Comfortable warmth took over the psychologist, as he stayed calm in the darkness. Surprisingly, he didn’t have nightmares. He wasn’t bothered by danger, knowing he had fallen asleep on his partner’s side the last time he saw him. He hadn’t taken a proper nap since last night, which made him exhausted to continue to stay awake. His head rested on his arms and there’s no sign of him moving. It wasn’t that long until he slowly felt a gentle touch on his hair. He began to lean closely by the touch, which reminded him of his late mother. He missed her. When he was little, his mother has been always by his side, his bangs until he went to sleep peacefully.

The gentle pat didn’t stop as he slowly open his eyes. He presumed that Jongin was trying to wake him up. Lately, his angel has been too close to him. That one time when he woke up in his bed, Jongin was right on his face as he opened his eyes. Sometimes Jongin was laying next to him on the next day and then he was floating in front of him on the following day. He slowly got used to it.

Kyungsoo blinked his eyes open and realized that he’s been sleeping in sitting position. He pushed his head up, rubbing his tired eye as he tried to look at the person who’s been his hair. When his vision became clear, it wasn’t Jongin who woke him up. Jongdae was smiling at him as his hand still rested on Kyungsoo’s head.

“Jongdae... You’re awake.” Kyungsoo looked dazed as he spoke.

“Good morning to you too, Kyungsoo. Have you slept well?”

Kyungsoo made a light nod before Jongdae placed down his hand. Looking at his partner’s condition, Jongdae was pretty much wrapped around with bandages. Even he was wearing the patient’s outfit, Kyungsoo could see the bandages on his arms and the whole body. There’s a small bandage on his head and left cheek as well a visible cut on the lip. Kyungsoo can’t help wincing on Jongdae’s injuries.

“How are you anyway? Do your body stings as you move around?” Kyungsoo asked.

Jongdae lightly move his arm. “Not as stings as yesterday. The doctor said I shouldn’t move around and let the pain killer does the job. I feel much better.”

Kyungsoo drew a genuine smile before he stretched his arms. As Jongdae watched Kyungsoo rubbing his tired arms, his expression slowly fell in disappointment.

“... Why do you care about me that much, Kyungsoo? You went straight here after the incident, ended up passing on the side bed. I was expecting you were taking care of Baekhyun and not to worry much about me, but you once in a while. I realized that you’re stubborn to not let me go.”

Kyungsoo looked lost at words when Jongdae said that. It was true that he’s been sticking around Jongdae lately. Maybe he was indeed worried at his partner, and this feeling was hardly to let go. His gaze on Jongdae slowly traveled downwards to his own fiddling fingers.

“Maybe you think that I’ve annoyed you so much, then I apologize. But I’ll be honest with you.” Kyungsoo looked back at Jongdae, his eyes were sincere as he continued. “To tell the truth, I’m scared, Jongdae. When you left me in the empty warehouse, I had a bad feeling I might lose another good partner. I really, really don’t want that to happen again. Jongin--“ Kyungsoo turned down as he took a short breath, trying not to make his voice trembled. “Maybe you didn’t know how he was murdered, but I was the last person he spoke with... before he left me alone in the office. He went there alone without telling me, Jongdae. If I knew earlier that he was going to face his death, I... I--“

“Kyungsoo...” Jongdae shook Kyungsoo’s hand, trying to make him look back at him. Kyungsoo almost lost his composure. His eyes told Jongdae that he was surrounded with fear and sadness.

“I... could have stopped him. I could have... saved his life. I could have...”

“No, Kyungsoo. That’s enough. It wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry that I’ve acted this way. I didn’t realize that.” Jongdae hold tightly in the younger’s hand to reassure him. Kyungsoo gulped lightly as his gaze on Jongdae hadn’t yet broke.

“So please, Jongdae? Can you not do that again?”

That plea just made Jongdae felt worse. He closed his eyes before reopened them, he pulled the younger him closer so he could comfort him. He reached to rub on Kyungsoo’s neck before he nodded.

“How can I not after you told me this? We’ve been working together for a while, haven’t we? It reminds me of someone like you back then in China. Except that, you’re nicer than him. But anyway! After I got discharged, let’s have a party all night long, shall we?”

