Luhan and Zitao were now sitting across each other in the cafeteria, their head bent down to look at food, or what looks like the remains of the research department’s last experiments. Luhan poked his food with a fork. Zitao raised his head to look around him.

                “Do you see that guy there?”

                “What guy?” Luhan didn’t even bother to look up.

                “The one sitting two tables away in the red shirt.”

                “What about him?” Luhan still didn’t look up.

                “His daughter is a trainee here.”

                Luhan raised his head and turned. The guy in the red shirt was at least double their age, with a beer gut and grey hair that was a sign of aging and not hair dye (unlike the idols). He was seated with the rest of his colleagues, all pushing through the mystery slop on their plates.

                “His wife passed away many years ago. He couldn’t support his children by himself so when his daughter was offered a placing here, he encouraged her to take it.”

                “What does he work as?”

                “He’s just a driver. Never graduated from college.”

                “Oh.”

                “Every day he drives his daughter to and from school and the training centre. She’s 13 years old now. In a couple of years she will be prime for her debut. When she makes her debut, she will finally bring in some form of income into the family.”

                “What if she doesn’t?”

                “She will have to leave.” Zitao answered.

                “To where?”

                “Wherever she came from.”

                Luhan could guess that wherever she came from was not a better place than where she was.

                “Are the trainees guaranteed a debut?” Luhan asked.

                “That’s a tricky question.” Zitao said. “Most trainees are, because if you could stick it through the end of their gruesome training programme then hell yes you deserve to debut. Some trainees leave before the programme is over, others are still waiting.”

                “Do those on the waiting list get a debut?”

                “I’m not sure. I suppose in some form or rather they do, but you never know. If S.M.E isn’t too happy with a particular trainee, what’s stopping them from cutting them off?”

                “But you trained them all this time, and now you’re going to cut them?”

                “Not every seed is a good one.” Zitao’s smile withered a little. “The research department has no say in this. The talent and recruitment agency does.”

                “I see.” Luhan went back to his food. A quiet moment passed between the both of them until Zitao reached for a file that Luhan had placed under his books.

                “May I?”

                Luhan was about to stop him, but then he realized Zitao was his boss. He nodded and took out the file, handing it over to Zitao. Zitao flipped the pages open, and stared at the notes for what felt like decades. Luhan could literally feel the sweat forming on his forehead.

                “Anti-X Serum?” he finally asked.

                “It’s just a theoretical model.” Luhan said. “I was investigating the effects of a kiss on the Triple X serum and I came up with a few equations and formulas for a serum.”

                “How far have you gotten?”

                “Not very. I’m still not too familiar with the biology mechanics behind it.”

                “You could ask your guardian. Isn’t his PhD in neurochemistry?”

                “Yes it is,” Luhan was quite surprised to hear that Zitao actually knows what Kris’s PhD was in, but then again Zitao did spend quite a bit of time with Kris when he was trying to explain Uprising, so who knows what they talk about. “But this research is supposed to be private.”

                “As long as no lawyer gets to you I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Or you could bring this up with Professor Kim, but I would advise against doing that.”

                “Why?”

                “I don’t trust that man.” Zitao said. He looked around before bending down and whispering “I think he’s on to me.”

                “You mean…”

                “Professor Kim suspects something. Maybe he does, I don’t know. He’s closely linked with the board of directors. If I were you I would keep certain information to myself first until I know it won’t be used against me.”

                “But the clause…”

                “I know what the clause said. It’s the same thing his lawyer gives in every contract.” Zitao rolled his eyes. “I signed that contract when I started work on E.X.O, and when things went wrong, let’s say he certainly didn’t waste his time deciding who to put in front of a firing squad.”

                “He blamed you.” Luhan said.

                “I was the leader, so I took full responsibility. I had to, and I admit that. All I’m saying is that you have to be very careful with Professor Kim. If something goes awry, whatever information he has about you, could also be held against you.”

                Luhan nodded as he listened, his fingers feeling cold and stiff. He remembered how he snuck into Professor Kim’s office to hack into his computer and steal his files. A shiver ran up his spine at the thought of Professor Kim finding out.

                “If you manage to work out the serum, this could have life-changing effects.” Zitao scanned the pages one more time.

                “It’s very much a work-in progress.”

                “You know, the rehabilitation centre could use someone like you.” Zitao smiled at him. “You’re smart, resilient and innovative.”

                “Thank you, but I’m not sure if that’s what I want.”

                “Do you want to stay here then?”

                “I don’t know what I want.” Luhan sighed. “I’m so confused by it all, I mean…morally this isn’t…”

                “Right. Morally this is wrong, I know.” Zitao said. “Trust me, when you learn to stop being so morally upright, decisions become quicker to make.”

                “But…”

                “Luhan, this is reality.” Zitao said. “Sometimes there is no way to uphold moral standards. The only way you can fight morally is if your opponent has conscience, and right now you are sitting in the belly of someone who doesn’t.”

*****************************

                “I missed you.”

                “I was gone for a weekend.”

                “You do know a weekend is two days, right?” Sehun grinned. “48 hours is still a long time.”

