This could be considered a sequel -sad sequel-  to The Youngest Gap.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Nervousness grew bigger backstage.

It wasn't their comeback stage, but they were in the middle of promotions for their new album Keep Your Head Down.

Yunho had seen Changmin staring and frowning at his laptop for quite a while from the other side of the room. Yunho was talking with one of their backup dancers, but he was worried for the youngest.

He went to check him.

- Yah.

Changmin jumped. He stared at his hyung and shook his head to get rid of his bangs, blocking his eyes.

- Hyung.

The youngest seemed worried about something. He glanced at Yunho and he understood it was something between them. He sat by his side, and someone announced from the door:

- Ten minutes to go out!

- Hyung, I found something in internet...

- Don't go reading antis comments, Changmin-ah, I've told you it's no...

- No, no, no. Hyung, it's something else.

He shut and clenched his mouth.

- It says here Junsu-hyung was very sick.

Yunho leaned back on his chair, a bit arrogant. They had problems talking about the trio in public.

- It's an article from a long time ago, but either way, hyung... Apparently, J... they were in The States and Junsu had a cold that got really bad.

- That babo.

- He went to several hospitals trying to get some attention. He was really sick.

Yunho shook his head in dissaproval.

- Please. Please, hyung. Ask someone.

- We cut off all contacts, you know that.

He saw Changmin so worried, he just had to talk to some people over there.

- Five minutes to go out! Dong Bang Shin Ki, follow me!

- Changmin caught his hyung when he was in the hallway.

- Now, listen. There's an stylist who knows someone at a hair salon they visit. She'll ask. Okay?

- Ne, ne.

- Now to get this over with.

They cheered each other, gather their hands and their dancer's at the center and yelled their battle cry.

Stage was perfect.

Cassiopeia roared louder than the day before, so they were grateful.

- Let me pass!

Changmin rushed to backstage once he finished, followed by Yunho, who greeted everyone as he made his way.

- Come, come. Hyung!

- Ah, Changmin, take it easy!

- Come on!

Yunho found the stylist. The girl talked to them in a corner, far away from their manager, who would scold them if he ever found out.

- Listen well. The person you ask for, Changmin-sshi, yeah, was very sick during their tour in America, but...

One of the PDs just passed by.

- But he's fine now. I think this was long ago. He's perfectly fine now. Here you go.

She handed Changmin a piece of paper. He unwrapped it. It had numbers.

- This is his current phone number. Personal current phone number.

- Ah, I don't want it.

He gave it back to her. They had talked about this before. Being appart was essential to have them working at ease. They had cutt off contact, and it had to be like that.

- Just take it and let's go home. - Yunho said flatly.

- Eh?

Yunho took it and went to undo his outfit with the coordi-noonas.

When they got home, Yunho left the piece of paper in the table.

- Here. You do as you like, okay?

Yunho went to take a shower.

Changmin sat in the couch. The house was so lonely, and the paper so inviting.

The next day they had to take a flight abroad.

Their manager went to check their tickets at the counter.

Changmin pulled the piece of paper out of his pocket.

- You still have that?

- Should I just throw it away?

- I said it: do as you like. But...

Yunho tilted his head and clenched his mouth.

- If you haven't, I doubt you will.

- Keujjo...

Yunho felt sorry for him. He grabbed his cellphone and handed it over to the youngest.

- No, hyung. Not with your phone. I wouldn't want them to have our numbers.

- There's a payphone back there.

- Yeah.

Changmin smiled at him and went to make a call.

He dialed with nervous hands.

The dial tone appeared. He looked at his hyung, next to the suitcases.

- C'mon. - he whispered.

The dial tone was annoying. But if someone were to answer, he didn't know exactly what to say.

- C'mon.

Their manager thanked the girl and walked towards Yunho.

- C'mon, come on.

Junsu was reading a script when his cellphone rang. Yoochun, next to him, grabbed some snacks from the table.

- Is it sweet?

- I don't know. - replied Junsu as he checked his cellphone.

He stared at the number on the screen.

- Answer already, it's driving me crazy.

- I don't know the number.

- Pranksters.

They always had prankters. That's why they changed phones so easily.

Junsu stared at the number as it rang. He pressed a button.

- Yeoboseyo?

His expression was full of surprise when he heard the other side of the  line.

- Who is it? - Yoochun whispered, eating snacks.

- I hear a beep.

Yoochun shrugged.

Junsu hung up and had a weird feeling. He felt nostalgic all of a sudden.

Changmin and Yunho were going to board as the payphone got far behind.

The end   ):