15 years later..

“Krystal!”

               Jung Krystal, a young fine lady in her age of 25, turned around from where she was seated to find her best friend waving at her from the door. She waved back, letting her friend know she acknowledge him, then turned to bid goodbye to her band-mates. They agreed to have another practice in two days, so Krystal can go straight home tomorrow after her classes. After saying another goodbye to her friends, she went to Baekhyun who now was leaning to the door frame, learning his best friend’s slender figure approaching him.

               “Baekhyun-aaaaah!” Krystal called him out, with a hop she lunged forward and circled Baekhyun’s shoulder with her arms. “I got your text. What is it you wanna talk to me?”

               “Umm.. can we talk while walking home?”

               Krystal looked at Baekhyun with a worried expression on her face. “Are you okay, Baekbaek? Did somebody bothered you again?”

               Hearing Krystal’s worried tone, and the nickname she called him with, Baekhyun chuckled. He shook his head, making his pink hair shuffle cutely on top of his head. “Come on, let’s go.”

               Krystal was genuinely worried for Baekhyun. Her best friend had grown from the awkward-crooked teeth-nerd teenage boy into one beautiful being. Well, to Krystal he was always pretty, but not many people can see through the glasses and the awkward demeanor Baekhyun always had back then. Right now, Baekhyun was nothing but perfect. He was a bit small for a male, but his muscles grow just on the right places on his body. His face held a feminine feature but still a lot of people fell in love with his unique button nose, thin and small but kissable lips tainted with a natural pink color, and his smooth white skin without any beauty product. He had a long manly fingers yet so delicate. It was the fingers that creates magic every time it held a pen, a pencil, or touches a keyboard on any gadget he can use to type. Those fingers was his magic wand, the wand that distributes his genius ideas in writing lyrics and composing music into wonderful pieces. Wonderful pieces Krystal was lucky to enjoy because her best friend let her sung all those magic he creates. Baekhyun was a definition of a genius beauty. But all that comes with a cost. While he was bullied for being nerd and awkward in junior high, high school was a total hell because anywhere Baekhyun went, people harassed him. Being in college are quite relieving since a lot of the college students act more mature or pretty much don’t care about others, and now that they had entered the world of grownups, it all gets better. Baekhyun can stand a few whisperings at his office, but back then, high school has its toll on Baekhyun. Baekhyun had come to Krystal’s doorstep one day, all beaten up by a group of naughty boys in their high school, just because they think he was too pretty for a guy. Baekhyun was called names: , gay, girlie, pretty boy; are some of a thousand names they made up for Baekhyun. Krystal was the one protecting him all the time. Being the popular girl she was, she is respected, and no one messes with Baekhyun when she’s around. But when Krystal’s not with Baekhyun, that’s when she worries the most.

               Now, no one uses that kind of harassment to bully Baekhyun anymore, but the trauma didn’t only scarred Baekhyun, but Krystal too. She gets over protective and finds herself worried about Baekhyun all the time

               “Baekhyun?” Krystal tried again when they’re halfway to the bus station. Baekhyun hasn’t spoken a word since they left the band’s practice room even though he said he wanted to talk about something. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

               Baekhyun didn’t answer. He kept walking until the both of them reached the bus station. This was a habit for them. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Baekhyun would come to Krystal’s band practice studio just a few blocks from his office, and then the both of them will take the bus home together. Krystal purposely choose the practice studio near Baekhyun’s office. The both of them spent their childhood together even until graduating college, and Krystal is still not used to not being with Baekhyun every day since they had different workplace. Now Krystal worked as an accountant at a small insurance company just around their neighborhood while Baekhyun worked as a researcher for one of Korea’s top university.

               Seeing no other people were there, Baekhyun threw himself to the bench, letting out a long sigh. Krystal could only look at her friend in confusion. After a couple minutes of silence, Krystal huffed, turning around to examine the road. Seoul’s traffic can be pretty crazy, especially when it’s cold like now and people thought using their cars with heaters are more convenient than using the public transportation.

               “He’s com