The next morning, the pair found themselves at the university, and then in front of Key’s apartment door. Minho hadn’t spoken almost at all and avoided looking at Sungmin. On the other hand, Sungmin was beginning to get miffed at the cold shoulder treatment. Who was the one who confessed? Shouldn’t he have been the weird one, not Minho?

“Come in,” Jonghyun said, opening the door.

“Thanks,” Sungmin replied, leading the way in. He immediately locked eyes with Key who was pacing relentlessly in the living room. Wincing, Sungmin approached him, feeling as if one misplaced step would send him into a chasm of fire. “Good morning…”

“Last night he confessed to you,” Key snapped, getting straight to the point, “isn’t that obviously a lie?”

Sungmin’s mouth opened and closed silently, words unable to take shape.

Minho sighed, coming between them and saying, “He really doesn’t know anything so stop pestering him Key. Look,” he ran a hand through his hair, “I’ve never spoken this much about…my own issues, I guess you could say. I’m not good at this but I didn’t sleep at all last night and that’s because I want to tell you the truth.” He listened to silence and then breathed a small sigh of relief that Key would actually hear him out.

“You asked me last night why I love him,” Minho couldn’t look at Sungmin but he could feel a pair of eyes scorching his backside, “and I just couldn’t figure out how to prove it. So, here.” He took out a well-worn folded piece of paper, and slowly unfolded it. “Damn, this feels dramatic.” And just last night I was thinking life couldn’t feel like a movie. He glanced at Key and hid a smile. Maybe it’s because of Key…he was always good at making drama.

Minho couldn’t believe he was about to do this. But then…he just had to do it. Speaking had already proven useless and this was his last resort. “I wrote this back in February but I never sent it,” he explained, now unable to look at anyone in the room.

Taking the paper in both hands, he parted his lips, “Dear Sungmin, I just wanted to write this because I needed to. I’ll never send it though. I know you’re happy with Ryeowook. Hell, I’m happy to see you two together after all the stuff that’s happened over the years.”

He shifted on his feet, “But we’ve been through stuff together too. I feel like you just can’t see it. Even though you and I were in the exact same position you just couldn’t open your eyes and turn to see me standing right there…,” Minho caught his breath, feeling his face on fire, “I was looking at you and cliché as ever, you were looking at Ryeowook. I mean…why couldn’t you tell that I really liked you – then and now?”

“Fine, I’ll admit that I didn’t help myself by playing around so much and that whole sleeping with Taemin thing was just bad on my part. But the other times, the times when it was you and me,” he finally dared a look up, only to see Key’s somber expression.

He turned back down to the letter, “What about when we went out to the city that one night shopping? I’ll never forget when I stumbled upon you looking at that pink and white striped sweater. I thought ‘Damn…he’s so cute.’”

“You never let your guard down so seeing that was just…great,” Minho coughed, clearing his throat and trying desperately to stop the trembling, “And then afterwards when you trusted me with your story? I still stay up sometimes thinking about it. Did you ever tell Ryeowook about it? Did you ever trust anyone else with that history? I don’t think you did. I hope you didn’t. I really like being the only one who knows.”

“…The saddest part though is that I can’t be with you. As much as I’d love to steal you from Ryeowook I couldn’t do that to either of you,” he heard his voice crack and could only miserably continue, ignoring the embarrassing hoarseness, “Plus, I doubt you would go down without a fight. I wonder if you two are meant for each other. I’m betting you don’t believe in that quiz thing.”

Minho was beginning to regret reading the entire letter.

With each word, he ended up sounding more and more like a bastard. “…I do though,” he recited softly, “…Then again, I’m praying you would someday realize that it’s not bull. It could be real. Our percentage could be more than just a statistic. We could make it real.”

“As for Key…,” he saw in his peripheral vision Key stiffening, “well, I do love him. I loved him a long time ago too.” Minho lowered the letter, knowing the last lines like the back of his hand. “But as a lover, I’d take you in a heartbeat, Sungmin.”

“…He and I were sweethearts but when I’m with you, I know we’re soulmates. A soulmate means a lot more to me than a first love. Key will always be important,” Minho took a chance, a leap of faith, and turned around to meet Sungmin’s eyes for the first time all day, “…but he’s not you.”

And then Minho was crouching low to the ground, groaning in embarrassment. He couldn’t believe he just said all of that. It wasn’t even to Sungmin! It was to freaking Key! The confession was because of Key too! Why couldn’t everything just stay as it had been? Now literally everything was out in the open and Minho couldn’t remember another time where he felt so vulnerable.

No one said anything, not until Minho stood up again after a solid five minutes and looked around. He met Sungmin’s stunned gaze and nodded him towards the door. The dark haired boy practically ran for it, apparently the only other person in the room with some shame.

Minho walked up to Key, deciding there really was nothing left to lose. He had just bared his soul to the whole ing room – of three people – but still! “You and him are nice together,” Minho remarked, smiling in that way that made people swoon, “so…goodbye Key. For real this time, right?”

Slowly, he lowered his eyes, “Should I thank you?”

“Nah,” Minho grinned, “I think you helped me…y’know, tell the truth.” For once in my life…

“I’m not sure how good of an idea that was,” Key mumbled.

“It’s better now,” he insisted, “because nothing was happening before. Now…well, it’s my fault if it goes to hell.” Minho laughed quietly, leaning forward and kissing his now ex-lover’s cheek, “Have fun.”

“It’s really done this time?”

Minho nodded.

Key broke into a half-hearted grin, “Have fun, too.”

***

He found Sungmin sitting on a bench just outside of the apartment complex. The boy was looking down thoughtfully or perhaps blankly. It could be difficult to decipher sometimes – especially when Minho was too dazed with the whirlwind truths.

“Hey.”

Sungmin peered up. “Hi.”

“What are you thinking about?” Minho asked, “Ryeowook?”

“No, you.”

His heart skipped a beat.

“I’m not sure which one is better though.”

His heart sunk.

Sungmin leaned his head back, eyes closing. “If I don’t like you like that, are we still friends?”

“You said so yourself last night,” Minho answered, “’we’re still friends.’”

“Good.” He stared up at Minho was standing over him. “If I someday like you like that, are we still friends?”

“Friends…but with benefits.”

Sungmin rolled his eyes, getting up and stalking off.

“Oh it was just a joke!” Minho called, laughing and beaming.