Seoul, South Korea

 

“Hyung!!”

 

Nichkhun shout his lungs out in relief after he saw Minjun cooking in the kitchen.

 

“Aigoo..kamchakkiya!!! Yah!! Don’t give me a heart attack can you? Or else my pretty, gorgeous Ailee will be lonely.”

 

Minjun nags at his dongsaeng. Nichkhun just flashes a silly smile. He was so relieved that Minjun brought him home and cooks something delicious. Well, not really delicious, but at least decent to be called a food. In fact Minjun just behind him in cooking department compared to other members.

 

Minjun just shakes his head and resume cooking chicken ginseng. He then busied himself with side dishes; kimchi, bean sprouts and omelet.

 

“Hyung, it smells so delicious. My stomach has been growling. When will it ready?” Nichkhun asks.

 

“Yah, just a little bit, be patient will you?” Minjun answered in a simple manner.

 

“Hyung… I want to shower..” Nichkhun said after he realized he stinks.

 

“Yah!!!!!!! How come you just realized now? I can smell your stinky smell from miles away. Aigoo i-nom. Towels in left drawer in my cupboard. Just pick any t-shirt that suits your taste and shorts also in the cupboard. Help yourself. Now, go. Don’t mess with my cooking.” Minjun ordered his dong saeng.

 

Nichkhun just nods his head and went into the room.

 

***

 

They sit together at the table and have dinner.

 

“Hyung, this is delicious. Why you never cooked this before?” Nichkhun asks.

 

“Don’t wanna. Or else all of you will bug me to cook it often.” Minjun reply with a merong.

 

“And you let me do all the cooking in the dorm? How could you?” Nichkhun asks then with a sad, pouty face.

 

“It was never my intention. You were just too kind to reject their request. Not my fault.” He replies then.

 

Then they just laughs it off, knowing how true it is.

 

“Hyung, how you keep composed?” Nichkhun asks out of curiosity.

 

Yes, he can saw his hyung was on the verge of collapsing but it was so subtle. Only he and Chansung realized his changes. But in his case, he was so obvious. Even the oblivious Tacyeon also noticed and starts asking him what happened and what has bothering him.

 

“Our situations are different Khun. Yes, I was after her shadow then, but I still can meet her, look into her beautiful eyes, listening to her magnificent voice spending times with her, so even though it was hard I was happy to see her happy and see her smile. But you were separated. You were in one world and in she was in the other. I can understand this is double time harder than mine.” He said then.

 

Nichkhun nods his head and sighes. So, what can he do to make this easier?

 

“Hyung, when we can take our leave?” Khun asks then.

 

“In another 2 weeks I think. We have 3days free of schedule.” Minjun said.

 

“Asa!! I want to go somewhere.” He said in his smile.

 

“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going to fly to your angel? You know it will be scandalous right?” Minjun starts to nag.

 

“Nope, don’t worry hyung. I want to go somewhere where I will gain my calm self.” He answers with a wink; the killer wink.

 

Minjun just nods his head, hoping he can trust his dongsaeng this time around.

 

***

 

Johor Bharu, Johor, Malaysia

 

“Do you happy with this arrangement?” Elyssa asks him again, when her first question left unattended.

 

Shamill let out a heavy sigh.

 

“Well, to be fair, I am not happy, happy but I think I can work this out.” He said

 

“That’s the thing Shamill. Yes, you can live with your bestie but can you love her the way you love your soulmate?” Elyssa asks him then.

 

He take a deep breath.

 

“Why don’t we just try this out? No strings attached. If both of us feels like no way we can do this, we stop.” Shamill suggested then.

 

“Why spend our time for something we know not going anywhere?” she sighes, heavily.

 

“How do you know? We never tried. Try give us a chance.” He said.

 

“I just know, but if you insisted. Yeah, then everyone will satisfied right?” Elyssa answers then.

 

“But, you need to promise me something.” Shamill then asks her.

 

“What?”

 

“Please open your heart. Don’t blocked me out” he plead.

 

She just nods her head and stands up.

 

“Let’s go, we have round to do”

 

Shamill nods his head and rise.

 

 

Yup, they have rounds to do. He thinks to himself.

 

***

Seoul, South Korea

 

Here is where Khun spending his time alone lately. He’s learning a new world where he never been before. Here he learns how to love himself and love others even more. He learn how to be humble, how to perceive world and how to live his life.

