It felt like hours had passed by the time he finally made it to HyunJoong's building, though he knew it hadn't been that long. Pressing the intercom to HyunJoong's place, he shuffled anxiously at the door.

It was a few seconds before the answer came, muffled static becoming audible as the intercom was . "Hello?"

"Um... Hi? HyunJoong? It's... YoungSaeng... look I know you kind of hate me right now but I think I left my phone here, have you seen it?" YoungSaeng said, cringing at how ridiculous he sounded.

There was no reply for a long moment, only the continued presence of static confirming that HyunJoong hadn't just closed the line and left YoungSaeng standing there. "…It's here." The answer was short and to the point, the static stopping with a click even as the door unlocked.

Letting out a heavy sigh, YoungSaeng opened the building door and headed to the elevator. He couldn't help but pace inside it as it went up to HyunJoong's floor. He honestly thought he would never be back here again, not with the way he had handled things the last time he was here. But as YoungSaeng approached HyunJoong's door, he took a calming breath and knocked, squaring his shoulders for what he was sure would not be a comfortable couple of minutes.

The door opened, HyunJoong standing on the other side. He was dressed for work, the top of a casual dress shirt ed with gray slacks underneath. Expression closed off, he held out YoungSaeng's missing phone in one hand. "Here."

"... Uh... thanks," YoungSaeng said, taking the phone hesitantly. "Are.. are you busy? I was hoping maybe we could... talk for a bit or something."

"What is there to talk about?" HyunJoong asked, looking down at him unsmiling.

"... A lot, actually," YoungSaeng said, meeting HyunJoong's eyes. "Five minutes... that's all I'm asking for. Five minutes I say what I need to then I'll go."

HyunJoong seemed to think about that, looking down at YoungSaeng for a long minute before his eyes flicked to the side and away. "Okay. Five minutes." He turned away, leaving the door open as he headed back into the living room, hands jammed into his pockets.

YoungSaeng followed him in cautiously, closing the door behind before joining HyunJoong in the living room. "So... I guess I need to start with an apology," he said. "I made some bad decisions and said some things that... were hurtful. I'm sorry."

Not replying right away, HyunJoong slowly sat down on the couch. "…Okay. I can't say I forgive you right now," he said bluntly.

"Honestly I don't expect you to," YoungSaeng said, remaining standing. "I can't say that I'm in a good place in my life right now. I don't really deserve forgiveness... not until I've figured out some things about who I am. I'm sorry I put you into that position. That wasn't fair to you. I was hurting and confused and made a rash decision."

HyunJoong sighed, resting his elbows against his knees. "I did want to try to help you, you know."

"I know... but I don't think I was ready for help," YoungSaeng said. "Losing my dad put so many things into perspective that I hadn't thought about and was trying to ignore. I just didn't want to deal with the problem."

The older man's lips twisted slightly as he looked down at his hands linked in front of him. "Ignoring something only works for so long, huh."

"Yeah, then something ty happens, you down a fifth of vodka and make stupid decisions," YoungSaeng said. "I just... I want to make something clear. I don't regret coming back here and sleeping with you, I regret how it came about."

"…Me too." HyunJoong didn't look at YoungSaeng. "Was that all you wanted to say?"

"...Yeah," YoungSaeng nodded. "And... thanks for not chucking my phone out the window or something. Would... would it be okay if I called you sometime? Just as friends?"

Finally the other man's gaze lifted. "…Give it a week," he said, meeting YoungSaeng's eyes. "Then sure."

"Okay... I'll call you then," YoungSaeng replied, his lip quirking a little. "Maybe by then I'll have my head screwed on better. You can always call me if you want to talk or something."

"Good luck figuring things out," HyunJoong said, not saying anything to the offer to call him.

"Thanks," YoungSaeng nodded, turning back to the door and letting himself out. The dread he had felt in going to HyunJoong's was gone, but he knew he wasn't in the clear completely yet. Based on the way HyunJoong was talking, they probably would never get back to the relationship they had before. YoungSaeng leaned up against the wall of the elevator, wondering what there was to do next, and how far he had to go still.

After YoungSaeng had left the apartment, KyuJong spent the next half hour just cleaning things up, opening the blinds and windows to let in fresh air and doing the dishes piled up in the sink. After bringing his luggage into his bedroom and leaving it there to deal with the next day, he headed out to see JungMin.

