Donghae

I slowly drive through the dark streets of the neighbourhood.

No need to rush.

Kyuhyuns house isn't far.

"You brought Hyukjae home first?"

I look into the back mirror.

Kyuhyun slowly sits up and rubs his eyes. Sungmin stirs in his sleep and leans against his shoulder.

" He looked tired."

"Hm."

"Kyu?"

"What is it?"

" Since when have you known Hyukjae?"

He furrows slightly as if he's in deep thoughts.

"They moved here around five years ago if I remember right."

I nod slowly and turn left.

"Why are you asking? Jealous much?"

" Other way around."

"Do I need to understand?"

His house appears at the end of the road. I stop the car in front of it and turn off the engine.

"This will end in of one those depressing midnight talks about life?"

"Is Hyukjae... the jealous type?"

"Okay. This will end in those depressing midnight talks about love."

"I'll wake Sungmin." I say while reaching out for the buzzer. Everyone knows how crumpy he gets if disturbed in his sleep.

"Okay, okay.", Kyuhyun says hastily, looking at his sleeping friend out of the corner of his eye.

" He tends to be kind of possessive.", he says when he's sure that Sungmins still asleep. " Well... that's kind of understated. To be honest: He's a possessive and jealous when he likes something. Doesn't look like it, right? I was surprised, too. Years ago he was really into me. Couldn't even talk to my sister without him glaring at me."

"He liked you?"

"Platonically. Jealous if it would be the other way?"

I slowly lift my hand.

"Okay, okay. No need to let me get killed.", he unfastens his seatbelt. " I'm not going to ask why we're talking about such things all of sudden. Since there's nothing going on." he smirks at me and gets out of the car before I can give him an appropriate counter. Nevertheless a smile appears on my face as I hear how softly he closes the door. If Hyukjae was fixated on him he's totally on Sungmin.

I sigh deeply as I start the engine again.

Definitely too much information.

This will be a sleepless night.

Hyukjae

The living room is dark when I enter it.

I take my jacket off and let it fall to the ground.

I make a beeline for the shelf in the corner of  the room just to stop in front of the small framed picture next to the TV.

"Hey Choco. Did you have a good day?" I touch the picture softly before I turn back to the shelf.

There it is.

My pride and joy.

I smile when I see the neatly sorted video cassettes, take on of them and put it into the recorder which is most probably older than me.

The rewinding sound calms me.

I don't like DVDs.

Childern who don't know the feeling of waiting until the beginning of the cassette is reached are quiet suspect to me.

Tonight I need my movies.

I collected them over the years. Animal documentation I watched on TV and recorded. The only thing that can calm me in seconds...well, now there's Donghae, but...

His sister...

Could I be any dumbe--

I shake my head fiercely.

No.

No more.

Not tonight.

I press play and sit down at the sofa, a blanket around me and slightly afraid of the blue shadows that enlighten the room.

Soon the movie about gazelles catches me.

A glance at the watch.

Half an hour until I have to go to work.

I pull the blanket over my head and turn back to the movie.

***

The next morning

Donghae

I had a peaceful sleep.

Not even a dream bothered me.

Until my phone started to ring.

I slowly open my eyes.

It's nine o'clock.

"Shut the up." I mumble and press my face into the pillow.

No chance.

It keeps ringing until I finally give up. I swing my legs out of the bed, shivering due to the sudden coldness and reach for my mobile.

" What?"

" Donghae..." a faint voice sounds.

I furrow. " Leeteuk hyung?"

"Donghae...it's..." he gets silent.

"Hyung? What is it?"

"Hyukkie...he..."

Silence.

"Hyung?"

Nothing.

"Leeteuk!"

My heartbeat fastens as I jump up. "Hyung?! YAY! What's wrong?! Did something happen to Hyukjae?! TELL ME!"

"Yah...", his grumpy voice is back again. " I just fell asleep again. Can you stop screaming?"

Fell...asleep?

Hyukjae... is fine?

"Hyung.", I whine. " Don't do this to me."

" Doing what? It's me who has to be awake at this hour."

