"Two pm sharp at the grand plaza auditorium."

Himchan repeated the same words Daehyun had helpfully informed him last night. He stood straight, glaring at the entrance of the 'grand plaza auditorium' which strangely looked like just another theater house. Clutching on the handle of the paper bag on his hand, Himchan trudged inside the building.

It was one forty five pm and the place was already noisy and packed. College, high school even middle school-looking kids were scattered out everywhere—probably here as audience for their friend or cousin or next-door neighbor, but whatever their presence is here for, Himchan couldn't help but notice how they're drastically dressed like they just placed in together the first few things they found in their closet. Some guys were wearing a combination of baggy jeans and graffiti shirts three times their actual body size with a matching cap and neon-colored kicks. After noticing how a few girls were also wearing the same thing, Himchan decided that this place wasn't really one of his favorites.

Himchan smoothed the front of his shirt uncomfortably as he attempted to find himself a seat along the aisle; he was way under dressed (too casually dressed) and was horribly sticking out like a sore thumb. Earlier this morning, he had tried taking into mind what kind of clothes Yongguk wore when they go out on a normal day and tried to dress that way—ending up with a grey v-neck shirt inside a black biker jacket, white skinny jeans and black Nike's (it's actually the closest he can come up with in his small wardrobe without having to put up a fight)—because he figured that's how Yongguk would probably dress now. But those were his clothes on a normal day. And today was his rap competition performance which likely wasn't just another day.

Himchan hesitated on his steps, wondering where Yongguk could be. Probably in the backstage preparing for his performance, he thought.

Should he head backstage?

"Himchan? Hey, Himchan! Over here!" Himchan's reflexes made his head turn to somewhere on his left and saw a bunch of familiar guys yelling his name and flailing about. Yongguk's entourage—slash—group of friends were on the third row of seats on the next aisle, waving and grinning and jumping and beckoning for Himchan to come over.

Huge dorks—just like Yongguk. (And yup, they were dressed like everyone else.)

He skipped over to where Yongguk's friends were; having to squeeze himself among a line of seats. He was greeted by high fives, pats on the back, and ruffles on the hair with a few 'Hey, you made it!' 'Didn't get lost on your way?' 'What's in the paper bag?' 'What about your royal duties?' (Entangled with snorts and guffaws.)

Himchan grinned at them considerably (he really wasn't that close to them but since he hung out with them as well from time to time because of Yongguk, he was very comfortable—having company like them was much better than being alone in an auditorium full of thuggish strangers.) "I'm supposed to go somewhere else but ended up here anyway," He shrugged as he took the middle seat in the row (because the gang insisted on surrounding him) and placed his bags by his feet.

Daehyun, who was one of them, gave Himchan a taunting look. "Of course, what won't you do for Yongguk?" He said, initiating hoots and whistles from everyone else.

Himchan gave him a dark glare and Daehyun raised his hands by his sides innocently. "Hey, I'm just telling the truth!" He dropped his hands and rolled his eyes. "We know, Himchan."

"So, what's in the paper bag?" One of the other guys intervened when Himchan was about to open his mouth (to snap at Daehyun what do you mean you know?) leaning down and poking his fingers inside Himchan's paper bag.

Himchan shoved the other's hand away sternly. "That's for Yongguk," he reiterated.

"Ohhh," everyone said in unison—looking amongst each other and nodding in agreement. "That's right," another pointed out. "You missed his birthday, Himchan; do you have any idea that he was waiting for your call yesterday morning?"

Himchan blinked. "He was?"

"We went out yesterday, just the usual birthday celebration and—where the heck were you yesterday morning anyway?"

Himchan frowned, the guilt surging through his stomach once again just like it did last night. "I was doing something important."

"More important than Yongguk's birthday?"

"It's not like that, I just kinda sorta forgot," He admitted, wishing the guys would just drop the subject because he's pretty much over the I'm the worst friend ever phase (and not when heck Himchan's actually already doing something about it now.)

"You forgot that it was his birthday yesterday?!"

"Wait. So you were with him last night, weren't you?" Daehyun pushed his talking friend to the side (so he'd shut up) before looking at Himchan with a puzzled expression. "Then why did you call me in the middle of my slumber asking for—" He cut himself short as realization sunk in. "Oh."

Himchan looked down on his lap. "He got a little angry about it and told to me to leave. I mean, I understood. Maybe he had expected that I was coming over because I was going to celebrate with him but I was being an ."

"Dude, Yongguk never gets angry." Someone else said which made Himchan feel just a whole lot better.

"I know." Himchan sighed.

"Well unless you take his Doritos from his bag like what I did during the school field trip—"

"Enough, man," Daehyun interrupted, shoving at the back of his friend's head. "The point is Himchan's here, right?" He patted Himchan shoulder and gave him his best smile (that is sure as a hell an attempt to comfort Himchan in more ways than one.) "Yongguk's not really the type to hold grudges. I bet he's already forgiven you."

"You think?" Himchan asked.

"I know." Daehyun said it like it's the most obvious thing in the world. He turned to the rest of friends and told them to take a seat (having to put up a few punch threats and minute cursing.)

