Donghae was sitting in the middle of the dried up soccer field, his clothes and skin covered in grass and dirt. The normally cheery boy was sullenly staring up at the quickly graying sky. At least, that was how Kyuhyun found him.

“You wanna play?” he prompted, chucking the abandoned soccer ball at Donghae’s backside. The light haired boy rigidly fell forward, sad eyes turning to Kyuhyun.

“What’s up?” Donghae sighed, stretching his legs out before him.

Kyuhyun cocked an eyebrow. “I should be asking you that. Why are you moping around in a field?” He sat down beside his friend, deciding that moping around wasn’t such a bad idea after all. What else would he do? Ryeowook had just made it clear that Sungmin came before Kyuhyun. Of course things like “bros before hoes” doesn’t exist – then again, were they even bros? What were they?

Whenever Ryeowook was around, he just wanted to tease and play with him. Even when they weren’t together, during the past two years, hadn’t Kyuhyun still wanted to do things like make fun of Ryeowook? It was habit.

He just couldn’t get enough of seeing the boy’s reactions. Was that so bad? “Hating” Ryeowook still couldn’t stop that addictive urge. Kyuhyun had admitted it to himself a month or so ago and would never think twice about the admittance. Truly, to hate Ryeowook was to hate himself. There was no way he ever felt something as strong as that towards his roommate, and oldest friend.

Frustration was a far better word to explain it.

Those years apart were good for them though. Kyuhyun had met and learned and loved. Ryeowook had learned what independence felt like. Perhaps that’s what people meant when they said “they were finding themselves”. It was a cliché statement but oh how true it rang.

“It’s Kibum…,” Donghae muttered, tearing some grass out of the ground, “…he wants to temporarily break up and I just don’t want that. I don’t want to lose him, Kyu.”

“Why does he want to break up?” he asked quickly, surprised by the sudden statement. Kyuhyun had been the one to orchestrate their relationship. What went wrong?

Donghae sighed miserably, flopping onto his backside with arms spread wide. “He got picked for that fine arts abroad program. He’ll be gone for a month in London, England studying at a theatre school.”

“If it’s only month why would you have to break up…?” Kyuhyun pulled his knees up, head turning to look at the heartbroken boy.

“He said he wouldn’t feel right doing kissing scenes and other intimate things when we’re still dating so he just…,” Donghae rolled onto his side, hand coming up to cover his face. “Kyu, I seriously don’t know what to do. I want him to go on the trip, I really do!” he explained sincerely, brow creasing tiredly. “I know it’s really special to be picked for something like this, especially with the backgrounds that all of us come from…but does that mean we have to break up? Even for a month?”

Kyuhyun rubbed his friend’s back gently. “Tell him that. He’ll understand if you’re really serious when you tell him.”

“What if he doesn’t understand though?” Donghae barked, back of his hand covering his eyes. “Not to mention I just can’t concentrate. You know a scout is coming to watch me play soccer in just three weeks. If I can’t pull it together I’m going to lose my chance at a scholarship.” Tears starting pricking the liquid orbs and Kyuhyun felt panic shoot through him.

“H-Hey, calm down,” he hugged Donghae, patting his back comfortingly, “you’re going to do amazing things, Donghae. Stop trying to handle everything all at once. You still have time and I’ll practice with you every day and we’ll figure out the Kibum thing too. I was there from the very beginning,” he chuckled a bit, “I won’t let you two fall apart.”

The boy was only sniffling now, having suppressed the tears as best he could. “…T-Thanks, Kyuhyun,” he managed shakily, “you’re too nice to me.”

“As if,” Kyuhyun snorted, unable to help the smile that touched his lips, “we’re bros. I’m not going to leave you behind,” …not after all of the things you did to help me.

He continued comforting Donghae, not in the least interest in turning the attention back to himself. There was time to think about what the hell was going on between him and Ryeowook. There were only so many opportunities to help such a happy fellow like Donghae, though.

