The rest of the day went past quietly for Kyungsoo, with no surprises, no encounters, nothing out of the ordinary. Just as is it was supposed to be.

As he told Chanyeol, the first thing he did after leaving was taking the info he gathered at PKO to his own company, to his boss. His boss was very pleased to see him, to say the least. Ever since he first saw him, the older man seemed to have taken a strange liking to Kyungsoo, and treated him more like his son, than a new employee. And, as a result of that, anything Kyungsoo wanted, he got. 

Like the job on PKO's scandal, for example.

There actually was no coincidence on him getting the job. Yes, PKO's usual lawyer really was on his honeymoon, but there were plenty of available (and willing) lawyers to fill in his place, so there was no need to send Kyungsoo, if he didn't want the job. But as soon as Kyungsoo hinted that yes, he did want the job, all the others immediately received an email of apology, saying that no, sorry, we don't need your help in handling PKO's case. But if something changes, we will be sure contact you. Thank you for your hard work. 

And so Kyungsoo got the job, with no difficulties. Some could call it unfair, but this kind of treatment really wasn't something Kyungsoo asked for. He just took what he was given, and that's it.

Of course, that didn't make his relationship with his new co-workers any better, or easier to improve, to be honest. On the contrary, he was actually well aware, that his co-workers had already secretly formed a Kyungsoo haters club. He wasn't kidding. There was really a club in the law firm, dedicated to hating him, and in which's honor the members ( Kangjun swore to God he wasn't joking ) had meetings every week .

Hearing that made Kyungsoo laugh. Seriously, every week? He and Kangjun were the youngest workers in the whole company. And the most recently hired, at that. But when he heard Kangjun telling him that there even is a possibility of that club having a name and, if that wasn't enough, a freaking slogan, Kyungsoo just lost it and laughed his heart out. 

His co-workers were childish idiots. That was for sure now. 

So of course, when he stepped into the office and headed towards the manager's office, Kyungsoo was aware of all the glares, thrown at him as he walked. He was used to those. He was even waiting for them nowadays. Even when he stepped out of the manager's office, done talking and already with the documents he needed to hand in in PKO, he could still see the people who glared at him before, still doing the exact same thing. 

es, Kyungsoo thought, and smirked at one particulary angry face amongst all the others. The guy scoffed at him and turned away, and Kyungsoo's smirk got even wider.

He was annoying everyone around with his smug smirk all day long. It might've looked as if he enjoyed it, and for a bit, he really did, but as time passed, it started to become burdensome. The fake smile was burdensome.

Being hated by everyone around all day long, was burdensome.

Only later, when he got home and locked the door behind him, only then Kyungsoo could finally drop his act, and that tiring smile. It disappeared as soon as the door behind him closed shut.

Kyungsoo tiredly shrugged his jacket off, and dropped it onto a chair in his kitchen. Not bothering to change clothes, or more like too tired to bother, Kyungsoo proceeded to walk to the living room and tiredly slumped onto his couch.  The small framed male stretched out his tired legs, laid his neck comfortably on the armrest, and covered his eyes with one hand in hopes of finally getting some sleep.

God, he was so tired. So tired, and he didn't even know if it was a psychical fatigue or not. It felt like it was, but at the same time, kind of felt like it wasn't, too.

Minutes went by.

For the first time since he left Jongin standing in the hallway, Kyungsoo finally allowed himself think about what happened today. Or, to be exact, about Jongin.

He saw him. 

And Jongin kissed him. 

Kyungsoo rubbed his eyes with the pale, slender fingers of his, and sighed. 

Jongin looked still so... familiar. He was still as beautiful as ever, still as perfect as he, Kyungsoo, remembered him to be. Honestly, Kyungsoo felt like fainting, when he laid his eyes once again on his chocolate ones. It really felt like he had travelled back in time, and once again was that 18-year-old Kyungsoo, who was just saved by a handsome stranger, and had his heart stolen.

Although the way Jongin looked today was worrying. He looked ill. Was he sick or something? Jongin always had a great health, so he shouldn't be, right?..

Do Kyungsoo, something in his head growled all of a sudden. Get your mind straight. It's Kim Jongin you're thinking about now.

That's right. Kyungsoo shook his head, frustrated. Why would he worry over him, over Kim Jongin? He still carries scars because of that bastard, doesn't he? He still can't look at other people with trust because of him. He can't fall in love again, with someone else.

And he can't fall out of love, all of it being the fault of Kim Jongin.

He hates it. 

Kyungsoo hates it so much. Not being able to control his heart.

He fell asleep on the couch that night, knowing that when the morning comes, he will probably see Jongin again.

He didn't dream of him that night. 

***

Nothing was going right that morning. Well, for Baekhyun at least.

It was as if some curse of bad luck was dropped on him right from the skies, as soon as he opened his eyes that morning. First of all, he realized he happily slept through his alarm (which 'snoozed' twice, but was ignored), then Baekhyun spilled his morning coffee all over his just-minutes-ago-cleaned shoes, and then, whilst running to the bus stop, he realized that he had left his wallet on the table and went off without it.

So he had to turn around, and clump back home like a total idiot, which, honestly, Baekhyun now really felt that he was. He was so going to be late to work. Baekhyun just hoped to make it before Chanyeol starts to worry. 

As he walked, or more like half ran to the company, Baekhyun had some time to think things through. Kyungsoo was coming back today again. Baekhyun didn't know how Jongin's talk with Kyungsoo went, but he still had a bad feeling about it. Chanyeol didn't seem to be relieved when Jongin called him afterwards, on the contrary, he seemed to be even more worried than he already was. He also left immediately after receiving the call, most probably to go to where Jongin was. 

Baekhyun loved the way Chanyeol took care of his best friend, he really did. That was one of the things he liked most about Chanyeol, his care and kindness for people around him. But he was also scared for him because of that. There were so many mean people in this world, people who were just looking how to trick and hurt people like Chanyeol. He wanted Chanyeol to be stronger, not to pick up every little thing and make it into his problem. And most importantly, to care a bit more for himself, instead of just dying in worry for others. 

He wished he could be the one to help him. He wished, but he knew he couldn't.

When Baekhyun finally reached PKO, it was 9:24, and that meant he was twenty four minutes late to work. That wasn't a very pleasant thought. And it became even worse, when some secretary came up to him, looking heavily disgruntled.

"Byun Baekhyun?" she asked straight away.

"Yes." Baekhyun bowed at her. "Is there a problem?"

"General manager Park asked of you to come straight to the meeting room." she told him, quite openly judging Baekhyun for being late with her look. "The meeting you are expected to attend had already begun five minutes ago, so I suggest you hurry up."

Baekhyun's eyes widened at the unexpected news, he quickly bowed at the girl and ran off. Jesus, that was so Baekhyun to be late on the only day he has a meeting on. Although he didn't exactly know he even had one. 

"Excuse me for being late!" Baekhyun exclaimed as soon as he rushed into the meeting room, which was not so far from Chanyeol's office, and bowed 90 degrees. "I'm very sorry!"

Chanyeol was already there, of course. He looked tired, but otherwise okay. He even smiled at Baekhyun a little, not with a wide smile, but a really small one. That was enough for Baekhyun anyways. So it was safe to say that Chanyeol wasn't mad at him for being late.

Then there was Jongin. He looked tense, but clearly not because of Baekhyun, so he let that go. Jongin wasn't mad at him either. On the other hand, beside Chanyeol (urgh) sat Choi Minho, who on the contrary was openly staring him down. Baekhyun didn't even bother to look at him. He rather averted his gaze to Chanyeol's other side, where sat Kyung