The room was too bleak, cold air numbing his limbs, dimmed light suffocating his chest. Jungsoo stared at his ceiling blankly, worn out to always nurse the wounds inside his heart. Sleeping was no longer able to make him rest, both physically and mentally. It was like a battle between him and his deep thoughts. In the end, he always let his opponent win, making his night seemed to never reach its morning—just like he never reached Heechul. His tears were dried but the pain remained stubbornly rotting his inside.

He glanced sideways and saw Heechul's phone on the side table. Slowly, his fingers crawled to get the mobile. Jungsoo smirked bitterly; he felt that his constant skipping his meals finally began to toll. He looked at the phone intently, examining the red case as though he would find something leading him to Heechul. Pressing the lock button, his heart twitched a little seeing Heechul was still using their picture as his wallpaper. It was a photo when they visited Heechul's home. Jungsoo raised his hand weakly, his fingers grazing the smile on Heechul's face. The way the younger would giggle slightly after every silly smile, two cute dimples adorning his cheeks, his sour expression if he was sulking, his frown, his kiss—his everything, Jungsoo could still feel each of the features his boyfriend possessed tangibly. 

His heart thumped loudly as his fingers tapped on the chat rooms icon. He knew it was rude to mess up with someone's privacy. But at times like this, he could easily justify his doing so that his heart could be eased even so marginally. There were several recent chats—from Donghae, Kyuhyun, Sungmin, his noona and he couldn't help but smile when his chat room was pinned on top of them. His smile stretched wider without him knowing as he read the contact name Heechul had for him. "Mr. Annoying CEO"?  

Jungsoo chuckled and immediately changed it into the nickname he desired. 

"My Handsome Angel"

The trace of his smile was still there, smooth lines between his eyes. He couldn't stop his fingers to open the chat room; however, he suddenly frowned when he noticed Heechul had so many drafted messages for him. Gulping, he carefully read them one by one.

Jungsoo's heart clenched seeing so many messages left unfinished. He didn't know that Heechul was still hesitant to reach out to him. His heart stopped beating when he saw so many "I miss you" Heechul decided not to send ever since his cursed news came out. As he had come to the last draft, he knitted his eyebrows tightly, trying to understand what his boyfriend meant.

He couldn't help but wonder why Heechul was apologizing so suddenly. Was he sorry for leaving him? Or was he sorry for something else?

][-ooo-][

"Have we got them all? I think the number reduces," Kyuhyun muttered, putting Heechul's stuff on the floor, counting each duffel bags and luggage carefully. The owner smirked then he drew the curtains open letting the sun rays lighting his old room.

"Nah, we've got everything. I don't bring too many things, I keep them in a moving company."

Kyuhyun nodded understandingly before he plopped down on the cold mattress. He eyed Heechul who was still standing by the window, gaze fixed at the outside. The day he finally found Heechul at his noona's house, all he could do was hugging the older, chanting how relieved he was over and over again. Nothing came crossing his mind other than having Heechul safe and sound—not even the reason why the older chose to suddenly leave. However, he couldn't lie that his curiosity wanted to be fed. Up til now, Heechul hadn't said a word about his reasons. The talk they had when they met was a mere everyday business or teases. He wanted to know, badly.

"Hyung."

"Hmm?" Heechul simply replied, still looking at the outside, a smile put on his face.

"Are you ready to tell me?"

Heechul's body went stiff. He was caught off guard when Kyuhyun finally threw the question. Clearing his throat nervously, he was about to turn around and talk to Kyuhyun when he felt that someone was standing behind him. A taller form was inches from him and he could feel the other's hot breaths ghosting his nape, making him shivered. A pair of hands sneaked around his waist along with the body pestered against him. It was the same way Jungsoo hugged him long ago, in the same room at the exact spot. Yet, the warmth wasn't there. Kyuhyun rested his chin on his shoulder and tightened his hold. Heechul froze, busy ushering the sudden feeling of longing for the real warmth—for Jungsoo.

"K-kyu."

The younger hummed. Something clogged Heechul's throat, preventing him to say out loud what he was feeling right now. But his body couldn't lie. It felt strange to seek comfort from someone who wasn't him. He finally calmed down and pried Kyuhyun's hold. He faced Kyuhyun and put on his mask, smirking as he ruffled the younger's hair.

"Don't flirt with Mr. Flirty, you brat."

Heechul dashed outside, walking diva-like.

"You want some ramen? Let's say this is your payment to help me with my stuff. Seriously, I'm glad you're here since Kangin can't-" Heechul abruptly stopped mid-sentence not wanting to sound too insensitive but he knew he was late. Kyuhyun had shifted his gaze to anything but him. It hurt Kyuhyun now that Heechul had blurted out everything. He should've known that he was only a replacement, sadly instead of Jungsoo's role, it was Kangin's. Seeing that Kyuhyun was lost on his thoughts, Heechul quickly grabbed the latter arm and pulled him downstairs.

'I should know my place, right, hyung?'

][-ooo-][

"Has he gone home?"

Heechul looked up to his mother's question. He nodded confirming that Kyuhyun had indeed already gone back. Mrs. Kim smiled, striding over bringing two cups of tea. Heechul gulped, abandoning his intention to surf some random channels on television to keep his mind occupied. He knew his mother demanded an explanation and he was bound to tell everything. The two steaming cups were placed nicely on the coffee table as his mother took a seat beside him.

"Heenim-ah."

Heechul's mother gingerly held his cold hand and rubbed it with her thumbs. Heechul was still keeping his head down. She smiled giving her son time to prepare his heart. Sipping her tea slowly, inhaling the deep rich aroma of green tea, she hummed in acknowledgment.

"Green tea is always the best, isn't it?"

Heechul was still stiffened. He nervously gulped down his drink and as if his mother put a magic spell on his tea, he slowly became relaxed. The first obstacle was that he didn't know where he should begin.

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