He walked out from the meeting room, with a folder of files on his left hand, and a phone on the right. He would turn off his phone during a meeting and check it out right after. He didn’t expect much, but a name he hadn’t spoke about for a long time, popped up on the notification. Nam Taehyun. He thought he needed to sit down.

                From two hours ago, a text, that only consisted of three letters, ‘Hey’, it was long enough to make his heart flipped upside down, short enough to figure out what was happening.

                As a straight forward man he was, ‘We haven’t spoken for years. What it is now? Are you announcing your marriage?’, he hopped the words didn’t come out harsher to the person who received it.

                The answer was quick, ‘Actually, yes.’

                A thunder struck, then, ‘Congrats. Am I invited?’

                ‘Of course. I’m planning on giving you the invitation in person. If that’s okay.‘

                ‘Sure. I’m free this Friday after 5 pm.’

                ‘Make it 6. Where?’

                ‘Do you remember that café on our first date?’

                He counted every second as he was waiting a reply. A few breathe later, ‘Yes, I do.’

                He thought he needed to wash his face. He stayed still, watching from the mirror, the water’s drip traveling down his jawlines. He stared sharply the person looking back at him.

                “You see, that happened because I let your hand slipped, ruined everything.”

⁂

                Taehyun arrived first, it was a small café, hiding from the busy roads, and skyscrapers. His brown hair was side-parted, his sweater sleeves were rolled up, his Jeans was fresh, so were his polished shoes.

                He turned his head around once he heard the bell ringing, indicating someone just swung the door open. He tried to hold his smile as wide as possible, he saw the man, one of the happiest memory just flashed before his eyes. His black hair combed, still got his black suit on, his smile didn’t change.

                They hugged, and sat down.

                Taehyun broke the ice first, “I have ordered. Still Vienna right?”

                “I actually am trying to cut out sugar now. We’re getting old.” An awkward chuckle.

                There was bitterness in Taehyun smile, the moment he realized he didn’t know how much this man in front of him had changed throughout the years. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

                “It’s okay.”

                That was when their order delivered to the table. “A Vienna coffee and a green tea latte. Please tell us when you need anything else.” Taehyun thanked the waitress with a smile, Mino was looking at him.

                Mino was about to drink his coffee when Taehyun stopped him, “You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to. Don’t ruin your diet because of me. We can order something else.”

                “No, I want to reminiscence the memory of the past at least one more time.” He put down the cup, “The moment when I was the happiest.”

                He saw Taehyun fidgeting his fingers, then he said, “I can’t believe they keep that ugly painting right there.” He pointed at the middle aged lady on the frame, brushed with mostly brown and black colors. He remembered Taehyun used to hate that weirdly placed painting, he would choose the seats anywhere but near it. Said, it looking scarry.

                “Yeah, the place didn’t change much.”

                ‘Only we did’.

                A brief silence passed. Taehyun took out a broken white colored paper, the reason for the meeting today. Mino did not mention about it from the beginning, wishing for Taehyun to forget about it. Taehyun handed it to him, Mino was unfamiliar with the other name. Kang Seungyoon.

                “I know him through a mutual friend.” Taehyun forced a smile, trying to act as normal as possible.

                “Wait, the date, this Sunday?”

                “Uh-huh. You can’t make it?”

                “It’s not that, I thought it would be a month or two from now, not this Sunday soon.”

                “Well, I texted you on Monday, so…” He bit his lips, “Alright, I need time to gather the courage to give it to you. Sorry.”

                A breath released, “I’m glad that I still have effect on you.”

                “You will always have.” Taehyun couldn’t see him in the eyes.

⁂

                He didn’t go straight back home, he drove his car for an hour more, another more, and more, until he got really tired. Once he got home, he took a bath, well no, the water was just wetting down his head and body. Pacing out the whole time. He put on the comfiest clothes he got, a designer t-shirt and shorts. His hair was still damp when he poured the first glass of whisky on the ice.

                A few glass after, he was slightly drunk, calling the number he knew too well to forget. His heartbeat was four times faster than the beeping sound. At the time when the beeping sound stopped, it also stopped his beating heart.

⁂

                The room was dark, all the lights were off, except the bed side one, glowing yellow faintly. The two figures were under the blanket.

                All quiet, then a ringing, “Taehyun, that’s yours.” He shook his body gently. Taehyun woke up, feeling annoyed. He reached out the phone on the bed side drawer, he straightened his spine when he saw the caller’s identity. He took the almost empty glass beside it, then went to the kitchen, pressed the green icon. The glass was an excuse, he didn'