((A/N Not much to say this week, other than early update because I'm tired and haven't had the best week, so I hope to wake up to comments and lots of views to try and help how I'm feeling ))

It’s Cold Outside But Between Us it’s Worse, And No Matter What I Do You’re Always Mad.
There’s Nothing You Can Do or Say, Even If I Hold Onto You This Will all Just Repeat.
So Here’s Goodbye
 

LuHan entered his and Minseok’s usual café seeing the copper haired male waving as he was sitting at one of the back tables. He made his way over, sitting across from Minseok, who slid one of the cups in front of him towards LuHan.
 

“Iced Americano, as usual,” the older smiled and LuHan gave one in response.
 

“Seems that everyone knows my usual,” He said and Minseok’s head tilted a little in response. “The barista that we usually order from knew what to make before I even got up to the counter,” He explained and Minseok gave a nod and took a drink of his own coffee. Setting the cup down as LuHan took his straw between his lips, Minseok stood and sat on the booth side of the table next to LuHan, who almost choked on his drink in response.
 

They sat and talked about how their classes were going as usual and Minseok finished his coffee by the time LuHan had drank half of his own. LuHan looked around at the faces of the other customers, tensing when he felt Minseok’s arm loop around his. He pulled his arm away, scooting away from the other who frowned in response.
 

“There’s too many people here,” LuHan said, Minseok’s frown changing from a pout to an irritated one.
 

“Aren’t you getting tired of that?” Minseok asked, moving back to the other side of the table when LuHan reached out towards him.
 

“I’ve told you, PDA makes me uncomfortable,” LuHan said, Minseok not bothering to pay him so much as a glance the next half hour that they were there before LuHan suggested they head back to Minseok’s apartment. As they walked LuHan tried to take Minseok’s hand in his own when there was no one else around, but the other pulled his hand away and crossed his arms tightly over his chest. He still refused to look at LuHan.
 

“Minseok, please. Talk to me,” LuHan pleaded as the other unlocked his apartment, hearing Minseok sigh. He slid out of his shoes as Minseok did, closing the door and padding to the middle of the living room, where Minseok stood with his back to LuHan.
 

“Talking doesn’t change anything with you,” Minseok said, turning to face LuHan. “You’re always so concerned about what other people think about who’s holding your hand that you never seem to be concerned with how it affects the one you’re holding hands with.” LuHan opened his mouth to retort, the arch of Minseok’s eyebrow enough to silence him. “I can understand being nervous of PDA during the first couple months, but we’ve been together for close to seven and you still refuse to be closer than a foot from me when there are three other people in a restaurant dining room with us. All the worrying, people watching to see where their eyes are… is the exhaustion and stress really worth it?” LuHan looked down, rubbing his upper arm.
 

“I’m not… out, like you are.”
 

“LuHan! People don’t care as much as you think they do,” Minseok argued, his voice raising a little. “I’ve walked this town hand in hand with a partner before, and we got maybe one double take. People don’t care, you’re the only one bothered by holding hands while being outside of this room.”
 

“You said you were patient, that we could take things as slowly as I needed. I’m just-”
 

“Embarrassed?” LuHan flinched, looking back up at Minseok with wide eyes.
 

“What? N-no, I-”
 

“Because the only time you don’t act like you’re embarrassed or ashamed to be with me is when no one else can see me,” Minseok’s voice had returned to his usual volume, his shoulders slumping a little. “That’s what it honestly feels like,” He said, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath and took a step back to sit on his couch. “It feels like you’re ashamed to be with me,” He finished, thumb against his temple as his other fingers pushed his bangs up, resting against his forehead as he looked up at the LuHan.
 

“That’s not… That’s not what I’m trying to make you feel,” LuHan stated and Minseok nodded, closing his eyes.
 

“I know. I’m just...” Minseok sighed, his hand shifting so his palm hid his eyes. “I’m just done,” He said, LuHan tensing.
 