Nerves twisted in his stomach, wondering just how his arrival would be received. Maybe JungMin was mad at him for leaving. What if he wasn't even home? Maybe he should just call and tell him he was back, meet him halfway…but KyuJong was a romantic at heart and couldn't resist the idea of showing up at his boyfriend's doorstep out of the blue. Even if his voice in the intercom wouldn't have quite the same effect as opened the door to his knock.

The nerves hadn't entirely gone away by the time he arrived outside the apartment complex; if anything they'd gotten worse. KyuJong stopped and took a moment to calm himself, twisting his hat between his fingers. The time away had done him good; he'd had to reconcile himself with the fact that he couldn't control anything JungMin did, and he would have to trust his boyfriend to remain faithful to him and their relationship. The first couple days the paranoia had been almost overwhelming, but as he found himself swept up in the usual hustle and bustle of his childhood home, the 'what ifs' slowly eased out of his mind. Now he just had to hold onto that feeling, and not let himself get worked up again.

Stopping inside the first set of doors, KyuJong pressed the button for JungMin's apartment. Twirling his hat around, he blinked in surprise when the voice that answered didn't belong to JungMin.

"Hello?"

A little caught off guard, KyuJong faltered for a moment. "Uh…hi? Is…JungMin there?" Who was that?

"He's in the shower," came the reply. "Who's this?"

Remembering that SungMin was probably still living with JungMin, KyuJong found his voice again. "It's KyuJong."

"…Oh! His boyfriend? I'll unlock the door for you." The buzzer sounded as the second set of doors unlocked. KyuJong listened to the intercom shut off before heading in, going to the elevator.

When he reached JungMin's apartment and knocked, the door was answered by a slightly-familiar man at least half a head shorter than KyuJong with bright blond hair and a fox-like smile. "I'm SungMin, I don't think we've met face-to-face before. He doesn't know you're back?" the other man asked, stepping aside to let KyuJong in.

"No," KyuJong shook his head, stepping in. He held his hat tightly in both hands; he hadn't planned for what to do if SungMin was in.

"Oh, a surprise then. Awesome, he's been moping all week." SungMin searched KyuJong's expression before grinning widely and pushing his feet into a pair of shoes by the door. "Well, I'll make myself scarce. If JungMin asks, I'll be back tomorrow."

"…Okay," KyuJong blinked, stepping out of the way of the door as SungMin picked up a pink bag and slung it over one shoulder. "Where are you going?"

"Interviews and not-fun stuff. I'll find somewhere to be for the night, let you two have your privacy," SungMin grinned at him before stepping out. "See you around." The door closed after him, leaving KyuJong standing a little bemused in the doorway.

After a moment KyuJong looked around, slipping out of his shoes. He could hear the shower running, smiling softly as he walked into JungMin's bedroom. The bed was made, the bathroom door closed and the blinds still half-way drawn. Slowly sitting down on the edge of the bed, KyuJong twirled his hat between his fingers as he waited, heart racing.

It was still a few minutes before the shower was finally turned off, a humming noise from beyond the closed door as JungMin finished drying off. When the door finally opened, a half JungMin with just a towel around his waist emerged. "Hey SungMin! I ran out of shampoo I hope you don't mind if I..." his voice trailed off as he stopped halfway between the bathroom and his bedroom door. It had taken a half a second for him to even notice KyuJong on the bed and he blinked, repeatedly. "...Kyu?" he said in disbelief before a wide smile stretched across his face and leapt onto the bed, tackling KyuJong over. "Kyu! Oh god I missed you so much."

Yelping as he was knocked onto his back, his hat sent spinning off the edge of the bed, KyuJong laughed and wrapped his arms around JungMin. "Surprise?" he said a little breathlessly, smiling widely up at his boyfriend.

"Definitely surprise, a very nice surprise," JungMin said, pulling back a little so he could look down at KyuJong properly. "SungMin still here or he take off?"

"He let me in and left." KyuJong reached up and tucked damp strands of hair behind JungMin's ear. "I missed you Min…I'm so sorry I went away."

