Chapter 1

It was after the sun had risen high up in the sky that Sunggyu had entered the apartment solemnly. He didn't go back because he wished to, he went back because his always-so-helpful neighbour had made sure he had walked through the front door.

“Now go inside. And make sure you take a warm bath or you're going to get sick again Gyu. You know how easily you get sick, so take care of your health instead of worrying me.” he had said, and when Sunggyu had turned around and looked at him with a glint of sadness in his eyes, added, “And Myungsoo. He does worry, you know?”

Sunggyu nodded, before silently retreating into the house, watching as Woohyun made his way into his own apartment first, before closing the door and a soft, click.

When he walked down the short hallway towards the living room and kitchen, he noticed Myungsoo sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of steaming coffee held in one hand and a novel in the other. It's as though he never even noticed that I was gone...

Myungsoo looked up from his novel and put down his mug, signalling with his now-freed hand, for Sunggyu to sit in the chair beside him. Sunggyu obliged silently.

“Sunggyu ah,” he started, but Sunggyu just kept his head down and silently waited for him to continue.

“Gyu, I'm sorry for last night. You know I didn't mean it, right? I was just dead tired and always having you hanging on my arm every second of the day that I'm at home can be frustrating at times.” Sunggyu nodded at his words, although he couldn't help but notice the slight change in tone Myungsoo now had when speaking to him. There was no longer that glint of happiness that would shine through his words. It had gone missing months ago, actually, but only now did it sound so horrifyingly obvious. And that scared Sunggyu to the bone.

“Look, I think we can sort things out. Just give me a bit of time alone, ok? I'll go stay with a friend for a few days, you can take care of the apartment, right?”

And even before Sunggyu could mutter a tiny, “Is that friend Sungyeol?” Myungsoo had already downed the rest of his coffee and left the kitchen. Sunggyu sat quietly on the stool, unmoving, as though he were deep in thought, and he was.

But... If you're going to stay with him, that means you're leaving me here by myself... right...? he couldn't help but let that negative feeling of being left behind settle in the pit of his stomach once again. Only when he heard Myungsoo's shuffling footsteps pass through the living room and head towards the hallway did he look up.

Myungsoo turned around, flashed him a bit of a sad smile with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder, and said, “I'll be going now. You've got my number if you really need to contact me. I'll be back in a few days. You'll survive, Gyu, I know you're a strong person,” before he opened the front door and left the apartment.

As soon as the front door had closed with a loud, BANG, a feeling of coldness and isolation found its way into Sunggyu's body. 'But I'm not as strong as you think... Especially when you're not here by my side... I guess.... I guess you don't really know me at all Myungsoo...'

And he let his head drop to the table, arms folded around his light, caramel hair, as he failed to keep in those tears that he had promised himself he wouldn't let fall any longer, Woohyun's words long forgotten somewhere at the back of his mind.