"I love you, I will always love you."

Zhoumi smiled hopefully at his new english tutor. "Did I say it right?" 

"Yes, it was perfect." Kyuhyun looked at the boy happily, but his smile was bittersweet. Zhoumi would never know just how much Kyu longed for those words to be true, for Mi to  say those words and actually mean them.

 

He had loved Mi for a long time, his heart pounding when the the older boy smiled at him or accidentally brushed into him. He felt the rosy glow spread onto his cheeks as Zhoumi moved closer to him to check a word on his book. The boy was very close, his hair soft and shiny as Kyu looked at it. He bit his lip, trying to stop himself from wanting to press a kiss to the silky strands.

"Are you okay?" asked the taller boy when he looked up at Kyuhyun's face. Kyu blushed scarlet.

"I'm okay, don't worry about me."

Zhoumi placed a cool hand on Kyuhyun's forehead. He frowned a little at the temperature which only seemed to increase as he checked it.

"Lie down Kyu, just rest for a little while."

"Thank you Mi but I'll really be fine." Kyuhyun felt ashamed that the boy had seen him blush, but a tiny part of him was relieved that Zhoumi didn't realise that it was a blush. Although he was happy to be taken care of by Mi, he felt worried also. What happened if Zhoumi was to find out about his crush? The boy didn't feel the same way, Kyuhyun was sure. His heart felt heavy as he lay down on the bed.

 

He spent the next few hours being tenderly cared for, but of course his blush only grew stronger with every tender that Zhoumi gave to his cheek. 

"Kyuhyun, I think you should see a doctor."

"It's okay, my mother's a doctor" Kyuhyun lied uneasily. He didn't want to go home, he wanted to stay safe with his friend. That was why he did so much tutoring, to stay away from the house.

 

As they stood at the front door chatting, Zhoumi thanked Kyuhyun for his help and made sure that the boy would be okay going home. He offered multiple lifts and to walk back with him, but Kyuhyun politely refused.

 

Going home, he walked slowly and dreamily. In his mind he could feel Zhoumi's hand soft on his forehead and he grinned as he almost skipped the rest of the journey. He felt lighter than air.

 

In through the door, he didn't call to any loving family to say that he was home. Kyuhyun didn't have any family. Sinking into his chair, he once again imagined how lovely it would be to come home to a warm embrace, to have someone miss him whilst he was gone. 

He climbed into bed and hugged his pillow close to his chest like a lover. Whispering a quiet 'goodnight' to himself, he closed his eyes and dreamed.

 

The next morning, in class, he smiled happily as Zhoumi practiced his english and went through all of the phrases that Kyuhyun had taught him. He felt proud as Zhoumi did well in the class, and couldn't wait to tutor the boy again. Siwon sat in the back of the class and watched Kyuhyun's eyes light up when the boy looked at Zhoumi. The way the boy smiled as Zhoumi looked at him. His heart leapt as he realised the crush, and he stared out the window as he formulated a plan to get them together. Resting his chin on his hand, he jumped when the teacher shouted at him.

"Choi Siwon! What did I just say?"

"Umm, to practice our grammar?"

"No! I said to learn the new vocabulary! You of all people need to practice your english. If you don't pass this next vocabulary test then I'm dropping you from the course."

Siwon's mouth opened and closed like a fish, but no words came out. He stared silently at the teacher, in shock.

 

After class, Zhoumi put his arm around Siwon. "Come to my house tonight. Kyuhyun is an amazing tutor, and he doesn't mind helping you too. Meet us both after last lesson and we'll walk together."

Siwon shook his head violently. "I can't!" He was panicking internally, he had meant for the pair to be alone so that a sweet relationship could form.

But Zhoumi insisted, and so Siwon ended up walking with the pair to the large house at the end of the street.

 

Sitting on the bed with them, Zhoumi got up and smiled brightly. "I'll get drinks!"

Seizing the opportunity, Siwon started to talk with Kyuhyun as soon as they were alone.

"So, you have a crush on Zhoumi."

The boy blushed, his face bright red. "What? No!"

"Don't lie, I saw you watching him this morning."

Kyuhyun looked down, and then raised his big puppy eyes at Siwon. The eyes were filling with tears, and Siwon gasped. Wrapping his arms around Kyu, he felt the boy hug back.

 

"I'm sorry Siwon.."

Siwon rocked the boy gently, cradling him in his arms. "Sshh, don't cry. I wasn't scolding you, I want to help." His voice was tender and caring as he Kyuhyun's hair.

Zhoumi appeared just then, and dropped the drinks to the floor when he saw the crying figure. 

"Kyuhyun, what happened?"

"Nothing, it's just.." Kyu was startled and his face flushed.

"He doesn't feel very well" Siwon quickly answered, saving the boy from further embarrassment.

"You weren't feeling very well yesterday either.. Let me take you home."

"No, no please don't. I'll be fine." His cheeks were red and his heart was pounding. He felt all of the blood go to his head. The last thing he saw was Zhoumi's horrified face before the world turned black. 

 

Siwon pulled the boy's head onto his lap and patted his forehead with a cool cloth. 

Kyuhyun could feel himself regaining consciousness, but he stayed still and silent, not wanting to move. He never wanted to face the boys and have to explain that he had fainted because of a crush.

He listened carefully as he lay still as could be on Siwon's lap.

"What happened Siwon? Will he be okay? Should I call an ambulance?"

"No need to call an ambulance, he'll be okay. Just let him rest for a while."

"Why did he faint? Is he too hot? Check his temperature Siwon!"

Kyuhyun felt his heart swell as he listened to Zhoumi worrying about his health. At least the boy thought of him as a friend, and not just a classmate. Maybe Kyuhyun could turn that friendship into love.

"Zhoumi.." Siwon started.

