April 4, 2012, Pasay City, Philippines   Donghae finds himself in a quiet lounge, evidently far different from the one he had gone to several minutes ago. He scans the place, spacious and extravagant just like every part of that hotel. Crystal chandeliers hang on the ceiling, incandescent purple competing against the city lights reflected in the glass windows. A white grand piano sits in a corner and Donghae thinks it’s meant to be a decoration as a record of an old American ballad plays around the place. He shifts his eyes to his right, where a view, similar to the terrace he found earlier can be seen. The glass windows show the entirety of the hotel purlieu, glimmering with colorful lights, tempting and dazzling. It’s a sight to behold, and Donghae could have appreciate it more if not for the fact that he’s now face to face with the person he had avoid for so long.   Hyukjae has his eyes on him, and there’s a soft, lip-bit smile on his face when Donghae finally looks at him. Donghae returns the smile, heaving a sigh as he unconsciously shifts his gaze away again. It lands back on Hyukjae however, when he hears the other’s laughter.   Hyukjae’s chuckling but stops when he notices that Donghae’s looking at him. His tongue pokes his inner cheek, a clear indication that he’s not done yet. Donghae perks an eyebrow. “And what exactly is so funny?”, he couldn’t help but ask. Hyukjae grins. “Nothing.”, he answers simply, keeping the smile as Donghae eyes him even more and he takes his glass of soda to his lips. He takes a sip from it, puts it back down on the table and shrugs. “We’re just so awkward.”, he says finally, glancing at the window since he’s feeling coy. “It’s funny because most of my memories of you don’t include us being awkward at all.”   Donghae stares back, blinks for quite a few times and watches Hyukjae smiling sheepishly he’s suddenly reminded of that one spring day back when they’re six, when Hyukjae, albeit being shy and a little worried about it, officially declared that Donghae is his best-est friend in the world. Back then they are so carefree and happy, it’s sad how they have to grow apart.   A smile forms on his face. Slowly the smile stretches into a grin, and still gazing at Hyukjae’s who seems to grow more uncomfortable by the moment, he forms his left hand into a fist and, not so gently, punches the other man’s left arm.   To say that Hyukjae’s caught off-guard is an understatement. He holds his arm and stares back at Donghae with big round eyes, completely shock with that just happened and is currently contemplating if it’s even real. It hurts though, and Donghae laughing at him definitely proves it’s not just some weird hallucinations. Seeing the confusion on the other’s eyes, Donghae snorts. “How can you just casually say we’re awkward, it makes the situation just a lot more awkward than it already is!”, Donghae shakes his head, still chuckling. “Really Hyukjae, you still say the worst things at the worst times.” The man with the dirty blond hair blinks, gawks and then later on finds himself laughing with this man he used to call his best friend. A punch lands on Donghae’s left arm too, surprising the other for a while before cackling again when Hyukjae utters ‘And why do you need to punch me, huh?’ in between his chortles.   And suddenly the uneasiness subsides, identical genuine smiles on both of their faces for the first time that evening.   “So how have you been?”, Donghae asks after narrating his life since he moved to Seoul, leaving out the details of his recovery from his unrequited feelings for Hyukjae of course, the man doesn’t need to know about that. Hyukjae merely shrugs, taking a sip of his soda before answering his friend. “Not as successful as you. But then again I have never been someone destined to do great things so it’s understandable.”, Hyukjae ignores the frown that appeared on Donghae’s forehead when he said those words. “I’m learning English right now, and hopefully once I acquired quite enough to survive America, I’ll be heading there.” Donghae’s still frowning and he wants to say something but he decides against it. He’s in no position to tell Hyukjae he could be just as successful or even greater in his own field if he wants to. “So you’re learning here?”, Donghae asks instead. “School fees are cheaper here. And a friend actually invited me here; he’s a Korean too and I’m staying with him so I need not to worry with my food and shelter. All’s cool.” “And how long have you been studying?” “For over a year now, I came here right after I was discharged from the army.” “Over a year, huh? That seems to be quite fair enough, I supposed you learned a lot by now.”, Donghae quirks an eyebrow and Hyukjae scoffs. “I think I do. Enough to converse on daily basis but nothing too deep.”, Hyukjae says in English, comprehensible despite the accent. “You understand that, do you?”, he asks the follow up in their native tongue and Donghae makes a face and answers with “Of course!” in English. Hyukjae laughs and nods his head.   “So.. you came straight away from your friend’s place?”, Donghae asks, with everything starting to make sense inside his head as to why Hyukjae wasn’t in the airport earlier and why Kyuhyun nor Junsu didn’t even question about it. He’s living in the Phili