Sungmin released a loud sigh, rolling his neck tiredly. They had finally finished handing out rings and were heading back to the dorm for a little while before dinner. It felt like the afternoon would never end with the endless sea of impatient students. But somehow they had managed to make it.

“Do we have any left?” Ryeowook laughed, yawning and stretching in the early evening cold. His scarf floated behind him, free flowing in the wind.

“Hmm I don’t know,” the darker haired boy replied, grinning, “but I don’t know if I ever wanna see another one again. I swear we went through at least the entire student body.”

Ryeowook tucked his hands into pockets, smiling back at Sungmin. “Agreed.” They continued on for a while in silence, but then Ryeowook was touching his friend’s arm. “Hey, hey, I have to tell you something!”

“About what?” Sungmin prompted, pulling his pink scarf higher around his face.

“Kyuhyun.”

A frown morphed his hidden mouth. “Oh? What about the Hound?”

“I think…I think we’re going to be okay,” he stated carefully, “we talked a bit and both of us are ready to move away from what happened—”

“—you mean you’re forgiving him just like that, right?” Sungmin interrupted.

Ryeowook nodded, startled by the tone taken. “Well, I don’t really know what I should forgive…he didn’t really do anything that bad…”

“What do you mean? Hurting you that much isn’t considered bad?” he scoffed, shaking his head, “…whatever.”

“Huh?” the other boy felt his heart jump. Why was Sungmin being so…odd? He usually had a cooler head…but maybe there was something wrong with him. Ryeowook reached out with one hand but felt Sungmin stiffen and back up. “…is there something going on?”

“Nothing,” he replied tightly, repositioning his scarf as if he just needed to do something with his hands.

“You can trust me, Sungmin,” Ryeowook stated kindly.

The black haired boy sighed, letting go of his control apparently. An unfamiliar hardness entered his gaze as he met the slender one’s eyes. “You can’t take your words back.”

He nodded, dread seeping into his chest. There was no turning back. Sungmin had always been there for him and this time, well, Ryeowook wanted to be there for him instead. After all, they were supposed to be best friends. As best friends weren’t you required to always support one another?

“You’re being too lenient Ryeowook. How can you just accept him again after all of that stuff he put you through last year?” Sungmin blurted all at once, the bitterness drenching each word.

“You’re talking about Kyuhyun, right…?” he asked, knowing the answer but wanting to be absolutely sure. Sungmin nodded slightly. Ryeowook swallowed the lump in his throat, saying, “…I was the one doing it to myself, Sungmin…how can I blame Kyuhyun—?”

Sungmin whirled on the other boy, annoyance running rampant. Their slow approach to the dorm had completely halted with the release of what appeared to be a great deal of pent up frustrations. “—you can easily blame him! He knew you loved him and he just didn’t give a damn! He knew that what he was doing would definitely hurt you and you’re just going to brush it off as your own fault? Are you kidding me Ryeowook?!”

Hurt passed over his face but he quickly smothered it, remembering that he had asked Sungmin to speak his mind. Now that the truth was coming out Ryeowook couldn’t just tell him to be quiet because it upset him.

“You don’t get it…Kyuhyun apologized last year for what he did…at least part of it.” Ryeowook pursed his lips, eyes narrowing at the ground. “I can’t hold grudges…especially against someone who took care of me my whole life.”

“Yeah, except for when he blew up and threw you aside like a stranger,” Sungmin spat. He would admit it. He was fed up. He was so tired of hearing Ryeowook defend a low-life, heartless person like Kyuhyun. Why was it so damn hard for him to see the truth? “Don’t you see he’s just…I don’t even know what he’s doing! He’s probably just playing with you!”

“He’s not!” Ryeowook retorted. “Why would he bother to make up with me? Kyuhyun isn’t that nice! He wouldn’t do that!”

Sungmin couldn’t help but laugh, short and harsh. “Do you hear yourself, Ryeowook?” he cried, arms flying out. “You’re admitting what a horrible person he is!” A slow, cold expression overtook his face then, eyes narrowing scornfully. “…Oh, I get it. You’re still hung up on him aren’t you? You’re still hoping that he’ll love you back. Isn’t that right?” There was no way to stop him now. The dam had been broken. The words were flowing entirely of their own accord, even though every pained look registered in his raging mind. Pangs of guilt shuddered through his body but Sungmin had been freed.

“…You really think that?” Ryeowook’s voice was quiet, fingers curling into fists. There were tears quivering around his eyes. “You think I’m that desperate…?”

“Well what do you think I should be thinking?” he exclaimed. “You’re running back to some dirt bag bastard! What other reason could there be? You just wanna rekindle your friendship with him or what?”

Ryeowook took a calming breath, words shaking, “Yes…that’s exactly it actually. I…I miss him. I really did and still do.”

“You’re saying you don’t love him then?” Sungmin sneered, jaw clenching. “You really think I’d believe that? If you didn’t love him then why would you bother even getting near someone as horrible as Kyuhyun?! He’s not worth being friends with! He’s not worth a damn—”

“—SHUT UP!”

Sungmin’s voice caught, eyes widening. …Had Ryeowook really just yelled at him?

But it was real – far too real. The boy was glaring through tears, lips quivering. “I’m not in love with Kyuhyun! I’m in love with you Sungmin! I fell so fast I didn’t even realize it!” his voice cracked and he quickly covered his mouth, eyes closing briefly. “I…I didn’t want to tell you that way…” he mumbled.

There was no time for Sungmin to react though as Ryeowook turned in the opposite direction of the dorms, hurrying away as fast as he could.