Warmth enveloped Ryeowook, keeping the very tips of his fingers nice and tingly. A smile spread his lips as he curled into himself beneath the blanket. Wait. His eyes popped open, body shooting up. What was he doing in a bed?

“You almost froze overnight.”

Ryeowook gulped and reluctantly turned to look at the handsome, deep voiced boy sitting at a desk. Those unruly black waves stood out against his ivory skin, which at that particular moment, was twisted in irritation.

“Kyuhyun…,” Ryeowook whispered, suddenly feeling a clenching in the pit of his stomach.

A mug of coffee rested in both of Kyuhyun’s hands, steam floating up from the drink. “You didn’t want to see me that badly?” he asked.

Heat crowded the smaller boy’s face. “No! …I mean yes…,” Ryeowook played with the edge of the blanket. “…I didn’t think you’d want to room with me.”

“So you’re blaming me again?”

Ryeowook’s head shot up, eyes wide and frantic. A smirk slowly made its way across Kyuhyun’s lips. At the expression, Ryeowook sighed, dropping his head onto his sheet covered knees. “Stop teasing me, Kyuhyun…,” he mumbled, unable to keep the flush from surfacing.

“Seriously then,” the taller boy stated, “you were going to catch a cold if it weren’t for that one guy, Dongwoon.”

“He brought me to you?” Ryeowook should’ve known it wasn’t Sungmin or anyone else. In fact, Dongwoon was probably the only person in their dorm building who didn’t know about Kyuhyun’s sharp tongue.

“Mmhmm,” he answered calmly, setting his mug down and standing. “I’m going to get breakfast.” Kyuhyun grabbed the jacket draped around the back of his chair and shrugged it on. Smoothly grabbing his keys, the boy opened the room’s door.

Ryeowook scrambled out of bed, one foot pressing down on the cold floor. “W-Wait..!” He caught one of Kyuhyun’s eyes. “Are you just leaving your coffee? That’s a waste of a drink isn’t it?” For the life of him, Ryeowook would never be able to explain why he was sad about Kyuhyun leaving so abruptly. Oh wait, perhaps he could explain…

“It’s not mine. I was just holding it.” With that, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Ryeowook’s eyes wandered down to the steaming cup. A familiar tingly feeling filled his veins as he reached out to take the mug. The smile was so subconscious – natural – Ryeowook wouldn’t have realized it was on his face had it not been for the awkward attempt at sipping the drink.

***

Donghae grinned at Kyuhyun. “What’re you so annoyed about?” He took a swig from a cup of orange juice before starting into his breakfast.

The boy in question grimaced after swallowing a mouthful of food. “I’m not annoyed,” Kyuhyun muttered. But, of course, he was rather irritated.

“Are you still bummed about your break up?” Donghae prompted sympathetically.

“No.” And that was the truth. It had been nearly half a year since then. There was no way he would still be upset over it. Whatever he and Zhoumi had shared…well, they just didn’t share it anymore. Love…was it even love? If Kyuhyun ever found himself thinking about his former lover, it was mainly contemplative.

It had always bothered him. During those days together, they were madly in love, right? The problem was, if it had really been love, wouldn’t they have stayed together for far longer? Otherwise, they could’ve never been in love. Hopefully that wasn’t the case though. Kyuhyun didn’t want to regret lying – and most importantly tricking him into thinking something so fickle as their relationship could’ve been considered such a powerful bond.

Donghae finished his juice and leaned back in the chair, eyes drifting towards the window. Snow absently twirled to earth, seemingly unaware that the holidays were over and no one wanted to see the white dust anymore. “Kibum and I are still happy.”

“That’s good.”

“He said he likes me.”

“And you like him.”

“I love him.”

Kyuhyun felt a fresh twinge of annoyance. “Love? Are you sure?” he prompted, not even trying to mask the harshness of his tone.

“…More than anyone else I’ve ever met,” Donghae replied steadily, shifting so he faced the other boy head on again.

“Then why aren’t you saying it more happily?” Kyuhyun drawled, doing his very best at being supportive. His very best wasn’t very great for the record.

Donghae shrugged limply, “I doubt he feels the same. Or, knowing him, he’ll just blow it off as me being overzealous.”

“You are overzealous a lot,” he remarked.

“That’s not the point,” Donghae huffed. A second passed and then he sighed, “Do you have any ideas on what I should do? I want to tell him…but I want him to know I’m serious. I don’t want him to think I’m just saying it for the sake of saying it.”

Kyuhyun took a slow drink from his milk. “Do you seriously mean it?”

“Of course I do!” he nearly yelled.

“Then just tell him.” Donghae’s mouth opened to protest the simple solution but Kyuhyun put up a halting hand, going on, “Tell him how you feel but afterwards tell him you’re saying it because you’ve been wanting to. You have to make it clear that you’re not pressuring him into saying it back.”

Kyuhyun could almost see the gears working in his friend’s brain as the plan started seeping in and taking over.

After a minute or so, Donghae nodded, determined. “But Kyu…I have a question.”

“What is it?” he mumbled, finishing his breakfast and leaning forward.

“You’ve gotten a lot softer these days…why?” the boy’s eyes sparkled with amusement, a grin forming on his lips.

Kyuhyun stood up, grabbing his jacket. “It must be because I spend all my time with a lovesick puppy.” Donghae was about to protest but the other kid was already sauntering towards the exit.

“Wait up!” he called, pulling on his jacket and racing after Kyuhyun.