I loved him, and sometimes he loved me too.

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Baekhyun asked him as he passed by the main house before going out, and he just smiled at him shaking his head before heading off.

If there are other ways Kyungsoo wouldn’t want to go back to their house just yet, but they were leaving the week after and he knew he’d regret letting them leave without saying goodbye to his mother and brother. That, and he promised to return for his beloved keyboard and it’s been a week since he’s moved.

His mind wandered back to the latest happenings in his life as he walked the short distance to the station. There’s Baekhyun, then his mother, and now, Chanyeol. He couldn’t help but bite his inner cheeks as a smile tugged on his lips. This being independent thing, he figured, isn’t all bad if only he would stop daydreaming inside the train and wouldn’t miss his stop.

He couldn’t help but think about Chanyeol as he strode down the lengthy stairs down the subway. That’s because he was always there, sitting on the bench Kyungsoo guesses he’s always sat on. A few times during that week that he’s known the guy, and the often times he boarded the subway train, Chanyeol never missed a day.

Kyungsoo once sat with him and chatted until he heard his stomach grumble and Chanyeol laughed at him mercilessly. The other times he was running late for work and just patted the other’s shoulder as a greeting before he was gone running again before the train closed down on him.

Today was different though. He found himself staring at an empty bench, wondering where its daily occupant could be. He took the few steps forward so he could sit on the bench for a while. He left a bit early thinking he would run into Chanyeol and have a nice chat before heading to his old house.

“Excuse me, but that seat is taken.” He heard a familiar very deep voice to his side and when he looked up he saw Chanyeol armed with a mischievous wide smile.

“Oh.” Kyungsoo found himself smiling back as he stumbled on his own feet, standing up. “The bench is enough for two. Share a seat with a stranger and gain a friend?” He offered and he couldn’t help the proud, if not smug, smile on his face as Chanyeol cackled in front of him, clapping his hands as he laughed.

“No work today?” Chanyeol asked him as they settled down on the bench.

“I don’t work every day you know.” He told the other as he watched him fumble with his wallet. “Something wrong?”

Chanyeol looked at him with an almost embarrassed smile, “I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. I’ll treat you if you’d join me?” He offered and Kyungsoo laughed, finding Chanyeol’s embarrassment kind of adorable.

“I eat a lot during breakfast.” Kyungsoo warned him as they stood and climbed up the mountain of stairs to find a restaurant close enough. He laughed again as Chanyeol shot him an amused look, an eyebrow raised as he ran his eyes from Kyungsoo’s feet until he met Kyungsoo’s teasing ones.

“Doesn’t look like it.” Chanyeol poked at the small of Kyungsoo’s stomach that had the smaller one yelp, almost tripping on the flat ground, Chanyeol reached out for his arm almost instantly to steady him. “Have you always been this… uncoordinated?” He bit back a laugh when Kyungsoo glared at him.

“Excuse me! It’s not like everyone I know pokes on my stomach as if it’s the most usual thing in the world.” Kyungsoo glared at him more, rolling his eyes as they entered a little restaurant at the corner of a street.

Chanyeol bit his lower lip as he realized where his hand was. Just at the small of Kyungsoo’s back, just by his shoulder as he lead the other to the table by the huge glass window. It’s not like Kyungsoo minded. That, or he’s good in not letting it show. And then Chanyeol’s heart almost leaped from his chest when Kyungsoo whirled around to face him as they stopped at the table, a wide grin and bright smiling eyes permanent on his face. He rolled his eyes and pushed the bubbly boy down to his seat and he sat across him, letting out an invisible sigh.

“Are you sure you have enough money with you Chanyeol? I only have enough for a train ticket and a taxi ride with me.” Kyungsoo told him, humming as he scanned the menu in his hands.

“Depends on how much food that monster stomach of yours can ingest?” Chanyeol offered and Kyungsoo laughed, closing the menu and placing it back on the table. Chanyeol frowned in question and he just gave him a small smile.

“I actually ate a bit before going out so you don’t have to treat me. I was just teasing you.” He told the other and ordered just a cup of tea along with Chanyeol’s breakfast as the waiter took their orders. “I still would’ve gone and accompanied you even without the treat you know.” He said quietly, folding his arms on top of the table and resting his chin on it, smiling up at Chanyeol.

