“Run!” The receptionist screams, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. He bangs at their open door, sending the entire inn into frenzy. People run down the corridors, still in their nightclothes and face-packs. Chanyeol and Baekhyun exchange glances.

Baekhyun’s face breaks out into a wide smile while Chanyeol’s face darkens into irritation.

“Let’s run!” Baekhyun yells, still smiling so wide that Chanyeol wants to slap that stupid grin right off his smug face. “Come on, Yeollie!”  He says, taking Chanyeol’s big hands in his. Chanyeol’s hand envelops Baekhyun’s tiny fingers almost completely.  Chanyeol stays rooted, even as Baekhyun tugs with all his might. “Come on! Let’s run! What are you doing?!” Baekhyun asks, staring at Chanyeol incredulously.

“I’m not running,” Chanyeol says defiantly. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”

“Oh, you, I’m not going to get in trouble because of you for the second time!” Baekhyun lets go of Chanyeol’s hand and runs away.

Chanyeol stands in their room, watching the smaller boy flee. He looks at his hand, thinking of Baekhyun’s small fingers in his. Police whistles echo in the corridor, and Chanyeol groans. He mutters the most colourful expletives he can think of and runs out after Baekhyun.

“Baekhyun!” Chanyeol calls out. The other boy turns, and grins at Chanyeol, motioning for him to catch up. Chanyeol runs, and with his long legs, catches up to Baekhyun in no time.

“I knew you’d come,” Baekhyun pants, smiling up at Chanyeol so brightly that his heart skips a beat.

“Shut up.” He snaps, and stomps away. Baekhyun chuckles, “Yah! Wait for me!”

“Why were we running, by the way?” Baekhyun asks, once they are out and into the empty, cold city. Chanyeol stares at Baekhyun, speechless. “You ran without even knowing why?” Chanyeol asks, voice high with disbelief.

“The receptionist was panicking!” Baekhyun defends. “Besides, if we had stayed, the police would have taken us in! Look,” he points at the inn, where police cars, blinking red and blue, are being filled with the residents of the inn.

“Why are they taking them in?” Baekhyun asks, eyes wide with innocence.

“Because this is a ing motel, Baekhyun!” Chanyeol says, “How can someone be so dumb?!” he asks, staring at Baekhyun.

“Hey! I’m not dumb, okay? I’m just-”

“Oh, forget it.” Chanyeol says. “I’m tired. Let’s just-”

“Just what? Look here, I have been nothing but nice to you from the second I saw you, and you have only returned my politeness with your ty attitude, and I don’t like it. I don’t know what your ex did to you, but do not take your anger out on me! I’m not at fault here!”

Chanyeol sighs, feeling exhaustion sink heavy on his shoulders. “I- I’m sorry,” he says, putting his head in his hands. “You’re right. I shouldn’t take out my anger on you.”

“Duh,” Baekhyun puts his hands on his hips. “What do we do now?”

“Do you have a phone?”

“No,” Baekhyun sighs. “My phone is in my luggage.”

“Let’s just keep walking, maybe we’ll find something.” Chanyeol says.

“Okay!”  Baekhyun’s voice is still bright, happy.

“How are you still so happy?” Chanyeol asks. “You’ve got to be exhausted.”

“Oh, I am.” Baekhyun says. “But what good would it do if I sat around and sulked like you? It would only make us both feel miserable. I’d rather pretend to be fine, if only to convince myself that I actually am fine.”

“That’s stupid logic.”

“It’s worked for me every time. You should try it too! Come on, think of all the things in the world that make you happy; that make you smile.”

“I’d rather stay miserable.”

“Nobody would rather stay miserable, idiot.” Baekhyun says, shoving Chanyeol lightly. “Try it; come on. What harm would it do?”

Chanyeol sighs. “Things that make me happy, huh?”

“Yeah! It can be anything. Like… for me, it’s the way Taeyeon’s entire aura changes when she sings… or my mother’s jjajjangmyun… oh, and the smell of the sea! Things like that.”

“I-” Chanyeol stops in his tracks. “I…”

What makes me happy?

He looks at Baekhyun, throat closing up.

“I can’t think of anything…” he says in a small voice. “Th-there’s nothing that makes me happy…”

“Hey, hey,” Baekhyun says, cupping Chanyeol’s face in his hands. “It’s alright,” he smiles. “It’s alright. I’ll help you, okay?” Baekhyun takes Chanyeol’s hand in his, and they continue walking.

All the streets look the same, and Chanyeol wonders where they are headed to.

He wonders if it even matters at this point.

“O-okay,” Chanyeol tries to ignore the tears prickling behind his eyes.

“Well, do you like the cold or the heat?”

“I like the heat, I guess,” Chanyeol says. “I don’t do well in the cold.”

“Heat, huh? So you enjoy beaches?”

“I-” Chanyeol flushes. “I’ve actually never been to a beach.”