 

Being here makes him realized there is so much more than living well in this world. He also learned how to be contented with what he has, and he learned how to be grateful. It’s not like he never feel grateful before, it just he learned another level of happiness in life.

 

He takes a good look around, and he realizes how far have he been separated with his ultimate sanctuary. This is what he has been looking for all this while. For a split second, he forget about Elyssa, he forgot about his sadness and all he can think is the calmness that run through his veins and makes him extremely happy. It was like he’s on ecstasy.

 

He was hoping he can bring s here some other time and shows them what he learned.

 

After his short session with his master, he went up the hill in the middle of the city. He sat there alone, looking far through the horizon and think. He tries to do as his master asks him to.

 

He thinks about his existence, the reason and goal of his life. And how can he make his goal come true. The scenery was so beautiful it ooze the sweet feeling in his heart. The air is so fresh that he was so happy to be alive. He’s so happy he found the true meaning of life, yet he felt so sad why didn’t he found it sooner.

 

 

***

 

Johor Bharu, Johor, Malaysia.

 

Shamill and Elyssa went for dinner that night since both of them not on duty. They choose to go to a fancy diner, and have nice meal. Their mothers are so glad that both of them are willing to give this idea a chance.

 

Shamill picks Elyssa up after Maghrib and they go straight to the restaurant. He, being gentleman he is, open the car door for her. Choose her favorite food from the menu. Honestly, it was piece of cake for him since he knows her too well.

 

Elyssa just smiles and shrugs the flutter feeling. She knows too well than to let her heart fall. This grieving phase that he face, she should be the one who knows best, not to take granted from.

 

“How come I never know that you have this sweet smile?” Shamill asks her suddenly, out of blue.

 

His face clearly shows he was being genuine with his words. Elyssa couldn’t help but wavering.

 

“I don’t know, maybe you weren’t supposed to see it?” she tries her best to act nonchalantly to his words, even when her heart did skip a beat just now though.

 

“But, why am I not supposed to see it? Girl, you hurt me just now.” He said then with a cute pout.

 

Elyssa just giggles.

 

“Ooh boy. That cute pout seriously didn’t match your image.” She said then.

 

“But it was cute, wasn’t it? So, I succeed then. I am intend to give you a cute pout.” He said then with a wink.

 

“Come on Mill, I am not some girl you want to seduce, so keep it to yourself will you.” She said then, forget about all the arrangement, for a while.

 

Silence fill the space for a while. Shamill clears his throat.

 

“Well, I am definitely not trying to seduce you right now, in this current moment. But I do try to sweep you off your feet, first.”

 

He said then, with a serious tone.

 

Elyssa regret for saying those sentences out loud just now. She forget how intimidating this man could be when he is serious, and more importantly she forgot how deadly seducing this guy is when he exude his manly charm.

 

And now, her heart beats like she just finish running marathon, and the butterflies keep doing somersaults in her stomach.

 

So, instead of doing any grave mistakes she decides to finish her meals quickly, quietly.

 

“El, you shouldn’t be this quiet you know. Is this how you behave when you go on dates? The guy sitting across you would die out of boredom you know?” Shamill said with a chuckle.

 

“Hey, have you ever feels bored being friends with me all this while?” she asks him back, offended with the statement.

 

He just shrugs his shoulder.

 

“Nope, you’re one of the most simple yet interesting people I have known.” He state as a matter of fact.

 

Elyssa is a simple person, yet so interesting to know. Knowing her was like peeling an onion. You need to peel her off to know her core. She didn’t open up easily, but she tries her best to make working with her easy. She’s that kind of person, and that was the reason why everyone likes to work with her. She always makes it easy for other people. She’s that nice. And Shamill certainly loves that quality of her.

 

Elyssa just smiles to his statement of her.

 

“I finish my meal and so do you. Come, let’s go home.” Elyssa said with monotonous voice.

 

“El, I noticed that you are not that rough, but why are you trying to display a rough image?”

 

Shamill’s question out of blue make Elyssa lough whole heartedly.

 

“Dear, if you are asking this question, then you didn’t know me.” Was only her statement.

 

Shamill just smiles and shrugs his shoulder.

 

There, another mystery. He knows her for whole 8 years and he still failed to understand her.

