Chapter 2

Dongho turned over in his bed. Glancing at the alarm clock next to his bed, he sighed. Three-thirty A.M.

He hadn't been able to sleep well, not since the last time he had seen Soohyun. Sleep only meant more torture by dreams. Dreams of days of days long gone; dreams of their past.

~Flashback~

"Hyung! What are you doing here?" Dongho stopped in his tracks, as he saw a familiar figure standing outside the gates of his school.

Soohyun grinned, ruffling his hair gently. "To pick you up from school, of course. Birthday treat."

"But..." Dongho glanced over his shoulder. "Kiseop hyung, Kevin hyung, Eli hyung. I said I'd walk home with them..."

"Who are they?" Soohyun joked, before pulling the younger boy into a tight embrace, not caring if any of the fans saw them. "I've sent them a text message. They won't come bother us."

~

A full day passed, and they were at the beach, lying on the cool white sand and admiring the sunset. Dongho was still in his school uniform, though he had taken off his jacket (which they were using as a make-shift blanket to lie on) and his tie.

"Hyung?" he asked, slipping his hand over Soohyun's, lacing their fingers together tightly.

"Hmm?" Soohyun slid his other arm around Dongho's shoulder, leaning their heads together.

"I love you."

Soohyun laughed, hugging Dongho even tighter. "Love you too."

~End of Flashback~

4.30 A.M. 5.30 A.M. 6.30 A.M.

3 and a half hours to Soohyun's funeral. Dongho clutched his blanket tighter. He knew that his hyungs would be up in about an hour to start getting ready. He knew that they would want him to go as well.

But he didn't want to; because if he didn't see the coffin, the lifeless body lying in it, maybe, just maybe, he could make himself believe that everything was still normal.

Maybe he could make himself belive that Soohyun had never died.

~

"Dongho?" Eli called, knocking on the locked door for the nth time since breakfast. "Dongho. Open the door!" After a slight pause, he added hopefully, "Please?"

Silence. Everyone was in a sombre mood that day, only making things even worse.

"Shin Dongho! Do NOT test my patience!"

"No." A single word, spoken so softly it was barely a whisper.

"Open the door, before I knock it down!" he threatened.

"You won't. Manager hyung would kill you."

Eli took a deep breath, willed himself not to do anything destructive, and yelled again. "Kevinnnn! Get over here NOW!"

"Yeah?" Kevin came out from the room he and Kibum shared, buttoning up his black shirt, his hair still in a mess. "What is it?"

"Dongho won't come out."

"Get Kibummie hyung, then. I needa go do my hair."

"C'mon, Kev. You're closest to Dongho after Soohyun hyung." Eli cajoled.

Kevin rolled his eyes, befor knocking on the door and calling sweetly. "Dongho ah, can I come in?"

"It's locked."

"Can you unlock it, then?"

A pause, and Kevin swore he heard a sob. "No."

"Please, Dongho? Everyone's worried about you..."

"No! Go away!"

Kevin turned back to Eli, shaking his head. "Don't... Let's not force him if he doesn't want to. You know how hard it is for him." He started back towards his room, but a tug on his arm stopped him.

"So if it's hard for us, it isn't for him?" Eli demanded, pulling Kevin closer and speaking in English so Dongho wouldn't overhear. "Just because they were a couple, we don't feel as bad as him? When Soohyun hyung died, all of us felt the pain! He's just being stubborn, Kev."

"Eli. He's only sixteen. I told you, give him time, he'll be alright." Kevin murmured, not answering the question.

Eli could only sigh, giving Dongho's door one last look before leaving.

~

hey:) sorry,i think this chappie is super fail (too much dialogue)...and makes eli seem too harsh?but i've always had that kinda impression of him...anyways,hope u guys enjoyed this chappie!once again, comments are much appreciated:)