This is based off a Filipino song called "Walang Hanggan" (trans: Forever/Never-ending) by Quest and it oozes angst and Meanie the second I heard it on the radio. I've translated my fave lines in the song and used it in this fic.

I hope you guys like it.

Wonwoo had been reading the same sentence of the page he was on for the past 10 minutes already, he couldn’t seem to comprehend the line of the story—better yet he’s too distracted to even remember the first two words. Across him in their dorm’s living room, Mingyu sat back on the couch, sniggering at his phone. It wasn’t because Wonwoo was annoyed by it, but more of being curious as to why he was so focused on his phone. He hated it—he was jealous of an inanimate object. It’s probably his fault why Mingyu stopped cuddling him when he read his books; he had snapped once but it was enough to scare Mingyu off. But in all honesty, he was afraid to admit something had shifted between them. It was as if the formalities because of their had strengthened and Mingyu had reduced himself back to calling him “hyung,” even though they had dropped the honorifics as soon as they bonded.

“Yes! There are seats left.” Mingyu exclaims all of a sudden, making Wonwoo flinch from where we was seated. He didn’t seem to notice this as he gets up from the couch and makes his way out.

“Ah—Mingyu-ah…” Wonwoo blurts out, halting Mingyu from turning the corner. “W-where are you heading off to?”

“The movie I’ve been waiting for premieres tonight and I was able to get two tickets for it.”

Wonwoo sits up a bit, looking for the bookmark around him. He remembered Mingyu talking about that movie for months now and he vaguely remembers being asked to join him when it does come out. He spies the bookmark Mingyu had made him—the one with a doodle of his face (when Wonwoo had questioned how that even looked like him, Mingyu had pointed out the canines on the doodle and forcibly grinned at him) and had a bright red string that Mingyu had difficulty in braiding—on the floor by his house slippers. Just as he reaches down, Mingyu’s next words stop him.

“The performance team had just ended their recording so I’ll be meeting up with The8 at the cinema.”

Time stopped for Wonwoo. What?

“I know I asked you before, but you seem to be immersed in your book and I know you don’t want to be bothered while you read so I asked Hao instead.”

I do hate being bothered while reading… but I never minded when you did.

“We promise to be back before midnight. See you later, hyung!”

Something cracked the second he hears the front door close, but Wonwoo wasn’t sure if it was the corner of his hardbound book hitting the polished, wooden floor or the fine lines that marred his heart, which he had desperately stuck together with false optimism, finally splintering into pieces.

They were practicing for their concerts while filming a behind-the-scenes footage for a special DVD. They were sweating and fatigue was setting into their muscles, but it only took a joke from Seungkwan to lighten up the mood. They wearily smile at the cameras, waving to show their fans they’re fine. The camera pans to Wonwoo while he was randomly saying what he wanted to eat for dinner and at the same time, Mingyu engulfs him into a bear hug that locked his arms to his sides. Suddenly shy from the skinship, he tries to pry himself away but he only ended up in the same hug but with his back to Mingyu’s chest. He remembered them laughing at each other, but there was a nagging voice in the back of Wonwoo’s head.

This is for the fans.

There was no doubt in Wonwoo’s mind that he and Mingyu had officially drifted apart. When they had filmed One Fine Day in Japan, he was hoping he could reconnect with him but since they were in opposing teams that was nearly impossible.

“Wonwoo, here, let me put the mud on you.” Joshua laughs, taking a dollop on his fingers and swiping them on Wonwoo’s cheeks.

The mud was cold and it tickled him but his laughter dies soon when memories flood into his mind.

He remembered a time before they debuted, they were playing around with paint in the practice room. Mingyu had reached over and smeared some onto his cheek. That had sparked a paint war between them, patting their colorful palms on each other’s body. There were 15 other people in the room, but it felt like they were the only ones there.

Another memory was during a photoshoot, Mingyu had wiped some of the whipped cream on Wonwoo’s cheeks as the external flashes connected to the photographer’s camera went off. He remembers lightheartedly scolding him for it, but Mingyu only answered with a flash of his grin.

The memories cause him to recoil away from Joshua, who was startled at his reaction.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing. I’ll take it from here, hyung.”

Their company gives them their well deserved month long vacation. The members are going back to their families for the time being—with the exception of one.

“You’re not going home to your grandparents?” Wonwoo stops forcing the gift he plans to give his brother into his bag.

“I will… in two weeks. The8’s family invited me over.”

“The8’s family… in China.”

Mingyu nods, “Yeah. I talked to my grandmother about it already and she’s fine with it.”

Wonwoo hums, looking back down at his bag and at the gift. He knew how much Mingyu missed his family so he didn’t think about inviting over but then again, a two-hour flight to Beijing beats a three-hour train ride to Changwon for a vacation.

“We’ll be taking a head start. Our flight is in at 3.” Mingyu glances at the wall clock just in time to see the hour and minute hands click in place to tell them it was exactly 1 PM. “See you in a month, hyung. Can’t wait to hear that rap you’re working on.” He zips his suitcase close and pops the handle out.

“M-Mingyu…” He stutters out in a soft voice when Mingyu starts to roll his suitcase out of the room.

The taller boy looks back at him, eyebrow cocked in confusion.

In his head, the lyrics he’s been desperately trying to coin together clicks. “H-have fun. Y-you and The8.”

He smirks at him, putting his suitcase to the side before stalking up to Wonwoo and (effortlessly) jammed Bohyuk’s gift inside Wonwoo’s bags and zips it up. “You too, hyung.”

“Thanks…” His gratitude was masked by The8’s yelling, asking Mingyu to hurry his over.

Without another word, Mingyu exits the room and left Wonwoo alone in their room. It occurs to him that when they all come back, they’d probably assign new roommates.

Woozi passes by the open door and pauses, “Are we riding the train together, Wonwoo?”

He slowly shakes his head, “No, you go ahead. I’ll stay another night here.”

“Suit yourself.” He walks out of view and Wonwoo pushes his bag off the bed before he lies down with an arm covering his eyes.

He could hear his heart beating out of his chest, slow and almost painful.

You told me forever, but why is there an end.

Usually, when he’s overcome with the inspiration to write lyrics, he’d immediately write it down on paper or type it down his phone. But the words he came up with were too close to home, the mere gist of what the song is about already cutting him open. He peers at the door, still wide open, still seeing Mingyu’s back slowly moving away from him.

If I lose you,

Listen to my last wish

Just look back from time to time

I’ll stay right here, I won’t leave

Where we ended— I won’t leave…

He can faintly hear Mingyu and The8 screaming out their goodbyes before they head off to the airport and some of the other members wishing them well.

I won’t leave.

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