“Can we talk…?” Those were the three words to be feared. Sungmin had never dated anyone but he had seen enough movies, read enough books, and seen enough couples to know there was always something bad at the end of “Can we talk?”

Now the question was: What could Ryeowook tell him?

If anyone should have been making a confession, shouldn’t it have been Sungmin? After all, he was the one who had hooked up with Minho. Guilt had been festering in his chest all morning and now as he saw a nervous, stiff Ryeowook, he wondered what could be so bad?

For crying out loud, Sungmin’s throat was covered in so many bites the mere thought of going outside had scared him. So now, as he hid the hickeys behind a reasonably thick scarf, he couldn’t help but feel like a liar. Well, if Sungmin were to rationalize the situation he could say that he hadn’t lied to Ryeowook. Instead, he had withheld the truth – completely different from lying considering his lover had never directly asked if he cheated.

“Sungmin?”

His head snapped up and he stared wide eyed at Ryeowook. They stood across from one another in a secluded part of the campus park. Buds formed on barren branches, signaling the beginning of spring, of something nostalgic yet new. Sungmin peered at the soon to blossom flowers from his peripheral vision, wondering momentarily what they would look like once the season reached its peak.

Ryeowook’s hand loosened around his lover’s but before they could break apart, Sungmin snatched his fingers, pulling them forward until their palms were pressed together, digits entwined. “You don’t want to do that,” Ryeowook flushed, deep sorrow dampening his normally sweet gaze.

“Why not?” Sungmin asked, pushing windblown tresses out of the other’s face, “I’m your boyfriend. Why can’t I hold your hand?” He leaned forward, tempted to further his point with a forceful kiss. That idea flew away when he saw tears spring up in Ryeowook’s eyes.

The latter shook his head, wiping at the mess of salty liquid. “N-No really Minnie!” he hiccupped, looking smaller than usual, “I…I wasn’t going to t-tell you because it didn’t mean anything…I promise it didn’t mean anything,” Ryeowook breathed unsteadily, heart racing painfully.

“What are you talking about?” Sungmin asked, having pulled the shaking figure into a tight embrace. He wanted to push Ryeowook away, away from his dirty body but he couldn’t help it. The way those tears kept falling…that red face…that honesty…it was all unbearably vulnerable and weak. How could Sungmin not try to comfort that? “It’s all okay Wookie,” he assured softly, gently his Ryeowook’s backside, “you can tell me. I’m not going to be upset, okay?”

“But you will be!” he argued, voice muffled slightly in his lover’s jacket. “I…I k-kissed Kyuhyun…a lot yesterday,” Ryeowook confessed between sobs, all of the desperation and regret pouring out of him. “I just w-wanted to help him…I promise Sungmin! H-His…Z-Zhoumi…and showed up…costumes…!”

Sungmin slowly pushed Ryeowook back, staring at the large, pleading eyes. Jealousy and anger was pumping into his veins but all of it was pushed aside when Sungmin recalled how badly he had cheated. There was no way he could be mad at Ryeowook. See? He was right. Nothing could top what Sungmin did, not even something involving Cho Kyuhyun.

“I told you, Ryeowook,” Sungmin whispered, tilting his head down to kiss the trembling boy’s lips, “I’m not upset…okay?” He bit back all of the resentment and tugged Ryeowook into a deeper kiss, praying that somehow this would lessen the blow when he confessed what happened the night before.

When they broke apart, the tears had stopped and his face was red for an entirely different reason. “B-But…I…,” Ryeowook slumped, eyes twinkling sadly, “I…I knew how you felt about Kyuhyun and I still did it…I…”

“…it’s fine,” Sungmin mumbled, “I know you love me.” He nodded slowly, brushing the back of his hand across Ryeowook’s cheek. “And you did it because you care about that Hound…so…it’s alright. And you told me about it. That means it really didn’t mean anything, I hope.”

Ryeowook vigorously nodded, fingers curling around Sungmin’s sleeves. “I wanted you to know that it was just an act,” he paused, taking a deep breath, “it really didn’t mean anything, Minnie. I…I wanted to help him after he helped me so much.”

How could he have helped you?“I…I know.”

“Good, because I’m serious about you Sungmin,” Ryeowook stammered, leaning his forehead against the other boy’s chest, “I’ve never been so seriously…in love before.”

What about Kyuhyun? He’s your soulmate. “Neither of us has done this before,” Sungmin assured quietly, “I’ve never loved someone like this…” I’ve never loved someone to the point that I want them all to myself.

“I really wanted to be with you on Valentine’s Day. If we had been together then this wouldn’t have happened,” he sighed miserably.

Well it would’ve happened eventually right? You and Kyuhyun are roommates after all. At some point you probably would’ve found an excuse to kiss him or sleep with him. Hey, that’s what you did with your old roommate too, so why should I doubt it you wouldn’t do the same thing with Kyuhyun? “Yeah, I bet none of this would’ve happened,” Sungmin could hear the bitterness beginning to creep into his voice. There was no way to stop it though and apparently Ryeowook had taken notice as well.

His head rose from Sungmin’s chest, those already hurt eyes growing sadder. “…You’re not okay, are you Minnie?” Ryeowook spoke softly, as if afraid speaking loudly would scare off the other boy.

How do you expect me to be alright? You kissed Kyuhyun. You kissed the one person I loathe. You chose him over me. It took two years for me to even get you to look at me and it takes him one afternoon to get you to kiss him? Are you kidding me? After all that crap he put you through and you so willingly kiss him? “No, I am,” he answered too quickly.

Ryeowook sighed, sniffling and rubbing his face. “Sorry…I’m really sorry Sungmin,” he managed to say before backing up, “I get it though…I mean, we’ve only been dating for a couple of weeks and I already go and cheat?” He laughed humorlessly. “Just call me…or find me when you want to talk.”

“Where are you going?” Sungmin asked, voice cracking, arm reaching out to stop the other boy from leaving.

“I have an appointment with Dr. Choi,” Ryeowook mumbled, smiling as if he didn’t know what else to do with his face, “so yes, tell me when you want to talk.” He nodded once and then turned, hurrying away.

“Can we talk?” Those were the three words to be feared. So why was Ryeowook practically asking for them? Sungmin leaned back on his heels, hands stuffed in pockets. Am I that obvious? Do I really want to break up with him? Would letting him pursue an like Kyuhyun be a good idea?

Of course not!

 Sungmin would never break up with Ryeowook. He couldn’t break with him. He didn’t want to break with him, at least not really. Had they spent the past two years struggling to get where they were only to let it crumble after two weeks?

No. That was the answer.

Screw you Kyuhyun. Ryeowook is mine.