"They won't come," Yesung says. He seems to have picked up a coffee. He slurps it.

"They... won't come?"

"Mhm."

"Okay..." Donghae says. Slowly. Nods. "You can go now."

"What?"

"Yeah. Please go now." Donghae waves at him. "Thanks."

"But why did you ask...?"

Yesung's eyes are narrowed. Green. He swirls into smoke. Disappears.

---

It has got be the twig's eyes. The pouts. They make Donghae feel guilty. But it's because of their conversation, too. How Hyukjae asked Donghae. To talk to him. How he doesn't want Donghae upset.

So Donghae tries. To be normal. He talks to him about usual things. Asks him. About school. Food. Whether the boy answers or not.

It helps. Hyukjae goes back to being himself: a stupid silly pouty teenager. He sometimes runs out of the house. With no coat. Scarf. Gloves.

"I'm late!"

"That sweater's not enough to keep you warm!"

Donghae has to stop the monkey. Force something on him.

----

"Aren't you supposed to prepare some applications?"

Donghae picks up Hyukjae's book. It's for his literature class. The boy has left his homework. He's fiddling with his laptop, instead. And the TV. Donghae had gone and bought it. 

"Applications?" Hyukjae says. "For what?"

"I don't know, studies? College? University? Whatever you want to do in the future?"

"Ugh."

"Sorry?"

"Ugh!"

Donghae sits up. Tosses Hyukjae's literature book aside.

"What?"

"Ugghh!" Hyukjae complains. Adds a little growl.

"What do you mean by ugh?"

"Urrggh! I don't wanna!"

Donghae slides down. Takes the laptop from him. Hyukjae's trying to play a videogame. But on a bigger screen: the TV.

"Hey!"

"It's not about what you wanna or not," Donghae says. "You need education and you need to get a better job."

"Donghae!" Hyukjae whines. "You're not here to be my parent!"

"No, but... that's what kids do, right? Get some education so they can do work as adults?"

Hyukjae lays on the floor. Kicks his legs in the air.

"Ugh! You sound like my dad now! Get a degree! Education! So you can get a good job! For what?"

"For a good life, twig. Are you going to live like this?"

Hyukjae gets up. Stomps off to the fridge. Takes out a tub of ice cream. Grabs a little spoon from the drawers. Stomps back to lie on the floor. He puts the ice cream on his chest.

"Or..." Donghae says. "Are you just going to rely on me to feed you?"

"No... I have money..." Hyukjae puts a spoonful in his mouth. "Mm! You -- you don't have to buy me stuff, but you just do,