A/N: So… it’s been over a year since I last updated this. Truth be told, I’ve been uninspired for this story and didn’t have any immediate plans of updating it any time soon. I’ve been concentrating on a ChangKyu story of mine (shameless promo lol). But then, a reader commented just a week ago about still waiting for an update for this story. I was touched and guilty and surprised (that there are still people interested in this). And it got me writing.

This new chapter is for you, ambarpurwaningtyas , as well as the others who are also still waiting. Thank you.

There were a lot of people in the room- each of them had their own lives, own experiences, own unforgettable moments that were both for good and bad. And yet every single soul in the room thought that this was probably the most awkward situation they had ever been in.

Junsu. Yoochun. Jaejoong. Changmin. Yunho.

At the president’s order for the three estranged idols to take their seats at their old places, it was as if everyone had been transported to the past. Before the split. Before five became two and three. Now, the two and the three had been brought together to form five once more. The duet and the trio had become a group again.

Yet it was not the same.

Though the spacing between the chairs were equal, it was as if the space between Jaejoong and Changmin was bigger. Just like before the split, when even the fans noticed that Jaejoong and Changmin stood just a step more apart when performing. Even if it had been only just a step more, it had already spoken volumes.

Now, that seemingly bigger space between Jaejoong and Changmin made it obvious to everyone that while SM and C-Jes had decided to reunite DBSK, even if the split between the five of them was now gone physically for the first time in years, there was still that tension - that history of hurt - that still kept them divided internally. That tension brewing and simmering in the space between Jaejoong and Changmin that still kept the trio and the duet apart from wholly being five again.

And if they were to perform again as a group, that needed to be overcome. Because Lee Soo Man was now discussing how the next SM Town concert would be, with JYJ among the SM idols once more.

Everyone knew they should be paying attention to the details being discussed by the president, schedules of rehearsals and filming for the VCRs, but they just can’t seem to tear their gazes from the five, who were sitting as still as statues in their seats, their eyes determinedly fixed forward and not glancing at each other.

‘Was this really happening?!’ the other SM groups and artists all thought in their heads. A few of them couldn’t help but wonder if fatigue was getting to them and causing them to have hallucinations.

Meanwhile, Junsu and Yoochun were thinking that even if they knew what they were getting into when they agreed to this, it still didn’t lessen the uncomfortable feeling at being with all their old friends and co-workers again. Old friends and co-workers that they lost when they filed the lawsuit. Could they really work with this kind of tension around them? But Yoochun and Junsu knew they had to give it their all for this to succeed. For their two hyungs. For their maknae.

Jaejoong couldn’t help but wonder if he was having an out-of-body experience. Maybe this was a dream. A nightmare. Ever since that phone call from his manager announcing SM and C-Jes’s shocking plan, Jaejoong felt that what he was living through just couldn’t be reality. It can’t be real. Him being in the premises of his old company, in the presence of his ex-bandmates, in the presence of his ex-boyfriend. None of this could be real…

Yunho’s face was blank. And so was his mind. He was still in shock. He wondered if the car didn’t really crash when the manager speeded to get them to the meeting. Maybe they crashed, and he died. Or maybe he was in a coma and having one of those strange visions in his mind. Because he just couldn’t understand how this could possibly happen. How Junsu, Yoochun, and J- Jae- him were with them again. How was this possible?

Changmin, for his part, was wondering if he made the right decision. The awkwardness and tension in the room. The pain as old wounds were opened once more. Was it really worth it? Then, he glanced ever so slightly at Yunho’s direction, and he remembered why he made this decision. This was for Yunho. And so he must bear it. And he will bear it. For Yunho.

Lee Soo Man talked about the details of the next SM Town for about half an hour. He knew that his artists weren’t really listening to him, and he’d have to get the managers to explain it all again to them later. But he wasn’t even mad at them, he could understand perfectly well why they were so distracted. Heck, he wouldn’t even have bothered explaining details now… if only he to have something else to say apart from what he truly wanted, which would cause him regret. Well, he won’t exactly regret the insults and anger that he was dying to throw at JYJ, of course. He thought those were nothing but the truth. But he knew Changmin had blackmail material against him, and he had no choice but to comply with this ‘reunion’... The very word ‘reunion’ itself made the president want to hurl. Reunion! What a joke! What sheer madness!

Eventually, the president finished with the business talk. “You’re all dismissed,” he said, and left the room with his assistants. As quickly as possible, before he lost control. Being in the presence of those three pushed his temper to its limits.

This emergency meeting had interrupted the activities of the idols today. And they all knew that they really should be scrambling back to their schedules now that the meeting was finished. But it was as if they were all glued to their chairs.

It was silent for a few more minutes, and then-

“…WHAT THE ACTUAL JUST HAPPENED?!”

Trust the SM diva to be the one that broke the silence.

Heechul was there, gaping, incredulous and disbelieving, staring at the doors that closed behind the president a few minutes ago.

“I- I think the plan’s for DBSK’s reunion just happened,” Kangta muttered, his eyes still fixed on the three estranged people. His gaze hasn’t left them since they first appeared at the threshold.

Heechul snarled at that. “That isn’t happening! Over my dead body!”

“That’s not really for you to decide, hyung,” Eunhyuk pointed out quietly. He was looking at Junsu mostly, the friend that he lost when the trio decided to file that lawsuit and go their own way. The dance m