An Idol for the Omega

Chapter 12: Traveling

Jae

My head jerks and my eyes snap open, the sounds of growling and breaking glass ringing in my ears. I must have fallen asleep and I sit up further, remembering where I am. In the backseat of a car hired with the help of my manager, heading towards the town hyung moved to close to two years ago.

The afternoon sun feels muted and distant, mostly hidden from the road by the tall trees ranging both sides. It feels like we're traveling away from all civilization, entering an endless expanse of forests. My heart rate slowly calms and even though I can't remember my dream, I know what it was about. The only thing I've been able to think about for the past day and a half: wondering what happened to Alec-hyung.

It took a little convincing for the company to consider my trip as emergency family care. Especially with our mini-album release in just under three weeks. There is very little wiggle room in my contract that would allow me to jaunt off on my own, but even Manager Lee tried to contact my hyung and was unable to find him.

I struggled to get a hold of his oblivious parents and then had to get a translator when my English failed to communicate my worries. They hadn't heard from him but were sure he's fine. 'Alec likes to be on his own.'

I had called Alec in the morning, maybe the day before I'm not sure with the harsh time zone change, hoping to get a hold of him getting off work. I'd gotten the timing just right and was glad I could catch up with him. I know he got the package I sent off a while back, but I refrained from asking about it.

I'm not going to lie to myself, I was very curious about the request. Since it was for my hyung, of course I went through with it. I even followed his weird conditions. At first, I was just going to send the sweatshirt.  It made me more comfortable with a shirt underneath and so ended up wearing way more clothes to bed than I usually would. I made sure to have the mailing envelop ready to go and when I woke up, I carefully pulled off the sweatshirt and packed in a zipper lock bag.

While folding it and stuffing it in the clear plastic, I couldn't help but wonder for about the hundredth time, what my little fan was supposed to do with it. I thought maybe he'd just wear it, easily picturing tiny hands hidden in my sweatshirt's sweater paws. Maybe pushing the hood back, revealing his soft, bouncy curls. Although, visualizing it like that made me uncomfortable in a weird way.

Then my brain jumped to what if he didn't just wear it, but used it for other purposes. I don't like to assume things, but the hard-on pressed against my abs told me the smaller man was most likely gay. Unbidden, an image had popped up, of Braden wearing nothing but my sweatshirt, his hand reaching underneath the hem. I could practically see him biting his lip and throwing his head back before I shook myself out of my thoughts.

While placing the sweatshirt in the plastic envelope bag, I thought again about what hyung said about it being better if it smelled like sweat. I rubbed my hand over my shirt, I had definitely sweated last night will all the layers. The shirt material was softer too, it might feel nicer against Braden's skin. Before I could think about why I considered the other man's skin, I pulled off my shirt and shoved it in as well, deciding to push all thoughts about the package from my mind.

I've done a pretty good job about not thinking about it until now. Maybe because I've got nothing to do right now but think. It might be because there's a chance I'll see Braden too when I, hopefully, find hyung.

Alec's phone is either shut off, dead or possibly broken, because it's been going straight to voicemail since our call was disconnected. I've called the clinic repeatedly, but no one ever picks up. I've cursed myself a thousand times for not getting his boyfriend's number as well, but hyung has told me about the town and about the community set apart where Christopher and his family live.

Months ago, I'd told him it sounded like a cult and he'd gotten pretty upset. He said that the community is very close around here, where everyone relies on each other. I was willing to trust him, but I know I heard that jerk's voice over the phone before the growling and crashing started. If Alec is hurt because of him, I'll make sure he suffers.

I thought that maybe I had heard Christopher mention Braden's name too, but it happened too fast.  I might have heard wrong though, my limited English has already been a little problematic on this trip. Thankfully, I've managed to communicate this far.

I might be more sensitive hearing Braden's name because hyung mentions him about a dozen times a conversation. Picturing the tiny and gentle Alec in danger was bad enough, but Braden is younger and even tinier. I shudder to imagine his slender frame involved with the noises I heard.

The drive takes us a couple of hours since leaving the airport, but we do eventually reach the city limits. I've been watching for it and can recognize the city name as we pass a sign, Shady Woods. We're finally here.

The driver stops at a fuel station, and together we ask about the community that's separate from the town. I get some weird looks, but am definitely not recognized. We get directions that hopefully make sense to the driver and, after a short rest room break, we're back traveling in the car.

It's another forty-minute drive that's making me feel like the winding path will never end. I'm constantly on edge that we took a wrong turn on these mostly unmarked country roads, or worse, that the directions were fake. Frustration wells up in me and all I can do is clutch my fists. Even if I hit a million dead ends, I'll find Alec.

Coming around the curve, the driver and I are both surprised as the forest seems to break, opening up into a large clearing. Tall grass blows gently in the wind and sunlight finally reaches into the car. In the distance, after a stretch of winding road, there is a large grouping of structures.

Feeling some relief wash over me, I actually lean forward in the seat. The driver says something and I can only assume that he's thinking the same thing I am. Happily, I clap him on the shoulder as the car makes it way to the buildings up ahead.

I'm coming, Alec.

A/N:  I liked writing this chapter, because I could add some more of how Braden keeps floating around in Jae's head.  Still hung up on that hyung of his though.  Not romatically, he thinks because he's taller that he's the protector.