The rythym of trainee life was newly settled. With the arrival and introduction of Chan everything seemed to fall into place. Their choreography was working, their voices were being trained, and Chan was a talented singer dancer and rapper. Soonyoung could also rap and it was something Minghao was trying his hand at when they had spare time to muck around. Junhui had recently scored an individual schedule as a model for an up and coming skincare brand and so their reputation and their resumes were building slowly but nicely.

And every evening three boys would wander the streets home from the practice studio at the company. They would walk through the bitterly cold wind in their thick winter coats until they reached the respite of their warm apartment building. They would shake off their damp winter coats, kick off their shoes, find warmth in hot meals and hot coffee and gentle company.

And every night Minhao and Junhui would indulge in the shared warmth of bare skin and heated breath. They would bury themselves under the thick quilt and kiss and touch and explore. They would sleep all night tucked close to each other’s bodies and wake in the morning bathed in the luminescence of dawn and joy. Everything was perfect.

Minghao was wandering aimlessly in their apartment as Junhui got ready. He was attending his first individual schedule, a modelling job, and he was so excited. There were six models booked for print and two would be picked to be featured in a TV ad and Junhui hoped it would be him. He had been taking extra care of his skin and sleeping well and eating well. And drinking litres of water causing Minghao to die in fits of laughter everytime he had to get up to go to the toilet. But the advantage for Minghao was the midnight trips to the bathroom usually brought back little treats from the kitchen. Junhui was determined to get Minghao to put on some weight.

“What’s the matter Hao?” Junhui watched the boy pacing around agitatedly. “Trying not to think about next week,” he replied to Junhui’s fallen expression. They were all trying their hardest to pretend that Minghao’s court date wasn’t looming over them like an ominous dark cloud. No one knew what was going to happen and he had to meet with the company lawyer tomorrow. He was terrified and so was Junhui. They could’t be split up. What if Minghao was locked up?

“Come with me today.” Junhui suddenly said and the expression on Minghao’s face changed instantly. Nothing made him happier than being with Junhui no matter what they were doing. “Really?” he asked and Junhui nodded. “We’ll just tell them you’re my assistant, like I’m some big ing star or something, you can help me change and carry my stuff!” They both broke out into laughter at the thought of Junhui, this unknown kid from this tiny company, turning up to a commercial shoot with an assistant.

Minghao rushed to their room to get dressed. He rummaged through the closet and chose a neat pale pink button up shirt and blue skinny jeans from Junhui’s stuff. He quietly cursed hi