-------------------POV 3 YEARS AGO------------------

The darkest hour of New Year happened in the hospital where Ryeowook lies unconscious. He wasn't dead. Not yet. It was luck that pushed
him to lie unconscious and yet still breathing. But only until when? Medical apparatus attached to his bodies as
if he relies on those for life. Nurses and doctors are all sweats as they work on his head. A head gunshot. It is the most fatal
injury anyone could have. One slight mistake inside the brain and the patient is dead. If the bullet damage a certain part of the brain,
death is the conclusion as well. If Ryeowook gives up on his luck, death awaits for him as well. They check his heartbeat every now and then,
his blood pressure is taken as well. The scapel sliced Ryeowook's head. The blood clot must be removed along with the remnants of the
bullet if there's any. He doesn't feel the pain. Ryeowook is completely unconscious.

-----------------------------------------

Kyuhyun was running towards the operation ward where he was directed. "Ryeowook ah!" he called. Echoes startled silence. The corridor
has no one but Ryeowook's older brother, Kim Jaejoong. He turned to Kyuhyun who is running frantically towards the only door there.
Ryeowook is there. He must get Ryeowook. He must go to him.

"Ryeowook ah..." Kyuhyun said, catching his breath and is looking everywhere as if Ryeowook is lost in a big city. He looked around every
corner hoping to bump to the man he is looking for. He's trembling and looked frightened. A head gun shot. That's what killed his
father. Ryeowook was shot in the head. It might kill Ryeowook too. Is it even possible for him to survive? He needs to get to him.
Ryeowook needs to see him. Jaejoong finally notice that Kyuhyun is not in his normal quiet self. He's a mess with his eyes red from
crying and face a mixture of tears and sweat and colds. Kyuhyun almost pushed himself towards the door but Jaejoong stopped him.
Even his mind seemed to be not in place tonight. Kyuhyun's eyes are blank, empty. He looked so lost and that he doesn't even understand
whatever it is that Jaejoong hyung is saying.

"You can't go to him now." Jaejoong said as he used his arms to stop Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun insisted on going in but the latter tried his
best to hold on to him and keep him away from the door.

"No... Ryeowook ah!" he shouted. His tears roll down yet again. "I need to see him. We'll be watching Master Song's concert. He told
me he won't miss it for a lifetime." he's in a messy sob and his eyes hurt because of tears and yet he can't stop them from falling.
He's forcing his whole body to go inside the room but Jaejoong used both hands to stop him. Kyuhyun needs to calm down. He's making
a big scene in the hospital and Jaejoong is not patient enough to treat him nicely. He pushed Kyuhyun roughly and succeeded in keeping
him away from the door. Kyuhyun fell violently on the floor because of the push. He crawled on his knees to get closer to the door
again.

"Stop it or I'll kick you out of here." Jaejoong calmly say when Kyuhyun was about to come closer to the door again..

"Ryeowook ah..." Kyuhyun called as he drop his hands on the floor as well.

Jaejoong looked away and sighed. "He was still breathing when he was brought here. The doctors will save him."  he said confidently as
he looked at the door. He cannot see anything because there is another room inside that door. He is worried because of what he heard
from the police officer but he needs to be composed. He trusts his younger brother. Ryeowook could have died on the spot because of
the shot but he didn't. Jaejoong knows his little brother will still be able to face this. Panicking and crying won't do Ryeowook
any good. He needs to calm down. He needs to trust on his brother.

Kyuhyun remained on his position as he continuously cry.

-------------------------------------

Sungmin and Hyukjae rushed towards the hospital right after they heard of what happened. They came together and immediately, Sungmin
searched for his best friend. He was about to look to the side but he immediately saw Kyuhyun sitting on one of the chairs while
looking down; eyes are tightly closed, fingers clasped together. Jaejoong managed to tell him to sit on the chair and not make a
big scene inside.

"Kyuhyun..." Sungmin called. Kyuhyun is sitting on the chair very close to the door of the operating room.

Kyuhyun is calm. No, he's mind has drifted far away. His eyes are swollen and his mouth dry. He is not in a good state as well.
Sungmin knelt in front of him and touched his face. Kyuhyun has been through a lot. And hearing what happened to Ryeowook, he knows
this incident won't do any good to his best friend. He could just recall the expression in Kyuhyun's face when he told Sungmin about
what happened to his dad. He knows Kyuhyun is having those images in his mind right now.

Kyuhyun turned to him and his eyes brightened for a while before tears came up once again. His lips curved down. The light in his
nightmare has come. Sungmin is here. His heart raced and was filled with overflowing fear. It's alright to be scared because Sungmin
is here to hold him, to stay with him.

"Sungmin..." he choked on his call. Sungmin sighed and looked at him delicately. He caressed Kyuhyun's cheek with the purpose to wipe
the tears away. Kyuhyun sobbed and closed his eyes. He swallowed. "Sungmin ah..." he held on to Sungmin tightly and continuously sobbed.
The fear came to him again, but he's not scared to face it because the person in front of him is Sungmin.
 
He almost throw himself to his bestfriend with the hope to make him feel better. But nothing made him feel better. Everyone who loves
him are leaving. From his mother who passed away earlier in her life and to his dad who gave him up just like that and now Ryeowook
is barely hanging on to his very own thread of life. Ryeowook is still under the doctors' hands. Unknown whether he will survive.
What should he do? He's just so lost. There is only Sungmin for him to hold on.

"Everything will be fine." Sungmin said as he return the embrace. Kyuhyun's hands are trembling just like when his father died. He
is scared that he'll be alone again. The little child in Kyuhyun; lost and vulnerable and afraid to be abandoned is there again. He
can just see it with his own eyes. No, he won't let Kyuhyun drown himself in tears and fear because of this. He will hold Kyuhyun
tightly and make him feel that he is not alone. That is his duty.