"No, no, don't be sorry," JungMin said, leaning down to press a kiss to KyuJong's lips. "It was good for us, even if it was hell. I'm just glad you're back and don't hate me or found Jesus or something. Welcome home Kyu."

"…Found Jesus?" KyuJong's lip quivered. "I have no idea what you mean. And I was worried you'd be mad at me for leaving." He pulled JungMin' down into another kiss, eyes closing. "It's good to be back home…"

"I can't be mad at you, not when I screwed up so much," JungMin said, settling them both properly on the bed. "So can I welcome you home properly?" he asked, pulling away enough so he could press light kisses to KyuJong's neck.

Biting on his lower lip, KyuJong made a low noise in his throat. "As long as you didn't plan to be going anywhere for a while," he whispered, running his fingers through JungMin's hair and feeling the drops of water fall onto his skin, making him shiver. "You're soaking my shirt, mind doing something about that?" he chuckled.

"Gladly," JungMin grinned against KyuJong's skin. His hands were already pushing up at KyuJong's shirt before pulling it up over KyuJong's head and tossing it to the side. "I take it you want help with these too?" he asked, sliding down KyuJong's body until he was at the waistline of KyuJong's pants.

"Yeah," KyuJong breathed, opening his eyes to look down at JungMin. He chewed on his lower lip with a smile, flush spread across his cheeks. "Not fair only one of us being …" JungMin's towel had fallen down to his knees at some point. Helping to kick off his pants, KyuJong pulled JungMin back up, drawing the younger man into a deep kiss.

JungMin didn't have the presence of mind to talk after that, enjoying the way KyuJong's skin felt against his hands and lips. Even if they had agreed to take things slow when they restarted their relationship, even JungMin could tell by the way KyuJong was responding to him that he had missed the physical aspect of their relationship as much as he had. It had been far too long for the both of them, and JungMin wasn't going to let it end quickly, not when he'd been thinking about this moment for weeks.

By the time they came up for air, the sun had set and the half moon shone in through the window. JungMin ran his hand up and down KyuJong's back, admiring how his boyfriend looked in the dim light. "Do I have to beg you to stay the night?" he asked, pressing a kiss to KyuJong's shoulder.

"No," KyuJong smiled softly, settled comfortably against JungMiin with the blankets drawn up to their waists. "I wasn't really planning on going back tonight." He cupped JungMin's cheek, fingers trailing along the line of his jaw. "I love you, Min… I'm sorry if I haven't made that clear lately, I love you so much I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I love you too Kyu, and I'm sorry if I haven't made you more of a priority in my life," JungMin replied, brushing his lips over KyuJong's fingers. "You are the most important person in my life... and tomorrow we can discuss the elephant that isn't quite in the room."

KyuJong chuckled softly at that, tapping his fingers lightly against JungMin's lips. "Yeah…tomorrow. It'll be new for us, huh…? Talking things over."

"Yeah, but it's long overdue," JungMin said, nipping a little at KyuJong's hand. "I want us to be like Wook and JongWoon. They talk about stuff that's bothering them, even if they yell at each other, they don't stay mad or break up. We can probably skip all the mushy romance crap they do, but I'd like us to be happy together for a very long time."

"What if I like romantic stuff," KyuJong pouted a little, eyes dancing. "I want us to be happy together too. It'll…be new for me too, talking things over, but I'm looking forward to it. Tomorrow." He scooted closer, burying his nose against JungMin's neck and breathing in deeply.

"Tomorrow," JungMin agreed, his hand resting around KyuJong's waist and closing his eyes. That lasted all of two seconds before his eyes snapped open. "... I have work tonight," he said, flailing as he tried not to hit KyuJong in the face and scramble off the bed. "I was getting ready to go when you got here, I completely forgot!"

"Eh?" KyuJong flinched back away from the movement, blinking repeatedly at JungMin as the redhead flailed around. He sat up, pulling the blankets up a little. "So…you're leaving?"

JungMin made a noise like a dying hippo, looking at KyuJong with a wounded expression. "I really, really don't want to but... work... Are you going to be mad if I go? I mean you can stay here, I'll be back around 3."

Expression unhappy, KyuJong sighed before he smiled. "Well…I don't work tomorrow, so I guess I can still stay." He'd been looking forward to falling asleep curled up against JungMin, but he couldn't exactly tell JungMin not to go to work.

