Lay sat in his office with his head in his hands. He thought he could make things better without having to go this far, but it was obvious with Sehun’s new black eye that that wouldn’t happen. Taemin stood at the door, looking down at his sneakers for a minute before bringing his gaze up to the tired hyung.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything for you. He still won’t talk to me. I’ve tried for a few years now… But I thought maybe seeing me in person would make this time different. Sorry.” He repeated, taking off his hat and then putting it back on after readjusting his hair.

Lay looked up and felt his eyes droop. He nodded slowly but with a sad smile on his face, “You’re fine. I just wish I knew what happened to him…” He looked at Taemin directly, hoping he’d disclose the information.

“Sorry, but I have to go now… I have vocal lessons in about an hour.” The younger gave Lay an apologetic smile and continued out the room with a slight bow.

Lay waved his hand dismissively, he shouldn’t expect a person to disclose that kind of information, but he could hope. But that ship had sailed and sunk. Along with his first plan.
Now it’s time for the last one. His last resort. He brought his attention back to his laptop and, more importantly, the contact information of one of his childhood friends. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed the number, holding his breath.

The young man repacked his suitcase that was on his bed, taking out crumpled and wrinkled suits and replacing it with t-shirts and shorts.

“Ber-nal, Ber-nal, Ber-nally-nal.” He sang under his breath, shaking his head from side to side.

It was time for his annual summer trip to his grandparents’ old house in Bernal, a miniscule town by the ocean. He had to stay in Seoul for his company, Kim-Myeon Entertainment, but he gave himself a month or two every summer to visit. He had plenty of childhood memories there and old friends he’s missed. This was his favorite time of year and one he always planned on spending pleasantly.

His phone rang from his slack’s pocket and he pulled out the device, putting it to his ear and pinning it with his shoulder.

“Ah, yah?” He said, putting in the last pair of shorts and turning to find some of his favorite shoes.

“Suho?” The cave-voice rang through the speaker and Suho grinned.

“Kris! Are you packed? I’ll be by your apartment in about an hour.”

Kris, his friend from college, is accompanying him as usual. The two met after their college schedules one day, the tall blonde looking lost and confused. Suho grew up around the college, his older brother attending it as well, and helped him out a little. After that they exchanged numbers and got talking. Turned out that Kris was trying to get some college education while being a successful model with XOXO Modeling, said that he wanted a backup plan in case things didn’t work out how he wanted them to. Suho, at the time, was pursuing singing and business management, not exactly sure what he was going to do with his life.

After college the two individually had busy schedules, Kris’ modeling taking him all over and Suho managing his father’s entertainment company after his passing, but the two always stayed in contact. Suho’s annual trip to Bernal then became and annual meeting of the two friends. For the past six years Kris has accompanied Suho, but the older seemed especially nervous about this year.

“Yeah, yeah. Just putting the last of my things together.” The voice sounded distracted but clear.

“Good. Don’t forget your toothbrush, or maybe some—”

“I got it, mom.” Kris interrupted with a small groan.

Suho laughed and hung up without a response, choosing to send a quick text as he raided his medicine cabinet for vitamins.

Suho: Just make sure you don’t forget anything ^^

He paused and looked in the mirror, fixing a few strands of his dyed-blond hair before taking the bottles of vitamins. He left the bathroom with his arms full of bottles, dropping them into the suitcase and then heading for the kitchen. He went under the kitchen sink and grabbed the travel sized first-aid kit, there was one at the house in Bernal, but it was almost a four hour drive to the east coast, anything could happen. His phone vibrated in his hand and he checked it, placing the kit in the case as well.

Kris: I know, I know xP

“Yeah, yeah, sure.” Suho grinned and typed a quick reply before tossing his phone on his pristine bed.

Suho: Be there in a bit

He stood in the center of his room and looked around, trying to think if he was forgetting anything. The doorbell rang on cue and Suho smiled widely. There she is. He dusted his clean hands on his pants and undid the buttons on his cuffs, pushing his sleeves up to his elbows.

He went to the door and paused for a moment.

“Password?” He called in a low voice, sounding like a guard in a kingdom.

“Suho is the super-awesome-bestest!” A high voice called, a giggle coming from the other side of the door.

“And?” She can’t forget the last part, that’s the best.

“Daddy is the super-most-lamest?”

“Beautiful!” Suho opened the door with a warm smile and held his arms out.

Another giggle came from the other side of the doorway and a small girl ran into her uncle’s arms, wrapping herself around him as he picked her up and spun around. When he turned back towards the front door he grinned a little wider, seeing his older brother there, necktie loosened and hanging from the collar of his dress shirt, the first two buttons undone.

“Hard day at work, Junghwa?” There was a playfulness in Suho’s tone and his hyung nodded, looking exhausted.

“Chungho-nim,” his boss, “was sending me all over Seoul today. He’s going to work himself, and me, into a new level of stress if he keeps trying these pointless business deals.”

Suho nodded and gave his brother some empathy, though his daughter, Hana, took most of his attention as she stared up at him.

“It was nice of you to leave so close to rush hour, by the way.” Junghwa chimed in sarcastically, dropping his suitcase at the door. “Hana just had to see you before you left.”

“But of course!” Suho looked down at the girl, her black hair starting to curl as it grew longer, past her shoulders now.

She had a pretty face and Suho could tell that once she grew up a little she’d be beautiful. At the moment she was only seven, but with a few years Suho will have to start working on his intimidating-uncle angle to keep the boys away.