Himchan really didn't care much for the most part of the competition. Well yeah, he could pretty much admit how most guys (and girls) were convincingly good at rapping but none of them were any better than his Yongguk (with the sudden realization that he used a possesive reference in his head, he cringed.) Himchan was a traditional-slash-classical music person and wasn't really one to give a damn about any other genre of music that was beyond the borders of his interest, that is until he met Yongguk. He started appreciating the art of spitting spontaneous words to the crowd ever since and slowly, his rapping knowledge expanded (because Yongguk liked talking about such things and Himchan just couldn't help but listen and watch the other's mouth and notice the glint in his eyes and mentally smile over how Yongguk could get so excited by just talking.) He thought Yongguk was the best and the most heartfelt songwriter in the world too, his lyrics were beyond meaningful (other times pretty ed up intimidating but still beautiful) that most of the time he would wonder how Yongguk (the same doofus who would guffaw over lame jokes and sleep in every class) could be the one who wrote them. There must be a lot of things going on in his head, Himchan concluded.

"What would you feel," Yongguk began once before as he and Himchan lounged in the music room during one of their free periods, "If you confess to someone you like that you have these feelings for them, then the person tells you that they don't feel the same way?"

(Yongguk had been sitting on one of the desks, scribbling random words and phrases that would form in his thoughts on a piece of paper whilst Himchan had been huddled in front of the grand piano, fingers dancing on and across the pearl white keys. It was just the two of them then and the room was big and stacked with instruments from flutes to tamborines. They both loved the place.)

Himchan's fingers slowed to a stop, taken aback by Yongguk's inquiry. He allowed the question to sink in his brain for a few more seconds before deciding to give an answer. "Neglected?"

Yongguk shrugged, stood up from his seat—still with the pencil and paper on his hand—and headed toward the opposite side of the piano from where Himchan was sitting. "But then what if," he continued, folding his arms on top of the piano, "what if that's just what you're thinking, that's what you think might happen, and thus you're scared to confess to them? What if they feel the same way after all and you'll never know because none of you would say it?"

Himchan drifted back to the present time, shaking his head vigorously and wondering why his brain had to relieve the memory at that exact moment. He swallowed the lump in his throat as his varied thoughts ran in his head and were almost clashing altogether at once.

He had feelings for a guy.

He had feelings for Yongguk.

Yongguk—his best friend.

Himchan's mental self-confession made his stomach churn unpleasantly. He didn't want to tell Yongguk. He didn't want to take the risk of losing everything over a simple thing that could really just go by unnoticed.

Himchan tensed as the emcee of the competition announced the next performer—it was Yongguk. A mixture of nervousness and anticipation made Himchan's heart thunder against his chest. And he wanted to sink further down his seat when Yongguk emerged from the backstage.

Saying Yongguk looked good was an understatement. Just a clad shirt with peace sign prints and black denim jeans and Himchan thought he was stunning (he expected more from the other's outfit selection, with what the people surrounding him were wearing.) Yongguk's lips upturned into a bewildering smile as an address to the cheering audience when he stood center stage, and Himchan had to catch a breath, because damn Yongguk was made for the stage.

The beat of the music hazied to a start and Yongguk placed the microphone in front of his lips.

Himchan's eyes were on Yongguk as he started to rap, a slur of words and rhymes that were molded to blend in with the beat of the bass and the stellar techno. Yongguk rapped about the aspects of life, of belief in yourself, of opportunities to take. He frenzied across the stage, trying to deliver the performance to the whole auditorium. And the success of that objective was made obvious by the whistles and applauds and yells and the sudden rampage of the crowd.

They were impressed.

Yongguk's eyes flashed to his group of friends (who had been hooting and waving about since the beginning of the song like the idiots they were) and waved back as the song went on. And that's when Himchan's brain screamed  he's going to see me, I need to look away, I need to— too late, Himchan's motor neurons didn’t seem to be intact with his head because just then he met gazes with Yongguk.

(It was like everything went slo-mo and it was ing weird.)

For a split second, they found each other, eye to eye and when Himchan assumed his heart would just burst out of his chest, Yongguk averted his gaze. Himchan was about insist on himself that he looked away, he still hates me forever, I shouldn't have come here the song hazed to an end and after a flourish, Yongguk looked back up at Himchan wearing his brightest gummy smile.

(And there were butterflies.

Lots of it.)

Daehyun had nudged Himchan when the emcee was beginning to call for the next contestant, reminding his friend the main reason why he went here in the first place telling him that we're not the ones trying to reunite with anyone so get your there and talk to Yongguk when Himchan asked (begged) the rest of the gang to come with him.

Now, without much choice, Himchan was slowly paving his way toward the backstage, paper bag in hand as he attempted to work out his breathing pattern which had been inconsistent for the past six minutes. He sort of wished he wouldn't come have to come across Yongguk too soon because that would make his internal wheezing worse. He passed by along the backstage personnel working on thick cables, talking urgently on their headsets with clipboards on their hands, as Himchan counted his steps.

