What could have been if he had seen those letters earlier on? Sungmin doesn’t want to think about it anymore, because he knows he’d
definitely go to Kyuhyun and his marriage with Sunkyu will never happen. He doesn’t want to think about what could have been…
it’s just too painful.

They've spend 20 more happy years together, Sungmin and Sunkyu. Their children grew up as beautiful as them. Minkyu graduated
and became a pilot while Sungsoon is working on her degree in medicine.

It was an unexpected night at home. Sungmin was working in his library when he suddenly saw the box of Kyuhyun's letters to
him. He never opened it right after that night when he cried. Now that he is seeing it again, his heart pounded so hard it
almost deafened him.

He's at his 60s and yet his heart pounded so much for those letters as if he was still young and with Kyuhyun. He swallowed
and open one of it.

Sungmin ah

How have you been?
I'm doing well...please don't worry about me.
I heard from a friend that you were injured.
I hope you're recovering well.
I miss you.
It’s quite cold these days and this war is
making things even worst.
I can't wait to end this and be with you.
Ah...now that I'm thinking about this I feel warmer.

Kyuhyun

Sungmin looked up and was startled when he saw Sunkyu behind him. "I..." he said. "I was just..." he doesn't know whether to keep Kyuhyun's letter or
to fold it up but...

"Dinner is ready." Sunkyu smiled at him ignoring the expression that lingered in her husband's face and was about to walk
outside the library when...

"Sunkyu yah..."

Lee Sunkyu, her sunny smile has been covered with years, her smooth skin has been wrinkled by time as well. They are both old
and have broader understanding of each other's need. She cannot deny that she's thankful that Sungmin chose her despite seeing
those letters and that he chose to grow old with her but she knows despite the years they've spend together... A certain Cho
Kyuhyun is inside her husband's heart and even she cannot penetrate in that place.

"I want to find him." Sungmin said while looking down still in his crouch position. Sunkyu closed her eyes and breathe in deeply. She turned to her husband
with a sweet smile. She walked towards him and placed her wrinkled hand on his cheek the way he usually does. Sungmin looked
down when his wife knelt down in front of him.

"Oppa, smile for me..."

Sungmin tried his best to smile. He felt comforted with what Sunkyu did. Although, now he knows how it feels to be asked to
smile with a heavy heart, he appreciates the thought that his wife is fine with what he said. After years of doing the same
thing to say that everything is fine, Sunkyu did the same to him as well. Sungmin somehow felt better.

----------------POV in present day-----------

Sungmin found himself standing in front of a man whose look is no different from him. His forehead is sketched with lines as
well. His nose and sides of his lips are both with lines and the skin of his neck is not like how he remembered it. The
sogginess of their skin reveals that it has been 40 years since they've last seen each other.

Sungmin hesitated at first as he sees Kyuhyun looking as gently at him as ever. He raised his hand and doesn't know whether he
should reach for the other man’s face or not.

"I've waited for decades, Sungmin ah... don't hesitate to touch my face." Kyuhyun said.

He may have grown ages but that straightforward tongue never lose its power. And even though his eyelids are all wrinkled,
those dark brown orbs still never lose its charms.

Sungmin used his fingers to wipe Kyuhyun's salt and pepper fringe. His breathing became heavy as he started blinking more than
normal to ease the tears in his eyes. He touched Kyuhyun's wrinkled face and looked at every inch of skin it has. He met
Kyuhyun's eyes and the latter smiled at him.

Kyuhyun smiled at Sungmin. From 40 years ago, his hyung never lose those sight of admiration towards him, one of the best part
of Sungmin. He looks and admires him as if he is still that evil magnae in a once upon a time popular group he doesn't know
whether anyone still remember.

"You've grown old, Sungmin ah..."
Sungmin chuckled with those words.

"So have you, Kyuhyun..."

They stared at each other for a while and lock each other in their arms tightly. Finally, Sungmin has remembered that warmth
that only Kyuhyun can give. He can hear Kyuhyun's heart beating. It sang to him. His most favorite song... Kyuhyun's heartbeat.
Tears became inevitable as he stayed that way. He didn't regret not finding him earlier but he just wish they aren't too old
to turn back the time. He cried in silent as the man before him embraced him even tighter.