“I still would have invited you even if it’s true that you have a monster stomach.” Chanyeol teased and he knew Kyungsoo got the joke just with the smile on the other’s eyes. “I hate eating alone.” He added and looked away when he saw something change in Kyungsoo’s bright expression.

If he would assume, it looked a bit like disappointment. But the more rational part of his brain told him it’s just plain sympathy. And it really was the latter when Kyungsoo straightened up and smiled at him saying “I know how it feels.”

Good thing their food arrived just in time because really, how would someone reply to that?

Chanyeol ate almost in silence if not for the occasional chuckles and teasing when Kyungsoo burned his tongue while drinking his tea.

“Where are you off to today?” He asked Kyungsoo as they walked out of the restaurant after he paid the bill.

“Going back to my old home.” Kyungsoo shrugged and continued, “I promised my keyboard that I’d come and get him once I’ve settled down in the apartment.”

“Keyboard? Do you need help?” He asked as they rounded the street back to the subway. “I have nothing better to do anyways. Can I, can I help?”

“Sure.” Kyungsoo shrugged again. “Not that you have something better to do than stalk people in the subway.” He teased and Chanyeol jabbed a finger to his side making Kyungsoo squeak in surprise. “Hey!” He shouted and slapped at Chanyeol’s shoulder.

“I do not stalk people. I just watch people.” He defended himself and he saw Kyungsoo roll his eyes at him. He chuckled and stuffed his hands inside his pocket. “It’s nice. To stay back and see the world. You should try doing it once, and you’ll learn things more than what the books can tell you.”

“Like how to breakup with your girlfriend, eavesdropping to a conversation of the couple sitting beside your bench?” Kyungsoo supplied remembering one time when he was chatting with Chanyeol, trying so hard not to listen as the voices of the couple beside them rose. Both of them laughed at the memory.

“Maybe. But I’m not needing it yet. Not that I have a girlfriend to break up with.” He told Kyungsoo and pulled the man aside when he almost collided into a telephone booth. “Seriously?” He asked in disbelief and Kyungsoo shot him an embarrassed smile.

“I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t see the telephone booth coming.” Kyungsoo muttered and he just shook his head willing his thoughts away.

No, he didn’t just thought of Kyungsoo as cute.

“What are you thinking?” Chanyeol asked instead and the look on Kyungsoo’s face turned contemplative. He won’t admit it but he can’t fight it either, that the change of emotions in Kyungsoo’s face kind of amused him and he couldn’t take his eyes off of the other. Maybe just for that while or maybe because they’ve been spending a lot of time together. But then, maybe not.

“Are you happy?” Kyungsoo asked him without turning to meet his eyes. “Sitting on that bench, waiting. Are you happy?”

“It’s something I do because I wanted to. So maybe I am. Why’d you ask?”

“I got tired of waiting. A long time ago, in the past, I would have waited. But then I realized that no one would come.” Kyungsoo told him quietly as the train passed by in front of them. And by the time that the doors closed and they’re sitting comfortably inside the almost empty train, Kyungsoo turned to him and smiled. “That’s why I moved. Because I was so tired of waiting, and nothing’s left of me.”

Chanyeol was speechless and he doesn’t know how to answer back or how to return that smile. So he closed his eyes for a brief moment before turning back to the one beside him. “If it’s something that makes you happy, or will surely make you happy, then it’s all worth it, isn’t it?” He told him and leaned slightly towards Kyungsoo’s side, their shoulders and arms touching as the train halted to another stop, but neither moved away. A form of comfort, or just a reminder, saying I’m here.

“The one you’re looking for, what if she’s just waiting for you too?” Kyungsoo asked and he couldn’t help the tug on his lips as someone very familiar came into his thoughts. Someone with wistful eyes, smile just as bright, and long beautiful fingers.

“Then maybe we’ve been missing out on each other all along.” Chanyeol shrugged and noted the bump he made on Kyungsoo’s shoulder as he did so.

“What if she’s not here in the subway?” Kyungsoo prodded again, and Chanyeol turned to him with a smile so soft yet so strong making something in his stomach churn.

“No.” He smiled wider. “I’m sure that person is here.”