credit: jaehwannie-tv@tumblr

Eventually, we had regrouped (without the scary duo). Ravi and I, had found Hakyeon and Hongbin on the upper bleachers, checking out the stage lights for the last time. Flashes blue and white are seen on stage, some in shapes of snowflakes and falling snow. Since they look serious in what they’re doing, we took our time going towards them while we observed everything they’re doing from the back in silence.

Thinking they were done, moments later, Ravi was about to approach N when the stage was suddenly dimmed again. He stopped on his tracks and returned to watch next to me. My eyes were on Hongbin, who continues to work on the monitor, back bent forward. He reaches out for a small red button next to to him, straightening his back, and revealing what seemed like an imitation of space peppered by stars. It had me distracted from him in an instant. It matches the stage more than I would’ve expected it to be and had me wondering for what stage performance it was. It didn’t take long for that question to remain unanswered though, when Hongbin mentions to Hakyeon in silence, “This will fit the second performance, perfectly.”

Jaehwan and Taekwoon were performing thrice tonight with ten minutes break in between for some stand-up comedy performance and dance performance that Hakyeon hyung choreographed himself. So far, first and last performances were the only ones I've actually heard: The last peformance from the leak a student circulated and I already knew that the first performance will be a mash-up of some modern song like the university do traditionally just to get the crowd's attention. I knew it would be great overall, but I couldn’t help but get curious what the second performance was. We didn’t get the chance to ask Hongbin and Hakyeon what it was because they seemed reluctant to say it, although they were surprised that we’re right behind them all along. Ravi and  I just decided to let it go and patiently wait for what’s to come, keeping the incident in the dressing room to ourselves as well.

The first performance went as I expected it to be. If it weren't for the fact that I was anticipating the second performance more, I would've appreciated Taeyoon noonim's surprise solo that went after Ken and Leo who accompanied her at the end. The glee club seemed to have prepared a lot despite the let down they had to meet at the beginning of the festival from not having enough fund to cover their competition. It surprisingly worked out and the roar of the crowd after it was the proof.

But still we couldn’t help but anticipate what’s coming next, and it’s not just me, even the two who mostly likely knew about the performance already was gripping the railing from where we continued to watch the performances. It didn’t take long for Hongbin to check on his crew on the lower bleachers to be on stand-by after the dance performance.

When the contemporary dance ended, we didn’t even hear Hakyeon scream his love for his crew and just remained silent when Hongbin dimmed the stage, effectively controlling the lightings. Ravi just locked gaze with me briefly before averting his gaze back on stage where it had gotten darker. The crowd had seemed to settle down from the same anticipation as the fog machine starts working and smoke spreads on the stage. There wasn’t any intro for the second performance at all and we’re the only ones who knew the cue, Hongbin holding his bluetooth speaker tightly.

“Go.” He says lowly with a careful tone as his eyes glistens from not blinking. It was fascinating to look at him that focused and it was almost too hard to look away from him that moment, until the sound of one light opening caught my attention and a low tune starts playing in the background. The slowly lighting spotlight starts revealing Taekwoon hyung with his disheveled hair, his voice low like a whisper.

The moment I’ve never even imagined
The words I’ve never even thought of
They’re coming to me on this cold night, calling my name

Tears are falling
As if telling me that this isn’t a dream
The fading sight of your back grows blurry and faraway

Did you meet someone new?
No, it can’t be
Was that just me being wrong?

My world crashed down in just one moment
I should’ve held onto you, I should’ve begged
But you’re already gone

Time has froze in just one moment
I scream and shout
But there’s no answer

Taekwoon’s voice followed right after the soothing tune of the music, almost too quiet and fragile. He walks in a careful manner as he sings each lyrics like he’s talking to someone. And he probably was, because as soon as Jaehwan appears from the other end of the stage, singing his part, he also gave off the same feeling; that he was talking too. They were talking to each other.

You’re clearly the one who left
But I’m more sorry, I begged and begged
But I hear your voice over the phone
Telling me to stop, that you’re sorry, that I should forget you

My world crashed down in just one moment
I should’ve held onto you, I should’ve begged
But you’re already gone

Time has froze in just one moment
I scream and shout
But there’s no answer

Jaehwan, unlike Taekwoon held his head high, his expression free and precise like he’s not afraid to show how he feels as he said those lyrics. His hands were clenched tightly on his mic, however, compared to Taekwoon who mostly had it down on his side, staring right back at Jaehwan who still failed to meet his gaze. It was only at the bridge where their gazes met and their story unraveled itself to me… to everyone who was there..

Fine, just leave without pressure
While you leave, sprinkle on top
The memories we so carefully made
Just leave without pressure
While you leave, sprinkle on top
The memories we so carefully made

Just know this
Even this time right now
Is a precious memory of me loving you
Goodbye

It’s alright even if everything breaks down
Because in my head, in my heart
I have a lot of memories to remember

If you ever want to come back some day
Even if it’s a few years later
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting

Even if it’s a few years later

The music ended and I was just left gaping as the stage lights turned off again abruptly, Hongbin hurriedly doing so when we all caught a glimpse of Jaehwan bolting out of the stage when Taekwoon tried to reach out for him. Hongbin looks at me in silent plea to follow his cousin, since he knew he couldn’t leave just like that and the activities needs to continue.

               “You two can go, I’m going to stay with Hongbin and facilitate the rest of the performance. Contact us when you find them.” Hakyeon steps up, squeezing Hongbin’s shoulder.

Ravi and I couldn’t do anything but follow their orders, feeling equally worried of the situation. We left the closed court hurriedly, looking around the nearby area since the two had probably run off that way. When we round about the plaza with still no trace of them, we decided to split up, hoping to find them a lot easier that way. We just reminded ourselves not to startle the two once we find them, and contact the rest first just in case of complications. After all, the duo has remarkable, unpredictable mood swings that we still don’t know the extent off and we should be careful.

I ended up running all the way to the Sanctuary, after aimlessly trying to look for those two. It’s almost weird that they should’ve been easy to find if there weren’t so many foot prints in the snow that’s already building up the pavement. How far did they go?

It was so cold and I almost wanted to give up but my thoughts draws me back to Ken and Leo’s performance. Where those lyrics really what happened between them? The arrangement they did on who sings the parts, felt like it was meant to be that way. I didn’t even ponder with the fact that the two might have some sort of relationship back then, although I fail to realize that before; thinking they’re just people who don’t get along well.

I would never imagine them to have anything deeper if it weren’t for Hongbin’s longing look or the fact that Taekwoon, despite Jaehwan initiating an uncalled for fights with him and brushing him off like he’s nothing, doesn’t do anything about it and just kept his usual silence. His glares back then weren’t probably glares but intense watchful eyes on someone he longs for. Someone he wants—

“Jaehwan!”

“Let go!”

I turned around in an instant, quickly following those familiar voices, my left hand reaching for my pocket to get my phone and inform the rest as soon as possible. Their voices sounded angry and I knew something will go wrong… and something did.
 

“I said let me go!” Jaehwan yells, slapping Taekwoon. 

TBC

A/N: watch full performance of Cold Night (Leo & Ken) and Memory (Ravi & Hyuk) in RealVixx. I think I peed myself. It was insane.