“Andy!” Eric whimpered as Andy's and Junjin's retreating figures shrunk and faded away.

His tender-hearted brother can also be ruthless when it comes to forcing Eric to make a choice. Now, there was no one else other than Eric and Dongwan at the dorm mates’ favourite stretch of the beach.

Eric turned edgily, coming face to face with the man that always made his heart race. And sure enough, his heart did start a marathon when Dongwan's face entered his sight.

“Congratulations for being the top cadet,” Dongwan said to nervous man with a cheeky smile. “So, why did Andy say we needed privacy?”

Red gushed up to Eric's face as he silently threw profanities at Andy in his mind.

“I...” he paused, dipping his head, his heart pounding furiously. Forget him thinking he was a nervous wreak in the holidays when Dongwan sang a song with him. Nothing can compare to this – standing in front of this beautiful creature, this kryptonite of his, this person that held the answer to his destiny, waiting to beseech for some love from him.

“Dongwan,” Eric raised his eyes. He did not know what to tell. He had never imagined a confession. How do you bare your feelings to a person that mean so much to you?

Tell him exactly what you feel.

“I was an orphan.” Eric started, looking straight into Dongwan's eyes. “I only had Andy all my life. I only wanted to be with him, to see him happy. But things change when I met you...”

Eric recalled the very first time he saw Dongwan in the dorm. He remembered being spellbound by that face; he remembered the jealousy he felt when Minwoo said girls stalked Dongwan; he remembered how he desperately wanted Dongwan to notice and acknowledge him.

“I start to want more than just Andy in my life. I start to have a dream for myself. I start to do things I never thought I would. I become silly, sometimes even selfish. All of these because of one person. One person that stole my heart. I start to love without knowing what love really was.”

Dongwan was silent. He was teasing Eric when he asked why do they need the privacy. He knew how shy Eric was. And because of it, he never expect to hear Eric pouring out to him like this.

“I always avoided the spotlight. I hated the attention. But I am willing to push myself out because I want you to see me, to notice me...” With ever word, the fear that was buried deep within Eric's heart began to surface. “I don't know if what I am doing is right. I don't know if I am anywhere nearer to my dream. I don't know if you will love me back. But now I am scared.” Tears gathered in Eric's eyes as he got lost with his emotions, “Dongwan...I am scared that you will reject me now. I am scared that after we graduate, I'll never see you again. I am scared because I don't think I can ever stop loving you. I......”

“Will you be my boyfriend?” Dongwan cut him off.

Eric's next words dissolved. Was he so desperate that he started hearing things?

“Eric Mun,” Dongwan's eyes were sincere as he held Eric's gaze. “Will you be my boyfriend?” he repeated, his hand reaching for Eric's hand and he entwined their fingers.

“Because I love you too.”

I love you...

***The other stretch of the beach***

“Nobody is disgusting because of what they love. People are only disgusting because of hatred,” Andy’s words echoed in Junjin's mind.

Shame engulfed him. Since realising his feelings, Junjin had spent every second distancing himself from Andy. He tried to deny the feelings he thought were sinned and spent days and night torturing himself imagining Andy's disgust look at him. Yet, Andy said it so chicly tonight – Nobody is disgusting because of what they love.

But now Junjin saw what was disgusting - the core of where his fear stemmed from, his actions towards Andy...

Disgusting......

The vile word danced at the tip of his mind, mocking him.

“Are you thinking about my brother's confession?”

Junjin turned reflexively to the man who spoke. The proximity between them which he hadn't realised stole his breath. Unknowingly, he had allowed himself to stroll beside Andy shoulder to shoulder.

Andy stuffed his hands into the pockets of his hoodie as the sea breeze lightly caressed his hair. An unnatural laugh escaped Andy's lips at the cloddish situation he put himself in – him strolling along the beach with the dorm mate that couldn't stand his presence. But Junjin hadn't act like Andy was diseased and run from him yet.

“Do you think Dongwan hyung will accept him?” Junjin asked.

“To be honest, I don't know.” Andy looked over to Junjin, “But hyung's feelings for Dongwan hyung is real. If he never let Dongwan hyung know, nothing will come out of it. If he never do this, I know he will regret one day when he loses Dongwan hyung.”

The two continued walking to their dorm as the sea breeze enlivened their senses. Junjin was thankful that although Andy always tried to break the ice between them, he never pushed Junjin to open up or confront him directly. The knot in Junjin's heart, weaved by all his confusion, was something he needed more time to untangle.

Tonight, Andy made everything sound so simple. But is it really that simple? Can Junjin accept these feelings within him? Did he have the courage like Eric hyung?

Maybe...just maybe...there is a chance between him and Andy?

***A week later***

“You're back!” Dongwan hung his arms around his same-height-friend when Minwoo finally returned after the holidays. He had missed a week of the semester due to family reasons.

“I heard Eric is the top cadet this year?” Minwoo returned his best friend's gesture.

“Yes, he is.” Dongwan smiled. Minwoo raised an eyebrow, second guessing his friend's smile.