"Kyu..." JungMin whined, climbing back onto the bed and wrapping his arms around his boyfriend's shoulders. "Tell me not to go and I'll call and get someone to cover."

"I can't tell you to do that, you love that job and you're being independent now, right?" KyuJong wrapped his arms around JungMin's waist. "That means no skipping out on work cause your boyfriend's sleeping over."

"But you just got home, I don't want to abandon you," JungMin said with a pout. "Okay, here's what's going to happen. I'll go in, call someone up to see if they can take half my shift and I'll be back by midnight okay? I'll grab us some food on the way home cause I'm sure you'll be hungry. Sound like a plan?"

KyuJong's lips curled into a soft smile. "…Okay. Sounds like a plan. Just let me know if you can't get it covered, because I can't stay up your weird hours."

"I know, I'll let you know if things don't work out," JungMin said, pulling back for another kiss. "But I'm going to try really hard. Tomorrow I have the night off so we can spend all day and night tomorrow. You don't go back to work till next week right? We can spend a couple days together, just the two of us."

"Okay," KyuJong nodded, returning the kiss. "I'll need to go back home tomorrow sometime to check on YoungSaeng though. I don't really want to leave him all alone, and I don't know if he's up for anyone else's company yet. Though your friend RyeoWook seemed to work a miracle."

"So I heard," JungMin snorted, sliding off the bed to go to his dresser. "Did you hear how all that went down? I went over after you asked me to, asked Wook to go with me cause well... you know. I'm not in the apartment for two minutes and YoungSaeng kicks me out. Not the both of us, just me. Wook made him food so he got to stay."

KyuJong settled the blankets around his waist, leaning back against the headboard. "Food is one way to go about it…he wasn't eating well from the looks of it. Thank you so much for going. I shouldn't have left him alone to deal with all that."

"It's not like you knew his dad was going to die while you were out of town," JungMin said. "I don't know what you could have done even if you had been here. Some people just need some time alone to deal with that stuff. I think he needed that more than having someone there with him."

"I know…I just wish I could have been there to take care of him, he wasn't in good shape," KyuJong's eyes lowered. "At least…he seems better now. Not completely okay, but he wasn't trying to drink himself into a stupor."

"That's good," JungMin nodded, finishing getting dressed. "Are you sure you don't need to go back to check on him tonight?"

"He said he'd be fine for tonight," KyuJong replied. "Tomorrow after our talk I'll go back for a bit, make sure he's doing okay." He watched JungMin. "Have a good time at work."

"I'll try," JungMin said, coming back over to the bed to give KyuJong a kiss. "I'll be back before you know it."

Returning the kiss, KyuJong curled his fingers into JungMin's hair before letting go. "Stay safe," he smiled warmly up at his boyfriend. "Love you."

"Love you too, don't have too much fun without me," JungMin said, giving him one last quick kiss before leaving. As happy as he was that KyuJong was home, he really wished KyuJong would have waited one more day so he wouldn't have to leave in the middle of their reunion bed romp. He was really going to have to make it up to KyuJong when he got back, and he probably would be too distracted thinking about that while at work.

By the time he was on the subway to work, he was making phone calls and sending texts, looking for someone to take over for him. He'd set the building on fire himself if he had to, just to get home to his boyfriend. Small price to pay.

Keeping something secret from RyeoWook was probably one of the hardest things JongWoon had ever had to do in his life. Between dodging questions and sneaking out of the house when RyeoWook wasn't home, he was getting a little snappish at everyone around him. That much guilt weighing on him every moment he saw his fiance was hard to take some days and some nights he would lie awake just looking at RyeoWook.

If he loved RyeoWook so much, then why couldn't he just be honest with him? Was it so bad that they didn't have any money? JongWoon knew RyeoWook wouldn't care, but it was such a blow to his ego that he couldn't provide for RyeoWook like he had promised to. This would all be sorted soon, he had told himself. Once they got married and his dad saw just how serious he was about being with RyeoWook then it would be over. He just had to make it until then.

Unfortunately, the sleepless nights meant he would fall asleep at work more often than not and sometimes he woke just barely in time to make it home before RyeoWook would get there.

