“Heechul hyung, can I talk to Sungmin hyung for a while?” Kyuhyun asked while keeping his gaze on Sungmin, who was looking at the ground instead.

“Uh.. Sure. I’ll be with VOL at the studio.” Heechul directed his words towards Sungmin and walked into the lift.

Kyuhyun took a step towards Sungmin, who stood still.

“Hyung… Are you okay?” Kyuhyun paused for a response, but Sungmin seemed to not have heard him.

“Hyung… I—”

Kyuhyun reached out for Sungmin’s arm, but Sungmin dodged. The tense atmosphere made Kyuhyun’s heart raced faster, but he knew he might not get another chance to talk to Sungmin again.

“I’m really sorry for being so rude that day. And I’m sorry for recording the song.”

Instead of saying anything, Sungmin’s eyes met Kyuhyun’s. After five seconds, Sungmin finally broke the silence.

“If that is all you want to say, I’m leaving. I accept your apologies.”

“No, I—” Kyuhyun waved his hands frantically.  

“What else do you want?” Sungmin said coldly.

“Stop treating yourself like that, hyung.”

“Like what?”

“Like—” Kyuhyun sighed. “Eunhyuk hyung doesn’t know.”

This time, Sungmin’s eyes widened with an incredulous look on his face.

“He doesn’t know the song is written for him, hyung.”

Kyuhyun attempted to read Sungmin’s thoughts in those emotional eyes.

Disbelief? Pain…?

“How do you know?” Sungmin’s words came out slow and unsure.

“He said he had never heard the song before, not even the lyrics.” Kyuhyun explained.

“No, I don’t mean that. How do you know it’s him?”

“I—I–I guessed it and confirmed it with Ryeowook…” Kyuhyun averted Sungmin’s glaring eyes. He wondered if he should have mentioned that it was Ryeowook who confirmed his speculation.

“I get it.” Sungmin said simply and turned for the stairway.

“No no, don’t go!” Kyuhyun grabbed Sungmin’s arm and spun him around.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?” Sungmin shouted. Tears filled his eyes.

“I WANT YOU TO FORGET HIM!” Kyuhyun yelled back.

Sungmin gave an expression to show Kyuhyun he was being ridiculous – who is he to demand that?

“It pains everyone to see you like that. It has been five months already, stop lying to yourself that there would still be a chance. Even if you don’t want to let go, it’s not your choice anymore, hyung.”

Kyuhyun felt as though a punch landed on his chest as the tears trickled down Sungmin’s cheeks.

“You…don’t understand…” Sungmin tried to pull out of Kyuhyun’s hold weakly.

“I don’t! Nobody does! Neither do Eunhyuk hyung!” Kyuhyun tightened his hold on Sungmin.

“No…” Sungmin shut his eyes tight and shook his head as though he could keep Kyuhyun’s voice out that way.

“Nothing will happen no matter how hard you try to grab onto Eunhyuk hyung!”

“What are you talking about?”

Both Kyuhyun and Sungmin turned towards the familiar voice at the same time.

“D-Donghae hyung!” Kyuhyun stuttered.

As his hold loosen on Sungmin, he felt the composer’s arm slipping out of his. When he turned to look, Sungmin was already a few steps away from him, running towards the carpark’s exit.

“Hyung!” Kyuhyun was about to take off after Sungmin, but someone held him back.

“Explain yourself, Kyuhyun! What about Hyuk?” Donghae looked at Kyuhyun anxiously.

“Let me go, hyung. I need to go after Sungmin hyung!” Kyuhyun protested and tried to fling Donghae’s arm away.

“It’s okay. Sungmin will take care of himself.” Leeteuk appeared behind Donghae.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kyuhyun observed Donghae carefully after explaining how he recorded the song Sungmin wrote for Eunhyuk and the incident in the practice room. Seeing the dull expression on Donghae’s face, he regretted his carelessness in letting Donghae overhear his conversation with Sungmin. He had hurt yet another person who was dear to him.

“So our relationship was the reason Sungmin hyung started staying at home and avoiding everyone?” A deep furrow formed between Donghae’s eyebrows.

“That’s what I inferred. I only got to know this a few days ago.” Kyuhyun said.

“Hyung?” Donghae turned to look at Leeteuk, who had been quiet since they entered his office.

“Yes, it all started when you got together with Hyukjae. But this is none of your fault, Donghae.” Leeteuk sat up and rested his arms on his thighs.

“How long had Sungmin hyung been… I mean, I have never realized he had feelings for… I should have realized.”

“Nobody knew, Hae. Sungmin was too good at hiding his feelings. You know how he is like. Always smiling and insisting h