“Come in,” Kyuhyun said.

The door to his office opened. It was Donghae.

“What’s up? Business matters?” Kyuhyun asked.

Donghae fidgeted and hesitated for a moment. “Actually, it’s more of a personal issue. I was wondering if we could have a drink after work.”

Kyuhyun looked up in surprise and paused. Donghae rarely asked him out for drinks – and even if he did – it was something to do with work. This was a rare occasion and Kyuhyun felt curious to what Donghae had to say and thus he agreed to Donghae’s suggestion.

......

As Kyuhyun made his way into a bar near the office, he was itching with curiosity.

Something personal...is he getting married? But I don’t remember him mentioning anything about dating. Don’t tell me that he’s going to tell me that he’s gay or something? I realise that I know so little about him.

As he approached the bar counter, he spotted Donghae who had been there a bit earlier.

“Hey Kyuhyun!” Donghae greeted which Kyuhyun acknowledged with a nod.

“I’ll buy the drinks,” Donghae offered. “What do you want?”

Kyuhyun was taken aback at Donghae’s offer. “Donghae buying drinks? I think pigs are starting to fly,” Kyuhyun wondered silently to himself.

“Well, are you willing to share a bottle of wine?” Kyuhyun suggested. Kyuhyun was testing Donghae. The normally frugal Donghae would probably baulk at the idea but he agreed to it without a hint of hesitation and merely told Kyuhyun to find a quiet spot where they could talk.

This is weird. This is definitely weird, Kyuhyun mumbled to himself.

As Donghae brought the bottle of wine and two glasses back to the table, he wondered how he would broach the topic of Sungmin with Kyuhyun.

Donghae smiled awkwardly as he set the glasses on the table and poured them a drink each. Neither Donghae nor Kyuhyun was willing to start the conversation first due to the awkward thoughts they had. Finally, it was Kyuhyun who was the first to speak.

“So Donghae, you mentioned you wanted to talk about some personal affairs. Is there anything interesting going on in your life recently?

“Actually...there’s nothing interesting going about in my life. Actually, I just want to talk about you,” Donghae replied.

“Me?”

“When are you going to marry Victoria?”

“This fall. End October. The last Saturday of October.”

“So how are the preparations for the wedding going? You have about three months.”

“Victoria is handling most of it. We’ve also engaged the services of a wedding planner,” Kyuhyun said.

“Is this what tonight’s meeting is about? My wedding?” Kyuhyun asked as though a sudden realisation hit him.

“Well, I guess you could say that...” Donghae answered awkwardly.

“Would you be interested in being my best man then?” Kyuhyun suggested.

“Well...I...”

“Just say yes...”

“What about some of your other friends...for example Sungmin-ssi?” Donghae asked. 

“Sungmin?”

Donghae nodded. “Both of you seem pretty close. I saw him coming out from your hotel room that night in Sapporo.”

“We were having a drink,” Kyuhyun replied nonchalantly.

“Oh...”

“Actually Sungmin and I go way back...”

Donghae felt uneasy and fidgeted a little at those words. “Go way back...?”

“It turns out that we attended the same high school. What a coincidence isn’t it? It turns out that Eunhyuk friend of his also attended the same high school.”

Donghae grimaced at the mention of Eunhyuk’s name.

“Anyway we were just acquaintances that happened to know each other through the school newspaper. We did run into one another a few times and that’s about it.”

Donghae was relieved but it turned out to be short-lived.

“But I just feel drawn to Sungmin. I can’t explain why or how. But I just feel close to him. I feel like I know him and I want to know him more,” Kyuhyun said earnestly.

“Kyuhyun, you shouldn’t...” Donghae blurted.

Kyuhyun stared at Donghae curiously. “Why?”

“Nothing...” Donghae stuttered.

Kyuhyun then just dismissed Donghae’s unexpected outburst. They continued to drink for a while.

“Kyuhyun, do you not remember what happened last year?”

Once again, Kyuhyun eyed Donghae curiously.

“Is there anything I should remember? I only remember that I had a heart transplant operation. That’s what my parents, Victoria and you guys told me right?

Kyuhyun paused a moment. His curiosity was now aroused.

“Is there anything I should be remembering?”

Donghae shook his head.

“Now that you’ve mentioned it, I had some hazy images in my mind when I was in Jeju. It seemed that when I was driving, I felt a sharp pain in my heart.”

Donghae stiffened when he heard what Kyuhyun had said as Donghae wondered to himself. “He asked me if there is anything he should remember. This implies that he can’t remember anything. Yet, he just said he had some hazy images. Is the hypnosis losing its effect?”

