A.N/ Like I promised you guy, this is Sehun’s side of the story.

Happy new year my lovely readers!

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Though he didn’t show any enthusiasm outside, this trip had some levels of meaning to him.

Firstly, it was his first trip to another country apart from Korea.

When Sehun was young, because of people’s discrimination against homoual relationship, his family had to move a lot. He still remembered how he was awoken at late nights to find his moms talking at the dining table with anxiety on their faces. They always assured him that everything would be fine, that he would have new good friends at new school but he knew it never happened.

He thought if they didn’t change place at the drop of a hat like that, they would have enough money to travel around, at least to China. He was envy with Jongin whenever the latter chirping about his vacation in Thailand or Singapore or whatever it was, but never once did he claim insistently to his moms.

So right when he received the official announcement of MT trip, the kid inside him couldn’t help but dancing crazily and since he owed that kid a big one, Sehun also let himself grin wide.

Secondly, he was going to give his birth mother’s grave a visit.

He had taken a picture inside his head about that day every night after Luhan successfully convinced him to go. He had a feeling of regretting if he let this chance passing by and he didn’t want to live the rest of his life stuck with his own misery any more, especially when he was with Luhan now.

Sehun noticed whenever his mood was bad, the Chinese boy smiled less. It was some kind of mental affection and he felt guilty for dragging his cute boyfriend down with him.

Besides, how could you ever say no to a little deer, with doe-like eyes, pink lips who stood on his tip toes wrapped arms around your neck and continuously stole kisses from you while pointing out the reason why you should do it. Luhan always found his way to win over and got what he wanted, but even so Sehun didn’t mind because Luhan’s happy smile was the most precious thing in the world to him.

When everyone arrived at the hotel, it’s just almost noon. Sehun fished out his phone and checked the time in Korea (Luhan had set this app up for him along with a gentle warning ‘Just in case you want to wait me up at midnight’ and also a wink.)

1.03 am… I shouldn’t call him now.

He put back the phone into his pocket and slowly followed the others to the lobby, waiting for the check-in process. There were fifteen students and 3 professors in this trip, split into 5 rooms.

Sehun received the schedule from his sunbae, took a quick scan. Because the whole trip’s expenses were sponsored entirely, many activities would be carried out within 5 days. It’s started right after they finished their late lunch and unpacking. They were given a phone card and detailed guide how to use it at the phone in the corner of the lobby. Everything was quite smooth due to well preparation and Sehun couldn’t be happier as he was arranged to share a room with someone he knew, Minho and Jinki, both were in their third year.

“Hey Sehun.”

Minho suddenly called out, sitting on the edge of his bed, kicking his legs up and down while watching the other shoving his travel bag into the wardrobe nearby.

Sehun spun around, obviously startled at the mention of his name.

“Yes hyung?”

“Is it true that you are dating Luhan hyung?” the older questioned, ignored the sideways look his friend was shooting at him.

Sehun scratched his neck awkwardly. Normally, people just gossiped with others and accepted it as the matter of fact. They didn’t jump out and directly asked him like this.

“Err….yes.”

Minho crashed his back on the sheet of bed right when receiving the answer, mumbled.

“No wonder why L.J hyung’s mood is down lately.”

“Huh?” Sehun cocked his head, having no idea where the conversation was going to.

Seeing the confusion on his dongsaeng’s face, Jinki gripped the younger’s shoulder, smiling.

“Nothing. L.J hyung always has a thing for Luhan hyung so….”

He stopped when noticed the winkles formed on the latter’s forehead previously disappeared. But Minho just couldn’t shut his mouth up. He got up and gazed at Sehun seriously.

“It’s not just a simple crush. He even asked the Chinese out and got rejected. I still remember how sad he was that day.”

From his place, Sehun was frozen while Jinki quickly stepped toward his dumb friend and sent a stop-here-before-you’re-dead fierce look.

The knock on the door saved them from suffering more the weirdness of standing in the same room. Jinki pulled Minho up with him and gladly found Mr. Lee there, urging them hurry downstairs for the first activity.

The whole afternoon was such a blur to Sehun as he kept thinking about what he had been told. Now that he noticed, he never asked Luhan about his past relationships. Though it’s not important and would not change a little thing between them, he didn’t like the feeling of being the only who was left beyond the information.

Sehun hadn’t been in love before. He hardly liked anyone before. That was how when Luhan came into his life and made everything upside down, it took him too long to recognize his true feeling. Even though Luhan was naturally innocent and new to the entire committed relationship, he was so sure the older would have some stories to share.

The bus brought them back to the hotel and Sehun couldn’t help but rushed to the phone near the receptionist’s counter. He dialed the number that was already in his head, waiting for the Chinese boy to pick up but got none. He checked the time again, it’s 9a.m in Korea, his boyfriend must be awake by now.

