5 years

Sungmin stayed seated at the far back of the training room that one afternoon. Everyone was busy for the big day tomorrow: his big debut. News about the new solo artist was already spreading like wildfire over the whole country, Seoul specially. People were having high hopes for this young fellow, based on the footages of him singing dring his trainee years. It took Sungmin 3 gruesome years worth of training just to be able to stand on that stage and fulfill that dream he thought was too distant, yet in a span of 24 hours, all of it would become reality.

"Sungmin, dear, are you alright?" Ryeowook nudged him as he sat beside his friend. Even though the room was pitch black, he knew Sungmin well enough to already assume that the latter was having problems, and of course he was crying.

"I'm fine. I'm just kinda nervous." Sungmin wiped his tears as he tried to smile at his friend. He knew his fake smile would never convince Ryeowook, he can never hide anything from his bestfriend.

"I know you aren't well. All those years of hiding from him, I know its something else." Sungmin sighed as he remembers vaguely everything that had happened. Those sleepless nights, those bucket of tears, and of course, al those torn hearts.

"I'm fine with it. I'm guessing that 4 years worth of hiding wasn't all that bad right? I got to pick up myself again." Ryeowook just stared a him for a minute before standing up to open up the lights. "Wookie, don't." Sungmin halted him before anything else.

"Why? Its so dark in here. It'd be better to see the light." 

"No, I'm a mess. Please don't." Ryeowook could sense the despair in his friend's voice that kept telling him to just follow what the latter likes.

"Okay okay I won't. I know how nervous you are about tomorrow, but I swear you'd have a blast! Just like what I did last year remember? But everything's going to be fine." Ryeowook gave him a reassuring smile. But Sungmin's mind was nowhere near stable.

"I'm not nervous about the debut thing Wookie, I'm nervous about something else." Sungmin confessed. It has been 5 longs years. 5 long years worth of hiding, of lies, of tears, and of disappointments.

"And I'm having a wild guess that its about a certain guy. What are you afraid of? That he's still mad at you?" Sungmin nodded at him as a sign of assurance. Ryeowook just sighed as he saw Sungmin bury his face on his palms.

"I know that he's still mad, I know everything, and I'm afraid that what if one day I suddenly bump into him, I know I can't escape. And I know how much he has changed. Can'r you see tha news Wookie? I feel as if I was the one that caused all of that." He allowed tears to escape from his eyes as he felt Ryeowook trap him in a light hug.

"Shhhhh It's not your fault, and it will never be. You never wanted to make that decision, nobody did. So don't go blaming yourself okay? Now come on and stop crying okay? Your manager's looking for you for the past hour and I tell you he's not happy one bit." Ryeowook laughed as he wiped his friend's damped cheeks.

"Alright alright. Thanks Wook." Sungmin smiled as he stood up.

"No problem, I'm your bestfriend remember? Now come on, I have a schedule lined up today." 

Its been 5 long years. Never did Sungmin and Kyuhyun crossed paths ever since that faithful day of a broken confession. Both had their hearts broken, both tried to forget, both tried to be well, but the memories and haunts of the past would never leave them.

Those shadows of memories would never leave this ill fated couple. Not without a proper fairytale ending.