“Is there anything I need to know?” Kyuhyun repeated the question.

“No. It is as you know it. You passed out at the parking lot. You were discovered on time, sent to the hospital. At that point of time, some guy had just passed away and he had signed a medical directive that his organs were to be donated. You were the recipient of his heart,” Donghae rattled off without blinking.  

Kyuhyun didn’t seem to doubt Donghae’s words but he could not shrug off the image he had. “But the image, I’m sure it means something.”

“It’s probably just your wild imagination,” Donghae quickly dismissed as the older male secretly hoped that Kyuhyun would not recover his memory.

……

Kyuhyun was a mental wreck when he found out he had indirectly caused the death of two people. His mood was unstable and any agitation would take a toll on his already bad health. Furthermore, he had just had an operation and this would inhibit his recovery. As such his parents made the decision to make a reluctant Kyuhyun undergo therapy – hypnosis to allow him to forget about the incident.

Kyuhyun nodded in understanding to Donghae’s reply but he could not help but to ask, “Hyung, what’s wrong with you today? I’m asking you as a friend, not as a colleague. Why are you acting weirdly and talking about weird things?”

“Nothing, there’s really nothing. Kyuhyun-ah, just forget that we ever had this conversation today,” Donghae said.

......

Sungmin gaped as he and Eunhyuk stood outside of what looked like a rather posh restaurant.   

“I thought we were going to eat at a roadside stall.” Sungmin said.

“Let’s just eat here tonight.”

“But Hyukkie, what’s the occasion? It looks expensive. Let’s not waste money,” Sungmin protested.

“Well, let’s just say I feel like splurging on a good meal tonight. Come on, it’s my treat,” Eunhyuk reassured Sungmin.

“Hyukkie...”

“Come on, we’re already here. I’m too tired to go anywhere else,” Eunhyuk grabbed Sungmin by his arm and dragged him into the restaurant.

It was a restaurant that served French fare. The place had a nice soft relaxing ambience that was lit with soft lights and tea lights. Eunhyuk ordered some wine to go along with the meal.

“Sungmin-ah, how long have we known one another?”

“Almost 20 years I guess. We lived in the same neighbourhood, attended the same middle and high schools together and had been classmates for so long. The only times that we weren’t too close were during the university and military service days. But then we still met up quite regularly. I’m really thankful for a friend like you Hyukkie. You have been with me through my ups and downs.”

“Sungmin-ah, am I just a friend to you? Do you see me only as just a friend?”

Eunhyuk’s voice quavered with emotion as he said those words. Sungmin was confused and taken aback at Eunhyuk’s change in tone.

“Hyukkie, what’s wrong with you? You’ve always been a dear friend to me. Without you, I don’t know how I would have survived Wonnie’s death and all. You helped me to regain my strength and willpower...”

“And that probably ultimately led you to Kris,” Eunhyuk thought to himself.

“So would you be able to love again?” Eunhyuk asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Are you still not over Siwon?”

Sungmin nodded.

“You’re letting guilt and regrets cling onto you. If Siwon was alive, he would have wanted you to be happy,” Eunhyuk said.

“If he was alive, we would probably be together,” Sungmin sighed. “We missed the chance.”

“You know that’s not what I mean. Siwon would have wanted your happiness above all. Are you really happy now?”

Sungmin thought for a while, “I am. I don’t need a boyfriend or lover to feel happy. My career is starting to pick up. I’ve just done some great shoots...”

“But you’re not. You’re still grieving for Siwon,” Eunhyuk pointed out. “I know you Sungmin-ah.”

“You refuse to open your heart to anyone,” Eunhyuk continued. “Yes, you’re friendly towards people. But I don’t think you’re willing to let your heart beat for someone again...that pulsating feeling in you that tells you that you’re in love and you’ve found the right person. I don’t think you’re willing to let go what’s lost to embrace something new.”

“Heart beat?” Sungmin thought to himself. He knew he felt some stirrings in his heart recently. In a flash across his mind, Sungmin realised those times happened to be around a certain person by the name of Cho Kyuhyun.

“That can’t be. I might have known him a few years ago, but I don’t know him well enough back then and I don’t know him well enough now, so how can I feel anything? Besides, he’s going to get married...it’s not possible...”

“Penny for your thoughts?” Eunhyuk asked.

“It’s nothing,” Sungmin brushed it off.

“What about Kris?” Eunhyuk asked.

