His first love was his childhood best friend.

“Kibummie!?”
“Can I tell the story?”
“But- but I knew you two knew each other when you were young- I had no idea-“
“Aish, let me tell the story!”

Jongwoon and Kibum’s mothers had raised their boys together. It was a small town and there weren’t many other children their age.
Both boys were quiet, watching their surroundings carefully before reacting. Kibum, though, was the quieter of the two.
Both were forceful, standing up for themselves easily.
They found a comfort with each other that they couldn’t find with other people.

“Yeh, the both of you are kind of weird and quiet.”
“…”

When they were teenagers, then, it didn’t come as a surprise to either that they were attracted to the other.
They realized the impact their relationship could have on their families and the community so they kept it a secret.

Walking with each other along the lonely dirt roads and among the fields, their hands loosely linked.

At first, Kibum would tease Jongwoon often, finding reasons to touch him constantly.
Jongwoon never minded.

As they matured, the teasing lessened.

But Jongwoon was content. He was comfortable. They both were.

“I could be happy with you the rest of our lives.” Jongwoon told Kibum one day.
Kibum glanced sideways at his best friend.
Jongwoon was watching the skies, a smile on his lips.
“It would be very easy.” Kibum agreed, “At least… it’d be a sure thing.”

“So then… when did you realized…?” Jongwoon met Kibum’s eyes.
Kibum grinned, his beautiful smile that he rarely showed, “I dunno. I was sad though, when I figured it out.”
“Me, too.”

Kibum reached out and took Jongwoon’s hand, squeezing for a moment, “So, you got your eye on anyone else around here?”
“Around here?” Jongwoon repeated, “Like who? The old man who runs the grocery?”
Kibum laughed, “What about my neighbor, the school teacher.”
Jongwoon wrinkled his nose, “That guy is such a creep! I swear he’s looking at during class-“
The two dissolved into giggles.

“Soon after, we finished schooling and went to college. No one was surprised that we attended the same college – him for acting and me for music. It was there I met Han Geng.”
“How is Han Geng doing?”
“Fine. He emailed me yesterday, he’s coming to Seoul for a day for a concert-“
“Ahhhh, can we go!?”

Jongwoon laughed, “Not many people would be so excited to see my ex-boyfriend.”
“At least I know about this one! I ought to call Kibum right now… I can’t believe you two dated and never told me!”
“It was ages ago!”
“Why are you two still so close?”
“We didn’t break up badly. We just realized we weren’t in love with each other. He’s still my best-“

Jongwoon stopped, seeing his lover raise his eyebrow, “One of my best friends the first and foremost being you.”
“Mmhm.”
“Aww, don’t pout~”
“Aish! Anyway! Tell me how you met Han Geng.”

---