When Siwon swims, it’s all about natural talent and flexibility, honed by hours and hours of practice to perfect his technique. He’s always the first one in the pool and the last one out, using up lunch breaks and free periods to spend his time practicing; it’s when he’s in the water that he becomes more somber, more seamless, less inclined to make people laugh and more hopeful that they will be able to do nothing but stare, slack-jawed, because it’s what he does best, and it is this fact that makes him pursue perfection with rare single-mindedness.

With Kyuhyun, it’s all about speed, and grace is merely a byproduct of it. It comes as a surprise to many, because Kyuhyun, when not focused on solving math problems or playing a game on his PSP during class, is lethargic and reticent, more prone to sleeping on his desk than interacting with his classmates. In contrast to Siwon, Kyuhyun is not passionate about swimming; it comes so easily to him that it almost seems as if he tolerates it and obliges because the easiest thing to do is to agree.

Ryeowook wonders if Siwon’s annoyed by Kyuhyun’s lack of motivation, or if Kyuhyun is aggravated every time Siwon texts him to come to practice today, you lazy bastard D:<, wonders where he fits in between them when he has nothing else to share with them except a memory that he used to be like them, once.

It’s one of those things that Ryeowook will never be able to say to both of them, things he thinks about when he’s alone, things like how he feels betrayed and envious and perhaps a little unsure of where he stands.

In the end, Ryeowook watches and watches them, a hand resting lightly on his ankle, wonders what would have come of it if he had more strength, and smiles, bitterly.