As Eli was looking everywhere, Kevin hid behind the recording studio next to the dance practice room. The tears wouldn’t stop falling. I’m so stupid, he cursed himself. Why can’t I do anything right? He sat down on the steps, wrapping his thin arms around himself. He shivered, thinking back to the old days where he and Eli would hide here and spend hours talking about anything and everything. These days, Soohyun hyung and manager hyung barely gave them any rest time. His tears had frozen on his cheek, leaving his skin scratchy.

He sighed. He hadn’t really been thinking when he ran out of the practice room. He was just so sick of being picked on. He finally couldn’t take it when he saw the hatred and anger in Soohyun’s eyes. The last time he saw the leader that mad was when manager hyung told them that Xander and Kibum were leaving. He knew Soohyun was doing everything for U-KISS’ good, and he hated himself for letting his hyung down. He put his head down, trying to block the wind and feeling the hot tears drifting down again.

“You idiot.” Someone growled in English.

Kevin looked up, startled. He could faintly make out a shape in the darkness. “E…Eli?”

“What made you think you could just run out?” Eli asked. It was their thing to speak in English when they were alone. It was something they both shared, being American.

“How…how did you find me?” Kevin replied back in English, barely able to speak after nearly fifteen minutes in the cold.

“Stupid, did you forget we’re best friends? We always hang here.” Eli said gently, wrapping the jacket around Kevin’s frozen body.

“Thank you…” Kevin smiled.

Eli noticed the tear marks on Kevin’s cheeks and he traced them lovingly with his finger. “Why are you crying, Kev?”

“I…I’m such a failure.” Kevin voiced out his concerns to Eli.

“Don’t you ever say that Kevin Woo!” Eli cried, taking the smaller boy into his arms.

“But it’s true.” Kevin whispered into Eli’s strong chest.

“Yah, you’ve got an angelic voice, great dance moves, and an adorable face that no one can resist.” Eli said, smiling.

“Eliii!” Kevin laughed, punching him softly on the arm.

“Don’t listen to Soohyun hyung. You know he didn’t mean anything he said.” Eli told Kevin, holding him at arms length so he could look into his beautiful eyes.

Kevin nodded. “Thank you.” He remained in Eli’s arms.

“Kev?” Eli said, his voice raspy and strained.

Kevin looked up, confused by Eli’s voice change. “Yea….?”

He was cut off by Eli’s soft lips on his. Although startled at first, Kevin quickly got over his confusion and kissed him back. He had imagined for years that Eli would be his first kiss. Finally, his wish had come true. People have told him that their first kiss tasted of rainbows, flowers, and every sweet thing in the world. For him, Eli tasted…like Eli. Nothing could be better than this. He smiled into the kiss, causing Eli to pull back.

“Kevin?” Eli asked, his eyes shining.

Instead of answering, Kevin laughed and pulled Eli into his arms. “I love you Eli.”

Kevin could feel Eli smiling as he pulled him into another sweet kiss. “And I love you, Kevin.”