They soon find themselves in a tea house. Kyuhyun watched Sungmin prepare the tea. He is as gentle as ever, despite the
wrinkles that reveal the time they suffered away from each other, Sungmin is still the same docile and caring person from the
past. Sungmin passed him a cup of tea before drinking his own.

Just like the old times, talking with each other over a bottle of wine except that it is tea for today.

"How have you been, Kyuhyun ah?" Sungmin started casually like the old times a hyung and dongsaeng wanting to know how each
other is doing.

"How have you been?" Kyuhyun countered. "I heard you have a pilot now."

Sungmin smiled coyly but proudly. "My eldest, Minkyu... he's a pilot now. I also have a daughter, Sungsoon, she wants to be a
doctor."

Kyuhyun nodded "Sunkyu must be very happy."

"Uhm." Sungmin nodded as well, keeping his teeth.

"How about you? Do you have children?" Sungmin asked curiously.

"I didn't get married." Kyuhyun said, shaking his head gently and too casually making Sungmin swallowed.

There was silence.

And yet another set of silence.

It was a little bit too awkward but its just the way it is. Whoever wants to break the silence is the bravest.

"Tell me... how did you end up with Sunkyu?" Kyuhyun asked curiously.

"I was injured during the war and she was the nurse who assisted me. I guess you know what happened next."

Kyuhyun showed a duck face as he nodded. And then there was silence again.

"Kyuhyun..." Sungmin called. Kyuhyun casually drinks his tea while waiting for his hyung to say something. Sungmin looked at
his tea first and then to his dongsaeng's eyes.

"Why didn't you..."

He knows he shouldn't ask but he just can't help it. He met Kyuhyun's eyes looking at him as if telling him that he's supposed
to know the answer. Sungmin secretly swallowed. He didn't wish to hear the answer but he wants to hear it as well even if he
thinks he knows the answer already.

"You asked me to wait for you."

Sungmin sighed with the answer. He knows it and it hurts to know it before hearing the answer. He bit his lips...did he ever
betray Kyuhyun? He saw Kyuhyun smiling a little.

"You must be very proud of your children."

"Kyuhyun ah..." Sungmin called while looking down.

"What happened after..."

"I became a professor in Music. I teach in SooMan University."

"SooMan..." Sungmin said thinking whether it is the SM building Kyuhyun is referring to.

"Our SM building... boss turned it into a school instead so I've decided to work there."

"You're a good singer, Kyuhyun ah...why didn't you start singing that time? Ryeowook was able to make a comeback for a while."

Kyuhyun smiled and shook his head. "If I do that... how will you ever find me?” Sungmin saw his shocked self in the other’s
eyes. Those gentle eyes that make him feel guiltier. “I stayed in that place...because I want you to find me easily."

Sungmin looked down and then to the side, wanting to stop his eyes from producing salty water.

That night, Sungmin cannot sleep remembering what Kyuhyun said to him. Kyuhyun has been alone in his whole life after the war.
He has grown old by himself with probably no one to turn to. He must have endure his whole life without anyone to accompany
him.

Sungmin was startled when Sunkyu's arm rested on his shoulder. The peaceful face of his wife didn't help him feel better
tonight. He's mind is full of Kyuhyun. He sympathise him because of what happened moreover...he knows the fact that he is the
reason why Kyuhyun stayed alone in his life.

The next morning, Sunkyu was happily making breakfast like the usual when Sungmin stopped and looked down.

"You're awake?" she asked. Sungmin nodded shortly and walked towards her.

He touched her shoulder making the old woman stop from walking around. "Sunkyu yah..."

Sunkyu somehow knows what its about so she started moving around again. She's old. And she has grown old with Sungmin, she
definitely knows when something is bothering her husband. She tried to ignore it but Sungmin hold on to her and rested his
head on her already not so slim waist.

"Sunkyu yah..." he called as he pressed his eyes hard and tears became inevitable. "did I become the husband you want to have?"

Sunkyu wondered with the question, why is Sungmin asking these? "Oppa...why are you asking that? You know you're the very man
I've always wanted."

Sunkyu shook her head as Sungmin pressed his head on her waist trying to hide his face that has been wet because of his tears.

"This time... I want to fulfill my promise to him." he said with broken voice.

He tightened his hold on Sunkyu as he cried even harder. Guilty that he is already old and still wants to be with the man he
has loved for a long time, Sungmin doesn’t dare to face his wife.

