“Hey! Jiyong! What do you think you’re doing?!” TOP shouted at him as he grabbed hi arm, stopping him from continuing down the hallway. Jiyong looked down at his arm,

“Let go, TOP.” TOP shook his head,

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.” He said. Jiyong sighed,

“I think its pretty obvious Seung Hyun.” He replied. TOP frowned; he hadn’t called him by his real name in almost a year now. It sounded strange coming form him.

“Why are you doing this to him?” TOP asked.

“I don’t need to explain this to you. This is between me and him.”

“He loves you.” TOP exclaimed.

“And I loved him. But at this moment my feelings have changed.” Jiyong said. “Now I have to go. I’m done explaining myself.” TOP shook his head in disgust as he watched the rapper walk away from him.

“Seung Hyun.” TOP turned around and met YongBae’s eyes. His face instantly softened,

“Tae, I’m so—‘

“It’s fine…thank you.” He said softly. TOP frowned,

“For what?” he asked, slightly confused. YongBae shrugged,

“Sticking up for me I guess.” He answered quietly. TOP’s heart clenched at the sound of his voice. YongBae had always been a quiet person, but now he seemed even quieter than before. TOP stepped forward,

“You wanna go…do something, Tae?” he asked, attempting, and failing, to make him feel better. YongBae smiled sadly, the smile itself not reaching his eyes.

“Just call me YongBae.” He said, begging him silently with his eyes. TOP chuckled,

“You wanna go get something to eat, YongBae?” he asked, emphasizing his name. YongBae nodded,

“Yeah, I’m getting hungry.” TOP nodded his head and signaled for him to walk the way that they had come from.

TOP watched as YongBae silently ate his noodles. He wasn’t sure if he should say something and break the silence. Luckily for him, YongBae broke it for him.

“Thank you.” He said, “You know…for doing all of this.” TOP shook his head,

“This is what friends do.” He stated simply. YongBae nodded and stopped talking. He looked around the dining area and watched the crew run around. They had been at this photo shoot since almost 5:30 in the morning. He glanced back at TOP who was staring at him as if he were about to break down. YongBae sighed,

“We broke up Hyun, he didn’t kill me. I’m not dead, it happens, I’ll move on. I’ll get over it. I’m not broken.” TOP stared back at him,

“You look broken.” He stated. YongBae’s eyes widened at the bluntness of his response.

“Well what do you think I’m going to look like? Happy? He’s been my best friend for eleven years, my boyfriend for three. We can’t go back. Our relationship is ruined. We can never be friends like we used to be, at least not in my opinion. So yeah, I’m going to seem broken for a while. Give me some time to get used to the fact that things will never be the same.” He said, his eyes watering, but being who he was, he didn’t let the tears fall. TOP nodded quickly,

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—“

“Don’t be sorry.” YongBae said, “Be my friend and help me move on.” TOP smiled softly and looked straight into his eyes,

“I can do that.” He answered softly. YongBae smiled,

“Thank you.” TOP chuckled,

“I should count how many times you say thank you to me today.” He said. YongBae smiled and rolled his eyes,

“Shut up.” He said, going back to the meal in front of him.

Jiyong walked into the dining area with Deasung, but he stopped suddenly when he saw YongBae and TOP. ‘What are they doing?’ he thought. Deasung followed Jiyong’s eyes, “Why are you staring at them?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. Jiyong shrugged,

“I’ve never seen them close before, they usually don’t hang out.” He said.

“That’s because he was usually with you.” Deasung said, walking off to the food line, leaving Jiyong standing by himself. Hadn’t his feelings changed? Hadn’t he been sure that he was no longer in love with YongBae the way that he used to be? Then why, at the sight of TOP and YongBae together, did his heart stop? Why did he feel like he should walk over and drag YongBae away? Why was he feeling like this? He sighed and quickly headed in the direction that Deasung had run off to.

“So what’s the rest of the schedule for today?” YongBae asked. TOP checked his phone and shrugged,

“I think they’re going to take a few more photos in different outfits and then we’re done.” He said. YongBae nodded, he glanced at the food line and saw Jiyong, his arms folded, glaring at the people in front of him in the line. YongBae looked back at TOP,

“Hey, Seung Hyun? Can we go now?” he asked. TOP glanced at the line then back at YongBae,

“Of course.” He said smiling. YongBae bit his lip and looked at him, silently thanking him. They both stood up and were heading to the door, but before they could make it any further, YongBae’s foot got caught on the table led, and he stumbled forward. TOP reached out and stopped him from falling any farther than he already had, holding on tightly to his waste. YongBae’s cheeks flushed and he looked up at TOP, well aware that all eyes were now on them, including Jiyong’s.

“So-sorry Hyun.” YongBae stuttered. TOP shook his head, feeling his own cheeks start to burn.

“That’s fine.” He said quietly, before letting go of him. “You’re okay?” he asked, avoiding his eyes. YongBae, looked away,

“I have to go.” He said quickly, as he pushed past him and escaped out of the entry doors. TOP ran his fingers through his hair and looked after YongBae, silently cursing at himself. He looked over and was met with Jiyong’s staring right back at him. Jiyong narrowed his eyes and gave him a questing look. TOP shook his head and walked out of the dining area, leaving Jiyong feeling worse than he felt only moments ago.

YongBae shut the door to the men’s restroom and leaned against it. His mind kept returning to TOP’s arms around him. What was he thinking? He was only making sure that you didn’t fall flat on your face. Nothing more. YongBae sighed and walked to the sink, turning on the cold water. He let it fall over his hands for a little while before cupping them and splashing some of it on his face. He rubbed his eyes slowly and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He looked different today…no, he just felt different. He’d been sulking all day. He didn’t want to be like this for much longer. It was just a break up. These things happen all the time, people get over it. YongBae switched the water off and dried his hands off. This was just another day. He could do this. He could get over Jiyong.

TOP looked around in the hallways and dressing rooms, but he didn’t see YongBae anywhere. He had run away so fast, and the look in his eyes had been something TOP had never seen in them before. And that feeling that he had felt when he had his arms around YongBae’s waist, that random change in the rhythm of his heart beat, that was something he had never felt before. It was different and foreign, but he didn’t mind it. Was that normal? Or…does he like YongBae…as more than just a friend? TOP shook his head, YongBae was just his friend, nothing more. And right more, he needed to find him, because as a friend, he needed to make sure that he was ok.

As TOP rounded the corner in the hallway, he was relieve to see YongBae leaning against the main dressing room door way. TOP stopped and watched him. He was smiling brightly, his eyes lighting up. He could hear Seungri rambling about something stupid, but it was making YongBae laugh, so he didn’t mind. YongBae turned around and saw him,

“Oh, Hyung, there you are.” He said cheerfully. TOP hesitated, but played along, smiling. If YongBae wanted to pretend like nothing happened to move on, then TOP would give him this one.