He dialed one more time, impatiently tapping his finger on the stony wall.

After the fourth time, he finally gave up when Jinki called out his name to have dinner together.

Day 1: ended up with Sehun dreamt about meeting his baby deer.

Day 2:

It was too soon to say that he was lucky to share room with someone he knew because after one night, it turned out to be his misery.

Both of his sunbaes had habit when they slept and on the scale one to ten, they hit the number 11. Minho talking and Jinki snoring.

The scariest part was that at first he thought Minho was talking to him as the older mumbled “Where are you going?” whereas they all settled down under the blanket. Sehun had looked around three times before sputtered “M..me?” and got a response immediately “No, you idiot.”.

The situation became worse when Jinki started snoring with the really high pitch noise. Sehun guessed he had fallen asleep around 2 and the dream of Luhan obviously saved him from a horrified night.

He got two big grins when he told the others about their sleeping habit at breakfast. They were all aware of that and he had no choice to prepare to bear with them throughout four more nights.

Sehun wanted to make a call to Luhan before the departure but there were too many people standing around the phone area. He let out a sigh and took a mental note to be the first one use that damn phone when they got back later this night.

The main activity today was visiting Jacobs School of Music, one of the top conservatories in USA. The schedule was really tight including seminars and talk shows.

Sehun scanned over the list of lectures he would attend and was extremely excited when he saw the name of Joshua David Bell printed on the paper. He was a big fan of this man. Now he understood why Beakhyun would jump up and down (and even squealing) every time he received special edition version of SNSD’s album that he had bought online weeks in advance.

The campus tour was like a journey to Wonderland to everyone. SIA was known as its large and beautiful campus along with facilities for study. But compared to what they were being shown, this was the whole new level.

They stopped by Musical Arts Center (MAC), the Simon Music Library & Recital Center, Merrill Hall, Sycamore Hall, and ended at the Music Practice Building.

Walking all the day made Sehun all exhausted and his leg shaking when they were sent back to the hotel. But that didn’t stop him to run to the phone as soon as he stepped inside and dialed Luhan’s number.

Again, just a range of connection signal was heard through the line but no one picked up. Sehun started worrying. The Chinese boy wouldn’t leave his cell phone out of his arm reach since he knew Sehun would call whenever he could.

 Did something happen to him?

He thought as pressing the redial button. Every second passing by was like a knot in his stomach and now it’s his hand which was shaking in anxiety.

Sehun quickly input Jongin’s number and became irritated wondering why the connection took so long.

“Hello?”

“Jongin, it’s me. Do you see….”

“Who’s ‘me’?” he was cut off by a half sleep voice.

“ME. Sehun.” he stressed the word “You’re sleeping? It must be noon there.”

A yawn from his friend answered his question.

“I went to party last night. How’s your trip?”

“Can’t complain.” Sehun assured, quickly switched back to the main issue “Do you happen to see Luhan lately?”

“Luhan hyung? Nope, but I got a call from him yesterday, at 3 am, asking about you.”

3 am. Something definitely happened.

“What did he say? Is he okay?” the panic was easily recognized in his voice, earning a chuckle from the other side of the line.

“Calm down man. He’s fine. I guess he just missed you so much that he couldn’t sleep.”

That’s…… possible

“I called him, like dozen times since yesterday but he didn’t pick it up.” Sehun whined, his boyfriend was gifted of giving him headache.

“That’s odd” Jongin seemed finally down to the earth “Ah, he also said he would be with Yixing hyung. Why don’t you call him instead?”

That’s even weirder.

Since when Luhan stuck with his roommate? Sure they were best friend, sharing the same room, having so many bonding times together. But wasn’t that enough?

Aishhh, I sound like a jealous one.

He hit his head with his palm, mumbled

“Okay, I will.”

“Sehun ah. Quick!” Jinki urged him from afar, they had schedule of practice tonight for a small cultural exchanges show tomorrow. He darted his eyes to that direction, circled his thumb and index finger to give his hyung an ‘okay’ signal then bid a quick goodbye to Jongin.

“I have to run. Look, if you see Luhan, tell him I will call him around this time tomorrow and he’d better keep his phone near. Or else I’ll take the next flight back to Seoul.”

That night, thanked for a long day walking and few hours practicing, Sehun drifted off to sleep right after his head hit the pillow.

Day 3:

They were woken up at 7 am to prepare for the outfits and make up. Sehun let out a loud yawn when Ms. Park tried to get him an eye liner. For the first time, he wished Baekhyun was here because that boy had a terrific skill in doing this (even though he was trained to be an actor).

The show was carried out at the Haue Hall inside the Indiana University Campus and Sehun would perform the duet stage he had done at the Year End party with Jinki. His turn was almost the last one so he had plenty of time wandering around, helping every to prepare their instrument.