Sunkyu looked up and tears fell from her eyes as well. She opened slightly so as not to make any sound from her cry.
She touched Sungmin's head and pulled the man further as he tightens his embrace around her waist. Sunkyu knelt down and held
on to her husband’s face. He looked up and met Sunkyu's eyes and gentle smile.

"Oppa, smile for me." her eyes wonder on the aged face of her husband, still with the same admiration as if he is still the
so-called aegyo king of music industry.

On that night, Sunkyu told her children about their father's decision.

"Please don't think your father is being selfish. He has done more than enough for me." she said trying her best to make their
children understand.

Sungmin stayed in the room packing his things for his moving out when Minkyu and Sungsoon went inside.

"Appa..."

He feels he doesn't deserve to be called with formalities for what he is about to do. But Minkyu and Sungsoon came inside and
hugged him tightly.

"Appa... you won't forget us, right?" Sungsoon asked. Sungmin curled his lips down and felt like crying.

"Silly..." Sungmin said. "You've grown up being Appa's girl. What makes you think I will forget you? You were the best gifts
your mom gave to me."

He cannot hide his tears as his children hugged him tightly. He doesn't deserve this treatment. Whatever it is that he did in
the past that makes him a good father in their eyes, he is very thankful.

"Appa...I don't want to miss you too much." Minkyu said before swallowing back his sob. "That's why you have to see us every
now and then."
Sungmin cried even more and hugged his children even tighter. He looked at the door and saw Sunkyu watching them with her own
tears flowing. He smiled at her and his wife smiled back before turning away.

*****************

Kyuhyun and Sungmin didn't speak to each other. They just hold hands and walked together. How awkward it is to walk with another
old man, hand in hand? They don't really know but it is Kyuhyun and Sungmin's hands together that's why it feels great.

"Huh..." Sungmin sighed. Kyuhyun turned to him and watched him as he smiled to himself.

"What?" Kyuhyun asked.

"If we are a little bit younger we could have done more things together." he looked down with a slight smile. "Now we can't
even turn back time."

"Who said we can't?" Kyuhyun asked. Sungmin was about to speak when Kyuhyun tighten his grip on his hand and walked a little
bit faster.

They went to SooMan University and used the lift for easier access. They stopped at the 11th floor.

Everything is different from the former building Sungmin remember. Each room has become a classroom or a faculty or a
conference room, nothing has been the same from when they were still a performer. Kyuhyun stopped at a particular room.

"I've made this my own faculty. Only I can work here." he turned the knob and let Sungmin inside.

Sungmin slowly walked around as tears filled up his eyes. Pictures, memorabilla and even the awards are all displayed inside
the room. Their self taken photos are in another side of the room and even the pink bunny that Kyuhyun gave him before is
there. The pink guitar they used inside the room and even the bottles of wine they shared together are there. He swallowed,
this is beyond marvelous. How did Kyuhyun do it?

"I've been keeping everything just in case our lives as Super Junior ended. I intended to take you with me when that happens..."
he looked down. "but because of the war..." he looked at Sungmin with a smile. "It has to wait for decades."

Sungmin smiled despite the tears that are falling. "Kyuhyun ah... All my life I only want to be by your side." he touched
Kyuhyun's wrinkled face and searched deeply in his eyes that never lost its glow despite years of sadness. He saw his old and
young self in those eyes.

"I'm old and wont be able to last for another 30 years. I wish we're both young and strong enough so we could still have more
time to be together." Kyuhyun shook his head as he hears those words. His eyes getting blurry because of tears as well.

"I don't need 30 more years. I've spent my life with you in my heart... as long as I can spend the rest of my days left with
you, Sungmin ah... I couldn't ask for more."

They locked each other in their arms as tears continuously flow. It's been 50 years since they first met and they knew it was
the truest feeling anyone could have felt and in each other's embrace, they felt like they were young once again.

********************

“Minkyu oppa…” Sungsoon called. “Who do you think loved Appa most?”
Minkyu looked up and thought. “I cannot really say it. Umma spent her life being by his side, but I can’t remove the fact that
Professor Cho waited for decades for him. Maybe there really are different kinds of love in this world but the love that is
not selfish is the greatest of all.”

Author's note: Story is inspired by S.H.E full version video of Wo Ai Ni