It was drizzling that morning.

Junhong could hear faint footsteps coming from outside as he waited at the small table in the motel. He knew who was outside and he didn’t waste any time to push open the door and run towards the person, worry painting his face.

“Himchan hyung, where did you-”

Junhong held back the words when he saw the blood smeared on Himchan’s hands.

“I did something terrible, Junhongie,” Himchan muttered, eyes fixed on his bloody hands.

Without a word, Junhong led the man into the motel and sat him down on the bed before he grabbed some paper towels from the toilet. When he came back, he noticed that Himchan was shivering.    

 Junhong fetched his own coat and draped it around Himchan’s body. Then he bent down before him and started wiping the blood off his hands. He ignored the way Himchan trembled furiously.

“Why did you leave without telling me?” Junhong asked.

Himchan didn’t answer. When Junhong looked up at him, he could see Himchan staring into the distance, eyes vacant as if his soul had left his body. Junhong started scrubbing off the blood on his hands harder but it didn’t make any difference. Himchan was still lost in his own world.

“Junhongie, why did you stay?” Himchan whispered, a single tear rolling down his cheek that was streaked with dirt.

Junhong wondered where he hid the body this time. In the forest? In the river? In a hole?

“Why didn’t you just leave me?”

Junhong stopped scrubbing Himchan’s hands and gave him a sad smile.

“It’s because I love you too much, hyung.”

Himchan lowered his gaze to meet Junhong’s eyes. Then he let out a scoff. Junhong only stared back at him with a stiff expression. They stayed like that for a long moment until Junhong noticed that more tears were pouring out of Himchan’s eyes.

Junhong couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Himchan started chuckling, his eyes glimmering in the dim light. It was wrong for him to chuckle because he was clearly crying. But Junhong had seen it too often already.

“Are you sure?” Himchan raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve never been so sure,” Junhong said, not even blinking once.

Himchan didn’t say anything else after that. He only laughed and soon, his laughter echoed throughout the rundown motel.