Mir had this smile on his face as he exchanged a few glances with his father, letting the comforting silence enveloped both of them until they reached the red gate of their house.

          "I got it." Mir said, unfastening the car belt and climbed down the jip, opening the lock over the red gate and pushing the gate open for the jip to enter.

          Mir didn't climb back into the jip since he could easily walk the short distance to their house from the gate, instead he carefully crouched down when he saw a dog came running to him, wagging its tail for his attention.

          "Hello there. Aren't you excited to see me?" Mir giggled, picking up the small dog and laughing when it started to his jaw. "Yah! Not my face!" Mir pulled the dog away and put it back on the ground. "Hand!" He instructed and the dog obeyed. "Good boy!" Mir cooed, ruffling the dog's fur. He tried to stand up again from his crouching position, only to end up stumbling a few feet behind, expecting the gravity pulling him down crashing on the hard dusty ground but instead, he was held firm by a pair of hands over his shoulder.

          Mir turned, expecting anyone but him...

          "Seungho hyung." He whispered, unable to take off his wide eyes from staring in stupor at the smiling older male.

          "I see you look better." Seungho voiced after a long silence. He half regretted it once Mir ripped himself away from his hold and created distance between them. He saw the way Mir looked past him and offered the younger an answer for the silent question. "I came alone. The others stayed behind to look after Changsun."

          Mir nodded. "Is he okay?" He asked but not with concern. Just out of courtesy.

          "He is going to be okay." Seungho sighed. "What about you?"

          "Fine."

          Seungho kept searching for Mir's eyes but Mir kept avoiding his. "Cheolyong. This is not really the best time but-"

          "Cheolyong, what do you want for din- Oh. Seungho!"

          He was interrupted and both of the male turned to the distant voice belong to Mir's father from the door of the house.

          "Hello, father." Seungho answered the calling with a smile. He almost laughed when he noticed Mir turned to look at him incredulously. "I've met him a few times and he told me to call him that." Seungho explained to Mir in a half-whisper.

          "Come in. I haven't seen you for a long time."

          "Yes, father." Seungho walked past Mir and paused only to beckon Mir with him. "What are you doing standing there like a statue? Come, let's go in." And he walked ahead after inviting Mir into Mir's own house as if it was his own house.

          Yep. Confusing..

          Mir let his mouth fell open. What did he miss? How did his father know Seungho and acted so friendly to each other? Why the hell Seungho treat Mir's house like his own? What is going on? How was he supposed to react to this?

          Mir shook his head, closing his mouth before he drooled for real and watched the reunion between Seungho and Mr. Bang. He scratched his head.

          This is weird....

          With slow steps, he trailed after his father and Seungho whom had their arms around each other until they were in the living room. Gosh, he felt like he was the third wheel here.

          "Do you have any schedule tomorrow?" Mr. Bang asked with bright eyes.

          "Well, not really."

          "Then you have to sleep here."

          "But-"

          "No excuses. You haven't come here for a month."

          "It's 3 weeks to be exact."

          Mr Bang rolled his eyes. "Don't be a math geek with me."

          Their laughed united until both of them turned to look at Mir who was standing aside, watching them weirdly.

          "Sit, son. You should rest." Mr. Bang beckoned with a soft inviting smile.

          However Mir had a feeling like he is intruding on these two despite the blood family was supposed to be him and his father. "Urm. I think I'm just going to go upstairs." Mir retreated a few steps. "Keep talking." He said, walking upstairs awkwardly.

          Seungho turned back to Mr. Bang with a guilt-painted face. "I think I owe you an apology."

          Mr. Bang whom kept his eyes on Mir to make sure his son didn't stumble over the stairs or something whipped his head to stare at Seungho, blinking in curiosity. "What was that?"

          "I need to apologize to you."

          "Is today some sort of exchanging apology day?" Mr. Bang laughed. "Cheolyong and I just did that thing." He admitted a bit shyly.

          Seungho smiled. He knew how complicated Mir's relationship with his father despite both cared so much for each other. Because sometimes, love made people hurt each other unknowingly. It made him happy to know they solved whatever misunderstanding they had. But on his part, he still had a long way to go. "It's good to hear that." Seungho hesitated.

          Mr. Bang smiled understandingly. He knew Seungho was kind of similar to him. They are both hard-headed. They both know not to be soft and didn't know how to show that they cared. They both love Mir. "Tell you what, Seungho. Go upstairs and rest. You can use Cheolyong's clothes like always. I'll call you when dinner is ready."

          "But I-"

          "Get some rest.  We'll talk when you're ready." Mr. Bang patted on Seungho's thigh kindly.

