The door opened and immediately, Ryeowook was jerked into a tight motherly hug. He smiled, hugging her back warmly. “Oh, I haven’t seen you in so long!” she exclaimed, hurrying him into the kitchen, all the while ordering around visiting family members and just making a fuss in general.

“Sorry,” Ryeowook mumbled, sitting down at the table, smiling gently at his mother who had yet to let go of his hand.

“Wow…look at you!” she sighed, shaking his fingers, “My son looks so handsome and professional these days.”

“You’re too much,” he chuckled warily. Ryeowook chatted idly with his mother, while his father and other relatives lounged in the living room. He glanced over at them when she allowed him a moment to breathe and immediately noticed Hyungsik’s parents.

Standing up, he quickly walked over to them, kneeling down and bowing his head. “Hello, auntie…uncle,” Ryeowook greeted stiffly. He bit his lower lip, hands pressed into the carpet.

“Sit up, Ryeo-ah,” Mrs. Park told him gently, patting the young man’s shoulder.

He lifted his head, eyes weak and eternally apologetic. Time and time again he had been told that it wasn’t his fault and he shouldn’t feel that terrible, but he did. Ryeowook had taken their son away. It made sense that they should hate him – even if it was only a little bit. Somewhere inside, Ryeowook couldn’t help but think that he had stolen their son and kept him locked away in a dingy apartment.

“Sorry,” he whispered.

“How have you been?” Mrs. Park asked, rubbing Ryeowook’s shoulders and pulling him up to sit on the couch.

Mr. Park patted his back, nodding firmly. “You look healthy, boy.”

“Mm…,” Ryeowook returned the nod, “I’m okay. I’m planning on getting a new apartment. How are you both doing?”

“It’s quiet around the house,” Mr. Park stated, “we got a dog last year, though, so it’s not too boring.” He smiled a little, thin lips pressed together. “And I believe we also have some other news to share.”

Mrs. Park chuckled, hitting her husband softly in the arm. “Oh, you’re going to make the boy nervous if you say it like that.”

Ryeowook tilted his head in confusion. “What is it?”

Just as he asked that, soft wailing caught his attention. Turning around, his eyes widened. His mother came into the room with a baby in her arms. The infant boy turned large, dark eyes to Ryeowook and stared.

“Is that…,” Ryeowook trailed off.

Mrs. Park nudged him forward. “He’s eight months old.”

Ryeowook took the child, cradling him close. The baby reached up with one chubby hand, swatting at his face and giggling. He smiled with trembling lips, heart pounding oh-so quickly at the beautiful baby. “He’s absolutely breathtaking,” Ryeowook murmured, touching one pillow-like cheek.

“We spent a long time deciding on a name,” Mrs. Park explained, watching kindly at Ryeowook’s doting, “We finally decided on Park Dae-Jung, our second precious son.”

Dae-Jung… “It’s perfect,” he looked up at his mother-in-law, “I’m sure Hyungsik is smiling in heaven.”

“He’s smiling now that you’ve met his little brother,” she corrected.

“Yes…,” he nodded, chuckling.

***

Kyuhyun rubbed the back of his head, yawning as he strode down the hallway to his Paris apartment. It was already December 24^th. He pulled his keys out preparing to visit the home for the first time since the night he was rejected.

That was certainly enough time for Ryeowook to leave. Knowing him, he was already making plans back in Korea to leave the apartment as well. Kyuhyun didn’t care though. Or at least, that’s what he told himself. That was all that kept him halfway sane.

They had had bad fights in the past, but this was on a completely different scale. It just seemed like there would be a chance that Ryeowook would’ve taken the proposal – even if it was out of pure pity. It wasn’t like it mattered if he was still in love with Hyungsik. They couldn’t have really been that crazy about one another…could they?

Kyuhyun wished he understood, but at the same time, he really didn’t want to know. The mere idea of Hyungsik being a better fit for Ryeowook scared him.

All he had wanted was Ryeowook’s hand in marriage. People get married all the time for any number of stupid reasons. So…why couldn’t he have said yes? Saying yes wouldn’t have been so difficult…at least in Kyuhyun’s world, marriage wasn’t that difficult.

“Where have you been?”

He came to a halt, looking the short distance to where Victoria leaned against his apartment door. “What are you doing here?” Kyuhyun demanded mildly.

“I was surprised that you were such a workaholic. You would even spend Christmas alone? That’s pretty weird, but whatever,” she shrugged, “I was coming to see if you knew Ryeowook’s address.”

“Why do you wanna know?” Kyuhyun crossed his arms, lolling to one side, supporting himself against the wall.

She rolled her eyes, “That’s none of your business.”

“Then his address is none of your business.”

“You won’t even leave work to spend Christmas with him, so don’t even give me that,” she spat. “Hand it over.”

Kyuhyun frowned, replaying her words in his head. “What…are you talking about? I’m on vacation. I don’t have work.”

“That’s not what Ryeowook told me,” Victoria retorted, “If you’re not gonna help, fine. I’ll just go straight to the employee files and find his information.” She kicked off the door, brushing past Kyuhyun.

He snatched her wrist. “Whoa, whoa, whoa stalker, slow down,” His eyes narrowed in confusion, “What’re you trying to do? Going over there and invading his family time is rude beyond belief.”

“That’s your defense?” she blanched, “Strange. I expected something more possessive.”

Kyuhyun released her, a sinking feeling in his stomach. “I…He and I aren’t together anymore.” He turned away, “Sorry. I guess…yeah.” Quickly, he unlocked his door, slamming it shut and ignoring the rapid knocking on the other side.

“What’s going on?” Victoria repeated over and over again, pounding on the wooden frame several dozens of times.

Bzzt…bzzt…

Siwon: Let’s go out, Kyubaby. I’m bored.

Kyuhyun pulled up a reply message.

Kyuhyun: Shut the up. Go away.

Siwon: I don’t think so. I’m waiting at the usual place.

Kyuhyun: You .

Siwon: I’ll whatever you want, just come here

Kyuhyun: You’re crazy.

Siwon: See you soon then.

Kyuhyun: Whatever.

Yet he knew the moment Victoria left his door, he would be heading out to meet Siwon without a doubt. There was no one else he could go out with…besides, even if Kyuhyun didn’t want to be near him anymore, Siwon knew how to pull his strings. It was like being coiled in a cocoon. Once inside, it was impossible to emerge the same.

But maybe emerging different…new…fresh was actually a good thing. Kyuhyun closed his eyes. He needed a change. He needed to feel alive again.

“Sorry Ryeowook,” he mouthed, resting his head back against the door. He couldn’t wait anymore…not when the world was right there…when the present was calling to him. Lingering in the past any longer would only destroy him.