Whilst seated at a small round flat top table, Baekho impatiently taps his finger upon its surface. With his top lip tucked neatly behind his bottom, the proposition made by JR replays itself over and over in his head. The bell which hangs above the small cafes front door jingles as each patron enters the shop. The faint sound distracting him from his own thoughts, and cause for him to sit upright in his seat.    Barista: "Dongho. Your order is ready."              He perks his head up, before pushing away from the table and motioning toward the register. Baekho reaches the counter, the barista on his end handing him his coffee cup, his name "Dongho" scribbled atop its white plastic lid.   S.Coups: "Baekho?"   Baekho: "Huh?"              With a slight hesitation, Baekho turns away from the barista in front of him and stares down toward the opposite end of the elongated counter. S.Coups, who stands directly in front of the register and cashier steps back slightly, a faint smile splashed across his face. Baekho, with beverage in hand slowly makes his way toward him. S.Coups does the same, meeting him halfway.    S.Coups & Baekho: "...hi."                 Awkwardly they both chuckle, having not seen nor spoken to each other in quite some time. They look around aimlessly, before allowing their eyes to meet once again.    Baekho: "I'm sitting at a table right over there if you -- "   S.Coups: "oh -- thank you. But I'm uh... I'm actually on my way to meet up with the others."   Baekho: "oh -- "   S.Coups: "we're just going to do some Christmas shopping, nothing major."   Baekho: "it's okay... I was just --"   S.Coups: "yeah -- I know. Thanks..."              A brief moment of silence befalls them once again, as they coyly refrain from making anymore eye contact with one another.   Barista: "SeungCheol. Your order is ready."            S.Coups nods his head towards the direction of the barista on the opposite end of the cafe before taking it upon himself to walk in his direction, stepping away from Baekho. On the heels of his boots, Baekho turns, following his movements, watching silently as S.Coups reaches out for his drink. The two allow for their eyes to meet once more, before S.Coups returns to his previous position directly in front of Baekho.   S.Coups: "where did you say your table was?"              Baekho smiles gently, motioning with his head toward his small table near the back of the cafe. S.Coups turns his head in its direction, and takes notice of Baekho's navy blue pea coat hanging behind a single chair.    S.Coups: "there are still a few weeks until Christmas anyway. I can get the shopping out of the way another day."             S.Coups takes a small sip from his cup, watching as Baekho steps aside, allowing for him to step past him and head towards the table. Following behind him the two seat themselves directly across from one another. S.Coups proceeds to the large plastic buttons on his navy blue wool peacoat, slipping it behind his chair much like Baekho  has done with his own.   Baekho: "I didn't even notice, we have the same coat."   S.Coups: "heh -- yeah... -- great minds think alike."               Like clockwork, another brief period of silence chimes in. Only the sounds of each of them sipping from their cups can be heard between the two as they continuously place them down on the table, only to reach for them in intervals.    Baekho: "so..."   S.Coups: "...so"               They both laugh awkwardly once again, while reaching out for their cups. They look away briefly before returning their attention back to each other and smiling shyly.    Minhyun: "how about this one? -- do you think -- "              Minhyun turns around slowly, pulling himself away from the wide arrangement of sneakers on the wall which now stands behind him. With a single sneaker in hand, he now faces Ren who is just standing there aimlessly directly in front of him. He grumbles under his breath, before placing the sneaker back on its stand. Slowly, he returns his attention back toward Ren, then motions even closer to him.   Minhyun: "Ren-ah..."             Minhyun knocks gently on the top of Ren's head, snapping him out of his trance like state and bringing him back to their shared reality.    Ren: "yah!"   Minhyun: "What's with you? You've been a little off today -- is everything alright with you?"              While chuckling softly under his breath, he reaches up and tugs down on the sides of his wool knit cap. Still not quite comfortable with how his hair has begun to grow in after his sporadic haircut not too long ago.    Ren: "yeah -- I'm fine..."   Minhyun: "so what did you think of the shoe? Do you think that Aron hyung will like it?"   Ren: "y-yeah, they're pretty cool. -- and they look expensive, exactly what he asked for."   