Kyungsoo and Chanyeol are blushing and breathless when they pull apart. “I think we should stop seeing each other,” suggests the former, shakily, eyes trained on the floor.

Chanyeol wants to cup the younger’s cheek; to resist, but he simply nods and surrenders. “Yeah, sorry about that. Let’s just forget it.”

“I think it’s time you talk to your husband.”

Chanyeol is slightly taken aback that Kyungsoo saw through his lie about Baekhyun knowing and approving of their friendship, but really he always knew.

“So does this mean you'll tell Jongin?”

“I have to. Look,” and it is only now that he snaps his head up to acknowledge the other person in the room, “Chanyeol, I don’t know how my husband is going to take this – he might get mad, he’ll for sure be distraught, he might not trust me anymore and leave me – and I can’t blame him if he does, but I need to tell him; that much he deserves.” He pauses, futilely willing away the tear that’s traced a path down his cheeks. “When I first saw Baekhyun after college and found out that he’d married you, it hurt. And I didn’t know why, but it did. And every time we bumped into each other after that, I was scared that I’d realize I was still in love with you all these years – that it hurt to know you were married…because I still hadn’t moved on from you.”

“What did you find out?”

“That I love Jongin.”

Chanyeol’s already sorely aching heart sinks to his gut. Somehow, in the haze of their impulsive kiss, Chanyeol had been able to delude himself that Kyungsoo loved him too and was about to confess. But he’d just slapped the older with the bitter fact that they just weren’t meant to be. He thought that since Kyungsoo kissed him back, the feelings were mutual –

It was just lust.

 “So it meant absolutely nothing to you?”

Kyungsoo looks up but stares him down, defiant. “Yes, it meant nothing.”

“You kissed me back.”

“I thought we were going to forget about it?”

I don’t want to forget is at the tip of his tongue but the look in Kyungsoo’s eyes is a silent plea. They say, Yes I kissed you back; no it didn’t meant nothing, but please let it go. This isn’t right, and I'm hurting but we have to stop, so please let me go.

“Ok. If it still counts for anything, I'm sorry I broke your heart. Now I know how it feels.”

“Timing – that’s all it ever is. You know your way out.”

“I guess I’ll see you later when you pick up Hyuna?’

“Jongin will pick Hyuna up today.”

With that, Chanyeol leaves without another word. And it’s as he’s turning away that he realizes that it’s true what they say: when you’re a parent, your actions aren’t dictated by your wants; for once in your life you're required not to be selfish. Because it’s so easy to continue seeing Kyungsoo and seeing where it takes them, but he’s not the one he gave his vows to, not the one wearing the ring that matches what he has on his finger, not the one who he goes home to, not the one he has a daughter with –

He could have, but he’s not.

Timing – that’s all it ever is.

---

Idk if this is going to pacify you, but at least you can stop hating Soo and Yeol. I'll try to quickly switch back from angst, but of course they have to tell their husbands first and that is for sure, inevitably, without a doubt going to be serious angst. Hahahahuhuhu. And like I said, school's already started so I can't be immediate with my updates, but let's just see how the story unfolds. Please don't give up on me.

I love you all and hope you stick around. :)