 

 

***

 

 

 Seoul, South Korea

 

“Hyung!!”

 

Nichkhun shout his lungs out in relief after he saw Minjun cooking in the kitchen.

 

“Aigoo..kamchakkiya!!! Yah!! Don’t give me a heart attack can you? Or else my pretty, gorgeous Ailee will be lonely.”

 

Minjun nags at his dongsaeng. Nichkhun just flashes a silly smile. He was so relieved that Minjun brought him home and cooks something delicious. Well, not really delicious, but at least decent to be called a food. In fact Minjun just behind him in cooking department compared to other members.

 

Minjun just shakes his head and resume cooking chicken ginseng. He then busied himself with side dishes; kimchi, bean sprouts and omelet.

 

“Hyung, it smells so delicious. My stomach has been growling. When will it ready?” Nichkhun asks.

 

“Yah, just a little bit, be patient will you?” Minjun answered in a simple manner.

 

“Hyung… I want to shower..” Nichkhun said after he realized he stinks.

 

“Yah!!!!!!! How come you just realized now? I can smell your stinky smell from miles away. Aigoo i-nom. Towels in left drawer in my cupboard. Just pick any t-shirt that suits your taste and shorts also in the cupboard. Help yourself. Now, go. Don’t mess with my cooking.” Minjun ordered his dong saeng.

 

Nichkhun just nods his head and went into the room.

 

***

 

They sit together at the table and have dinner.

 

“Hyung, this is delicious. Why you never cooked this before?” Nichkhun asks.

 

“Don’t wanna. Or else all of you will bug me to cook it often.” Minjun reply with a merong.

 

“And you let me do all the cooking in the dorm? How could you?” Nichkhun asks then with a sad, pouty face.

 

“It was never my intention. You were just too kind to reject their request. Not my fault.” He replies then.

 

Then they just laughs it off, knowing how true it is.

 

“Hyung, how you keep composed?” Nichkhun asks out of curiosity.

 

Yes, he can saw his hyung was on the verge of collapsing but it was so subtle. Only he and Chansung realized his changes. But in his case, he was so obvious. Even the oblivious Tacyeon also noticed and starts asking him what happened and what has bothering him.

 

“Our situations are different Khun. Yes, I was after her shadow then, but I still can meet her, look into her beautiful eyes, listening to her magnificent voice spending times with her, so even though it was hard I was happy to see her happy and see her smile. But you were separated. You were in one world and in she was in the other. I can understand this is double time harder than mine.” He said then.

 

Nichkhun nods his head and sighes. So, what can he do to make this easier?

 

“Hyung, when we can take our leave?” Khun asks then.

 

“In another 2 weeks I think. We have 3days free of schedule.” Minjun said.

 

“Asa!! I want to go somewhere.” He said in his smile.

 

“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going to fly to your angel? You know it will be scandalous right?” Minjun starts to nag.

 

“Nope, don’t worry hyung. I want to go somewhere where I will gain my calm self.” He answers with a wink; the killer wink.

 

Minjun just nods his head, hoping he can trust his dongsaeng this time around.

 

***

 

Johor Bharu, Johor, Malaysia

 

“Do you happy with this arrangement?” Elyssa asks him again, when her first question left unattended.

 

Shamill let out a heavy sigh.

 

“Well, to be fair, I am not happy, happy but I think I can work this out.” He said

 

“That’s the thing Shamill. Yes, you can live with your bestie but can you love her the way you love your soulmate?” Elyssa asks him then.

 

He take a deep breath.

 

“Why don’t we just try this out? No strings attached. If both of us feels like no way we can do this, we stop.” Shamill suggested then.

 

“Why spend our time for something we know not going anywhere?” she sighes, heavily.

 

“How do you know? We never tried. Try give us a chance.” He said.

 

“I just know, but if you insisted. Yeah, then everyone will satisfied right?” Elyssa answers then.

 

“But, you need to promise me something.” Shamill then asks her.

 

“What?”

 

“Please open your heart. Don’t blocked me out” he plead.

 

She just nods her head and stands up.

 

“Let’s go, we have round to do”

 

Shamill nods his head and rise.

 

 

Yup, they have rounds to do. He thinks to himself.

 

***

Seoul, South Korea

 

Here is where Khun spending his time alone lately. He’s learning a new world where he never been before. Here he learns how to love himself and love others even more. He learn how to be humble, how to perceive world and how to live his life.