Minhyun: "They are -- aren't they? I'm not too sure about the color though."           Minhyun turns back to face the assortment of sneakers grabbing one with each hand, the same style just in two different colors. He turns back to face Ren who has begun walking away toward a small bench in the center of the store.    Minhyun: "Red -- or blue?"              The question goes unanswered, the lack of response causes for Minhyun to seat himself beside Ren. He raises both pairs in front of his face and clears his throat.    Minhyun: "Red? -- "               He places the red sneaker on his lap.   Minhyun: "or blue? -- "               He then places the blue sneaker directly beside the red one. The color catches Ren's attention, his head lowers and his eyes fixate on the shimmer of the blue patent leather. Slowly, he reaches down and grabs a hold of the shoe, cradling it in both hands.    Minhyun: "you're right -- the blue shoe does look cooler."              Minhyun stands up in an attempt to find some sort of help.    Minhyun: "I'll just put the red one back. Hold on to the blue one while I go look for someone who is actually working here today."            Ren's eyes refuse to divert away from the shoe in his hand. The curve of his lips raise as they then form the shape of a rather wide smile. The lids of his eyes begin to lower until they shut completely, the smile worn by him refusing to waver as he then allows himself to drift off, and become absorbed within the memory which has been suddenly triggered by the color of the sneaker.           A trail of footsteps are left behind him on the snowy path behind Ren. The empty streets to his left have yet to produce a single car for the hour he had been walking. Panting heavily behind his scarf, he holds tightly onto the gift, as its shimmery blue wrapping glistens beneath the sunlight. He raises it, holding it even tighter still against his chest, as each footstep becomes heavier and heavier as the snow beneath his feet continues to accumulate.             Tucked away within the confines of his large winter coat, he can still feel the temperature as it continuously drops. Gradually, he makes his way up the road, the view of several cars up ahead, bring a sense of relief to him.  With one hand still clutching onto the gift, he uses the other to hail for some assistance.               Upon being passed on by, by several vehicles, one finally slows in its pace until finally stopping on the road beside him. A young woman lowers her window and stares out at him, a cheerful smile on her face as she withdraws her hands from her steering wheel and presses them against her cheeks.    Woman: "oh my god, Ren? -- are you Ren?!"   Ren: "hello."                He responds cheerfully, tilting his head on its side. Not quite sure of what to make of the girls fanatic behavior from within the vehicle.    Woman: "I'm a huge fan!"   Ren: "thank you! -- thank you so much!"   Woman: "do you need to get somewhere? Are you lost? It's too cold to walk."   Ren: "ah, yes. I uh -- "   Woman: "hush! -- get in, get in! -- I won't take no for an answer.             He nods several times quickly before making his way around the car, toward the passenger side and entering the vehicle. He exhales softly, as the warmth of the heater begins to defrost his frozen limbs instantly. He turns to the woman and smiles warmly, bowing several times respectfully from his seat whilst strapping on his seat belt.   Woman: "I never thought that I'd ever run into you of all people out here -- it must be some kind of Christmas miracle."   Ren: "aww."               He responds politely.   Woman: "you're my favorite of all the members! -- but I love you all!"   Ren: "thank you so much!"               He says softly, as he peels off the gloves from his hands.    Woman: "okay -- so -- where do you need to go?"   Ren: "the nearest airport please."   Woman: "but you don't have any luggage. Would you like to go get your things?"   Ren: "no, this is all that I came with."              He shakes the gift box in his lap gently.   Woman: "oooooh! -- what's inside?"   Ren: "just a piece of history from a moment in time I replay over and over in my head."   Woman: "wow, that sounds pretty important. -- who's it for?"              He turns away from her and lowers his head, his eyes fixated on the gift box below. He sighs softly, before returning his attention to her, and forcing a soft smile.   Ren: "a good friend -- but it just isn't the right time to give it to him just yet."   Woman: "gifts like that are better given once more time has passed anyway. The value of its meaning grows."   Ren: "yeah -- I guess you're right."   Woman: "to the airport we go!"             