about when I left you two?"
"Why do you ask?" Stan didn't want to lie about his conversation with Mijin to Yeon. Their discussion was soon to come to light however, he needed to find out how much Yeon knew or how he viewed his sister before he could answer him.
"She told me yesterday that my scent is stronger than yours when dad Robin left me with her before you came back with my parents. I had thought my body was recuperating well post you marking me however, it's frustrating for me to discover I'm still a burden to you."
Stan smiled at Yeon's concern for him. It was rare for him to speak his thoughts aloud like this and Stan kept hoping Yeon realized how his simple words made him happy and often showed how Yeon felt for him.
He remembered what Mijin had said concerning covering his scent and even though Yeon wasn't letting out much scent now, his clothes were completely drowned by his own scent. Stopping the car, he took out his shirt and gave it for Yeon to wear.
"Give me your shirt and your jacket."
Yeon looked up and down from Stan's face to his bare chest in confusion, not understanding his sudden actions.
"How will that help and why now? Even if I'm to wear your clothes, we need a solution offering longevity."
"I'm trying to show you that I have your back and you do not need to worry about this issue. We've both come this far despite being fated uniquely and you've done well too for yourself. Your scent was strong from the start therefore, we'll both overcome whatever is bothering you one way or another as a team."
Yeon couldn't help but get moved by Stan's words. His normal response would have been to argue with Stan but he knew him to be right, especially balancing his scent. They indeed had to work as a team therefore, he did as Stan requested and wore his shirt then stopped midway, just about to sniff off some scent...
"If you like my scent that much, all you have to do is ask."
"So what, you like mine too." Yeon replied defensively, unable to hide from the truth.
Stan laughed at his in denial and was just about to start his car again when he saw a black car that had been following them parked behind from a distance.
"We should pass by a nearest petrol station for fuel." He suggested.
"Why? Your tank is almost full..."
"Then I'll just grab some water. I'm feeling quite thirsty."
Unable to understand Stan's sudden mood change, Yeon didn't want to ask any more questions and occasionally enjoyed being surrounded by Stan's scent.
"We're here." Stan spoke as he gently shook his fated to which Yeon opened his eyes abruptly, wondering when he'd fallen asleep. He sat upright and saw a taxi in front of them and wondered why it had been parked just right in front of them. Stan on the other hand seemed to be wearing the same jacket Yeon had wore before, which was rather tight fitting to him. Yeon chuckled at how ridiculous he looked.
"You have to take the taxi home. I've already informed the driver of where he'll be dropping you off to."
"What's going on?" Yeon asked after noticing the look of worry on Stan's face. He began to feel him yearning for him gradually yet somehow, it was not his usual feeling, are like he seemed to be in pain, or was feeling apprehensive that prompted him to ask Stan if he was feeling unwell.
"I just need to take care of something urgent that slipped my mind but you have to leave now. I'll be home before you know it so please, just this once, don't fight me and let the driver take you home."
Stan noticed Yeon's eyes begin to change colour again and thought to himself how his fated may have been doing his best to heed to his request instead of arguing as he usually did and after a few seconds, it went back to deep red then Yeon agreed to comply.
He watched them drive off and got inside his car, relieved to have Yeon safe. Looking around, he swore to have been stupid to have tried to play hero yet again. However, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. He had managed to escape the car that had been tailing them and to have put Yeon to sleep without him noticing. He only hoped he was able to trick whoever was following them long enough for the police to arrive.
Getting into his car, he started driving back to the direction he come from and soon enough he caught up to the car that had been tailing him. He never thought he'll have to call Elric's mother for this but stopped in the middle of the road and dialed her number quickly.
"I think I'm in danger. Please send help to my location. I've already informed the police but I feel you'll act quicker than them."
"What? Is Elric okay?" Her voice was full of concern as she spoke.
Stan watched as two men got out of the black car and started walking towards his. He felt frightened...similar to how he felt the night of Yeon's kidnapping.
"Stan...are you still there?"
"I'll be using the power of fated mates to its maximum if I have to so please, send someone to my location. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to hold them off."