Secrets

It couldn't be him

"You know—I have something I've wanted to say to you since the first day we met!"

Hongjoong nodded as a very drunk Hwaseong raised his glass towards him.

"Is it something Sober Hwaseong would want me to hear?" he asked, hoping the answer was no. Though he felt guilty learning Hwaseong's secrets, he was so harmless that Hongjoong hardly anticipated he could be hiding much.

"Oh definitely not. But he's not heeeeere right noooow," Hwaseong grinned and Hongjoong stifled a chuckle.

"Well by all means, go on."

"I've been keeping a seeeecret," smiled Hwaseong.

Hongjoong watched with an eyebrow raised. Hwaseong leaned in and attempted to whisper in Hongjoong's ear.

"My name isn't actually Hwaseong."

Hongjoong froze. What was he saying?

Hongjoong moved Hwaseong back to his stool and shook his head.

"You're just drunk. You don't know what you're saying. I think I should take you home," he managed, standing to help Hwaseong up but Hwaseong crossed his arms and pouted.

"I'm not lying! It's true!"

Hongjoong felt guilt crawling up inside him. This was not something he should be hearing. Whatever Hwaseong was spouting on about was none of his business. But he couldn't leave him alone in this state. So he was required to hear what he had to say.

"Come on, let's just get you home. You're not yourself."

"Why don't you believe me!? I thought we were friends! You're my best friend. I thought you trusted me," Hwaseong looked at the ground.

Hongjoong knew he was out of his mind drunk but hearing Hwaseong call him his best friend made his heart soar. And seeing him look so betrayed hurt, even if it was over Hongjoong trying to give him privacy.

Hwaseong couldn't really be telling the truth, could he? Why would he have lied about his name? It was on his name tag and his personal file. He would have had to lie to the entire company about his identity in order to pull that off.

It seemed insane.

Maybe Hwaseong was his middle name? And he'd been born with a different first name? That was the only logical explanation.

"Let me guess, Hwaseong is just part of your name."

Hwaseong giggled and turned in his chair to face Hongjoong. Hongjoong felt awkward standing above him. He wasn't used to being the taller of the two. He felt a little envious seeing how much Hwaseong's eyes sparkled when he looked up at him.

"You're not entiiiiirely wrong. Hwaseong is technically part of my name."

"What's that supposed to mean??"

"Fine. I'll just tell you."

Hongjoong panicked and started putting Hwaseong's jacket over his shoulders.

"I really don't want to know. Let's just get you home—"

"It's Seonghwa."

Hongjoong froze as he held one of Hwaseong's arms in the sleeve.

"Get it? Because when you flip the Hwa and the Seong you get Seonghwa! Like you said on the first day! But you said mean things about my name then...I deserve an apology!"

Hongjoong attempted a half-hearted apology but his mind was running at the speed of light. Why would Hwaseong—or was it actually Seonghwa?—hide his real name? And why make it so obvious?

He couldn't be him, could he?

It was clearly suspicious. And he'd have to report it. Regular people don't just flip their name around.

But maybe Hwaseong did.

Maybe he was just a little odd.

After all, a backwards name wasn't absolute evidence of an undercover CEO. It was just...very suspicious.

"Joooooongie, why aren't you talking? Isn't my real name prettier?"

Hongjoong cleared his mind and focused on Hwaseong again who was giving him pouty puppy dog eyes.

"Sorry, it's just—it's a lot to handle. Yes, Seonghwa is definitely prettier if that's your real name."

Hwaseong smiled proudly.

Finally Hongjoong was able to convince him to put his coat on and head home.

As the two walked back to Hwaseong's car, Hongjoong realized he'd have to drive it. The parking meter only had about twenty minutes left so they'd be fined if they left it there.

Hongjoong managed to get the keys from Hwaseong who was holding onto the car to keep his world from spinning and he helped Hwaseong into the passenger seat.

As Hongjoong made his way to the front seat, his mind went back to wandering.

He'd never even suspected Hwaseong before now so he couldn't imagine he was the CEO's son. But maybe he'd just been blinded by his massive crush...

Maybe this whole time Hwaseong had been playing him and he'd finally caught him at a weak point. Maybe he'd never meant anything he'd said.

As Hongjoong started the car and pulled out, he shook his head.

He knew deep down that Hwaseong was a good person. A kind person. Nothing like the heartless monster who called himself CEO.

It couldn't be him. He was sure of it.

Hwaseong probably just got bored of his real name and flipped it around. It was no different than calling him Joongie. Not really.

Hwaseong was a nickname.

Not an undercover alias.

He realized with a start that he didn't know where Hwaseong lived, just as he was pulling into his own apartment complex. He'd driven home without even thinking.

He pulled into the lot and parked before looking over at Hwaseong who had thankfully fallen asleep quite early on in the drive.

He didn't need to hear anymore random personal information.

Figuring he didn't have any better ideas, Hongjoong walked over to Hwaseong's door and picked him up out of his seat.

Straining a bit, he shut the car door behind him and locked it before making his way to the elevators.

Once he got there, Hwaseong started to wake up and Hongjoong gratefully set him on his feet. But Hwaseong ignored him and ran to a trash can to vomit.

Hongjoong winced at the sight but was mostly grateful it hadn't been in his home.

Hwaseong made his way back just as the elevator opened and the two of them rode up to Hongjoong's floor.

Hongjoong considered explaining where they were to Hwaseong but he didn't even seem to know they were in an elevator so he figured it wouldn't make a difference in his state.

When the doors opened, he guided Hwaseong to his apartment and let him lay down in his bed. After tucking him in and setting a waste basket next to the bed, he grabbed an extra blanket from the closet and went to sleep on the couch.

He didn't report the information.