“I have to see my little angel before I leave! How I survive without her, I don’t know!”

Hana giggled and nodded, “You should take me with you!”

Suho pointedly looked at Junghwa but he shook his head, “It’s not up to me. The mommy says no and it’s best not to argue.”

Suho laughed at that and put Hana back on the ground. “Either way…” He turned around and started marching with his knees high, the young girl following suit behind him.

“Hut-hut-hut-hut.” He chanted before leading her, and her tired father, into the kitchen where a small box was waiting on the counter. He stopped at the counter and Hana bumped into his back, more laughs coming from her. He smiled and picked up the box, silently asking her to never stop laughing. He turned back around and held the box out.

“A little something as a reward for doing so well in school.”

Education always came first for Suho when his niece was concerned, and whenever she did well he made sure to reward her. If she didn’t do well… Then there was a definite talk that the two would have. Hana jumped a little excitedly and took the box from Suho. As she opened it gingerly her uncle slid a look towards her dad, giving him a smile.

Junghwa loved seeing his daughter happy and loved the fact that her happiness also meant the world to Suho. Even though her father couldn’t supply her with everything she needed he had no shame in asking Suho for help, and he loved giving it. After Suho’s past-wife, Yoora, died in childbirth, him losing his unborn daughter as well, he’d treated Hana as his own, her being two years old at the time. He treated her as the daughter he’s never had, and probably never will have.
Suho had effectively taken himself off the market and delved into their father’s old company and putting all of his effort into the bands he manages for Kim-Myeon Entertainment, or better known as KM Entertainment. He’s great at it and Junghwa was glad that his brother had passion, but some love in his life wouldn’t hurt.

Suho saw the emotions pass over Junghwa’s face and shook his head with a small smile. “Hana is the only girl in my life.” He looked down and saw her face twisted in awe as she gazed at her present, almost scared to touch it, as if she weren’t worthy of it.

It was a medium sized hollow heart necklace, rounded and bulbous in the box, and inside of the heart were four gems that rolled around, each a different color and sparkling in the light.

Suho kneeled to the ground and pulled the piece of jewelry out of the box, carefully fastening it around the girls neck.

“See these colors?” He lifted the heart so Hana could see the little balls of color inside. “This is our family.” He spoke softly and looked up into her eyes, smiling, though it was a sort of sad smile.

Although Suho took Hana as his own he couldn’t help but wonder what is own daughter would’ve been like. She was already named Youngil. He wondered what it would’ve been like to give his own daughter presents, to go to her school plays and concerts, to take her to the park with her mother. To spend Christmas’ with her and birthdays.

“I’m the blue one here, and then the green one is daddy, the pink one is you, and then purple is your mommy.”

He pointed at the gems as he listed the colors, glad that he had a second chance at fatherhood with Hana, even if she was Junghwa’s. He considered her his own daughter and would treat her as such, with his hyung’s blessing and permission, of course. Hana was at loss for words and could only hug Suho in response, loving it with all of her heart.

“Now whenever I, daddy, or mommy are away for business you’ll always have your family with you.” Suho said into her hair, swaying slightly before standing, picking Hana up with him. She laughed with delight and Suho spun around again before heading towards the door, Junghwa leading the way back.

“But I have to get ready to leave and I think daddy wants to go home to rest now.” Hana made a small whimper but let go of Suho as he put her down, her dad holding his hand out for her to take. Her small hand slid in his and she looked up at her uncle with a sad frown.

“I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.” Suho smiled, “Then we can go see that movie you’ve been talking about.” Hana’s face brightened and she nodded, letting Junghwa lead her out of the door with a wave. “Call later!” Suho said after them and then slowly closed the door, waving at the two until the door obscured his view.

“Now I can leave…” He said to himself, nodding and feeling fulfilled after saying goodbye to his niece.

He went back into his room to zip up his suitcase but stopped when he saw his phone screen flashing from a missed call. He picked up the device and squinted at the name that flashed across the front. It was the name of an old friend of his, one he hasn’t talked to in person in years, though still one of his closest.

Suho hit redial and put the device to his ear, only hearing the ringing tone once or twice before the receiver picked up.

“Hello?”

“You called?” Suho kept his voice warm and paced around the room, hoping he was calling for a good reason, maybe he wanted to meet up and have lunch. “How’ve you been?”

Suho’s mind raced with the thought of catching up with his old friend. He got really famous early on, but then after that Suho fell out of the loop. Looking at it now he felt a little bad, but was glad that he may have the chance to reconnect now.

“Yes, yes, yes! That’d be perfect, you still remember where it’s at?—Yeah, perfect! I’m just about to leave for there as well!—No, no, you leave as soon as you’re ready. I’ll meet you there!—If you get there first then there’s a spare key under the welcome matt. Oh! But I do have someone renting out a room as well. Just tell him that you’re with me and it should be fine.—You’re bringing two others as well?—Yeah, that’s not a problem, there’s plenty of room!—Okay—Okay—Good! So… I guess I’ll see you soon?—Wow… Wow… Okay!”

Suho hung up the phone and couldn’t stop the confusion and excitement that hit him. Four hours. He was going to see his best friend for years in about four hours. It’s been years since he’s last seen him, as he realized before. It was crazy to think about but he moved passed it, zipping up his suitcase and dragging it to the door.

Now he was ready to leave.