“Y—you’ve been seeing him?” She nodded.

“Jonghyun? Kim Jonghyun?” I carefully asked once again, receiving another nod and an unexpected squeal from her. I glanced at her. She’s this happy when she’s talking about him?

“We’ve been secretly meeting since the MAMA awards in Singapore.” She silently whispered to my ear, excitement visible in her voice. I avoided her gaze and nervously looked down.

“We—“

“I— I have to go.” I swallowed the big lump in my throat and slowly walked past the dumbfounded Ice Princess in front of me.

“Hey!” She wailed as she childishly stomped her feet, creating loud echoes through the hallways.

“I’m not yet done talking.” She pouted.

“Sorry. I really have to go now.” I calmly stated as I tried to keep my composure.

I dashed towards the staircase and ran up until I reached the 11^th floor. I weakly approached the abandoned practice room and locked myself inside. The room was so dim that I could barely see a thing. I carelessly slumped myself on the wooden floor and rested my back on the cold concrete wall. We’ve been secretly meeting since the MAMA awards in Singapore. My hand found its way to forcefully hit the floor, creating a loud thud that echoed through the four-sided room. How did this happen? How could this happen to me? I yelled and almost ripped my hair out of frustration.

‘I couldn’t cry. I shouldn’t cry.’ I whispered to myself. But the tears I was obediently holding back second before rapidly flowed out of my eyes. I hate this feeling. I wept in sorrow ‘til dawn until my eyes had no more tears to cry. It all had gone away together with my pride and soul, leaving me crumbling alone in pain.

I shouldn’t be doing this. I should fight for what’s mine. But I can’t do that. I can’t be selfish. I won’t be selfish. Especially not to him..

I can’t take away his happiness even though it’s hurting me.

Oh, I’m curious Yeah.

My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket, giving me a mini heart attack. I quickly fished the phone out of my pocket to take a good look to whoever the caller is.

Oh, I’m so curious Yeah.

Jonghyunnie. I blankly stared at his name on the blinking screen as I felt another lump forming in my throat. Should I answer it? I quickly wiped my tears away and tried to keep my composure before I grabbed the phone and put it in loudspeaker mode.

“Key!” He almost yelled.

“H—hello?” I nervously answered, trying so hard to hide the shaking in my voice.

“Where are you?” He calmly asked and I could hear him pant.

“Uhm—“

“Tell me!” He demanded and I heard his quick footsteps from the other line.

“Why are you running, hyung?” I asked and I heard him stop in his tracks. There was a deafening silence between the two lines and no one ever dared to speak. I heard him sigh.

“Kibum, what’s the problem?”

“Nothing.”

“You never called me hyung.”

“What?” My heart began to beat faster that made me so dizzy. The room soon began to spin until I heard Jonghyun speak again.

“Key, where are you?”

“In the..”

“Where?” He desperately asked.

“The practice room.” As soon as our conversation ended, I felt a sudden weight pushing me down. My body felt so weak that I couldn’t even manage to keep my head up. I tried to stand up but my limbs were too weak to the deed. I slowly closed my eyes until a flash of radiating light invaded the dim practice room. It was almost blinding that the only thing I remembered were loud footsteps approaching towards me.