♦ A/N: Please always take note of the date, it's really important and also to avoid any confusion of the timeline. Happy reading! ^^ ♦

→ APRIL 21, 2028

Amid the infinitely greened hills, the group of friends skidded down the road once more after unearthing their time capsule. Jaemin suggested to make a u-turn first and pay an old friend a visit since he's only a few blocks away from their former school. Unlike the five of them, Qian Kun did not leave Jinhae for college but instead; decided to enroll in a local community college just a bus ride away from their district and took up business management in order to cater their family-owned Chinese restaurant. 

He and Kun maintained a good friendship throughout the years. They make it a habit to inform each other's well-being and tell each other about whatevers going on with their lives. The last time they saw each other was way back when Jaemin went home after his college graduation. Since then it's only phone calls and surprise vid calls were used constantly as their means of communication. There's this disparity in distance of course but Jaemin has always kept in touch with Gyeonghwa High's one-time introvert.

Over the years Kun has managed to gain friends of his own, learned how to associate with other people, and it was all thanks to Jaemin who keeps nagging him over the phone; telling the latter to get himself out there and create his own circle of friends. And it wasn't long after, Kun has managed to get himself a boyfriend of his own - another Chinese fella named Winwin. And Jaemin about how it is always the quiet ones who are a great flirt. 

He already informed Kun that they're visiting and the latter was beyond ecstatic that they get to meet again. So Jaemin's proposal was to stay two nights at Kun's place and just visit Jeno exactly on his birthday, in which his friends happily oblige. Well, except for Renjun, who complained that his bouquet of flowers will wither by then.

It was a quiet car ride towards Kun's and neither of them utter a single word after digging up the time capsule and reading Jeno's letter. There was like an unspoken agreement that no one should mention a single thing about it. The silence lay on their skins like a poison - seeped into their bloods and paralyzed their brains. And Jaemin understands with great deal how everyone's like this. Jeno wasn't just a guy from Seoul who they befriended in high school. He is very much a part of their clique, a highly loved friend, and a family. He is still a part of them. But, for ten years now, he is a missing piece of the puzzle. Unfortunately, a piece that will never be found. And the part that Jeno left is a huge gaping hole that none of them can fill - that no one can fill. Strangely enough, not even time can cover it up. 

He doesn't want to sour his mood any further especially now that he's visiting Kun, so Jaemin busied himself over at their old group photo together that they retrieved in the capsule (just really a worn down lunchbox) earlier. He laughs secretly at how scrawny they all look ten years ago - all with long, uncut hairs and extremely odd camera poses. The rottening photo was like a time machine. Just one glance and he's back in his teen years with his life stretched before him. All his decisions that he has yet to make was still unmapped and back then everything was still possible for him. And he wondered at how impossible it seems that all those day-to-day decisions would take him across to where he is now - sitting at a minivan with his group of friends who shares the same burden as him - broken, and somewhat miserable. Funny enough even a happy-looking photo can bring out such melancholy. So, in the end he just stuff the picture back to its ten-year residence, wanting to avoid the negative juju that was slowly kicking in.

When Jaemin looks up, he smiles upon remembering this side of town pretty well. Finally, something to brighten his spirits up. It was getting a bit dark out, not a single star in the sky, but Kun's family restaurant provided enough multicolored lights all over the nook and crannies of their establishment. Jaemin figured this must be a strategy to attract the attention of hungry passersby on the road. If it really is, then it seems that it was working as the parking lot is filled with various family cars. 

"We're here." Jisung announced as he pulled over at one of the few parking spaces left. Frankly, the first sentence that was uttered since they departed from Gyeonghwa.