The way Jongdae talked to him was like trying to pull Kyungsoo out from being miserable. Kyungsoo couldn’t help but to brighten a little on the attempt. Out of many people he could think, Jongdae is one of the best partners he can get after Jongin. Even Kim brothers aren’t blood related, but Kyungsoo blessed on their late father who raised them such a good person. He could see differences between Jongin and Jongdae but mostly they’re quite similar in term of working. He wondered who else are like them in the world.

Their thoughts were interrupted when they heard a knock echoed in the room. As the door was opened, Jongdae quickly pulled his hand away from Kyungsoo’s neck, avoiding from getting awkward. Their eyes laid on the person who walked in and it was none other than their best friend, Baekhyun. Chanyeol followed soon after but he stayed at the opened door, giving a space between them since he figured Baekhyun had to say something. Kyungsoo could read Baekhyun’s face easily before he turned to Jongdae.

“I leave you two alone.” Kyungsoo stood as he squeezed a bit on his partner’s shoulder before he and Chanyeol left the room.

Jongdae watched them leave before his eyes stopped at the scaredy-cat looking friend. Baekhyun kept looking up and down before he greeted quietly.

“H--Hey.”

Jongdae couldn’t help but to smile lightly on that. “Hey.” And awkward conversation began.

“H--How are you?” Baekhyun asked.

“I’m good. How are you?”

“Same as you.”

“I see.”

“...”

“...”

A dead silence.

Jongdae has a patient, but sometimes when his loud friend was unusually quiet, it means something’s wrong with him.

“We can stare for a whole day, Baek. I’m not going anywhere for a few days, so if you want to say something, just out with it. If you are done, then... I don’t know. Help yourself out?” Jongdae said casually.

“...Right. I came to apologize.”

“You said that to me like one thousand, three hundred and eighty six times yesterday.”

“I’m sorry, Jongdae.”

“One thousand, three hundred and eighty seven in counting.”

“...Jongdae.”

The atmosphere became quiet again as Baekhyun looked to him, a little annoyed at how Jongdae kept smiling at him. As they stared at each other, they eventually broke into a laugh. Baekhyun looked down as he continued to laugh. He hadn’t laughed for a while, but he missed Jongdae’s laugh the most. It’s been more than seven years, he thought. As the laugh died down, Baekhyun smiled at him.

“I know this sounds cliché but... I would like to start over again, after all this happened. I really want to fix back our old friendship.”

Jongdae brightened. “Yeah, me too. It’s been a while.”

“I guess I’ll start first, huh?” Baekhyun adjusted himself before he spoke. “Hello. My name is Byun Baekhyun and I’m... an idiot.”

Jongdae snickered before he played along.”Hello, ‘Idiot’. My name is Kim Jongdae and I’m reckless! Nice to meet you.” As he held out his hand out for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you too, ‘Reckless’.” Baekhyun accepted the handshake and both of them felt that the bond between them has finally fixed. They looked into their eyes as they recalled their childhood memories.

When Baekhyun was a child, he found Jongdae alone on the swing while holding his action figure. The other children were playing around, but Jongdae wasn’t interested to join them. Later Baekhyun learned that quiet Jongdae was a foster child, which Baekhyun felt bad for him. He approached to him on that day as he sat on the swing next to him. The first word came from Baekhyun’s mind when he looked at Jongdae’s action figure was...

“Wow! Is that Police Robocar Poli? He’s a good guy that catches the bad guy, isn’t he? I love him! He’s an awesome police car!”

Jongdae’s smile was priceless, and Chanyeol was introduced later by Baekhyun. That’s how they became friends for life.
 

“Oh gosh, just look at them! They’re finally friends again! Argh... I really can’t take it anymore. My eyes are tearing up...”

“Did you know that I can’t see them from here-- Chanyeol! Don’t you even!”

Kyungsoo stepped back as he warned the taller who tried to scoop him up from back. Chanyeol made a cute pout before sticking close to the patient room door window. He looked like a kid who excited at the toy display.

“You know what? Just go in there. Jongdae was expecting you.” Kyungsoo sighed lightly at Chanyeol’s behavior.

“Nah, I don’t think it’s the best time yet.”

“Sure. But don’t cry for me if Jongdae stealing your