It's three in the morning.

Donghae's on the couch. He knows Hyukjae's awake. Because he can hear movement. From the bedroom. It's not the recent tossing. Turning. No. There are... short sniffles. Feet. Pacing.

He finally stands.

Donghae goes to the room. Opens it.

The boy's standing near the window. His phone's in his hand. Startled red eyes turn to him. Donghae closes the door. Walks to him. Pulls his desk chair. Sits on it.

"Okay, monkey," he says. Quietly. "Tell me what's keeping you up again."

"W-What? No... it's nothing..."

"You have school tomorrow. Are you planning to skip that?"

Hyukjae pouts his lips. "Maybe... school..."

"Oh," Donghae says. "And... why?"

Hyukjae glances away. He looks pitiful.

"Kid," Donghae says. "Maybe I can help you..."

The boy presses his lips. His eyes fill up. He shakes his head. Puts his phone on the window sill. Looks out into the dark.

"You can't..." he whispers. "I d-don't even know what I have to do..."

Donghae considers his words. Carefully says, "Did Heechul not answer?"

Hyukjae's shocked at Donghae's guess.

"It's... obvious..." Donghae mutters. Gestures to the phone.

Hyukjae's face suddenly twists. His body slumps to the ground. He hugs his knees. Begins to cry.

"Good grief," Donghae murmurs.

He slides out of the chair. Sits in front of Hyukjae. Unsuredly pats his head.

"Um... is he mad at you... maybe? Did you apologize?"

"No!" Hyukjae says. Looks up. Tears are running down his cheeks. "H-He wouldn't ignore me for... four days! He always texts me! At least sends a message if he doesn't get to call me! H-He wouldn't do that to me..."

Donghae frowns. "Is he... gone somewhere? Could he have lost his phone? Broken it?"

Hyukjae shakes his head. Wipes his cheeks. Sniffs. Grabs his phone.

"H-He would've found a way to tell me. He always tells me if he's going somewhere or if he'll be busy. I've messaged two of his friends a-and... they saw my messages but they didn't answer... and Heechul... he hasn't even looked at any of them -- look!"

Hyukjae scrolls. Through a block of text. Comes to the end. His lips tremble. He sniffles. Whispers again.

"It doesn't make sense..."

Hyukjae bites his cheek hard. His eyes fill up. He wipes them shakingly. Gets up. His breath stutters. He walks around his room.

Then he stops. Gazes down at Donghae. Snivels.

"I-I don't know what to do..."

Donghae moves. Sits on the bed. Gently pulls the boy beside him.

"Okay... let's think about this. Could he be sick? Is he in some hospital? Could we wait and try contacting his friends again?"

Hyukjae shakes his head. "N-No... if they didn't answer me... then something happened to him... it's been four days, Donghae. Four. Heechul just... he wouldn't do this to me... n-not after what happened to mom..."

Donghae frowns. The boy furiously rubs his eyes. Gulps. Breathes out. Nods.

"Okay. I'm... I'm going."

"Going where?" Donghae grabs his arm.

"I h-have to go. I have to f-find out--"

"I thought you weren't allowed to go to his place?"

"I'm n-not but..."

"I'll go. Tell me where and I'll go check on him."

He's stunned to see Hyukjae snort. Giggle. Humorlessly.

"You can't," he says.