One by one they disembark the vehicle and as they did the almost-blinding retro lights of Qian's Everyday Chinese greets them. Renjun holds his hand as they marches towards the gravel path and inside Kun's family restaurant. The melodious ding of the wind chime signals their entrance and as expected from the number of cars parked outside, it's a full house. Jaemin looks at around at the busy tables. His gaze landed upon an old couple eating side by side, one glass wine each as they probably talk about their golden years; then, to a group of women possibly in their mid-thirties collapsing with helpless giggles as a stern woman behind them is dining alone, looked on and frowned at how disturbed she was with her business; and finally to the most common sight in restaurants - a family of four with the parents struggling to control their lawless kids. The number of costumers eating tells so much of this establishment's popularity.

"Yah! Yah! Jaemin!" From amongst the crowd squealed an overly excited Qian Kun, wearing an apron draped across his waist. Jaemin turns his attention towards him and immediately lunges himself as he recognizes the long time acquaintance. "Daebak, have you gotten taller over the years?" Kun asked as he messily plays with his hair.

"I could say the same for you." Jaemin responded as he stays a foot away from Kun and scans him from top to bottom. "Hey, where's Winwin? I didn't get to see him the last time I was here." He eagerly asked as the pictures Kun sent him was not enough. 

At the mention of his boyfriend's name, Kun pursed his lips together. "He has to work yet another overnight shift at the hospital." He then pouted at the end but Jaemin finds him so cute that he did not even bother to be disappointed not being able to see the latter's boyfriend who works as a nurse. "Anyways, you guys should come in, I prepared a table for you upstairs." Like a switch was , Kun went back to his joyous self.

"Upstairs?" Jaemin asked, did not even noticed that this place has a second floor.

"Yeah, we live upstairs. Dad figured it's more convenient than renting a separate apartment. Plus, I can never get late." Kun happily explained. "So, yeah, please proceed upstairs, just knock and Mom is there waiting for you. I'll head on over after this place dies down." Kun said referring to the number of costumers he has yet to attend. And slowly they commence to the floor above with the rest of the group thanking Kun for their family's hospitality.

"Hey, was that really Kun?" Donghyuck asked as they aboard the stairs. "Because he was...talking." 

Jaemin just laughs. "Yeah. Kun has undergone a major personality change over the years." 

The door was close when they reached the top and as instructed by Kun, Jaemin knocks lightly on the door and they were opened by the former's mom. She gasps upon seeing him and immediately invites them in. "Wahhh, Nana! You turned up really handsome, eh?" First, it was tall, now he is handsome. Jaemin loves how sweet Kun's family is. 

"Thank you so much for this Mrs. Qian. I hope we are not bothering you. It seems that the restaurant is full tonight." Jaemin apologetically said, noting the hubbub downstairs.

"Nonsense!" Mrs. Qian instantly beckoned. "You can stay here as long as you like. And I'm glad you brought your friends along." She said smilingly as she now acknowledges the others behind him.

Renjun went forward and bows down. "Washang hao, Mrs. Qian. Xiexie ni qing wômen." He sincerely vocalized in perfect Mandarin and then hands her the bouquet of flowers which earned an inconceivable look from his friends.

Mrs. Qian lets out an animated gasps, completely flabbergasted with joy at Renjun's gesture. "Oh my, you shouldn't have!" Renjun just smiles at her and she happily accepted the flowers.  "Bi ni gèng du de huanying." She responed to the only guy who can understand Chinese and the rest of the group individually offered their gratitude to Mrs. Kun. "Please, have a seat now, you don't want your food to get cold." She said as she ushers the group of friends to the dining table.

"Yah, are you trying hit on Mrs. Qian?" Donghyuck whispered as they walk along. 

"Shut up." The now curly-haired whispered back. Renjun made a good use of the flowers. He figured it's best to buy a new one rather than giving his deceased bestfriend a shriveled up bouquet.

The dining room was unexpectedly exquisite. The walls were covered with shimmering gold paper and in the middle of the ceiling above the mahogany table was another golden candelabra. Down the center of the table was a lazy susan filled with rice and Chinese delicacies that is so foreign to the group of friends. The design was likened so much to a typical Chinese family as various statues and figurines of Buddha, as well as a dragon centerpiece, are s