“I… I thought you said we were bonded. That we were soul mates,” LuHan said. He had looked up a little about soulmates after Minseok had brought it up. Once people bonded, they were bonded for life; that was why the bonds were such a big deal.
 

“I guess I was wrong,” Minseok said, taking a slow breath. “I’m sorry,” He added, the tiredness of his voice trapping LuHan’s in his throat. He stood there in for a few moments before he turned and slid his shoes back on, leaving Minseok in silence.

LuHan was thankful that the next day his only class was dance, and someone was smiling upon him when their instructor gave them the last half hour of class as free time. He sat across from Sehun and Jongin, feeling a small sting in his chest when the conversation was steered towards partners.
 

“Kyungsoo-Hyung said he had something planned tomorrow night for our one year anniversary,” Jongin said, smiling as he fidgeted with the hem of his jeans and then rolling his eyes when Sehun nudged him with his elbow as he grinned. “Sehun, for the last time, special doesn’t automatically mean dirty!” He protested, Sehun’s grin growing until Jongin pushed him over. LuHan laughed at the mock shock on the blond’s face before they looked to him.
 

“What about you, LuHan-hyung?” Sehun asked.
 

“What about me?”
 

“Got anyone special?” The blond specified and LuHan cringed a little.
 

“Actually… I got dumped last night,” He admitted slowly, now feeling both pairs of eyes on him. “We… we thought we were bonded, but everything started going wrong and I wasn’t able to fix it,” He ran a hand through his hair, resisting a sigh. “But… Somehow I still feel connected. And I’m not as broken up about it as I was expecting I would. It still hurt but…” He trailed off, and when neither said anything he looked up to find the duo staring at each other before they looked back to him.
 

“What… did your bond feel like?” Jongin asked, LuHan’s eyebrows knitting together.
 

“I felt… drawn to hi-” he caught himself and looked away. “I felt drawn to them, from the moment we first met there was something there as we got closer and spent more time together it became stronger. But… something didn’t feel right when we tried…” He cut off, shaking his head again. There was no way he was going to talk about that with those two. “N-never mind,” He stammered as Sehun and Jongin’s eyes flickered to each other’s again.
 

“It sounds like you two are soul mates,” Sehun said.
 

“Just not romantic ones,” Jongin finished and LuHan gave them a confused look.
 

“You’re telling me there’s more than one kind of soul mate?” He asked, the duo nodding in unison.
 

“Like Jongin-hyung and I. We’re bonded, but we’re not dating each other. We knew from the start that we were bonded, and eventually we looked up stuff about soul mates.”
 

“There are two kinds, and people have said that no one can really be happy unless they have both their romantic and platonic soulmates,” Jongin added in.
 

“From the sound of it, you two are platonic soul mates. And if you are, trying to force romance…” Sehun’s nose scrunched up a little. “Never works out, according to what we’ve read about.” LuHan’s face found its way into his hands and he shook his head.
 

“I can’t believe I’m getting life advice from a couple of freshies,” he groaned before taking a deep breath and lowered his hands.
 

“You didn’t know, there’s nothing wrong with learning from people younger than you,” Jongin soothed. “Lots of people assume things when it comes to soul mates and a lot of people end up unhappy because they rush things,” He added with a shrug.
 

“Yeah, he visited his soulmate’s work every day for weeks before Kyungsoo-hyung asked him on a date, so he knows all about not rushing things,” Sehun said, grinning at the blush that spread across Jongin’s cheeks.
 

“Will you ever let that die? We’re trying to help LuHan-hyung, not talk about Kyungsoo-hyung and I,” Jongin argued, and LuHan watched the banter between them before the instructor came back into the classroom to dismiss them. Jongin and LuHan stood and started for the pile of backpacks and shoes, LuHan looking back at Sehun who remained on the floor.
 

“Aren’t you going to your next class?”
 

“I have my dance classes back to back,” Sehun replied.
 

“That doesn’t seem like fun,” LuHan replied and Sehun shrugged.
 

“Builds up stamina,” He said and LuHan stood stiffly before coughing and turning, retrieving his bag to head home.