 

Being here makes him realized there is so much more than living well in this world. He also learned how to be contented with what he has, and he learned how to be grateful. It’s not like he never feel grateful before, it just he learned another level of happiness in life.

 

He takes a good look around, and he realizes how far have he been separated with his ultimate sanctuary. This is what he has been looking for all this while. For a split second, he forget about Elyssa, he forgot about his sadness and all he can think is the calmness that run through his veins and makes him extremely happy. It was like he’s on ecstasy.

 

He was hoping he can bring s here some other time and shows them what he learned.

 

After his short session with his master, he went up the hill in the middle of the city. He sat there alone, looking far through the horizon and think. He tries to do as his master asks him to.

 

He thinks about his existence, the reason and goal of his life. And how can he make his goal come true. The scenery was so beautiful it ooze the sweet feeling in his heart. The air is so fresh that he was so happy to be alive. He’s so happy he found the true meaning of life, yet he felt so sad why didn’t he found it sooner.

 

 

***

 

Johor Bharu, Johor, Malaysia.

 

Shamill and Elyssa went for dinner that night since both of them not on duty. They choose to go to a fancy diner, and have nice meal. Their mothers are so glad that both of them are willing to give this idea a chance.

 

Shamill picks Elyssa up after Maghrib and they go straight to the restaurant. He, being gentleman he is, open the car door for her. Choose her favorite food from the menu. Honestly, it was piece of cake for him since he knows her too well.

 

Elyssa just smiles and shrugs the flutter feeling. She knows too well than to let her heart fall. This grieving phase that he face, she should be the one who knows best, not to take granted from.

 

“How come I never know that you have this sweet smile?” Shamill asks her suddenly, out of blue.

 

His face clearly shows he was being genuine with his words. Elyssa couldn’t help but wavering.

 

“I don’t know, maybe you weren’t supposed to see it?” she tries her best to act nonchalantly to his words, even when her heart did skip a beat just now though.

 

“But, why am I not supposed to see it? Girl, you hurt me just now.” He said then with a cute pout.

 

Elyssa just giggles.

 

“Ooh boy. That cute pout seriously didn’t match your image.” She said then.

 

“But it was cute, wasn’t it? So, I succeed then. I am intend to give you a cute pout.” He said then with a wink.

 

“Come on Mill, I am not some girl you want to seduce, so keep it to yourself will you.” She said then, forget about all the arrangement, for a while.

 

Silence fill the space for a while. Shamill clears his throat.

 

“Well, I am definitely not trying to seduce you right now, in this current moment. But I do try to sweep you off your feet, first.”

 

He said then, with a serious tone.

 

Elyssa regret for saying those sentences out loud just now. She forget how intimidating this man could be when he is serious, and more importantly she forgot how deadly seducing this guy is when he exude his manly charm.

 

And now, her heart beats like she just finish running marathon, and the butterflies keep doing somersaults in her stomach.

 

So, instead of doing any grave mistakes she decides to finish her meals quickly, quietly.

 

“El, you shouldn’t be this quiet you know. Is this how you behave when you go on dates? The guy sitting across you would die out of boredom you know?” Shamill said with a chuckle.

 

“Hey, have you ever feels bored being friends with me all this while?” she asks him back, offended with the statement.

 

He just shrugs his shoulder.

 

“Nope, you’re one of the most simple yet interesting people I have known.” He state as a matter of fact.

 

Elyssa is a simple person, yet so interesting to know. Knowing her was like peeling an onion. You need to peel her off to know her core. She didn’t open up easily, but she tries her best to make working with her easy. She’s that kind of person, and that was the reason why everyone likes to work with her. She always makes it easy for other people. She’s that nice. And Shamill certainly loves that quality of her.

 

Elyssa just smiles to his statement of her.

 

“I finish my meal and so do you. Come, let’s go home.” Elyssa said with monotonous voice.

 

“El, I noticed that you are not that rough, but why are you trying to display a rough image?”

 

Shamill’s question out of blue make Elyssa lough whole heartedly.

 

“Dear, if you are asking this question, then you didn’t know me.” Was only her statement.

 

Shamill just smiles and shrugs his shoulder.

 

There, another mystery. He knows her for whole 8 years and he still failed to understand her.

 

 

***