“Everything will be all right. I’m here for you.”      Who could that have been? Was it all a dream? Was it a mere hallucination that he saw as he was losing consciousness? But that didn’t make any sense. How would he have arrived to the hospital in that state? According to Jongin, when everyone was worried of Lu Han’s absence at dinner, they were contacted by the doctors that he was there—meaning it wasn’t Jongin that discovered him unconscious. Then, who had? Why did that person just disappear without a word?      “…ey. Hey. Hey! Lu Han!”      “Huh? Wait. What?”      His lifelong friend, Park Chanyeol, shook his head and clucked his tongue. “You weren’t even listening. What are you thinking about so seriously? What’s up?”      Lu Han sighed. “It’s nothing.”      “Are you okay? You sure you’re not getting another attack?”      “It’s nothing. Calm down. I’m fine.”      With a bitter smile, Chanyeol looked at his feet in remorse. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been with you. I wasn’t even able to help you in times of need… Who needs a friend, huh?”      “That’s a load of bull,” Lu Han said, slinging his arm over his friend’s shoulder. However, he soon withdrew it, for standing on his toes was extremely uncomfortable. “It’s not your fault that I’m a messed up person. Besides, you had family business.”      “But—”      “Oh, shut up. If you’re that guilty, buy me a drink.”      With a wide grin, Chanyeol slapped Lu Han in the back. “Alright. Big brother will treat you out tonight!”      The latter shook his head in response. “Crazy bastard.”   <:>      The two friends sat beside each other on a barstool, both with a glass of liquor in front of them. Chanyeol was a heavy drinker, but Lu Han wasn’t. A mere glass would make him tipsy, and two more would knock him out. Plus, alcohol was bad for him—it called for dreams, and he didn’t like dreams. Nonetheless, he still loved coming to the bar, only if it was with his friend. He was probably the only person he could freely talk to. The two were very different, but Chanyeol cared, and that was all that mattered.      “I’ve been wondering about something,” Chanyeol began. “Well, actually, it’s been on my mind for a while.”      Lu Han popped a peanut into his mouth and chewed a little before saying, “What is it?”      “Don’t hit me or anything, okay?”      “Why? What do you want to say now?”      There was a moment or two of hesitation, but at last, Chanyeol spoke up. “Are you by any chance…gay?”      In an instant, Lu Han’s eyes, as well as his mouth, widened into the shape of a perfect circle. “What?” he blurted out. “What? Have you gone mad? What in the actual hell are you talking about?”      His friend shrugged. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ever hang out with girls, then? For the past ten years, I haven’t ever, ever seen you with someone of the opposite .”      “Whatever.”      “I’m being serious! You’re pretty popular around campus, you know. Girls talk about you once in a while. They just haven’t approached you because you’re a complete douchebag.”      Lu Han scowled. “What did you just call me?”      This time, a bit more carefully, Chanyeol inquired, “Do you…not like girls? No, actually, females in general. I’m not talking about dating or anything. I’m talking about…like, you know, female-o-phobia?”      “It’s called gynophobia,” the other replied as he took a small sip of liquor. “And no, I don’t have an abnormal fear of women. It’s just… I guess I just don’t want to deal with them.”      With his eyebrows raised, Chanyeol put on an expression of disbelief. “What kind of an explanation—”      Interrupting his friend, Lu Han stood up from his stool. “I’m going to the bathroom.” He then made his way over to the men’s room.      Inside, he turned the faucet on, leaned over, and cupped the cold tap water in his two hands. He splashed his face a several times before looking at his reflection in the mirror ahea