Kyuhyun checked his watch, seeing the time displayed: 10:03 A.M. The nurse had so very rudely kicked him out at nine even though visiting hours were back. Therefore he was lounging around the city, not particularly wishing to return to the academy and see what Ryeowook’s decision had been.

Instead, he sat on a bench on some street, and closed his eyes for a little while, wishing the world would still for a moment.

***

The sun was warm on his skin, reaching its slow peak. An incredibly pleasant breeze rushed over his skin as he picked up a piece of paper and pen. His eyes moved across the room that had been his home for the past semester and wondered how much he would miss it once Europe became his every day sight.

Ryeowook had just scrawled the first few words when someone knocked on his door.

***

“Hey kid, you’re the one who sang at that street performer’s park, right?” a man dressed nicely inquired, smiling in a friendly way.

Kyuhyun glared at him, turning his head away.

“Have you got the time of day, young man?” the person took out a business card and offered it to him, “I work just down the block at one of the best talent agents. You should come by sometime and we can talk about your career in music.”

“I’d rather not,” he replied flatly, “go away.”

***

Ryeowook smiled at Mir and Sungmin, standing up from his barely touched letter. “I guess I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Going on planes on an empty stomach is good though,” Mir pointed out, only to be elbowed by Sungmin. “Or maybe eating with your friends is always the better choice,” the boy grunted, rubbing his pained side.

“That’s right,” Sungmin smiled while Ryeowook laughed.

***

Kyuhyun ambled through a jogging route, not really searching for something to do. It was more of a way to calm his nerves. There were a number of things bothering him but none of it was in his control anymore.

If Ryeowook decided to choose him, wouldn’t he have said so already? Wouldn’t he have called or texted or in some way shared the news?

That could only mean his gift had been taken. Ryeowook…just hadn’t chosen him.

***

“So what country are you going to?” Sungmin asked, sipping from his orange juice.

“Prague in the Czech Republic, I believe,” he replied, stuffing a piece of toast into his mouth.

Mir copied him, both boys chewing hard at the buttered bread.

“That’s very attractive,” Dongwoon remarked, amusedly. He bent down, kissing one of Mir’s cheeks, “good morning.”

“’Morning,” the boy mumbled, wiping his mouth and chugging down a glass of water, “are you here to see Ryeowook, too?”

Dongwoon glanced at the StudGov President, smiling, “Good morning, Wookie. Your notice for leaving is pretty late.”

“Maybe you’re just not important enough.”

***

He flopped down in a clearing within a park, getting comfortable in the soft grass. Fatigue struck him like a ton of weight. Sighing, Kyuhyun allowed himself to breathe comfortably and clear his mind.

That was all he could do. The obsessive thoughts were literally driving him towards insanity.

Merely thinking about Ryeowook and him and Kyuhyun and all of the things that had happened among the three of them was unbearably stressful.

Facing the facts: Kyuhyun was tired.

***

“Minho!” Ryeowook stood up, running over to hug the tall boy.

“Hey, Ryeowookie,” he laughed, patting the boy’s backside. Minho’s gaze slipped to Sungmin and he smirked, “Hey, Sungminnie. Not gonna greet me…?”

“Why would I?” he retorted, eyes mixing annoyance and friendliness.

“Hmm…,” Minho stepped back from Ryeowook, holding the boy at arm’s length, “I’m happy that I don’t have to kick your .”

“I’m happy too,” he responded, flashing a bright grin.

***

Kyuhyun didn’t bother to check the time, basing his guess off the position of the obscured sun. Maybe it was time to head back already.

As far as he could tell, Kyuhyun was calm enough to return to the academy. Whatever the outcome, he would face it because this was the one time he wasn’t controlling anything. If Ryeowook was truly meant to be with Kyuhyun, then that’s how it would be, right?

***

Ryeowook finished the letter, folding it and securing it on the table top with a paperweight. His heart was beating quickly, burning with all of the words that had managed to collect themselves on that single page.

Would it be enough?

Would he understand?

***

Sungmin caught Kyuhyun’s arm as he was walking through the campus. The latter froze, wide eyes darting to the black haired, somber faced male. “Look,” Sungmin began and all Kyuhyun wanted to do was rip away and run for it, “I’m sorry. I know that you’re probably okay with it, but it’s hard to let go of someone like that.”

Oh …oh no…Kyuhyun roughly jerked away from Sungmin, anger flaring in his eyes. “Why are you comforting me? Of all the people, why would I ever want your kind words?” he spat.

“Because I’m Ryeowook’s friend,” he shot back, eyes narrowing, “I hardly think this is the time to be prideful but do whatever you want. I just felt bad because he chose Europe over you.”

“Wait, what?”

Sungmin opened his mouth to say it again but then he saw the honest shock in the normally unreadable face. “You…he didn’t contact you? Weren’t you with him last night?”

“Just tell me what happened!”  Kyuhyun snatched Sungmin’s collar, all of the calm he had gathered earlier, dissipating.

***

The slender boy adjusted his shirt, leaning over to rearrange his suitcase. There were some t-shirts, boxers, pants, and socks – only the necessity until he reached Prague. Henry had promised to take him shopping so he wouldn’t have to bring all of his…well, Ryeowook smiled ruefully, reform school kids didn’t exactly have many belongings to being with.

***

His chest was aching and he couldn’t have felt more ridiculous in that moment as he sprinted clumsily towards their dorm.

“He’s leaving for Europe today. He was accepted into a university there.”

Why hadn’t Ryeowook said anything? Kyuhyun gulped down air, ignoring the lack of oxygen reaching his lungs.

***

A small brown box rose to the top as he pulled out a set of pajamas. Ryeowook lifted it up, opening it. Inside were, as he already knew, the little things that made him remember. For a long minute, he simply studied the dried rose petals, and then the artificial flower petals.

Underneath those were two pictures from two dates. He had considered leaving one for Kyuhyun, but then rid his mind of the notion.

Ryeowook glanced down at his finger and after a split second, he slipped off Sungmin’s ring and dropped it into the box as well.

***

Kyuhyun shoved the door open—

***

“Flight to Prague: Boarding Call! All passengers please report to the designated gate for boarding! I repeat…”

Ryeowook looked up from his luggage, quickly zipping it back up and picking the duffel off the floor. “Here goes,” he breathed, squaring his shoulders and walking forward.

***

– where he found nothing but an open window, two made beds, and a flapping, folded note on his desk.