                Somehow Sehun’s cheeky smile and bright eyes made Luhan feel so much better. Luhan couldn’t help but smile when Sehun stood up to open his arms, beckoning Luhan to come into his embrace.

                “Now where were we with our argument about Harry Potter last Friday?”

                “Oh god I thought we were over that.” Luhan laughed.

                “Okay then what else do you want to talk about?”

                “Well,” Luhan sat down on Sehun’s bed. “Have you ever thought about leaving?”

                “Leaving?” Sehun raised his eyebrows in question.

                “Yeah. Like, leaving. Breaking out.”

                “Of course. I think about that all the time.” Sehun joined him.

                “What would you be doing if you were free?”

                “Hmm…” they rested their backs against the wall. It was lights out almost an hour ago, so the only light they had was a little one from Luhan’s watch. “To be honest I don’t know. I guess I would be with my family.”

                “You haven’t seen your parents in a while?”

                “Not since I entered S.M.E. I don’t think they are even in Korea anymore.”

                “Oh,” Luhan bought his knees to his chest. “That must .”

                “Yeah.”

                “Do you think you would be a student or something?”

                “Nah,” Sehun laughed softly. “I’m not much of an academic type. I think I would just be normal, you know. Maybe a teacher or something.”

                “A teacher?” Luhan tried to hide his scoff.

                “You may be surprised but I am a whiz with children. No, seriously!” Sehun tried to defend himself but Luhan was already laughing, his mouth covered with a pillow to muffle the sounds. “Come on now…”

                “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Luhan tried to compose himself. “Like you said, a teacher?”

                “Go on, make fun of me.” Sehun rolled his eyes. “I’d be too good-looking to be a teacher anyways.”

                “Mrmpf.” Luhan covered his mouth.

                “All the girls wouldn’t not stop following me.”

                Luhan had to bite the covers to stop himself from laughing.

                “They would have to fire me because all the girls would skip their classes for mine.”

                “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Luhan laughed loudly into the covers.

                “Then again, why stop at girls? Guys are capable of doing so to.”

                “Yeah right.”

                “You think I’m lying? I got you to come down here every night didn’t I?”

                “Oh? You think I come down here because of your looks?” Luhan turned to him.

                “That and the fact that you are attracted to me.”

                “You are out of your mind.”

                “So you’re not attracted to me?”

                “God Sehun please.” Luhan shifted in his place, unconsciously moving closer to Sehun.

                “Let’s be serious now. Are you attracted to me or not?”

                “Does it matter if I am?”

                “Then that means you are!” Luhan wanted to fall into a deep hole and bury himself.

                “Shut up Sehun.”

                “I knew it. I’m just too irresistible.”

                “Oh god maybe this is why they lock you up.”

                “I’m hurt.” Sehun clutched his chest, faking his heart attack. “You have wounded me.”

                “I’m sure I’m not the first person to have wounded you.” Luhan mocked his face. He knew Sehun couldn’t see him clearly so that was why he did it.

                “No but you are the first in the 4 or 5 years I have been locked up here.”

                “But back to that,” Luhan suddenly remembered what they were originally talking about. “So you would have a completely normal life if you were free?”

                “I assume all of us would, but then we would need to have our memories erased. Then I wouldn’t remember Kai or Baekhyun or all my other hyungs, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.”

                “Oh yeah.” Luhan chewed his bottom lip. “You see Sehun there is…”

                “You know what else would be worse?” Sehun came closer to Luhan, his hand on his wrist. “I would not remember you. And that would . So bad.”

                Luhan didn’t know what to say, but he smiled so widely he could only hope Sehun was watching him. “Yeah.” He whispered softly. “It would for me too.”

                “I suppose if I was free then I guess it would be easier for me to ask you out.” Sehun said. “So you wouldn’t be ashamed of dating a convict.”

                “I’m not ashamed of you.”

                “Yeah but you’re not telling anyone about us are you?”

                “That’s because I don’t want to put you in danger! If anyone finds out…”

                “I know I know,” Sehun patted his back. “I’m just teasing you.”

                “I just care about you.” A lot.

                “Luhan?”

                “Yes?”

                “You are making me really want to kiss you. And I’m not sure I can stop myself.”

                A pregnant silence floated across the room.

                “Well?” Sehun asked.

                “What?”

                “Aren’t you going to stop me?”

                “No.”

                Sehun leaned forward, his cold lips against Luhan’s warm ones. Their fingers curled around each other’s hands, travelling up their arms and entangled around their necks. When they parted, Luhan could feel the tingly warmth on his lips and Sehun’s forehead pressed against his.

                “This is wrong.” Luhan said.

                “Yeah, yet somehow I have never been happier.”

                Luhan had to agree as he leaned forward to kiss Sehun again.

 

A/N: As you can see, I miss Hunhan so much TT this story needed some romance so excuse the cheesiness hahahaha but this wouldn't last long anyways. Has anyone listened to EXO's new winter album yet?! It's so pretty TT but why is EXO always suffering for their winter albums? Jeez...