He hesitantly knocked on the door to the large house. He wasn’t sure why he was there, to be quite honest. It had been nearly eight years since he’d last seen Kim Ryeowook; the younger man probably didn’t even remember him. Ryeowook had probably moved on with his life, not looking back and not giving him a second thought. To come here was insanity, he reflected, but maybe it would give him a sort of closure that would make everything feel alright.

He heard a shout from inside the house and childish giggles; the door was wrenched open a minute later to reveal a short, skinny, black haired man, who was scolding the child wrapped around his leg.

“Choi Jaewan, get off of my leg! I’m not leaving; I’m just answering the door!” He shifted his focus, finally looking to see who was standing at his door. “I’m sorry about them,” he apologized as five more faces appeared behind him, peering out to see what was going on. “They’re normally not…Jongwoon hyung!”

Yesung, whose heartbeat had quickened at the sight of the other, gave a small smile, surprised that Ryeowook still remembered who he was. “Hi, Ryeowook. You’re doing pretty well, I see,” he said with a forced chuckle, nodding to the house. Ryeowook shrugged.

“I’m doing alright. How about you? How have you been?”

“I’ve been busy,” Yesung said softly. “Lots of traveling, but by myself, so it got kind of lonely sometimes. Are they all yours?”

Ryeowook looked confused. “Are they—Oh, you mean the kids! Yeah, they’re all mine.”

Yesung’s heart sunk further. Of course. Of course Ryeowook would have moved on, settled down, gotten married. Why was he here? This was only making things worse.

“You have one lucky wife.”

Ryeowook blinked in confusion for a moment before he burst out laughing. “Oh, you thought…No, no, no, hyung, they’re not mine in that way! They’re all my students! My vocal students! They come over for lessons twice a week!” he explained, giggling.

“So you’re not…?”

“No, hyung, I’m not married.”

“Oh. Sorry,” Jongwoon mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

Ryeowook bent down, turning to the oldest child there – a seven year old girl with long black hair and big brown eyes. “Minji, could you take the others and go back to the piano for me? I’ll be back in a second, okay? I’m trusting you to take care of everyone else.”

“Okay, Ryeowook oppa!” she chirped, grabbing the hands of a couple of the children and pulling them with her as she disappeared into the house, the others trailing after her. When they were out of sight, Ryeowook gently pulled the door shut and was left standing outside with a thoroughly embarrassed and shy Yesung.

“Why’d you come back, hyung?” he asked quietly, but not unkindly. “After you left eight years ago, why did you come back?”

Yesung stared into Ryeowook’s eyes; this was why he’d come, he realized. This, the chance to tell him everything.

“Because I missed you,” he said. “When I left, I was trying to find myself, figure out who I was, and to make a difference in the world. I figured that I didn’t need anyone else for that. But every day, something would remind me of you and I just missed you. I just…I came…to get closure, I guess. I left without properly saying goodbye, leaving you alone and not leaving a way for you to contact me. I was being stupid and selfish and I’m really sorry. I just wanted…to try to fix things.” He sighed, shifting his gaze to the house. “But you’ve got a nice life, it looks like. You don’t need me. Not after eight years. I’ll just go.” He turned to leave but stopped when he felt a hand on his arm, pulling him back around so he was facing Ryeowook.

The younger man wrapped his arms around Jongwoon’s neck, gently pressing his lips against his hyung’s.

“Two days before you left,” he murmured in Yesung’s ear. “I told you something. Do you remember what?”

Jongwoon’s brain had short-circuited and all he could manage to get out was, “What?”

Ryeowook smiled, laughing softly. “Idiot,” he whispered affectionately. “I told you I’d always wait for you, hyung. Always.” He took a step back, grabbing Yesung’s hand and holding it tightly. “Come on,” he said with a giggle. “I’ll introduce you to the kids. I’m sure they’ll love you. You can stay in the guest bedroom tonight if you want to.”

Jongwoon, his mind not completely processing what was happening, followed Ryeowook through the door. Suddenly, it hit him. Ryeowook still loved him. After all this time, after everything that he’d done, Ryeowook still loved him and accepted him unconditionally.

A foolish grin spread across his face and he bent down to pick up Choi Jaewan, laughing.

He was glad he’d made this trip.