Back-to-back update starting from Extra-16. Be sure to read that first.

It was difficult to not give away the fact that he already knew through his grandmother's letter. The lack of shock or any exaggerated expression from him should've been suspicious. But his parents seem to think Changmin doesn't think any different about his family. And he really doesn't, even if his mother didn't make him promise it.

It went fairly well and after breakfast, Changmin was off to school. By now he's ready to unload these suffocating thoughts.

"Hey Min!" Suho throws his arm around him from behind. "I can't figure out how to this math thing. Can you teach me?"

Changmin is about to agree when Suho is shoved off him. "Just copy his homework you idiot." Kyuhyun pointedly inserts himself between Changmin and Suho. "Damn dude! I'm not trying to steal your best friend."

"Like you can." Scoffs Kyuhyun and dragging both his friends to class.

Changmin welcomes the initial distraction. But later it starts to weigh on him. He thought maybe he could vent out to Kyuhyun. But he's now afraid of his best friend's judgment.

The class is the last thing on his mind and before he realizes it, it's time for PE. "Changmin-ah, are you going to watch me beat the out of everyone in basketball?" Changmin is a little surprised when Jongin jolts him out of his thoughts. Kyuhyun's right there too, waiting expectantly.

 "Umm... sorry guys. I have to complete an assignment in the library." He's lying. He completed all his extra credit so far. But he wants some time alone and his friends buy the excuse.

While his classmates are in PE Changmin wanders to his hideout. He discovered it a few months ago and likes the calm of the place. His friends know about it but allow him the privacy, or are simply scared by the lonely place in Jongin's case.

He's sluggish and not looking where he's going and ends up crashing into someone. "Ow!" Kibum cradles her hand that's smarting from the sudden contact. Changmin though thinks he hurt her. "I'm so sorry. Did you get hurt?"

"No, it's okay. It's not your fault. I was already hurt. See." Kibum moves her hand to show her wrist and two fingers in a tape. "Ouch! That looks bad."

"Yup! But now I get to skip PE for a week." Kibum grins, "So what do we privileged folks do when we're free?"

"We get to hang out at the creepy aviary where no one goes." Changmin points in the direction where he was heading to. It doesn't sound inviting but Kibum is sort of bored. "Well, if I have to die, my end might as well be cinematic."

Changmin leads her to said place and she finds it mildly good. "This is not bad. The outside looks like the set of a horror movie. But it's a calm place." She takes in a lungful of cool air and relaxes.

"From what I found out, there used to be an ornithology club a few years ago. But the place has been abandoned since the professor retired or something. The birds still come here though."

 "How'd you find this place?"

"I was looking for an empty music room below this floor. I found it’s a great place when I want to be myself."

"What makes you want to be alone so often?"

Changmin eyes the girl making herself comfortable on a parapet and weighs how much information is too much information. "Stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" Changmin's face tells her he's not keen on talking about whatever is clearly bothering him. She understands she should explain her stance first.

"People tell me I'm a good listener because I'm not very judgemental. Actually just my mom says that. But it's true."

Changmin laughs a little when this girl reminds him of his mother. "It's just