Most times was not today. Jolting awake where his head had been pressed against the keyboard, JongWoon blinked at how odd the room looked around him, and how quiet it was. Stretching out his arms, he looked at the clock on the wall. It was close to midnight.

"!" JongWoon bolted out of his seat, the office chair went rolling as he grabbed his things and and dashed out the office door. How the hell had he slept for so long? The last thing he had remembered was it being half hour until he was supposed to leave and he'd just closed his eyes for a second.

He didn't even bother checking his phone at that point, he knew he'd have a dozen or so missed calls and a few texts. The entire drive home he thought about what he would say, how he would explain where he had been and why he hadn't called. By the time he got home, he knew RyeoWook was still up, the lights in the living room still on when he unlocked the door and stepped in.

JongWoon's guess was right. His fiancé was curled up on the couch, legs drawn up to his chest and phone dropped beside him on the cushion. Eyes closed, they slowly opened at the sound of the door opening and closing. RyeoWook looked up and his eyes fell on JongWoon standing in the doorway.

"…Where were you?" he asked slowly, standing up with an unreadable expression.

JongWoon took a slow breath, pulling off his shoes. "I'm sorry... I went out for a couple drinks with a friend," he said, avoiding looking at RyeoWook. "You remember my friend KangIn? He was in town and called me up... I'm sorry, I tried to call but I guess my phone wasn't working."

RyeoWook walked towards him, stopping a few paces away. He just looked for a long moment, expression slowly becoming more upset. "Why are you lying to me?"

"What? I'm not lying," JongWoon said, shaking his head as he tried to move past. "Why would I lie? I'm sorry I didn't call."

A hand reached out and caught JongWoon's wrist, RyeoWook stopping him from going any further. "I was worried about you, so I tried calling around to see if anyone had seen you. Your friends…JungMin…and your dad."

JongWoon's heart stopped in his chest at that. "...You called my dad?" he said, hoping he heard wrong. "Look... whatever it is he said... you don't believe him right? You know how he is, how he starts ."

"And how would you know what he told me?" RyeoWook's voice cracked, and he pushed at JongWoon's shoulder to turn the older man around. "Why are you still lying to me? If you're going to lie to me JongWoon, then look at me when you do it!"

"I don't know what he told you, but obviously whatever it is you'll believe him over me!" JongWoon snapped, brushing RyeoWook away as he looked at him over his shoulder. "What did he tell you?"

RyeoWook stared at JongWoon, expression twisted in disbelief. "That you were working for him, because he wasn't going to give you handouts anymore. Why wouldn't you tell me? Do I have to call up KangIn and ask him how this visit went? Why don't you trust me?!"

JongWoon closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping slightly. "... I do trust you," he said quietly. "I just didn't want to fail you."

"Fail me? Fail me how? Do you think I would have left you if you told me you had no money?" RyeoWook's voice cracked. "How many times have I told you I don't care about how much money you have? What I care about is not being lied to, for weeks! You looked me in the face every day and lied!"

"But I'm supposed to be able to take care of you!" JongWoon said, moving away. "This was only supposed to be temporary, just long enough for my dad to realize I was serious about you and me and that I wasn't just going to give up because of his money! I didn't want you to worry."

"And what if it wasn't temporary? Would you have just kept on lying to me indefinitely?" RyeoWook grasped JongWoon's sleeve again, tugging him back. "I knew you were lying, JongWoon! Do you think I wasn't worried, not knowing where you were every day? Knowing that whatever you'd told me that morning wasn't real, and I had no idea where my fiancé was and if he was okay?"

JongWoon's hands clenched at his side, unable to look up at RyeoWook. "I didn't know what else to do. I didn't want him to get a hold on you too. I'm sorry."

RyeoWook's grip slowly lessened on JongWoon's sleeve, until he let go. It hurt so much to know JongWoon hadn't trusted him, lying constantly. They were supposed to share a life together now, right? Why couldn't he trust him? "I'm going to bed," he whispered, walking past JongWoon.

He went into their bedroom for only a moment, reappearing with his pajamas in hand only to go into the spare bedroom where JungMin used to sleep.

