7 Years Earlier…

“Well…thanks,” YoungSaeng ruffled Ryeowook’s hair in the late January chill. He carried a single bag of belongings, slung over one shoulder. A warm jacket was zipped all the way up, keeping the graduate safe from the seasonal cold.

Ryeowook flattened his mussed hair, looking up at his smiling ex-roommate. “For what? If anything, I should be thanking you. After all, who else taught me so many things?” he grinned at the slightly queasy look on YoungSaeng’s face.

“Let’s not talk about that,” he muttered, looking away flushed, “I think it would be better if we forgot about all of the stuff we did.”

“But you were my first—”

“—would you shut up?” YoungSaeng cried, slamming his hand over Ryeowook’s mouth. “Like I said, let’s not talk about it,” he looked exhausted and much older those days, “I don’t wanna get fired before I even start working.”

Ryeowook blinked and moved the hand away from his mouth. “Oh, that’s right. You were hired to be Henry’s personal bodyguard, huh?” When the older boy nodded, a fresh grin broke over Ryeowook’s face as he added, “I didn’t even know violinists needed bodyguards…let alone a bodyguard who is in love with—”

“—you’re just spouting whatever you want now that I’m leaving, aren’t you brat?” YoungSaeng snapped, turning bright red even in the rather dreary morning. He huffed and turned away, daring to stalk off to where a sleek black car was waiting for him. But then he stopped and looked back, “It’s a good chance for me, right?”

“In every sense,” Ryeowook assured, waving goodbye, “tell Henry to come visit sometime!” Ever since the beach incident, the violinist’s manager had pulled him from the school completely, taking the courageous boy who saved him along – not that a reform school junkie would argue with being offered such a nice job.

YoungSaeng nodded, truly leaving this time.

Ryeowook watched him disappear into the back of the car, closing the door behind him. There were others departing all around him, underclassmen bidding farewell to all of the now truly gone third years.

Looking around, he recognized few students in the throngs of people. All of the new first years had arrived that day as the straggling graduates finally departed. And then a sad thought occurred to Ryeowook.

He hadn’t lied a month ago. The world keeps turning when you’re not watching.

Among those bewildered, guarded faces Ryeowook could see himself. He could see that first day he arrived with Kyuhyun. They had pulled up to the expansive academy and joined the stiffly strutting first years in their march to orientation. Yet, here Ryeowook was – two years later – hosting the orientation rather than attending it.

Somewhere along the way, he had been passed the torch of Student Government President by Choi Siwon. What’s more, he was a third year. He was among the oldest and hopefully wisest of students. Where had the years gone?

What had happened to him and Sungmin?

What had happened to him and Kyuhyun?

Suddenly, Ryeowook was feeling nearly as old as YoungSaeng had looked before leaving. He was still trying to decide if it was a good or bad emotion.

***

Eunhyuk sneaked up behind his lover, arms enveloping the small waist. “You sure you don’t want to find someone to take it over?” he remarked, leaning over Zhoumi’s neck to look around the cleared out facility.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” the dark haired boy replied, sighing softly. There were so many memories in the space. If he strained his eyes he could still see the place where he first met Kyuhyun, the first time they danced together…and if he squinted even more, he could see the night Eunhyuk saved him from crushing Key.

A pang of guilt hit Zhoumi but he shook it away. His memories were just that, memories. To keep the place around just so he could hold on longer was ridiculous. If someone else ever found the Kangin’s Underground in the future, then they could reestablish it. Besides, there were plenty of horrible memories in the illegal – legal (?) – club. Zhoumi shuddered at the remembrance.

“Are you cold?” Eunhyuk asked, turning the younger boy around and cupping his sloping face.

Zhoumi smiled up at his lover. “Your haircut looks nice. You look less boyish,” he laughed softly, brushing his fingertips across the still blond locks.

The latter frowned, eyes rolling up in an attempt to look at the hair, “It’s freezing without more hair.”

“That’s how it works, isn’t it?” he grinned, pressing his lips against Eunhyuk’s gently, feeling the older boy’s arms drop and tug him closer. Zhoumi melted into the embrace, wondering just how his final moments on the high school campus ended up in such a shabby place. Then again… “We met around this time of year didn’t we?” he prompted.

Eunhyuk nodded slowly, eyes flickering with nostalgia. “Just like a movie.”

“Except a really risqué movie,” Zhoumi shrugged when he saw the blonde raise an eyebrow, “I mean if you add the entire adventure, it really isn’t something we could tell our kids.”

“Kids? Since when did I have kids?” he stammered, one hand moving to press against Zhoumi’s slight abdomen, “I swore you were a dude the last time we had .”

Zhoumi stomped down on Eunhyuk’s foot, watching with satisfaction as he crumpled and staggered away. “I guess I’ll just find someone else. I’m sure there are plenty of other guys in the University division.” He stalked towards the door, leaving behind a blubbering Eunhyuk.

The blonde quickly climbed the stone steps, hurrying after his departing lover. He turned back to shut the trap door and paused, a strangely somber emotion rushing through his adrenaline filled veins. He loosened the metal beam holding the door open. It didn’t seem right that he was the one ending things. From the very beginning he had always imagined his best friend right beside him as it happened. Instead, here Eunhyuk was, closing the door by himself – with a sore foot no less.

One more tug collapsed the metal support and the heavy entryway slammed shut, dirt and dust shooting up. Eunhyuk gently tapped the fake grass covering the trap door. “KUG is really done…,” he whispered. Standing upright, he took a photo of the hidden entrance, sending it via text message to Kangin.

A moment passed in the cold before Eunhyuk received a reply. He quickly opened it, grinning at what he received. There was a photo of Kangin and Leeteuk sitting inside a café. They were bundled up and smiling at the phone’s camera. In the back Eunhyuk could see snow drifting down around a rather smoggy big city. The caption read: Good riddance. That stupid club is finally shut down! Oh, and Teukie is doing well, just wish he wasn’t wearing gloves in the picture.

Eunhyuk titled his head. Why would it matter if Leeteuk was wearing gloves? Was there something special about his hands? Sighing, Eunhyuk closed the phone and headed off through the forest. He could always ask Kangin what that meant some other time.