***

Mir sat on the dormitory steps, watching his friends prepare for their StudGov trip. There was so much hustle and bustle yet he couldn’t be a part of it – darn his lack of socializing. Luckily, they would all be back by tomorrow night so at least he wouldn’t be alone for a long time.

Oh, how could he forget about Taemin?

A smile curved his lips at the thought. They would be able to spend even more time together, right? It had been a month already since they started sending letters to one another and so far it was working rather well.

For instance, Mir never knew what Taemin ad Minho’s relationship was like until they started this hand written exchange. Apparently the pair had been from the same orphanage and treated like brothers. They were adopted multiple times but every time they ran away because the people were either unsatisfactory or just plain…plain. Mir found it rather interesting that the academy was their safe haven. It seemed like even the most careless students – Taemin and Minho – were deeply attached to the school. Even though they didn’t show it, truly, the academy meant a lot to them, huh?

Another thing, Taemin’s favorite drink was banana milk. Mir chuckled at the thought. All of the times he went to get Taemin a drink, it would be that one. It felt nice to be so emotionally attached. This was surely the first time Mir had ever revealed so much about himself – Taemin was probably in the same boat.

They were the same and with each step, they were coming to accept more and more about themselves. Although memories, painful and happy, rose in Mir’s mind, he didn’t mind. Taemin was with him now so everything would be fine.

If they fell, they would fall together. Neither of them would ever have to be alone again.

“Are you going to miss me?” Dongwoon asked, teasingly, his face appearing in Mir’s peripheral vision.

“I’m going to miss all of you,” he replied casually, still distracted by thoughts of Taemin.

Dongwoon recognized that look easily. It was the same look that plagued Mir’s features every time he was thinking about a certain pretty boy. No matter how much time passed though, he would never be able to feel indifferent towards that expression. Dongwoon knew too much about who it was directed towards – or rather, he knew far too well that it would never be directed towards himself.

“Stop spacing out already,” Dongwoon rolled his eyes, masking the discomfort well.

Abruptly, two arms caught him from behind, wrapping around Dongwoon’s neck. He lurched forward, spinning around in a tangle of limbs and laughter.

A cute faced boy appeared before him, legs coming up to straddle his hips. Kikwang grinned at his lover, kissing those lips. “Good! I thought you would already be gone before I woke up!” he cheered, body held up by Dongwoon’s arms.

“You’re crazy sometimes,” the latter sighed, amused as he supported the shorter boy’s weight. They spun in slow circles, trying to stay balanced. “You should wake up earlier. It’s bad to sleep late.”

Kikwang giggled and kissed him again, ignorant of all eyes on their intimate embrace…koala hug, thing. “So long as you’re involved, I’ll wake up whenever,” he murmured suggestively, blowing cool air across the taller boy’s ear.

Mir just looked away from the scene, pulling out his phone for something to do. There was a text message waiting for him and the moment his eyes rested on the name, his heart skipped a few beats.

Taemin says: I just failed my English test >.< Can you help me study?? I have to retake it tomorrow afternoon : ( Please Mir? <3

I say: I really like studying so of course I’ll help you! Do you want me to come over after your morning classes are done?

Taemin says: Just come tonight ; ) We’ll pull an all-nighter!

Mir couldn’t argue with that. There was no way he wanted to sleep in a bedroom alone, especially in such a quiet place like the Honors Dorm. At least now he could stay up all night studying with his boyfriend.

On the flip side, Dongwoon had set Kikwang down and was boarding the bus. He only then remembered that Mir and he had been in the middle of bantering. When Dongwoon glanced back at the awkward boy though, he caught sight of a warm smile painted on his face. The phone in Mir’s hands was all the explanation he needed.

They were playing a cruel game and sometimes Dongwoon wished that he could just stop already. But then…you can’t, can you? There’s no way to rip your soul in half once it has been completed. That’s one of the few, horrible things about unloving soulmates.

Here they were, side by side and living together – yet they were still farther than opposite ends of the earth. When Dongwoon stared at Mir across that minimal distance, the bus and the dorm steps, he could feel the vast, invisible ocean separating them.

How long would it take to swim across it? Would he drown before he could make it?

Probably.