"I found out about the incident," Myungsoo said, feeling like he was betraying Sungyeol for telling his secret. 

"What is it?" his hyung-nim asked. 

"It was less of a big deal than I expected," Myungsoo began. "It was a car accident a couple of years ago. Sungye- the hostage drove without a licence and crashed into another vehicle, which caused a ten-year-old girl to fall into a coma, though she woke up a year later. Apparently his father cares a lot about the family reputation, which is why he covered it up with money."

"You have nothing better for me than this?" the tall man said, his voice cold.

"I'm sorry," Myungsoo bowed. "That is all I know. I don't think there is anything else to it."

"Well, I guess that would have to do. If he cares that much about his reputation, I'm sure he won't want the public to find out that he bribed people to hide the accident. Maybe that will be enough to threaten him."

"Maybe," Myungsoo agreed. Hopefully.

-

"You might be able to go home soon," Myungsoo told Sungyeol that same day. 

"What?" Sungyeol exclaimed at once, his eyes wide.

"You'll be released soon," Myungsoo rephrased. "I won't keep you here much longer."

"Why?" Sungyeol asked.

"What do you mean, 'why'?"

"Did my father ask for my release?" Sungyeol inquired, and Myungsoo couldn't help but notice that the boy looked rather hopeful, like he couldn't quite believe it. 

"Yeah," Myungsoo lied, smiling half-heartedly. "He'll probably meet up with my boss this week." Even as he said it, Myungsoo felt a pang of sadness. Sadness because Sungyeol wasn't being treated right by his father, and sadness because Myungsoo didn't want Sungyeol to leave. Yet he knew that he would have to let him go, and sooner rather than later. Before I get even more attached to him. 

Sungyeol smiled a genuine sort of smile, and Myungsoo pretended like it didn't bother him. 

"So I was thinking, since you will probably leave soon... maybe we could have another sleepover?" Myungsoo went on hesitantly. "Before you leave?"

Sungyeol blinked, and a smile quickly formed on his face. "Sure!"

-

"What have you got for me this time?" Sungyeol crooned.

"Just pizza," Myungsoo admitted with an apologetic look.

"Why look so guilty? Everyone loves pizza," Sungyeol informed. "But this time we should change into our pajamas before we eat, not after."

"Why?" Myungsoo asked confusedly.

"Because it's more comfortable, obviously," Sungyeol said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh..."

"You know you seem really stupid sometimes, right?"

"Yah!" Myungsoo exclaimed, which only resulted in a fit of laughter from Sungyeol.

"It's not funny," Myungsoo pouted, but he couldn't help but smile as he saw the other clutch at his stomach.

"Pabooo," Sungyeol teased, grinning from ear to ear.

"Whatever," Myungsoo sniffed, acting offended.

"I'm hungry," Sungyeol said suddenly. "Let's eat."

And he immediately sat down on the floor and grabbed a slice of pizza. Myungsoo stood there for a moment, staring at the other, until Sungyeol tilted his head towards Myungsoo with a questioning look. "You plan on joining me or what?" And he patted the space next to himself with the palm of his hand. Just like a friend would. 

Exactly like a friend would, Myungsoo marveled.

Myungsoo sat down next to Sungyeol, stealing a quiet glance at the boy. Seeing Sungyeol like this, so comfortable and content, made Myungsoo happier than he could describe. He had never felt this way before. He had never been so happy because of someone else's happiness. 

Is it normal to feel this way? Myungsoo wondered. Do people normally get so happy when they see someone else smile? Is this how it's supposed to feel when you truly care about someone?

"Why are you staring at me?" Sungyeol asked then through the food in his mouth. 

Myungsoo jumped and quickly looked away. "I wasn't."

"Sure you weren't," Sungyeol answered, clearly sarcastic. "You're freaking out like you have a crush on me or something."

"Funny," Myungsoo mumbled, still not looking at the other.

"It would be perfectly understandable, of course," Sungyeol went on, totally unfazed. "I mean, I am pretty perfect, after all." 

"Well, that was funny," Myungsoo said, raising his brows. "You, perfect?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sungyeol demanded, scowling at Myungsoo, the insides of his cheeks filled with pizza.

"You look like a chipmunk," Myungsoo laughed.

"Huh?"

"Your cheeks."

"Oh..."

Myungsoo chuckled, finally taking a slice of pizza of his own.

"You know you're really stupid, right?" Sungyeol said, a small smile visible. 

"Yeah," Myungsoo allowed, because he felt that he indeed was stupid. He was stupid for getting close to his own hostage. He was stupid for trying to act like they were friends when they clearly weren't. He was stupid for wanting more than he could have. 

"You're admitting it?" Sungyeol asked, a feigned look of disbelief on his face. 

"Yup," Myungsoo grinned. "I'm a pabo, and I'm proud of it." And he bowed his head, as if greeting Sungyeol for the first time.

"Wow. That's a first," Sungyeol giggled. "Someone who actually understands that they're stupid. Good for you."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

-

"Come on, it's getting cold already," Sungyeol whined as he pulled the blanket away so Myungsoo could climb into the bed with him.

