"So tired, so tired, so tired," Ryeowook repeated, tiredly entering his home and crashing face down to the sofa. Bella ran up to him excitedly and his cheek. 

"I know, I know, I'll take you for a walk soon, okay?" he mumbled into the cushion his face had fallen on. 

It was Monday now, and Ryeowook hadn't seen Kyuhyun all weekend. He completely forgot to ask him for his number, and he wasn't sure about just turning up to his house uninvited, not yet. Kyuhyun had said that Ryeowook could come round when he wanted, but Ryeowook didn't want to intrude or seem too eager. 

He forced himself off the sofa to the kitchen and opened the fridge, revealing a disappointing amount of food. After browsing each shelf he settled on a yoghurt, earning a disapproving look from Bella; who really wanted to go for a walk. 

"2 minutes!" Ryeowook groaned, patting Bella lovingly on the head before he sat down and turned the TV on while he ate. Bella hopped up on the sofa and sat next to him, fascinated by the moving pictures on the TV screen. He finished eating quickly and took the recyclable yoghurt pot to the kitchen and dumped it next to the sink to clean later. 

"Bella!" he called, an excited Dalmatian appearing at his side instantly to have her lead put on.

Once they were ready, the pair left the house, Bella followed in front and began barking excitedly at something when she stepped out of the door. 

"What are you doing here?!" Ryeowook asked Kyuhyun, who was stood outside the door, leaning cooly on a pillar on the front porch. 

“It’s walking time right?" he asked, crouching down to give Bella some love, to which she responded happily at the familiar man. 

"How did you know where I live?" Ryeowook asked, still startled at Kyuhyun's sudden presence. 

"I followed your bus home," Kyuhyun said as he gestured to his car behind him. 

"That's...a very nice car," Ryeowook gaped at the beautiful, shiny car parked on the street outside of his house, wondering how much money it was worth. 

"200,000,000 won," Kyuhyun answered the question that he knew Ryeowook wanted to ask. 

Ryeowook choked on his own saliva, coughing harshly from hearing such a large sum of money. 

"Okay I think it's time for that walk," he said calmly, composing himself as he tried to ignore the car sat outside his house, suddenly feeling ashamed that he didn’t even own a car. 

The pair walked side by side down the road, with Bella pattering along in front of them excitedly. The way that the sun was starting to set made a picturesque scene, making Kyuhyun and Ryeowook look almost like a couple, a romantic silhouette walking into the sunset. 

They were happy in each other's company, although neither of them would really admit it like that; they enjoyed being together. They had both found the friend that they had been longing for all their lives. 

"This is the park I always take her to," Ryeowook said pointing to an old, dirty gate they were approaching. 

“I see she knows the way," Kyuhyun cooed as Bella ran straight to the gate, trying to open it with her paws. Ryeowook giggled. 

"She loves it here," he said, removing Bella's lead, opening the gate and letting her run ahead. He followed behind her with Kyuhyun, entering the park first and heading straight for his usual bench. Kyuhyun slumped down next to him and watched Bella run around happily. 

Ryeowook shivered coldly, teeth chattering as a result of the crisp winter weather. Kyuhyun glanced over at him. 

"Are you cold?" he asked, Ryeowook nodded as he wrapped his arms around himself. Kyuhyun chuckled under his breath and paused for a moment before saying anything. 

"I suppose you should sit closer then," he suggested. Ryeowook looked up instantly, glancing at him before awkwardly looking back over to Bella. 

"What?" 

“Well, you know," Kyuhyun stammered, "like...like penguins,” 

"Penguins?" Ryeowook raised an eyebrow. 

“Yeah, penguins, they huddle to keep warm, do they not?" Kyuhyun retorted, eyeing Ryeowook questioningly, wondering why he hadn't come close yet. 

"Well, a lot of animals do, but-" 

"Just come here," Kyuhyun interrupted, tugging Ryeowook's sleeve; forcing him to lean in close. Ryeowook complied with him and scooted along so he was sitting as close as he possibly could to him. 

