xuanmiin: This entire chapter is written in first person, from Gain's point of view. The italics during the conversation are her thoughts.    ---   Here I am, at the private celebration for Seulong's and Kwon's recent discharge from the army, more than several weeks after the actual event itself. Despite me promising them that I would do anything within my power to make sure I turned up at their celebratory party, my dear buddies had insisted that given my relationship with them both, they would not host a celebration which I could not turn up for physically or spiritually. That meant their celebration was postponed until after the promotions for my solo album, and partially became a party to commemorate its success too.    The party was well underway when Seulong bounced up to me, plate of food in hand. He gestured towards the far end of the chalet, and seeing the serious look in his eyes (a notable contrast to his bounciness), I followed.    "Gain-ah" Seulong addressed me, affectionately as always.  "Hmm OngSeul?"  "Can you be honest with me this once?"  "Haven't I always been honest with you." I retorted, indignantly before conceding, "Okay, I am honest with you an overwhelming majority of the time."  "Be honest with me this once?" He was really being uncharacteristically serious, which somewhat scared me.  "I'll try." There are not many things that I would deliberately hide from him anyway.  "Have you had a boyfriend since that incident, like when I was in the army, and you haven't gotten a chance to tell us?" Seulong broaches the topic with great care. "This..." Well, this is one issue I would deliberately keep him in the dark on. But since I've given him my word, "Honestly no."  "GaIn-ah, we've been best friends for years right?" Okay, there is something decidedly fishy going on here.  "Mhmm." What could I say to that?  "You know that no matter what, our friendship won't change right. I'll always love and care for you. And I'll always want the best for you right?" Which is why he'll always be my best friend.  "Of course."  "Then can you please listen to me...With specific reference to relationships, I know you've been through a great deal. I know the nature of the entertainment industry doesn't make it any easier to trust. I know you've been hurt more than once, they're really bad memories that continue to haunt you."  "They love to trick me 'cause I'm trusting and naive." I could literally feel the bitterness rising in my throat.  "I know you try not to let them enter your life, and your BEG unnies do a very good job and swatting off the annoying flies."  "Even today, they say that I'm not clear headed enough to see for myself." And the worst part is that I believe they're right.  "Nobody has wanted to point this out because it's probably going to be difficult to accept on your part, but please listen to me." He's being exceptionally gentle to me.  "Yeah."  "Do you remember, back then, when that bastard tried to get close to you, everyone was resolute that he was a bastard? That he is a jerk is true. But all of us could see, that the only reason why you even cast him a second glance, was because he reminded you of Kwonnie."  "He does not! He's older than me! He can't sing! He..." He's not like Kwonnie. No.  "But he portrays that image