...................

“Min?”

“Sungmin?”

“Sungmin hyung!”
Sungmin’s POV

He cannot understand why she did this to him. Sa Eun was so nice... and kind... and she seemed like she understood him well... or at least he thought so...
Then why she suddenly announced to the media that they are dating? Why? While she said she understood when he said that he wanted to keep their relationship a secret for a little while...

He was really shocked that morning when one of the SM PR staff called him and asked about him dating.
How could they know? He was so careful not to be suspicious. There were not even any pictures of them taken by dispatch or anyone. So how?
More shocked when he found out that it was Sa Eun herself, or her agency, whatever, that announced the news...

She... who declared that she loved him to the moon and back...
She... who made him able to trust someone again...
She... who made him believes he could fall in love again...
She... who made him thinks he could finally get over his broken heart...

He feels cheated.

Angry.

Angry for her selfish action that put him in a miserable state.
Angry for his kindhearted self that couldn’t even deny her statement.
Angry because somehow, this stupid scandal makes him missing Kyuhyun more than ever...
Kyuhyun’s POV

Strange...

It’s been months since they talked to each other, by text or phone call. So, why did Sungmin text him just now?

Lately, the situation between them started to get so awkward that sometimes it feels like there is a thick curtain separating them that he so wants to slice and tear it apart with an invisible knife. They are not even friends anymore... after everything...
It’s even worse than being strangers. Strangers can be friends. While they... they are slowly drifted apart into... nothing.

He misses him so much that he has to runaway to Jeju to calm himself. Maybe a little distance would make the forgetting process a little faster. Or, so he thought.

So far, it doesn’t work as well as he had planned. Even Changmin is starting to get tired of him talking about Sungmin all the time. “Oh, Minnie would love the sea.” “He would love the cute bedspread in the hotel.” “He would want to dance in the rain.” “If only he was here...”

Yeah... if only...

But, Sungmin wasn’t here. He’s in their dorm texting him to come home. And, by all the stupid games in the whole game center, he would book a plane and go straight home right away if he could. But, he couldn’t. All because the stupid storm that doesn’t seem to stop any sooner.

He couldn’t sleep that night.
Sungmin’s POV

Jungsu hyung isn’t here... Hyukjae too... Shindong has gone for holiday and he doesn’t want to bother his best friend because he wants him to have all free time that’s left before his enlistment. But, he feels so lonely now. The dorm never felt this empty before...

He wants to go home. But, what to tell his family? Mom must be terribly worried right now. She kept calling him since yesterday, but he didn’t dare to answer. They know about him dating Sa Eun, but they always thought he would keep it a secret. Just like he did when he was still with Kyu...

Kyu... Kyuhyun...

Why every thought has to lead back to him? Why he keeps on thinking about him? Well, Kyuhyun would never put him in this kind of position. Ever. Kyuhyun would protect him. Protect them...

Kyuhyun would... never hurt him...

He feels like crying again.
Kyuhyun’s POV

Finally, back home!

There’s no time to go to his parent’s house as he wants to get back to dorm as fast as possible. He even let Changmin go back to his dorm by taxi, and such a best friend he is, he doesn’t even complaint.

Is it only him, or the road to the dorm is taking longer than usual? Maybe it’s better to calm down and check his phone...

And that’s when all those ing news hit him all at the same time.

Damn!

He needs to get to Sungmin, NOW!

“Hyung... can we get faster?! Faster!!!”

“No, we can’t, Kyuhyun! Do you want to get caught by the police? I’m already as fast as I could, okay?!”

Damn!

He rushes upstairs once they get to the building. Doesn’t even care about the bags. Hell, manager will bring them later. All he could think at the moment is Sungmin, Sungmin, and Sungmin only.

Hyukjae is still at Jeju, so that means Sungmin is left all alone all this time. Alone! Maybe he’s curling up on his bed and crying just like he always does whenever bad things happened...

Damn!

“Min!”

“Sungmin!”

He calls out for Sungmin right after he opens the door. And he’s right, Sungmin is there... on his bed. Only he isn’t crying. He’s looking back at Kyuhyun with blank expression and no emotion at all. Like he’s tired of crying, or even tired of feeling anything... at all.
Kyuhyun hesitates for a while. Sungmin looks so fragile that he’s afraid he would break him with just his sound... or touch.

But then, Sungmin calls for him...

“Oh, Kyu... You’re home...”

And the dam is broken. And he’s crying again. And the only thing Kyuhyun could think of doing is rush on his feet and grab him into his arms and hold him tight. As tight as he could. Until he can share Sungmin’s pain, and makes it fade away... Just like he used to do...

And he feels Sungmin melts down in his arms. Holds him back like he’s the only thing that can save him right now, like a life saver. And Kyuhyun doesn’t mind, really. All those months being strangers can’t even erase the memories of how it felt whenever he holds Sungmin. He wouldn’t mind holding him forever... forever...
“Min...”

“Hmm...”

“No one is angry at you, you know. They are all angry at her... for using you...”

“She’s not using me, Kyu.”

“Okay. So how you call it, then?”

“She’s just... just...”

“Just what?”

“I don’t know. I thought she loved me.”

...........

“I would never do that to you...”

“I know.”

“I would protect you...”

“I know.”

“Why don’t you let me, then...?”

“Let you what?”

“Protect you... again...”

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