A week after we went clubbing the boys had decided that we should go to a karaoke bar. What is it with Asian people and karaoke bars? All of the boys plus me and Gabbi were going. After they had met Gabbi for the first time she had met them a couple of times and it really seemed like they enjoyed each other’s company. And for me it couldn’t be better if my best friend became friends with my newfound brothers. Since that night when we went clubbing Donghae had been very protective about me, he practically never left my side and I to be honest didn’t mind. And all the little things he did for me made me forgetting a little bit about Heechul and made it more possible for me to move on. Donghae always texted me good morning and good night, he drove me home when it was late and I wasn’t staying at their dorm, he always stood on my side when the boys bullied me, he was simply there for me all the time.

At the Karaoke bar the boys were very hyper, it showed that they loved that place and of course out of all of the thousands of songs that they had there they chose to sing no other song than Super Junior’s Sorry, Sorry... sigh... haha. Who else would do that? I watched the boys when they sang the song being highly unserious throughout all of it. Gabbi and I laughed and laughed, they were so cute. But after that song Donghae decided to do a solo, he chose to sing “My everything” and I sat mesmerized during the whole song. He had such a beautiful voice, it made my heart melt a little bit. How I loved a guy that could sing or play an instrument.

“That was amazing” I told Donghae when he finished the song

“You really thought so?” he asked and I nodded

“Yes, really” I assured him and he smiled at me happily

“And now I think it’s time for Melissa to finally sing for us!” Yesung exclaimed and gave me a microphone before I could react

“Guys, no!” I exclaimed a bit panicked, I hadn’t sung for an audience in quite a while, last time was at my graduation day at Julliard

“YES!” They all yelled

“You promised me” Donghae said and looked at me with puppy eyes “Please, do it for me, for fishy” he continued pleadingly and I simply couldn’t resist that cute face, damn, that could become a big problem

“Fine!” I exclaimed and the boys all cheered and applauded happily

“What song will you sing?” Leeteuk questioned and I thought about it for a while before deciding on one of my favourite songs of all times “Want me like that” by James Bourne.

As the familiar piano intro started to play I smiled, I had missed singing. I knew that it was a sad song about someone wondering what had happened in their relationship over time. But I still loved the song and I absolutely loved singing it. While singing I let all of my suppressed emotions out, I had needed that that was for sure.

“Do you still... want me... like that” I sang the last note and closed my eyes, when I opened them again I was met by ten pair of eyes staring at me. It made me worried, what if they didn’t like it? What if they thought that I ?

“That was...” Siwon started

“Amazing” Donghae added and I looked at them hopefully

“You really thought so?” I asked and they all nodded

“Yes, Melissa honestly I got Goosebumps” Ryeowook told me and held up his arm

“That was so freaking epic” Yesung said

“Thanks” I told them and I felt happy that they thought that I was good.  But while standing there I felt how someone grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out of the karaoke bar. It was Donghae; I wasn’t really surprised though that it was him. Out on the street he sat himself down on the sidewalk and put his head in his hands and shook the head. I sat myself next to him and placed a hand on his back

“What is it Donghae?” I asked him concerned, he seemed very upset

“Why on earth are you here? Why do you work for us?” he asked me

“What? You don’t want me to be here and work for you guys?” I asked him surprised but he shook his head and sighed

“No, it’s not that what I meant.... it’s just that, you have such an amazing voice. Why aren’t you in New York conquering Broadway? Why?” he asked me

“I told you that before, my motivation is gone and I don’t want to go back there”

“The motivation will come back and I can go with you, please you can’t work as an assistant when you hold such a beautiful voice” he said to me sadly, he would go with me? Wow...

“No, Donghae, I don’t want to leave Seoul, I’m happy with my life now, I wouldn’t change anything, trust me, New York and Broadway is not the place for me to be right now”

“Please, for me” he pleaded but I shook my head

“I can’t and I don’t want to, I want to stay here with you guys, to me now you’re more important than Broadway and the fame” I said seriously

“We’re not worth it, well I’m not worth it” he said and then I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his cheek softly

“Of course you are and especially you, don’t ever say that again, you guys are the reason I’m smiling again, and Donghae you are the reason why I want to move on, so that I can find myself someone like you, because you’re amazing” I told him and he smiled weakly at me

“Thanks, and I’m here and always will be, take your time” he told me and I returned the smile

“Thanks, thanks for being so patient with me” I said and he placed a soft kiss on my forehead

“Always, and these stuff takes time”

“You’re the best friend in the entire world Donghae”

Donghae’s POV

Best friend, sigh...

The night continued and we had lots of fun, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what she had said it really bothered me that she called me her best friend, I wanted to be more than a best friend to her, I wanted to ne her boyfriend... But on the other hand, a boyfriend shouldn’t only be a boyfriend but also a best friend... Maybe there still was some hope?

The next day I got a text from Gabbi, she said that she wanted to meet up with me and talk about something very important. So I got ready and left the dorm unwillingly, Melissa had just arrived there and I had to leave. How I wanted to spend time with her. But I had to go to Gabbi. She was waiting for me at a little café and when I arrived she smiled at me and told me to sit down.

“So what is it that you want to talk about?” I asked her and she turned serious

“Melissa” she replied and I wasn’t really surprised

“Oh... so talk”

“Donghae, be honest with me now, do you like her? You know more than a friend?” she asked and I nodded carefully

“Yes, I do, a lot” I told her

“I hope you understand that she’s still in love with Heechul and it will take time for her to get over him completely, a lot of time” she told me seriously and I nodded

“Yes, but I’ll wait for her”

“Donghae, she’s really sensitive and delicate and I don’t want her to get hurt again. I see how she acts around you, it’s kind of hard to get close to her, it takes a long time, she has trust issues you know, but you managed to get close to her in like five weeks, all of you did but I think you more out of anyone and that scares me. If you hurt her I’m afraid that it will get too much for her, I’m terrified that it will be the last drip for her. One can only take so much” she said

“I know she’s sensitive and delicate, but trust me Gabbi, I would never do anything to hurt her, ever. If I had a chance with her I would take care of her and protect her and pour my love over her. I would never hurt her intentionally. I promise. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I hurt her” I told her sincerely

“Good, that’s all I wanted to hear. But adding to everything she’s also a very complicated person, do you think you can handle that?”

“Yes, come on, have you seen who I live with?” I asked her and she chuckled

“True” she said and smiled

“Don’t worry, if I get a chance I’ll take care of her really well” I assured her

“Thanks, she’s like my sister you know so I want her to be happy and to be safe”

“I understand”

“Good, I really hope that you can make her forget about Heechul” she told me and I nodded

“Me too, me too”