As the car proceeds to take off from its parked position, Ren sits there quietly, his hands. Resting atop the gift on his lap. A light ringing can be heard emitting from within his large puffy coat. Going unnoticed by him, the woman on his side turns to face him, clearing her thought while doing so.    Woman: "do you -- hear something?"   Ren: "huh?"   Woman: "I hear something ringing -- don't you?"              With a pair of cocked brows, Ren gradually raises a single hand from off of his lap. peting his coat and reaching inward, retracting his phone from the inside pocket.    Ren: "it -- is -- my phone."            He smiles politely, staring down at the screen, Baekho's name flashing across the screen. Slowly he raises it to his ear, his smile widening as the ringing comes to an end.    Ren: "H-hello?"   Baekho: "Ren-ah..."   Ren: "...hey?"   Baekho: "I have a silly question to ask you."   Ren: "ah -- go ahead -- ask away."   Baekho: "you're not -- here -- are you?"   Ren: "what do you mean by 'here'?"   Baekho: "On Jeju... Near my home..."                 His mind instantly flashes to when Baekho stepped out of the house. He had convinced himself that they hadn't made any sort of actual eye contact. That it was all in his head.    Ren: "n-n-no, that's silly, w-why do you ask?"   Baekho: "I don't know, never mind."   Ren: "oh -- "   Baekho: "I guess -- I guess that I just miss you so much that I hallucinated you."             Hearing those words, he is tempted to ask the car to turn back around. His cheeks pinched with blush, his eyes lowering, and a soft sigh being expressed.    Ren: "you -- you miss -- me?"               He questions shyly.    Baekho: "I miss you every second, of every minute, of every day..."                Unable to contain his enjoyment, he remains silent. As his teeth expose themselves from behind his gentle smile.    Baekho: "I'm sorry -- I shouldn't have --"   Ren: " I uh... -- I -- "               He stops mid sentence, realizing that the woman beside him is paying close attention to his conversation. Nervously, he begins to laugh in order to deflect her attention.    Baekho: "Oh my god, are you with Jonghyun right now? I'm sorry..."   Ren: "no -- it's fine."   Baekho: "but it's true... I miss you... I miss -- us."              Upon hearing those words, his fingertips scrape against the material of the blue wrapping paper.    Ren: "when do you get back?"   Baekho: "who knows... -- Maybe not till sometime next year. I really need to be here for my dad."   Ren: "you're right. We've uh -- we've barely spoken since you left."   Baekho: "I've wanted to call you everyday but -- "   Ren: "yeah -- me too -- but -- "              They both remain silent for a brief moment.    Baekho: "we can change that now though."   Ren: "I'd like that."   Baekho: "me too..."   Ren: "maybe we can -- make things right?"   Baekho: "between us?"   Ren: "yeah."   Baekho: "I'd like that."             He turns slightly, his eyes meeting with the woman's through the rear view mirror.    Ren: "well -- I have to go --"   Baekho: "Ren-ah?"   Ren: "yeah?"   Baekho: "when I do get back, I wish for your face to be the first that I see."            He smiles softly hearing those words.   Ren: "then so shall it be."   Baekho: "I still love you... -- and It's a shame that it took a hallucination to get me to admit it to you... Heh..."   Ren: "love you too."   Baekho: "Bye."   Ren: "...Bye."               He hangs up the phone and tucks it away. His eyes raise, and meet with those of the woman driving through the rear view mirror once again.   Ren: "my uh -- my mother."   Woman: "oh -- it sounds like you love your -- mother -- a lot."   Ren: "y-yeah... I do..."              Their eyes both squint as they express a deep warm hearted smile.  Ren turns his attention to the beauty outside his window. Sighing softly as he simply watches it all pass him by. He looks down once again, pressing his lips against each other, while tightening his grasp on the gift.   Minhyun: "Ren-ah! Let! -- it! -- go!"   Ren: "huh?"               Minhyun, with his hands clutching around one end of the sneaker, nudges it as it is being held onto tightly by Ren's, in what seems like a vice like grip. Ren chuckles nervously before letting go, and allowing for Minhyun to snatch it away from him.    Minhyun: "you're really no help!"   Ren: "sorry -- my mind is just somewhere else today."   Minhyun: "well snap out of it! -- you promised that you'd help me pick out a gift."             Raising to his feet Ren nods in agreeance before making his way to Minhyun's side.   Minhyun: "you know -- on second thought, maybe shoes aren't the best bet. Let's go hit up another shop. The mall doesn't close for another few hours anyway."             