Sungmin looked at the clock. It’s almost 6 pm yet everyone’s been quiet despite them knowing that their entire sched for today is cancelled, except Sukira. Poor Wookie, he thought. But speaking of Sukira, the manager would soon pick Ryeowook up in less than an hour. As for the other members, Kyuhyun is sitting beside him and as usual, playing his game but the strange thing is that he’s using a headset instead of the speaker. Yesung, on the other hand, is sitting on the floor and murmuring things to his pet turtles which in Sungmin’s opinion, not that strange as he usually does that. Shindong was out with his girlfriend but others clearly know that he only did that to avoid the suffocating tension inside their dorm. Siwon is still inside Leeteuk’s room and strangely, nothing’s been heard inside the room except for hushed voices. Donghae and Eunhyuk are both outside. They are probably talking, Sungmin guessed. Heechul? They don’t know. Maybe he went out with Hongki of ftIsland again.

The two maknaes, Ryeowook and Kibum, are also locked inside their rooms. Sungmin wonders if he should cook by now because it’s quite difficult to cook for healthy men that eat as if it’s the end of the world. As he was about to stand up, Ryeowook’s door opened and the two maknaes emerged from it. Everyone turned to look at them, except Kyuhyun who’s plainly ignoring them, and frankly speaking, they didn’t know they’d even go outside that room.

“Ah Wookie!” Sungmin exclaimed, showing how surprised he really is. “Are you okay?” he continued as he walked towards the younger and pat his head, clearly noticing the red and puffy of eyes of Ryeowook.

The latter nodded before answering. “I thought I should cook. I mean, it’s getting late ne?” Ryeowook smiled fakely and pretended as if he’s back to his cheerful self. Everyone saw the articles about him by now and Sungmin knows that the younger is still bothered about it. But why pretend that he’s okay when his face clearly shows it?

“It’s fine. I…I can cook, hyung.” Ryeowook answered with a weak voice and Sungmin could sense that something is wrong. Just before the older could say anything, Kibum beat him into it by rubbing his back and chuckling.

“Of course you can, Wookie. I missed your cooking. But can I help? Pretty please? I won’t get in the way, I promise!” he asked and again, Sungmin got the feeling that there’s something behind Ryeowook’s words.

Ryeowook smiled and nodded before the two maknaes headed to the kitchen.

“W-Wait, I’ll help too!” Sungmin said as he too followed them.

They started to take out the ingredients for the dinner and Sungmin noticed that what Ryeowook is about to make is what their former member, Hangeng, used to make them…Beijing Fried Rice. He also decided to make some Bibimbap and Kimchi to go with it. Sungmin looked at the two maknaes readying the ingredients as they try to lighten up the mood by being childish. The older pitied them. Maybe they missed the others too and would like to go back to when they were still complete but this time, with Henry and Zhoumi officially as their members.

“—ng.. Hyung…! Sungmin-hyung!” Sungmin was pulled out from his thoughts when he heard Wookie calling out to him.

“Ah..Sorry I was just thinking something.” He apologized.

“It’s okay. You were spacing out, hyung. I’m afraid you’ll hurt yourself while you’re busy with your thoughts.” Ryeowook thoughtfully said and Sungmin smiled at that. Their eternal maknae sure is thoughtful and kind. Although he wished he would see him smile and laugh like he used when they were still happy and contended with their work…with everyone not having any problems at all. The eldest could only pat his head and smiled at his two dongsaengs.

“Don’t worry, I won’t. This hyung knows martial arts remember? Look at these beautiful muscles of mine!” Sungmin proudly sa