(, it's just Yongguk he didn't have to be so nervous.)

Himchan found himself in front of a half open white door, which his best guess was, one of the dressing rooms. And when he took a glimpse of the colorful outfits hanging by a rack against a wall, he peered inside.

Yongguk was sitting on a fold-up chair in front of the dresser with his back facing the door, he's just staring at himself in the mirror, chest heaving and body glistening with the perspiration brought about by his previous activity. He perked up, eyes widening a little bit when the door shut close and Himchan was standing there (standing there thinking it would probably take him forever to speak up because he was worrying about the right thing to say. Dammit.)

But then Yongguk stood up abruptly, went over to where Himchan is and had the other pulled to his arms in a flash, wrapping him up in a big warm Yongguk bear hug, and chanting apologies Himchan was pretty sure he should be the one saying.

(Yongguk had even kissed the ing side of Himchan's forehead and his legs felt ing numb why did he do that.)

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ask you to leave, I didn't want you to leave. I'm sorry, Channie." Yongguk's arms tightened around him with every word, lips against his ear, until they were literally chest to chest and Himchan was sure he could feel the beat of Yongguk's heart.

Himchan allowed his head to drop on Yongguk's shoulder which was clad in his sweat soaked shirt but Himchan didn't care, he liked sweaty Yongguk too. "You stink," he blurted out but didn't pull away; instead he placed his arms around Yongguk's waist and clutched him closer.

Yongguk sighed a smile. "I had messed up so bad last night, I'm sorry. I know you're busy, I just really miss you. But you didn't have to come."

"Shut up, I'm supposed to be the one saying a bajillion sorrys right now," Himchan said, a little muffled because of Yongguk's shirt. "I came here to see you, , don't tell me I didn't have to come." Himchan frowned. "So I'm gonna say it now, I'm sorry."

Himchan could feel Yongguk's grin on his ear. "This day just got a whole lot better because you came around." Yongguk pulled away but placed his hands on either side of Himchan's frowning face, squishing his cheeks together as he tried to keep up eye contact. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Himchan replied. "Now get your hands off my face."

Yongguk chuckled again and removed his hands from Himchan's cheeks but not before giving one side a poke with his finger. "Grumpy princess."

"Don't call me that," Himchan argued but Yongguk had to ignore him, noticing the paper bag he had in hand (which he didn't notice earlier.)

"What's this?" Yongguk's eyes flickered back to Himchan, conveying curiosity.

Himchan held it up in front of the both of them, the corners of his mouth involuntarily tugging up to a smile. "Belated happy birthday!"

Yongguk stared at the paper bag for a moment, debating whether to take it or not until Himchan started to complain about his arm getting sore. He pried it off from Himchan's fingers excitedly, turned around and placed in on top of the dresser's desk. "You really shouldn't... have..." He trailed off as he pulled out a box of headphones of his favorite brand. He gave off a shocked face when he looked back at his best friend through the mirror.

"You're welcome." Himchan cut him off with a smug grin. "I've been saving up for that in the last few months, planning to buy it for you on your exact birthday," he hastily explained as Yongguk opened the box and brought out his new headphones. "I'm sorry you got it later than expected." He watched as Yongguk stared at the thing like it was a king's crown and Himchan had to chuckle to himself in amusement.

Yongguk placed the headphones on the table and turned to Himchan again, tackling him into a shaky embrace, almost choking the air out of the latter. "I've got the bestest best friend ever."

"Yongguk—" Himchan struggled, "Can't—breathe—"

Yongguk laughed heartily, holding Himchan an arms length away before kissing him on the cheek.

(And Himchan's head screamed at him for the forthy fifth time that afternoon.)

Yongguk spun back again and started arranging his things by the dresser—trinkets, clothes, his new headphones—and shoving it inside his bags. “Since they’re announcing the results tomorrow anyway, we can leave now. We’re going out.”

Himchan raised a brow, confused. “What?”

“You’re taking me out.”

“What? Why? Where?”

“I don’t know.” Yongguk paused for a moment to look back at Himchan, as if in deep thought, then back to stashing his used shirts in his bag. “Depends on you. It’s my birthday, don’t tell me you don’t have something in mind?”

“Nothing’s in my mind.”

“Oh come on, Himchan, how are you gonna be a good boyfriend when you don't even know where to take someone on a date?” Yongguk shouldered his bag and skipped right back in front of Himchan. “My treat. Just take me somewhere.” He lightly pecked another kiss on Himchan's cheek and hurried out of the room before Himchan could break his nose because what date.

Himchan stood there, having a glare match with his own reflection in the mirror before scoffing off at Yongguk’s guts. He wanted Himchan to take him out (on a ing date was it.) He had kissed Himchan thrice—ing three times—and, no, real men don't do that. Yongguk really seemed to see the fun out of treating Himchan like a girl despite of his manly built, his manly voice, and his real manly manliness. But if Himchan's face starting to turn pink and his stomach ting up again were any indication that he liked the situation then it really must be the end of the world.

.

Where the was he going to take Yongguk.