It was a full ten minutes later when Byun Baekhyun finally found a spot to park his car at the apartment’s parking lot in the basement.  Apparently he took the wrong timing to head home, as the later he arrived, the fuller the space would be.  But it could not be helped.  He had so many things to settle today in his college, projects and not to mention other administrative matters he needed to follow up.  He went to his apartment and rushingly entered inside.  His boyfriend was sitting at the kitchen table, drying dishes, while watching the TV from the living room.  Oh Sehun noticed his coming and beamed at him.

           “Hi.”  Baekhyun said, planting a kiss somewhere on the top of Sehun’s head, as Sehun smiled.  Baekhyun was crazy about his boyfriend, and always had been.  The happiest day in his life was when Sehun came to him and confessed his feeling.  He never thought Sehun would ever tell him — well, he did kind of hoping it — but when Sehun did, he did it on the most unexpected timing.  He remembered he saw his own reflection in Sehun’s eyes as Sehun spoke the very words he had been dreaming of…  he saw glitters around the boy’s face as if Sehun himself had turned into an angel, a real one, and made him flush a thousand shades of red.  That was pure happiness.  And he still felt that way when he looked at Sehun now.

            “Hi, how was your day?”  Sehun’s eyes lit up when he saw Baekhyun, as they did every night.  He had always had this special feeling with him.

 “Not bad.  Busy, but I enjoy it.  You’re home earlier today.” 

            “I changed my shift.  Graduation’s tomorrow, I’d like to prepare myself better.”  Sehun beamed as Baekhyun watched.

            “No kidding.  Did you think I forgot?  I’ve a surprise for you.” 

            “You don’t have to prepare me anything, Hyung.  I’m just troubling—“

           “Ish, it’s your graduation gift from me.  What trouble?”  Baekhyun pouted.

Sehun said nothing anymore as Baekhyun took a seat beside him.

            “I can’t believe it’s almost your graduation, seems like just yesterday you came to my class and—“  Baekhyun blushed, “give me that ‘letter’.”

            Sehun smiled.  Yes, he remembered that.  Him and his desperation to declare his love.  He himself was still amazed how he got that stupid courage to barge in Baekhyun’s class, stuttering, flushing every inch of his face, and in the end shoving the ‘letter’, and sprinting out of the classroom without even waiting for Baekhyun’s response.  He remembered he found a quiet corner in the school where he knelt and gasped, after all those ‘adrenaline’ reckless move.  He was shocked at his own action, yet he was shocked even more when he returned to his class — after he could have his heartbeats steady again — and found Baekhyun was already there, waiting for him.

           “Don’t you want to hear my reply?”  Baekhyun asked him that time.  “You know what?  You’re so rude to leave me a letter and run away just like that.”

           And…. !  That was certainly not a good sign.  His classmates were starting to gather around them, and Sehun knew he was going to be humiliated for his stupid deed.

“I’m still your senior, and that’s so impolite!”

           Sehun felt he wanted to cry for real.  But it would only make him more embarrassed—

           “So,” Baekhyun shoved him back his letter.  “Do this properly.  In front of everyone here.”  Baekhyun glared at him.  “Come on. What are you waiting for?”

           Sehun swallowed hard.  It was inevitable.  “I’m— I’m sorry, Hyung.”  He took the letter, only to offer it back to Baekhyun again.  But this time, he was quite certain Baekhyun would take and RIP it away.  “I just want— want to give you this letter.”

“What’s inside??”  Baekhyun’s tone sharp.

           “My— my—“  Sehun’s face turned as red as a boiled crab now.  “My feeling for you.”

           Mumbles everywhere.  Some students started to whisper and smile.  It had to be ridiculous for them, for someone so simple like Sehun hoping to be in a romantic relationship with Baekhyun who was so Prince-alike.  But, it was too late to back down now.

           “What’s your feeling??  I don’t want to read about it.”  Baekhyun replied.  “I want to hear it.”

Sehun felt he was freezing.

           “Say it.  You have guts to send me the letter, why don’t you just tell me directly.”

           “I— I—“  Sehun took one deep breath.  //It’s now or never.//  “I. Love. You.”

           And both boys turned speechless.  While the muttering around them went louder.

           After a few seconds passed, with Sehun already squeezing his eyes, preparing himself for the worst — which he did not know what would happen either, yet he was sure most probably Baekhyun would slap him in his face — suddenly he felt his freezing body warmer and a bit heavier.  As if someone had just leaped at him and hugged him.  When he opened his eyes, he found Baekhyun had already embraced him, and whispered, “Finally.”

          Sehun smiled wider at the memory.  It was unexpected — unexpectedly sweet.  Though—

          “I’m wondering, Hyung,” Sehun looked at Baekhyun, “why do you accept my feeling for you?  I mean—“  Baekhyun was beautiful, to be honest, he could have a lot of options besides—

         “My mother once told me,” Baekhyun stared at him lovingly, “once in a lifetime, someone would come into our life, that we really connect with heart to heart.  Soul to soul.  You don’t need words to know, or touch to feel.  Just seeing them looking back at you, you have your answer.  Our friendships develops and love follows.”  He beamed, recalling all the sweet moments they had.  “With all my being I know that you are my ‘once in a lifetime’, and each time I think of you, I realise how lucky I am to have found you.” 

Sehun frowned.

//From the moment we met,

I know you’re my ‘once in a lifetime’.//

***