“What about him?”

“Would you consider him? I mean, would you consider him as boyfriend material?”

“Hyukkie!” Sungmin rolled his eyes. “He’s just a dongsaeng to me.”

“He likes you.”

“Why is everyone telling me Kris likes me? Why does everyone want to get me and Kris together?” Sungmin groaned in frustration. “Am I that pathetic in everyone’s eyes that I need to have a boyfriend in order to be happy? Yes, Kris is a nice person and a gentleman and he treats me well...but...”

“Sungmin-ah, it’s not that...he seems sincere...wait a minute...you said everyone...who’s trying to get you together with Kris?”

“Sorry. I’ve overreacted. I mean Kyuhyun did point out over drinks that night that Kris is interested in me and I should consider him.”

“Drinks?”

Sungmin nodded. “That night in Sapporo. He invited me to his room for a drink and chat.”

Eunhyuk paused for a while as he thought of Donghae’s nervous reaction to Sungmin and Kyuhyun being close together.

“Are you guys close?” Eunhyuk asked.

“Not...really...we’ve only have a couple of drinks and chats together.”

“Do you know much about him?”

Sungmin shook his head. “Apart that he had been sick with some heart disease and had a transplant about a year ago and that he had been our junior in high school, nothing much.”

Eunhyuk nodded. He paused for a moment before he decided to press on with the most difficult question.

“Sungmin-ah, what about me?”

“Hmm...”

“I mean, am I just a friend to you?”

“Of course not. You’re my best friend. You’re the number one person on my speed dial. We spend a lot of time together...Hyukkie, what’s wrong with you today? You’re acting weird with all the questions and stuff...”

“I like you Sungmin-ah...” Eunhyuk confessed.

Sungmin burst into laughter. “Hyukkie, that’s the understatement. I know that you like me very much. We wouldn’t have been friends all these years.”

But when Sungmin noticed that Eunhyuk wasn’t laughing and looked rather solemn, Sungmin started to fear the worse.

“Don’t tell me Hyukkie is in love with me?”

Sungmin knew that Eunhyuk was biual. He knew that Eunhyuk had dated both male and female and even had some ual flings with them.

“Sungmin-ah, I like very much...more than just a friend. I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love you for a long time. I’m not sure since when. But it was only when you started to get close to Siwon that I began to feel jealous. You were never close to any other guys except for Siwon. I was angry and jealous that both of you were close...that you did activities together. And then I thought about it and asked myself why. It was then I realised that I had much deeper feelings for you than I thought.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Sungmin trembled.

“I couldn’t. Both you and Siwon were so happy together. It was only a matter of time before you two would become a couple. I didn’t want to make you unhappy or miserable. I didn’t want you to choose between Siwon and me. So I decided not to let you know and continued to be with your friend,” Eunhyuk forced a smile.

“Hyukkie, I’m sorry,” Sungmin uttered. Tears started to well up in his eyes.

“It’s not your fault. I was the one who chose not to tell you,” Eunhyuk comforted Sungmin.

“I’m so sorry that I didn’t realise how you felt for me. I had been taking so much from you – your care, your love, and your concern. But I was unable to reciprocate in return. How you always went out of your way to accommodate me...I’m so stupid to not have known...” Sungmin cursed.

“Sungmin-ah...”

“Were you planning on keeping this from me forever?” Sungmin asked cautiously.

“I don’t know. I just couldn’t find a good time and opportunity to tell you,” Eunhyuk replied softly.

“I’m so sorry that I’ve hurt you,” Sungmin bowed his head in shame as tears began to fell.

“Sungmin-ah, it’s not your fault. And I’m not hurt,” Eunhyuk reassured.

“How could you not be hurt? It hurts to love someone and being unable to express those feelings out. I know. I went through it myself with Wonnie. I’m so sorry, Hyukkie. I really didn’t know...”

Eunhyuk took out a piece of tissue and attempted to dry Sungmin’s eyes but Sungmin just shook his head.

“Hyukkie-ah, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I...just...can’t...right now...” Sungmin rambled in between sobs.

With that Sungmin grabbed his belongings, stood up and rushed out of the restaurant leaving a now dejected, stricken and frozen Eunhyuk behind all by himself. 

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Hey all,

Sorry for the long wait. Hope you guys are okay with this chapter.

Poor Eunhyuk. Looks like his confession didn't go down too well. Wonder what would happen next for him.

Thanks for the comments and support. Please continue your comments. Appreciate them very much.

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KyuMin: 60 Days 

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