The grip around my mobile tightens.

Someday...

In a not so far future I'm going to kick his for sure.

It'll be brutal.

And it'll be nice.

He yawns extensively. " Hyukjae just called me. Couldn't wait until ten... well, let's forget about it. He asked me for your number."

"My number?"

"Yeah. And since he's quiet awkward when it comes to phone calls and I'm a good brother I decided to warn you."

I sit down at the bed. "Warn me?"

"He'll call you soon. And you'll know what I mean with awkward. So please, bear with it and take care of him. He really tries."

"Well... I guess... thanks for telling me?" I respond, not really sure what to think about this call.

" No need to. The problem is just that I don't know if I save you from him or the other way around."

"Do you kn--"

He hangs up before I can say anything.

I curse into the receiver and throw it on the bed.

I should get up.

.

.

.

.

I take my phone and check if I really hung up and put it away again.

I stay at the bed and play with the fabric of my shirt.

My gaze falls on the mobile.

I take it and check if the tune is on and put it away again.

I could eat breakfast.

Instead I take my phone.

No missed calls in the last... three seconds.

I take a look at the status of the battery.

89 percent.

I need to charge it.

What if it's empty in like...

Well, It should last for at least 7 more hours.

I could miss his call.

I take the charging cable and connect the phone with it.

Half an hour passes and the mobile rings when I finally decided to get up.

A second later I'm at the phone.

"Hello?" I nearly scream into it.

Nothing.

And then the hooting sound which is so going to be my most hated tune in the world.

I stare  at the phone, quiet flabbergasted and blink a few times.

Was this... Hyukkie?

Incoming call again.

This time I decided to be a little less... enthusiastic when greeting the caller.

" Good morning."

" D-dongh-hae?"

"Hyukjae. Hello.", A bright smile appears on my face. " Can I help you with something?"

 "I..."

"Yes?" I ask slowly, only to hear the hooting sound again.

Okay, that's definitely awkward.

Leeteuk was right.

Nevertheless I can't help but to chuckle.

So precious.

I decided to wait again.

And, really, after two minutes, he calls again.

" I'm sorry.", he says without greeting first. " I'm not good... with phones."

"It's alright." I say cheerful.

I lay down at my back and look at the white ceiling while drawing invisible circles into the air.

"Now tell me, Hyukjae. How can I help you."

"I... got you're number from my brother. I hope you don't mind. I can delete in after this call if you want to."

Keep it.

Draw hearts after my name.

Hell, you can even give me the name Honey if it makes you happy.

"It's okay."

He exhales. "Okay."

Do I hear some kind of relief in his voice?

"So. Why are you calling me?"

"I forgot my purse in your car."

"Really? I didn't notice."

" I realized it last night but it was too late to get it back."

He talks so quietly.

I really need to concentrate to understand everything he says. But his voice is music to my ears, just like when he's right next to.

" Would you might if I'd get it now? I really need it."

" I'll bring it to your house."

"No!"

I furrow. Why that nervous all of sudden?

" I got a car. It would be stupid if you had to walk here.  I just need to get dressed and then I'll be there. I guess I could make it in twenty minutes."

"No, no, no."

"Why that nervous?"

"I'm...not..."

"You are."

I don't mean to corner him.

"It's just... that I'm not at home right now."

"Where are you?"

"At a friends house."

My smile breaks slightly.

A friend?

Or something different?

Aissh.

Stupid jealousy.

"Then tell me the address of your friend and I'll bring your purse there."

" You don't have to."

"I'd love to. Come on, Hyukjae. You even carry cake to school that strangers gave to you. Let me also do something nice to you."

I can physically feel the battle in his head and can only hope that the slightly pouting tune I added to my speech reaches his heart.

"Okay. But only if it doesn't cause you any problems."

"Never.", I smile brightly. " So. Where are you right now?"

He tells me  the address and my mobile falls to the ground.

"Donghae?" I can hear his voice calling, but the next second I'm at my front door just to tear it open.

I pound against the door across from mine and, oh, how surprised I am that my eyeballs stay in place when Hyukjae opens the door.