Kyuhyun's heart sped up, and in his mind he pleaded with Siwon for the man not to say anything about the real reason why he fainted. But he kept pretending to be unconscious, as a part of him wanted to hear how Zhoumi would react. He knew that the reaction would be honest, since the boy wouldn't be worrying about hurting Kyuhyun's feelings. 

 

"Zhoumi, he fainted because you came into the room at the wrong time. We were talking about personal things and you walked in and startled him."

"Oh no.. I didn't mean to make him panic.. What kind of things? Don't tell me if he wouldn't want me to know."

"He told me about his crush. His crush on you."

Zhoumi gasped, and Kyuhyun almost cried as he heard how shocked the older boy was. He had to fight to keep his face emotionless and his body still.

"Wow.."

"He was really nervous Zhoumi, and I think he's liked you for a while. I only found it out today in class though. I could see it in the way he looked at you, and he confirmed it just a few minutes ago."

 

Suddenly, Kyuhyun felt a different pair of hands his hair and press cool towels to his forehead. He relaxed into the tender touches, and shuffled slightly.

"Kyu, are you awake? Can you hear me?" Mi's voice was soft, not panicked like before. The tone was caring and gentle, and Mi's hands Kyuhyun's hair lovingly.

 

Kyuhyun pretended to wake up then, shuffling in Siwon's lap and opening his eyes slowly. 

"Zhoumi.." he whispered.

"Yes, Kyu? I'm here."

Kyuhyun sat up, and the taller boy embraced him. The strong arms wrapped around the boy's body and held him close. 

"Kyu could you hear me?"

"No" Kyuhyun felt bad for lying to Zhoumi, but he didn't want Mi to feel feel pressured to say anything or to do anything now that he knew about the crush.

 

"Here, I think that it's time to go home. It's really late. I'll drive you both home."

Siwon nodded gratefully, and began to put away his notes. But Kyuhyun was panicked. He had never had people see his home before, with it's dark lonely windows and empty rooms. He had made a family in his head, and repeated the same tale to anyone who asked. 'I have a little brother and sister, and my umma and appa.'

None of it was true, he had been orphaned as a baby, and had never known his real family.

But he didn't want people to find out.

 

Zhoumi had heard the most tales about Kyu's family, stories about their childhood where he would play with his siblings under the apple trees and go camping with his father before coming home to his mother who would be there with warm apple pie and hugs.

If Mi was to find out that it was all lies, the taller man would probably feel betrayed and hate Kyuhyun. And Kyuhyun would do anything to make Zhoumi love him.

 

So, on the way home in the car, Kyuhyun was panicking, his hands sweating as they dropped Siwon off at home. The boy got out of the car and shouted his thanks before running over to the house. The windows were glowing with the soft light from within, and Siwon's mother came out and scolded him for being late. With a last wave at Siwon, Zhoumi drove off towards Kyuhyun's home. Luckily it wasn't far, but Kyu wished that he lived far away, so that no one would ever find his house.

 

All of the houses on the street were brightly lit, except for Kyu's. The younger boy got out of the car and thanked Zhoumi, but the older boy got out of the car too.

"Could I come in? I'd like to talk with you, if that's okay."

Kyu felt nervous but he opened the door and let Zhoumi in. Turning on the lights, the older boy looked around at the hall. Except for a few decorations, the room was empty. There were no pictures of the happy family, only one coat on the hanger, only one pair of shoes on the floor.

 

Zhoumi looked up at Kyu's face. The boy looked as though he was going to pass out again, his face was white and his eyes were wide. Helping the boy to sit on the sofa in the living room, he rubbed his back gently and soothed his hair. Clearing his throat to break the silence, he asked Kyu the question that had been on his mind.

"Kyuhyun, do you live alone?" His tone was gentle and concerned.

The boy nodded ashamedly, and Zhoumi pulled him closer to his chest. He leaned down and kissed Kyu, pressing his lips to the younger boy's. They moved together, perfectly in sync as they kissed, massaging the other's lips with their own. They sat like that for a while, just kissing lovingly.

"Siwon told me about your crush." 

Kyu just nodded and reached up again to kiss Mi. He loved the feeling of the other boy, he loved the gentle way that he kissed him, but most of all he loved that Zhoumi cared for him. He loved that he was loved.

 

When they broke apart again, Zhoumi pulled Kyu tight to his chest, and pressed tiny kisses to his hair.

"Where are your family Kyu? Did they move out?"

Kyuhyun took a deep breath before telling Zhoumi of his orphanage and how he had never had a family. He apologised in a broken voice for lying to the older boy.

 

Zhoumi cradled him tightly. He hated to see the smaller boy so pitiful and sad, the boy was so upset about his lie that he was trembling. Mi held him close and comforted him.

"Kyuhyun, it's okay. I'm not angry that you lied, I understand." He paused a little. "Would you like to me to live with you?" He stayed quiet, not knowing what the boy would reply.

After a while, Kyuhyun nodded and hugged Mi tightly. "Would you? Would that be okay for you?"

Mi nodded happily, "Yes of course. I'd been meaning to move out anyway. Besides, now that you're my boyfriend we should live together."

Kyuhyun blushed scarlet at the word 'boyfriend'. He felt overjoyed at the love that Zhoumi was showing him. Nuzzling his face into Zhoumi's chest he felt the older man massage his shoulders and drop kisses onto his head.

"I love you Kyuhyun, you won't be alone anymore."

"I love you too Zhoumi, thank you for doing this for me."

They hugged and kissed together. 

"I love you, I will always love you" Zhoumi whispered, in english. But this time, it wasn't just a phrase to learn for class, this time he truly meant it. Kyuhyun smiled, and repeated the phrase.

"I love you Zhoumi, I will always love you."