"Warmer?" 

Ryeowook nodded. He felt much warmer, not so much from the body heat of being sat close to him, but rather from the flustered feeling he was getting from sitting so close to him. 

"Are we penguins now?" he teased. 

"Yes, yes we are," Kyuhyun smiled. The pair watched Bella run around and inspect anything and everything with her dog like curiosity. 

"How did you finish work so early today?" Ryeowook asked curiously. Kyuhyun let out a small laugh. 

"I worked extra hard, just so I could leave early enough to follow you home, I mean, that sounded creepy, but you're like my only friend so I wanted to." 

"Don't overwork yourself!" Ryeowook warned, nudging Kyuhyun slightly in the shoulder, "especially not for me." 

"Yeah yeah," Kyuhyun waved it off, knowing it was already at least 5 years too late to not overwork himself. 

After about 15 minutes of watching Bella- with only the occasional small talk- Ryeowook called her over. 

"It's getting late," he commented as he re-attached Bella's lead. 

"Mm," Kyuhyun agreed, following Ryeowook back out of the park. 

"Do you maybe wanna come over? When we get back I mean, or do you have to go home? I don't mind either way but if you wanna come over for a coffee or-" 

"I'd love to come over," Kyuhyun interrupted, already too familiar with when Ryeowook was nervously babbling, and when to stop him. 

The pair walked the short walk back to Ryeowook's house and entered, both removing their shoes and heading straight for the living room, Bella heading straight for her bed. 

"Uh, this is my house," Ryeowook introduced nervously, shame suddenly kicking in as he mentally compared it to Kyuhyun’s gorgeous apartment. 

"I like it," Kyuhyun smiled, looking around curiously. 

"Really? It's not much, and I wasn't expecting company so it's kinda messy," Ryeowook admitted, trying not to appear too outwardly embarrassed that someone from such a magnificent, beautiful, big house was seeing his small, messy shoebox house. 

"Ah shut up you know I don't care about that, I think your home is adorable," Kyuhyun smiled sweetly, “you’ve definitely got an eye for interior design, and on a budget too it’s even more impressive I can only imagine what you could do with my house given the chance.” 

“What? Your house is already beautiful,” Ryeowook pointed out as he journeyed to the kitchen to make coffee, flicking the kettle switch and perusing the sink for mugs he could wash up. 

“It’s just got expensive items to distract you, I’ve barely made an effort with the actual arrangement of everything,” Kyuhyun retorted, watching Ryeowook curiously, head tilted slightly.

"I'm sorry I don't have a fancy coffee machine, it's just cheap instant coffee and a kettle I'm afraid," he sighed. Kyuhyun laughed softly in response. 

"Honestly, I don't care about that. Anyway you're a barista, it's bound to be nice!" he said encouragingly. 

"Not with instant coffee granules," Ryeowook chuckled lightly, "and flat milk with no froth.” 

“Hey, as long as the coffee is made by you, it'll be nice," Kyuhyun finished, hoping Ryeowook would drop the subject and stop insulting his home and it’s possessions. Kyuhyun wasn't one of those rich people that looked down on poor people, not at all. He never had been and never would be one of those people, ever. He was disgraced at the thought of snobby rich people, people like his parents. People who looked down on people with less money as if they were scum, although they actually work just as hard, or often harder than them just so they can stay off the streets. 

Kyuhyun looked over to a sideboard with a series of framed photos scattered around on it, squinting at the young boy appearing in a lot of them. The photos were all so…happy. Images of the family photos in his parent's house filled his mind, professional photoshoots in high-end studios, each family member arranged in a certain formation and told to smile neutrally at the camera. Ryeowook’s family photos were so natural and fun, there were photos of him on the farm he grew up on, having mud fights with other children and swinging on ropes in the barn, milking the cows with his Father, truly bonding. Kyuhyun’s photos were pictures, Ryeowook’s were memories, and that was one thing he knew Ryeowook couldn’t disproof his jealousy for. A loving family. 

