"Hyukjae? That is my name?"

"Yes," Donghae answers. He takes the plate from him. Wipes his lips. Smiles at how Hyukjae blushes.

"It... it feels like it's true. How do you know that?"

"You told me," Donghae says. He puts the plate in the sink. 

It's the second night. Donghae prioritizes feeding him. Afterall... Hyukjae needs everything. The love. The care. The time. The learning. Relating. Remembering.

Donghae needs patience.

"Donghae..." Hyukjae says behind him. To himself. "Donghae..."

"Does it feel familiar?"

"I don't know," Hyukjae says. "M-Maybe..."

Donghae turns to see him pouting. His heart skips. He's missed his cuteness.

Hyukjae touches his own chest. "It makes something happen... here. Why?"

Donghae takes Hyukjae's hand.

"I guess it's your heart. Baby, can I get you a different shirt, before you turn mannequin?"

He didn't get the chance yesterday.

"Baby..." Hyukjae says. His eyes have widened.

"Oh, yes, sorry. I have a habit of calling you that. Come here."

He leads him to his room. To his closet. Hyukjae murmurs baby behind to himself. Just how he murmured Donghae.

"You can take whatever you like," Donghae says.

"Oh." Hyukjae glances at the clothes. Then at his own. He sees the long rip on his shirt. "Do you know how this happened?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"Are these your clothes, Donghae?"

"Mine and yours."

Hyukjae looks at him. His eyes are wide again. But with wonder. Curiosity. A deep emotion.

Donghae pulls out a warm shirt. There's not a lot of time.

"Here. Maybe you can wear this."

"Okay..." Hyukjae says. He lets Donghae help him put it on.

"Great, that's better," Donghae says. He brushes his hair. Fixes his shirt's neck. Smiles.

"It feels... nice," Hyukjae says. Touches the material of the shirt. Its long sleeves. They cover half of his fingers.

"I'm glad."

"I... I think I must go now."

"I understand. I'll see you again tomorrow, okay?"

Hyukjae nods. Smiles a little. "Okay."

Donghae's heart aches. He steps closer. Gently hugs him. He can't help his tears. Or himself. He places a kiss on his soft cheek.

"I love you, Hyukjae..." he whispers.

He suddenly finds Hyukjae's fingers on his face. Then on his eyelids. They trace the tears on his cheeks.

"Don't do that..." Hyukjae says. His voice trembles. His lip too. He holds a hand to his chest again. "W-Why?"

Donghae quickly takes his hands. Kisses each. He's affected him. He's not ready yet.

"I'm sorry, Hyukjae. It's okay... it's just..."

Before he can think of what to say... Hyukjae's hands turn hard. The tears in his eyes become like glass.

He's a mannequin.

Donghae lets Hyukjae go. Lets his tears go too. He sobs quietly.

---

"How is he now?" Donghwa asks him on the phone.

"He's getting better," Donghae says. "Slowly. He n-needs time... but he'll get better."

Donghwa sounds relieved. "Oh, that's good. I can't wait to meet him."

----

His Hyukjae is a little different. He's still... beautiful. Adorable. Sweet as before.

But there is confusion. Startlement. At some things Donghae says. Or does.

It's unlike the first time. Hyukjae's eyes would sparkle at Donghae being kind to him. Now it's... as if Hyukjae can't understand... why Donghae's being this way.

It does disappear quickly though. Hyukjae will beam cutely. Eats happily.

Carefully... Donghae has noticed.

Yes. It is not like that... initially happily curious man. Hyukjae would be asking. Innocently. Carelessly. Smiling so widely.

This Hyukjae has uncertainty. Cautiousness. There's something already troubling him. Even if he doesn't understand it.

"Do you think that's... a good thing?" Leeteuk asks.

"No? Or I d-don't know... is it wrong? Of me to treat him like before? He doesn't... remember..."

Leeteuk stands from the bed. Donghae was in his bedroom the whole day. Because Hyukjae reverted to mannequin here again.

"I don't think it's wrong... you're not hurting him or using him. It's interesting... like, whatever his curse is. In a way, he's not really going to give anyone a chance to seriously hurt him or use him, right?"

Donghae nods. Thinks of Hyukjae's torn shirt. That uneasiness on him. The uncertainty.

"But it does hurt him... whatever makes him do this to himself..."

"Hmm. Wonder what exactly it is... this curse of his... it can't be just get life through l