"Patience is a virtue," Myungsoo said.

"A useless one that I don't need or have," Sungyeol shot back.

"Clearly," Myungsoo noted. 

"Come ooon," Sungyeol complained. 

"I'm coming," Myungsoo answered, walking over to the bed. He climbed in, immediately noticing the warmth coming from Sungyeol's body. "Are you tired yet?"

"Are you?" Sungyeol inquired.

"I asked you first."

"And I asked you second."

"So you should answer second."

"Says who?" Sungyeol challenged.

"Me."

"You're not the boss of me."

"Yeah I am."

"Since when?"

"Since always."

"Not buying it," Sungyeol said, shaking his head. They were lying shoulder to shoulder again, staring at the ceiling.

"Then what are you buying?"

"A camera."

"A camera?" Myungsoo repeated. "Why a camera?"

"So I can take pictures to keep as memories," Sungyeol explained, and Myungsoo could hear the smile in his voice. Myungsoo turned his head so that he could look at Sungyeol. 

"You're staring again," Sungyeol commented.

"Am I not allowed?" Myungsoo asked this time, instead of looking away.

"That's not what I meant," Sungyeol answered.

"Then what do you mean?"

"Nothing. I'm just stating a fact. You're staring at me."

"I'm just looking at you."

"Staring, looking. Same thing," Sungyeol said dismissively.

"If it was the same thing, there wouldn't be two different words for it," Myungsoo argued. 

"Yeah, there would. Just like talking and speaking is the same thing. And smiling and grinning."

"Whatever," Myungsoo mumbled. 

"I win," Sungyeol beamed.

"Go ahead," Myungsoo said, and he meant it.

"You're saying you're letting me win, is that it?" Sungyeol inquired, sounding doubtful.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because..." Myungsoo stopped, feeling awkward. He was too embarrassed about it all. It didn't feel right to be here like this, like they were actually having a normal sleepover. It didn't feel right at all, and yet he wanted to have these sleepovers every night for the rest of his life. He wanted to lie next to Sungyeol every night and watch his chest slowly rise and fall as he slept peacefully, and he wanted to wake up next to him and talk with him and laugh with him and share every secret with him and be real friends with him and do all of the other things you did with people you were friends with. 

"Because...?" Sungyeol probed, nudging Myungsoo's arm with his elbow. 

"Because you're my friend?" Myungsoo said hesitantly, and it sounded more like a question than anything else. 

"Oh," Sungyeol said, sounding surprised. 

Myungsoo immediately looked away, his face flushing as he felt the shame that came when you got rejected. Because that was clearly what Sungyeol must have meant by his 'oh'. Myungsoo wanted to hit himself for acting on such a stupid impulse.

"Thanks then, friend," Sungyeol said then, bringing Myungsoo out of his miserable thoughts. 

"Huh?" Myungsoo stuttered. 

"Thank you, friend," Sungyeol repeated, and now he was looking at Myungsoo - and his face was so close - and he was smiling, his eyes shining because of it. Myungsoo gazed at him, and he couldn't bring himself to look away from those eyes because they seemed so deep and warm and comforting, and Myungsoo wished he could always feel the way he felt right now, as he looked into Sungyeol's eyes. He wished he could always feel so... warm. 

And then Sungyeol grasped Myungsoo's hand beneath the blanket and squeezed it, and Myungsoo felt even warmer, and even happier, and he wondered if having a friend could really be this great, and he also wondered if Sungyeol was feeling even slightly as happy as he was. 

"I'm sorry," Myungsoo mumbled, still looking at Sungyeol.

"For what?" Sungyeol asked, staring back.

"Keeping you here," Myungsoo said.

"It's okay," Sungyeol answered, and though he wasn't smiling, Myungsoo didn't see any dishonesty in his expression. It looked, to Myungsoo, as if Sungyeol meant what he was saying; that it really was okay. 

Can I really believe that? Do you really think it's okay, Sungyeol? Do you really see me as a friend?

Myungsoo felt like it was too good to be true. Like fate was tempting him into believing he could actually be happy. That he could actually have a friend who cared about him and listened to him and smiled at him the way Sungyeol did. 

There must be a catch to it. 

-

When Myungsoo woke the next day, he immediately saw that there was indeed a catch to it. 

The door was open, and Sungyeol was gone. 

Author's Note: Ooooh my gosh, you guise. I am SO TERRIBLY SORRY for my EXTREMELY long absence!!! I've never been away for this long, and I feel it in the pit of my stomach, seriously. OTL Sorry, sorry, sorry!! My bad excuse is the fact that I'm graduating and there are exams and exams and exams and I'm almost finished now, but I still have to take one more exam before I'm done and basically it and yeah T.T But hey, I'm almost completely done with school! :D Almost! Just a couple more days now!! 

Also, sorry for that awful cliffhanger! I just couldn't help myself, so it just kind of ended up that way... xD 

But seriously. Sorry again for that awfully long wait...! OTL OTL OTL