“I am really happy for him but wow...You are taking it a lot better than I imagine. I wasted energy worrying about you on my way back.” Minwoo exclaimed, awed by how lightly Dongwan was about losing the title to Eric.

Dongwan's smile grew wider, “You can never be happier than me about it.” It was the trigger to the special night he shared with Eric, the night Eric finally confessed to him. He retracted his arms around Minwoo's neck and tap Minwoo's arms with the back of his hand. “ Buddy, I got something I want to tell you .”

Minwoo eyed him suspiciously. Happier? Knowing his friend, he could understand if Dongwan did not have negative feelings about Eric being top cadet this year, but to imply he was one of the happiest person?

“Don't freak out.” Dongwan said anxiously, studying Minwoo carefully, gauging his friend's reaction to his next sentence, “I am dating Eric.”

Minwoo's tiny eyes widened to the biggest Dongwan had ever seen since knowing him. He stopped the motion of his legs abruptly, raising his palm to motion for a stop. 

“Give me a second...” Minwoo furrowed his brows and lowered his head, trying to digest what Dongwan just said. After a moment, he raised  his head to Dongwan again, “did I hear correctly? You are dating Eric?"

Dongwan nodded.

"Your arch rival in school, our dorm mate?"

Dongwan nodded again.

"...a man?”

Dongwan nodded. Minwoo's shocked was written all over his face.

“HOLY! THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO TAKE!” he stared at Dongwan, wide eyes. “Whatever happen when I was away?!” 

“Erm…”Dongwan rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, a habit of his when he got REALLY nervous. “I can explain…”

“OH MY GOD!” Minwoo exclaimed again. “Don't tell me rumours were true. You were dating Jinnie before? I always thought that was bull. Did you ever carry a torch for me too?”

“Minwoo, I swear you are going crazy. You are my best friend, I know you don't swing that way, I thought I don't either, until Eric came. He is the first person I ever liked in a romantic way.”

“And Jinnie?” Minwoo probed. “Half of the school suspected something between you two when I was insisting the other way.”

Dongwan inhaled. He did not mind being open about his relationship with Eric, even if the whole world were to judge him. But regarding his relationship with Junjin… “You know I always thought of him as a younger brother.” Dongwan replied. It was the truth  but not the whole truth. “Quit playing Minwoo. I want to know what you think.”

“Buddy, you ambushed me with a really shocking news when I just return.” Minwoo tried to recall how Eric and Dongwan were before the holidays. As his emotions settled down, he suddenly saw how apparent the feelings between his two dorm mates were. If he had considered the possibility of a man loving another man, he would have noticed long ago.

“So?” Dongwan asked nervously. 

“One more question. Who already know this?” 

“You are the 3rd person to know, not counting Eric and me.”

“The last in the dorm...I hate you.” Minwoo replied coolly, swinging his duffle bag over his shoulder and began walking to the dorm again.

Dongwan smiled and chased after his friend. He knew Minwoo would eventually accept his relationship with Eric.

Dongwan followed Minwoo through the door of their dorm and caught the eyes of his nervous lover trying to get from him some hint to Minwoo's reaction. Minwoo noticed it too. He raised his free hand, blocking the line of sight for the lovers' eyes.

“Eric Mun, I am only upset about one thing. Why did you two start something this huge when I wasn't around? I can't believe I am the last to know. I am your first friend here!”

Junjin laughed. “Hyung, that means nothing. What are friends when you have boyfriend? They only have eyes for each other now.” It was nice witnessing the lovey dovey couple. Junjin saw a possible future with Andy in the older ones.

Eric exhaled, relief that Minwoo was open enough to accept them. “Minbong-ah (Eric's pet name for Minwoo), it's not my fault you abandon us for a week.” He made his way over and entwined his fingers with Dongwan, the lovers exchanging a loving smile.

Minwoo's jaw dropped, “And now it is my fault? Both of you are my best friends and I accept your choice, but –” Minwoo gestured his hand towards the couple, “ – can you give me more time before you exhibit all these public display of affection? The previous time I saw you guys I swear there was still an arch rival tension between you…...”

“Jinnie!” Minwoo walked over, swinging his arms across Junjin's neck and turning back to eyed his other two friends. “Jin, don't you dare learn from them.”

Minwoo's words was just a friendly spike to Eric and Dongwan. But Junjin saw it  like a death sentence.

“Of course I won't, hyung,” he laughed. Since when his actions and emotions became out of sync? His heart twitched at the pain as the door that just opened for him a week ago shut abruptly.

________________

Author's note: FINALLY ANOTHER CHAPTER OUT! I was tempted to scrap off the confession and focus on Jindy because this pair was the request when the main story ended. But since someone told me she's waiting for the confession, here you go! =) I'm happy someone is still reading this xD

A chapter born from my airplane rides.

In my story board 2 years ago, this chapter was actually named "Friend's acceptance". But oh well, sweet Minwoo was clueless. Everyone was. 

On another note, sometimes I do get Junjin's feelings in this chapter. You thought  being the first to break through something is hard, but for certain things,  being the 2nd is harder. In such situations you sometimes regret why you did not do it first...