The rest of the afternoon ran smoothly. They finished their fan lunch and had the sound check. The whole affair managed to go down without a single flirtatious remark or glance Hankyung’s directions. He didn’t know whether to take this as a blessing or a bad sign.
 

     About 20 minutes before they had to hit the stage, the band always took a moment for themselves. They’d separate into different parts of the back stage area and try and collect their thoughts. Heechul would pace the room in silence and try to remember is 40 Seconds of lines. Siwon liked to lie on his back in the middle of the floor, knees slightly bent and just stare at nothing while he prayed. Ryeowook personally preferred corners. He would wedge himself into one and spend his time shutting out the world. Kibum hadn’t perfected his pre-show ritual as of yet, so he would roam around trying to figure out just what he was suppose to be doing.
 

      Finally, Hankyung liked to find an empty room he could sit in and just think. Being crammed into a tiny dressing room with the rest of the guys didn’t lend him much room to breath. Often times it was quit difficult to find a room free of any occupants or that wasn’t locked. This evening Hankyung sat atop the counter in-between two sinks in the restroom.  It was one of the stranger places he’d used, but nerveless it was clean and empty.
 

     “We need to talk.” A familiar voice echoed off the walls of the men’s room, signaling someone’s entrance. Hankyung sighed and dropped his head into his hands. Nothing good ever came out of the words ‘we need to talk’.
 

    “Did you here what I said?” Leeteuk questioned, taking a seat next to Hankyung on the counter. “I know we’re supposed to be preparing for the show, but it really can’t wait any longer.”
 

    “What?” Hankyung sighed, raising his eyes just enough to stare at Leeteuk’s serious expression.
 

    “Look, I know you think you got everyone fooled, but you don’t.”
 

    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
 

    “You and Heechul,” Leeteuk stated flatly. “And Siwon.”
 

     Hankyung tried for innocent looking as Leeteuk’s words sunk in. Oh My God! He Knows!!
 

    “Don’t hyperventilate on me.” Teukie laughed. “As far as I know, no one else is the least bit suspicious. They’re all too wrapped up in themselves to even notice.”
 

    “Are you going to tell them?”
 

   “No, it’s just you’ve been so stressed lately. I know you’re not tangled up in this mess for kicks. You’re not that type of person. I just thought you might need a friend, that doesn’t want to sleep with you, to help sort things out.”
 

    Hankyung couldn’t help but smile. That was Leeteuk for you; the ever observant leader. He was the sort of person to ramble on and on, but when it was important he got straight to the point. Leeteuk always knew what to say when the situation called for it.
 

     ‘”Thanks,”
 

    “But,” Leeteuk began, looking serious again. “If I feel like this thing is going to end badly….,”
 

   ‘”I understand,” Hankyung interrupted. “I don’t want my foolish mistakes to cost the band’s career. It’s just that…,”
 

    “You care about them, don’t you?”
 

   “Yeah…,”
 

   “Look, I can’t sit around and watch three of my best friends in the entire world suffer. If you can’t figure out someway to end this peacefully, I’m going to have to tell one of them what’s going on.”
 

    “Give me some time and I’ll fix this.” Hankyung pleaded. “I just don’t want it to all blow-up leaving me….,”
 

    “Alone,” Leeteuk sighed. “I’m sure if you follow your heart and your head instead of other more impulsive parts of your body, the right answer will come to you. Now, we have a show to play.” Teukie laughed, giving Hankyung a friendly punch in the arm and jumping to his feet.