"I've looked everywhere for you."

 Chanyeol's voice seamlessly tore between them under the beach hut. Kyungsoo was looking out to the ocean in deep thought that he hadn't noticed the other sit opposite him until he spoke. 

"It's hard...to see you struggling at every waking moment--"

"I'm not--"

"Yes. You are. I can see it in your eyes, Yeol. When you talk to me, all I can see is that tiny hope that I remember you. And I just kept on crushing it until now. I can never be that Kyungsoo from 5 years ago. I've been through a lot and changed a lot too. I can't be that person again. Because it's all gone." He has grown to hate himself over the past few weeks because he's been hurting over the predicament the two of them are in right now. Chanyeol was hopeful and persevered for him, the love never faltering and only grew stronger. On the other hand, Kyungsoo fought battles with his memory, trying his best to recover that one special day until he gave up, realizing  that his previous accident was never going to let up anytime soon.

Silence enveloped them once more. This time, tension was present and laid heavy in between. Kyungsoo was trying not to let the tears drop to his cheeks.

"We've both been through a lot. My attempts to date other people was cowardly. Because despite constantly telling myself that it was in an effort to let you go and allow each to move on, it was just a measly excuse for a man who never stopped thinking about you. I dropped everything and came here; more determined to have you take me back because I love you, Kyungsoo. It always has been you."

When Chanyeol looked at him with eyes full of nothing but love, Kyungsoo couldn't help but allowed his tears to fall. His shoulders shook, mouth parted but never spoke because he was too overwhelemed by how Chanyeol was willing to sacrifice everything, was willing to tread through everyday in hopes of being with him again.

"It's true that I still hold on to that small hope of you remembering. But in the end, it doesn't really matter. You are still you and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Kyungsoo sobbed loudly by then and pressed his palms against his eyes in a feeble attempt to control the tears.

Oh god, Chanyeol loves him. 

And Kyungsoo loves him too. 

"I'm sorry if I couldn't remember. I tried so hard, Chanyeol. So hard." There's no mistake how wrecked Kyungsoo's voice sounded, but he couldn't care less because the regret and the despair that trembled across his body held more weight than how he looked right now. The taller male lifted himself up to seat himself beside the hunched figure and wrapped his long arms around him, encasing him with a warmth he had so much desired. 

"Don't say sorry, Kyung. There's nothing to be sorry about." Chanyeol pecked the top of his head softly, a hand coming up to soothe circles at his back. He allowed Kyungsoo to let it all out. Let the sadness drift towards the shore for the ocean to take away.

A while has passed, the sun already starting to set below the horizon and the two were still in an embrace. Kyungsoo had already gone silent a few minutes before but the other knew he needed more time in order to open up. He felt the other stir lightly aganst his arms and he loosened them to give Kyungsoo space to look up. 

"I want to leave this all behind and pick up where we left off. C-can we?" He asked, the tendrils of his fringe moved like a gentle caress with the wind. 

"You mean from the day I came back to you and confessed and before you ran off and this came about?" 

Kyungsoo could only nod sheepishly, a soft blush rising on his cheeks. 

"Well... What do you say then? Can I love you again?"

Kyungsoo lifted his head to kiss him on the cheek. Yes.