Hyukjae watched the two as they embrace each other. Sungmin may know how deeply attached he is to Kyuhyun. But he doesn't even realise
that this attachment has already reached the stage of the most inevitable emotions. He loves Kyuhyun more than a best friend could
ever feel. Is it even true that he doesn't know that he feels it? Or is he just denying the fact that he knows it. He turned to the
door. He knows Ryeowook has been jealous of Kyuhyun's relationship with Sungmin and that he wishes to be closer to the other.
Ryeowook ah, stand up from there and realise what they really are.

"I think all of you should go home." Jaejoong said as he stood up. "I'll take care of my brother." he didn't stop Ryeowook from going
for Kyuhyun, but he has heard a lot about Sungmin and Kyuhyun's relationship and that's what he is unhappy about. Youngwoon and Jaejoong
are bandmates and he knows what happened between the two and how Youngwoon has been insecure about their best friend relationship.
It's not bad to have a bestfriend this close but if one prioritise the other more than his boyfriend is another story.

"But-"

"Please... it's still a festive season to shed tears. He'll be fine. I know he'll be fine."

Kyuhyun looked at Sungmin and shook his head like a child asking a parent to hide his playful mistake. Sungmin held his hand. Jaejoong
crossed his eyebrows shortly upon seeing how he squeezed Kyuhyun's palm. That's not even how a person should squeeze a 'best friend's'
hand. If he doesn't know Kyuhyun being his brother's boyfriend, he would have thought Sungmin and Kyuhyun are sharing something
intimate. If he doesn't know Kyuhyun is Ryeowook's boyfriend, he would think Kyuhyun and Sungmin are in a deeper relationship.

"Jae hyung is right. Ryeong will be fine. Let's go home first. You need to rest too."

The magic in Sungmin's voice made Kyuhyun nod and follow his lead. Sungmin held his hand tightly making sure the other won't go
anywhere. He turned to Jaejoong and wondered why the other has to look at him suspiciously. "Hyung, please call us if anything." he
said nicely before turning his back.

Hyukjae drove both of them in Kyuhyun's dorm. He's been eyeing on Sungmin from the rearview mirror, the other's arm around Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun's eyes in front eyeing on nothing. What is he thinking about? Hyukjae crossed his eyebrows and just focus on the road. For
the nth time, he questions his role in Kyuhyun and Sungmin's world. Is he just a mere friend who will witness everything? Is he just
someone who will drive them to and from the hospital? Will he be someone significant? He eyed on Sungmin who watches Kyuhyun with
loneliness and much more emotions. He looked at the road and kept his mind on it instead of thinking.

-------------------------------

"Hyukjae ah..." Sungmin turned to him before sending Kyuhyun up the dorm. Kyuhyun has alighted from the car and Sungmin is on his way
out as well. "I better stay with Kyuhyun. He's not in a proper state of mind. He might need company."

Hyukjae nodded. "Call me if you need a lift home."

"I will. Thanks Hyukkie." Sungmin said and tapped Hyukjae on his shoulder. Kyuhyun went out of the car first. Hyukjae looked down
and thought for a while. Is this really how Sungmin will start the year? He has decided.

"Sungmin ah..." Sungmin turned to him before going down the car. Hyukjae thought for a second before looking at him. "Happy birthday."
Sungmin smiled at him and nodded.

"Thanks Hyukkie." he went down and watch Hyukjae's car leave until it is out of his sight. It will always be there. He knows. Hyukjae
looking at him as a special someone. It will always be there. He won't take it for granted. But he's thankful that Hyukjae treats
him like this. He felt happy to find a friend like him. He felt blessed that despite what happened since last night, somebody remembers
him.

-----------------------------

Kyuhyun was in front of the window looking at the sun as it rises. It is New Year's day. What is going on with Ryeowook? Is he fine?
He doesn't care what he has to do in the future, he just want Ryeowook to open his eyes and wake up. Another sob and his tears fell
yet again. If he just come early things wouldn't be like this. If he didn't let his mind drift off of Ryeowook. It's all his fault.
He should have been there.

A pat on his shoulder made him turn. Sungmin is here. The only person whom he can rely for strength. "He'll be fine, Kyuhyun." his
voice is always gentle. Even if they like to argue during the past, his voice is always gentle. It's always warming Kyuhyun. And even
now that they are in this situation, he felt his bones warming from the cold scene he had seen in the convenient store. The blood
in the corner, the imaginary sound of the gun shot, the image of Ryeowook on the floor unconscious, he's warmed by Sungmin's voice.

He looked at Sungmin in the eyes. Sungmin is here. He's not alone and Sungmin, too, believes that Ryeowook will be fine. He hold on
to his best friend. Not only his voice, not only his eyes...even his chest is warm against Kyuhyun. Even his back is warm when Kyuhyun
rested his hand there. Sungmin is really here. Warm and alive.

"Don't leave me here, Sungmin ah..." Sungmin held him back...tightly. The way Kyuhyun would always do when he's down. A secure
embrace... and an almost whisper.

"I won't leave you."

---------------------------

n. When one is down, the other is down too. They've
been sharing their lives together and now this incident too. He heard from Sungmin that Kyuhyun bought him a gift before the incident
happened. Now he is assuming that these two are self-blaming. He sighed deeply. What exactly is his role in their story? He turned
to the glass window and looked at Ryeowook. His body is barely moving. The machines around his bed defines his lifeline. Ryeowook
ah, what have you done to them?

-------------END OF POV----------------

Author's note: Is it just me or the days fly very fast these days?
Anyways, I've been listening to the songs I've loved since 2000.
I bet some of you  guys are not into c-pop now but they were at their best
during those days. haha~!

Have a great week ahead~!