          Seungho chewed on his bottom lips. Mr. Bang kindness just made him even more guilt-stricken but he chose to listen to Mr. Bang for now and headed upstairs. He stopped in front of Mir's room, scratching his nape. Usually when he came here on his own without Mir knowing, he used Mir's room. But now, Mir was with him, it would be damn awkward now.

          Seungho hovered his fist over the door, almost knocking then retreated his hand back again. He repeated that a few more times until he was sure he had no choice. Pursing his lips and straightening his posture, he was ready to knock for real when the door flung open and both Mir and him flinched back out of surprise as Seungho's fist almost hit Mir's face.

          "S-Sorry." Seungho stuttered out nervously, almost hitting himself on the head for sounding so out of character.

          Mir looked down, the moment he actually hit Seungho come in flash just now. He immediately walked past the older but was stop when Seungho grabbed his wrist.

          "Cheolyong. We need to talk."

          "No, we don't."

          "Cheolyong. I know that I was always-"

          "I said, we don't have anything to talk about!" Mir hissed, turning with a glare yet his eyes turned downcast again when he saw the faded purple bruise over Seungho's jaw. The prove that he had hurt the older. He had hurt someone.

          Seungho sighed, grabbing both Mir's shoulder. "Cheolyong! Listen-"

          "Not now!" Mir pushed against Seungho's chest. "I don't want to do this now." Mir turned a pleading eyes on Seungho.

          Him now is going to hurt you.

          Seungho remembered faintly what had Jinwoon said. He slowly let his firm grip on Mir loosened. Mir was fighting inside to not hurt him. If he pushed Mir any further, it was going to be no turning back.

          Seungho took a step back. "Urm... It's... Your father is preparing dinner. He told me to spend the night here. When I visit him usually I used your room, so..."

          Mir blinked. He was quick to respond which kind of surprise himself as well.  "I don't mind. Just help yourself."

          "Urm... Thanks."

          "Yeah.." Mir looked everywhere except Seungho. "I'm going to go and help my dad."

          "Yeah. Of course. I'll just take a shower and I'll join you guys downstairs."

          "Okay."

          "Okay..."

          After that utterly awkward exchange, Mir turned and went downstairs while Seungho, once sure the maknae was gone, he collapsed against the wall, letting out the breath he was holding.

          That was even more nervewrecking than the day they debut.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Dinner went smoothly, thanks to Mr. Bang. And now here Mir and Seungho was, lying on the same bed with their back on each other.

          Despite the darkness in the room, the silence enveloping them, Seungho wasn't able to sleep. He turned to lie on his back and glanced towards Mir. He was not able to see anything except the blurry outline of Mir's figure.

          "Cheolyong? Are you asleep?" There was no answer, so Seungho tried again. "Are you asleep?"

          There was still no answer. Mir's breath sounded regular and soft. Seemingly like the younger was sleeping for real.

          "Cheolyong-ah." Seungho whispered. "I have never said this to you. And I should have before things gone this far. I'm so sorry."

          Seungho exhaled wavering breath. It was easier to say all of this when Mir was sleeping. He wished he could have said this when Mir was awake.

          "I haven't been a good hyung. I know. I promised your father I would look out for you and that for some reason put a heavy burden of expectation on me. It made me want you to do the best. To be the  best. That's why I push you harder than the others. I want to make sure that you came out as a great person. And it was the only way to protect you. If you become the best, no one would be able to hurt you."

          Seungho turned again to lie on his side, this time facing the back of Mir.

          "I thought if I act soft with you, you would get spoiled while I want you to be strong. To be able to stand on your own whatever might happen. Then you wouldn't be beaten down easily. I know how other trainees had been talking about you. I want you to face them instead of running away. I want you to show them your worth. I forgot you were just a child at that time,  and even now, you're still a child. I wish I had done it differently. In the end I couldn't keep my promise to your father. I couldn't protect you. I... Break you didn't I?"

          Seungho stopped himself when Mir moved, turning towards him and inched closer to him. Seungho held his breath as Mir snuggled closer to his chest and felt Mir's arm s around his waist.

          A few seconds passed and Seungho didn't dare to move abruptly. He slowly released his breath and stopped talking at all. Closing his eyes, he felt the pain in his chest becoming numb and he held the maknae closer.

          The night passed that way. In peace and silent.

          Despite the next day, Seungho woke up alone only to find out Mir had gone out to meet his childhood friends. Due to his schedule, Seungho had to return to Seoul, regretfully.

          But, Mr. Bang's words had given slight comfort to him before he departed back to Seoul.

          "Don't punish yourself too much. Whatever happened, I'm sure it was not your fault alone. Cheolyong is not perfect either. We made mistakes. We learn from it. We grew from it. You have done more than you think for him. And I thank you for that."