"Is that you and your family?" he asked, grabbing Ryeowook's attention who followed his gaze to see where he was looking, eyes landing on the photos. 

“Oh, yeah, it is," Ryeowook mumbled, "I was so overweight back then,” he cringed. 

"You look cute!" Kyuhyun argued, marvelling at how different he looked. He got up from the sofa and walked to the sideboard, picking up a photo of young Ryeowook stood in front of a massive barn door, both thumbs up and a cheeky grin. 

"Ah you have the same smile..." he whispered, quiet enough so Ryeowook didn't hear. His attention was drawn to another photo instantly when he saw it, he picked it up slowly and gazed at it. 

“And this is you and your parents?" he called to Ryeowook in the kitchen who looked over his shoulder with the kettle in hand. 

"Yeah, about 20 years ago," he called back. 

Kyuhyun observed the photo, taking in all of its aspects. It was Ryeowook and his Father working together on the farm, they were carrying hay bales; Ryeowook's being a lot smaller and lighter, of course. They were laughing about something as they carried them. His Mother sat in the background on a deck chair, a tumbler of what looked like whiskey, smiling lovingly at her husband and son. 

Kyuhyun stared at the photo, smiling weakly as an unexpected tear ran down his face, even 20 years ago their lives were so much different, and this time he was sure of who had the better one. 

*Flashback to about 20 years ago*

"Kyuhyun! Come into the living room please," his father called. A 7-year-old Kyuhyun pattered in as fast as he could and stood up straight in front of his Father, who sat in a grand armchair, arms folded. 

"We've hired you a maths tutor, to improve your maths skills. I've found a job that I want you to go into when you're older, but it requires being VERY good at maths, it will, however, provide an incredible amount of money,” his Father informed him, looking up at him sternly from his seat. 

"Do I have to, Father? I honestly don't like maths!" Kyuhyun whined. 

"Yes, you have to! Don’t you dare argue with something I say,” his Father snapped, standing up tall from his seat to tower over Kyuhyun, he cowered back fearfully, his hands beginning to shake violently. 

“Yes, Father," he said in a quiet whisper. 

“What was that?!” he yelled. 

“Yes, Father!” Kyuhyun announced clearly, beginning to sniffle but trying to hold it back. 

“Stop crying silly child, now go and do your homework, all of it, plus extra credit work,” his Father commanded. 

“But, Father, my most favourite TV show starts in 5 minutes that you said I’m allowed to watch, can't I do it straight after?" Kyuhyun asked nervously. 

“NOW!” he boomed, slapping Kyuhyun hard across the cheek. 

“Cho Kyuhyun! Listen to your Father, don’t you dare argue with a parent,” his Mother snapped, giving him a stern Motherly glare which suggested he should do as he's told. 

“Sorry, Mother.” 

“One day, Kyuhyun, you will earn lots of money and then you will raise your own child the same, the Cho’s have a long line of high earning businessmen and you will NOT disappoint the entire Cho name.” 

*end of flashback* 

“Now do you want to swap lives?” Kyuhyun muttered to himself, although aimed at Ryeowook without the intention of him hearing, another few tears falling. 

"Sorry, what did you say?" Ryeowook called. 

"Nothing!" Kyuhyun called back, wiping his tears quickly with one hand and checking his face wasn't blotchy in the mirror as he heard Ryeowook stirring the coffee, signalling he was about to come back into the room. He placed the photo back down where it belonged and joined Ryeowook on the sofa. 

"Coffee," Ryeowook beamed, handing Kyuhyun a simple yet cute looking mug, which was cream coloured with pretty black lettering that said, "커피" (coffee). 

"Thank you," Kyuhyun thanked gratefully, taking the mug and sipping the coffee. 

"I'm so glad I met you," he smiled. Ryeowook widened his eyes, taken back by the sudden compliment. 

"I'm glad I met you too!" he giggled.