Seated across from each other, with their empty cups directly in front of one another both Baekho and S.Coups sit in yet another painfully long moment of awkward silence. The now empty cafe, seats only the two, as the ticking of the clock above the register can be heard in between the passing of each song played over the mini speakers which hang in each corner. S.Coups pulls away from the table and slowly raises upright, Baekho following suit, standing up in order to meet him.    S.Coups: "well -- this was -- ...fun."   Baekho: "I'm sorry, I just don't know what to say in this situation."   S.Coups: "there's really nothing to say."   Baekho: "I just don't want you to go on hating me."             S.Coups scoffs, his empty cup in hand.   S.Coups: "hating you? -- before we were... Whatever we were -- we were friends. I can't hate you. Besides, why are you so worried about being hated? Shouldn't it be me? I'm the one who broke things off -- remember?"   Baekho: "yeah! -- you're right! I should hate you!"            The both quietly laugh, Baekho returning to his seat, he stares at S.Coups and monitors his hesitant behavior. With his hand he motions for him to sit, pulling it back then pressing his palms together in a prayer like formation while pouting slightly. S.Coups scoffs jokingly, shaking his head and returning to his seat. The two sit there, both exhaling lightly, before grinning at one another from across the table.    Baekho: "you know, it's funny that you mention that we were friends."   S.Coups: "why is that?"   Baekho: "I uh... I have sort of been on the whole friend train as of late."   S.Coups: "really?"              He a quick brow as he motions closer, in order to listen more intently.   Baekho: "yeah. You know -- Jonghyun and Minki are just friends again -- "   S.Coups: "I expected as much -- that's good for them."           Agreeing wholeheartedly, Baekho nods his head several times.    Baekho: "yeah, I think so too. So much so that I thought that maybe it was time that I let go of some anger myself and try the whole 'friend' thing."   S.Coups: "with -- me?"   Baekho: "well yeah -- you -- and Ren."               S.Coups sits back in his chair, laughing softly under his breath, shaking his head lightly at the mere notion of it.    Baekho: "what?"   S.Coups: "that all sounds good -- in theory -- "   Baekho: "are you saying that we can't be friends?"   S.Coups: "you and I? -- we never stopped. We just needed this time apart to get over the awkward ex thing and go back to normal. And I'd say We're... Almost there."           Baekho laughs breathily, scratching gently at the back of his head.    S.Coups: "but you and Ren? -- ha!"           Baekho, with furrowed brows,  pulls his chair in closer to the table. His elbows resting on its surface, his hands clasped together.    Baekho: "what exactly do you mean by that?"   S.Coups: "you and Ren will never 'just' be friends."   Baekho: "that's not true, we've been 'just' friends before, and we're 'just' friends now. Technically -- we've only been 'just' friends."   S.Coups: "you guys have never been 'just' friends. You've always been -- "             He suddenly stops speaking, sitting upright in his seat now as he releases an almost silent sigh.    Baekho: "what?"   S.Coups: "you guys are so in love with each other. And everyone can see it, it's so obvious to everyone, even the two of you, and that's why you fight so hard against it."   Baekho: "I -- "              S.Coups continues, cutting him off before he can even get a word in edge wise.    S.Coups: "I know it's always been Ren, and you might say no to that right now -- but -- you keep going back. You keep telling him that he's had his last chance -- and you keep making promises to yourself that you can't keep. Promises to stay away -- promises to 'hate' him. Face it, you guys are star crossed, I just hope you guys realize it before it's too late."               Slowly, Baekho withdraws from his position, leaning back in his chair now, staring off to the side. S.Coups smirks, while continuing to  stare across the table at him, somewhat shocked at the fact that Baekho seems shocked at hearing of this information.    Baekho: "but I -- I don't 'love' him."   S.Coups: "Baekho -- we're not together anymore. You don't need to convince me that you don't, and you don't need to convince yourself anymore either. For the first time in a long time, you guys are both single,  and free from hurting people, if you decide to act on it. What's really stopping you guys? -- only yourselves."   Baekho: "I - I can't be in love with him. I'm not -- I know I'm not."   S.Coups: "then -- "   Baekho: "I'm not... Right?"           S.Coups chuckles softly, standing up in order to drag his chair across the table and place it beside Baekho's. The confusion in his puppy dog eyes prompts him to comfort him. Tapping his right shoulder lightly, he watches as Baekho lays his head on it, sighing softly as he does so.    Ren: "so -- do you want to come out to the movies with us next week to see -