"... Wook," JongWoon had looked up when RyeoWook went into the other room and he followed him to the spare room. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm going to sleep," was the reply, RyeoWook pulling the cushions off the pull-out bed so he could open it.

"Look I know you're mad at me but... if you're sleeping in here... are we through?" JongWoon asked, hesitant. He wasn't sure if he wanted the answer or not.

RyeoWook stopped for a moment, cushions gripped tightly in his hands. "I don't want to be through. Our engagement party's tomorrow, and we'll be married soon. You told me that this would always be my house too…but I don't feel like it is right now. I don't feel trusted, and I don't feel welcome. So I'm sleeping here."

"You're the only one in the world that I trust Wook," JongWoon said, looking down at his feet. "You're all I got really. This is your home, and I'm the one that ed up so I should be the one sleeping here on this uncomfortable couch. Go sleep in your bed, I'll take the couch."

"That's not my bed. I didn't pay for it, didn't help pay for anything in this house, so I should be out on the street really." RyeoWook dropped the cushions to the side and pulled the bed out from inside the couch. "Just go, JongWoon."

"I don't want to just leave it like this," JongWoon said, though he knew it wasn't worth it to keep pushing. It was RyeoWook's decision whether or not he would forgive Jongwoon, and no amount of arguing at one in the morning was going to change that. "We'll talk tomorrow right?"

"Tomorrow," RyeoWook replied quietly. "If you're not working again before the party."

"No... I told my dad I wasn't coming in," JongWoon said. "I'm sorry... this shouldn't have got so complicated."

"We'll talk about it tomorrow." RyeoWook fixed the bedsheets, getting the spare pillows from out of the closet. "Go to sleep."

"... Okay, night Wook," JongWoon said, watching him for a moment before going to their bedroom. Laying down, he glanced at the empty place beside him on the bed. It was going to be a long restless night. The feeling of guilt for lying hadn't eased, and likely wouldn't until RyeoWook was back beside him where he belonged. Sighing a little, he rolled over to face the wall and closed his eyes, imagining his fiance was just behind him and not in the other room.

Back in the other room, RyeoWook closed the door and slowly changed into his pajamas. His hands smoothed down the fuzzy animal print with giraffes on the front – again bought by JongWoon, because he'd seen how RyeoWook went crazy over a collection of giraffe plushies one day. Shutting off the light, he crawled into bed and tried to ignore how uncomfortable it was compared to the bed in the other room.

Even as he settled down for sleep, he couldn't block out the parts of the conversation with JongWoon's dad he hadn't told JongWoon about. The cruel tone, words of disdain spitted out through the receiver. Staring up at the ceiling, RyeoWook tried and failed to stop the tears that had been building up all week.

The conversation with YoungSaeng had opened up old wounds. Then there was the abandonment by his parents…JongWoon's constant lying…and finally this new conversation with the man who was to be his father-in-law, who RyeoWook knew didn't like him but hadn't realized just how far that hatred went.

One hand covered his mouth, effectively muffling the shaky breaths and quiet sobs that threatened to escape. There's nothing wrong with me, he told himself. There isn't.

Another voice spoke up. Maybe there is.

Two couples make up, and the third disintegrates. /o\

Please comment, subscribe and/or upvote if you liked this chapter! <3 Also, got a poster for the next fic all figured out~~ What is it? The next fic shall be revealed soon!

@Forest_pixi: Saengie is going through a lot of right now, and everyone has the habit of forgetting other people have their struggles too ><;; Human nature? orz. Plus he was extremely sleep deprived, hungry and hung-over. Probably didn't help matters. Wook doesn't hold it against him, he knows what it's like. I hope your final project went well!! *hugs!* It's a film? Sounds so cool, tell me how it went :) I'm sure you did fine on the exam, wayyy better than I would have lol (there's a reason I'm enrolled in a program that rarely has exams).

@jasminscent: Hehe hope the chapter met your expectations? xD Or maybe had some surprises? Thanks for commenting!

@ping501: Hehe two comments at once! I feel special :D And we all wish Saengie would do what's best for him bb, it's something he's going to have to figure out on his own. That sort of thing can be really, really scary, especially if you think your family would hate you for it.

@LovelyYS: Glad to hear you're enjoying the story~!! It's only got a few chapters left, but we'll be continuing to write more stories in the future :)