There was a noise from behind caught his attention, well more like a name, Luhan. He looked over his shoulder and saw Hana, his classmate, was talking a sunbae who he didn’t even know her name.

Like an instinct, everything related to Luhan would matter to Sehun. He awkwardly stepped back, dragging a cello along with him, hoping nobody would notice and pretended adjusting some strings while eavesdropping the conversation.

“Luhan from Art Department?” the older’s voice was full of surprise “No, he wouldn’t do that.”

 “I’m telling the truth unnie.” Hana protested, seemed a little hurt as the other didn’t believe what she said “He’s not that angel.”

“I didn’t say he is an angel.” her unnie corrected “I said he’s like an angel. I think he couldn’t do any harm to anything, even a fly.”

Oh, then you definitely not witness him killing two cockroaches with just one old newspaper, on his first try.

Sehun silently chuckled, recalling that morning they stopped by Jongin’s room and seeing D.O hyung jumping around with his eyes shut tight, pointing continuously to the corner of the room. The Chinese male immediately grabbed the newspaper nearby and smacked those creatures right away in front of two shocking boys.

“I swear he did it. I had two of my best friends see the real him with me.” Hana whined, her voice was kind of begging her unnie to accept the fact that Luhan was not like an angel.

Seriously, what did he do?

“So you’re telling me that he overheard your talking about Sehun and threatened you not to come close to him? That’s quite insane, you know.”

Huh?

“Well, maybe I said some more stuffs too but he did confront and told me to stay away from Sehun. I mean I knew they are dating but it’s not like they’re getting married right? He doesn’t have a right to tell me what to do.”

No wonder why he suddenly asked about girls. Baby, you are really something.

Sehun couldn’t help but smirking, totally lost track of time because his mind was now floating to somewhere else. Not until Minho grabbed the cello out of his hand, asking him what he was doing with it did he realize two girls had already gone.

Later that day, he had no choice but giving Yixing a call after trying on Luhan’s number twice without success. He started wondering if it was a joke his boyfriend was trying to play on him.

“He what?” his sharp exclamation gathered all the attention from everyone who happened to stood within 10 meters.

On the other side of the line, the Chinese boy tried to calm him down.

“Don’t worry, he’s fine. He said he would meet you up at the check in counter for the flight to Boston at 4pm.”

Sehun grinded his teeth, he was near the edge of losing his temper.

“So my boyfriend was following me here but I have no idea where he is and you’re asking me to not worry? I’m going crazy in any minute now hyung.”

“Okay, first of all, he didn’t follow you.” Yixing stressed those words “As much as I know he went to Indianapolis, not Bloomington. Secondly, he’s not a child. He is the one who had the most experiences of traveling among all of us. So there is no need to turn into panic mode. You’ll see him soon.”

Although he hated to admit it, Yixing got the point. But he was not going to let this go easily.

After a few seconds thinking thorough, Sehun let out a small sigh and mumbled

“I guess you’re right.”

“Good.” the other’s voice was some kind of a mixture of surprising and relief “Enjoy your MT trip and don’t forget to buy us souvenirs.”

“I won’t hyung.” he chuckled before hung up the phone and headed back to his room.

So five days without hearing Luhan’s voice. It’s alright, he would survive.

Day 4:

There was nothing much to say about this day because Sehun didn’t pay attention to any activity taken place. He thought about Luhan all the time.

The frustration of knowing his baby deer was maybe somewhere near but couldn’t see each other was tutoring him inside.

The abrupt applause from people around snapped Sehun back to reality. He slowly made his way out of the Buskirk – Chumley Theater and followed everyone to their waiting bus. It was lucky for him that his professors had decided to scratch the exercise of writing an essay about the play because there was no way he could do it without getting a D.

Carelessly looking around, something familiar caught his eyes. He squinted, unconsciously stepped towards a bit to make sure he didn’t mistake because a whole day thinking of Luhan would give him some kind of illusion.

From afar, right beside a small shop selling God-knows-what-it-is, stood a boy, with his back facing him, whose figure was 80% like Luhan.

Sehun didn’t let himself have time to guess or function properly, he shook Jinki’s shoulder without looking at the older.

“Hyung, I…I have to do something. Tell Ms. Park I will be back to the hotel myself later.”

With that, he ran toward that direction, leaving his hyung shouted from behind. He knew he would be scolded for his lack of discipline later but he couldn’t care more. If that boy was actually Luhan, then nothing mattered.

Sehun stopped when he was in the distance of 15 meters from that boy. It’s him, he smiled as recognized the way that boy holding his cup and hotdog.

Placing two hands upon his knees to support himself from panting hard, Sehun was about to call out his name when suddenly a female voice cut him off, speaking in a foreign language that he didn’t understand, except for one word that Luhan had taught him before.

“Xiaolu, is it you?”