A/N: everything in italics is supposed to be in English. :) Enjoy!

It was 9 in the morning of a Saturday. Sungmin stupidly forgot to turn his alarm clock off for the day so he woke up with a bad start. He groaned as he tossed and turned, trying to find the perfect position so he could sleep more. But after 10 more minutes without him drifting to a slumber, he decided to just let it be.

He was on his way to the kitchen when he first heard the annoying sound. His roommate has taken to disturb the serenity of his house by shouting Japanese phrases every now and then. He then raised his eyebrows. Since it was not his house, the guy should know some manners and he should learn some respect. 

As he traversed the kitchen back to the others’ room, he thought of ways on how to chastise the other man. He knocked on the door mercilessly, immediately showing displeasure on his face when the other opened his door. He was about to reprimand the older guy for being so boisterous early in the morning, if only he hadn’t seen the red, puffy eyes and the totally tear-stricken face. He did a total back flip of emotions and he was about to ask if the other was okay, if the older guy hadn’t brushed past him and out of the apartment, bringing nothing but himself and a few thousand bills.

Sungmin watched him for a few seconds even after the other disappeared before he shrugged. He shouldn’t care at whatever the other does anyway. He instead just decided to peek at the others’ room and was astounded to see it almost all white. He stepped into it, gaining sudden interest with every bit of Japanese furniture and with every candid picture stuck on the others’ wall. He then looked further and found an abandoned cell phone in the middle of the unmade bed. It must have been the reason why he was shouting.

He also looked into the different pictures, probably of him and his friends and some maybe of his family, it should have been an ordinary collage to him if Sungmin wasn’t really that observant. However, Sungmin couldn’t help but notice the abundance of a certain face in all of them. A tall, lanky man, with a nice smile and hair mimicking that of a wild brown bush, Sungmin noticed how Jungsu was always all smiles in all the pictures he had taken with the still-nameless man. He smirks. Of course, he hadn’t been doing a research on his boarder’s ual orientation. As if he cared anyway.

He was about to pick one picture of the two of them and keep it, hadn’t the phone in the middle of the bed suddenly rang and Sungmin jumped in surprise. He went to it, carefully examining who could have been calling and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. A number from Japan.

He decided to answer while keeping his silence as he tried to listen, and there, as he pressed the receive button of the others’ phone did he get one of the most shocking surprises in his whole life as of then. He immediately and unmistakably heard a guy’s hoarse voice talking in Japanese, asking for forgiveness and professing his love to his roommate, who was also a guy. Judging from the roughness of the voice, Sungmin thought he might be pleading, and he probably had the same face as Jungsu when he saw him and it made Sungmin very, very sick. He then ended the call, looking at the name on the screen and seeing that it was a certain “Cho Kyuhyun”.

He narrowed his eyes and he smirked. So that was why he kept talking in Japanese. Cho Kyuhyun, isn’t it?

He wasn’t the type of person to like putting others’ lives and situations on the hook, especially since his mother told him to be righteous and dignified and doing those kinds of things is not someone a virtuous man would do, but Jungsu isn’t really one of the guys he would mind to be totally out of his life, and he was sure as hell he won't be able to live with him, because Sungmin knows he won’t be able to live with someone as disgusting as the other man.

Sungmin was in the sofa watching his favorite afternoon show when Jungsu came back. His eyes were then okay, and the small serene smile was already back in his angelic face and he didn’t look like the most stupid person Sungmin had ever met. The younger looked at him as he traversed the living room and into his own bedroom, immediately looking back at the television when the older man went out of the bedroom and sat wordlessly beside him in the couch.

After that was an uncomfortable silence, Sungmin concluded, and he doesn’t know what to do with the tension between them, so he continued being silent as well.

“How was your day, Sungmin-sshi?” Jungsu said to him a million lightyears after. “It was fine, better than yours anyway.” Sungmin suddenly said. Jungsu made a heartfelt laugh a few seconds after, and Sungmin was about to chastise him because of his laughing, when he looked into the direction of the older and found him to be focusing on his phone and not on him.

“Oh”, Jungsu said after realizing that Sungmin was glaring at him with narrowed eyes. “Sorry, what were you saying again? How was your day?”

“It was bad, because I thought a certain someone was trying to make an effort to get to know me but then I realized he wasn’t really interested at all.” Sungmin said as he made his way to his room. He felt Jungsu suddenly panic, judging from the deviation to the calm aura he always emitted at most of the times.

“Sungmin-sshi, wait! I was just, sorry! I was really listening but I got a text so I got distrac—”

“Oh, before I forgot” Sungmin said as he turned around to face the other man “Someone called you on your phone a while ago when you were away, I answered because I thought it was important.” He smirked as he saw terror on the other man’s face and when he was at the door he looked back, immediately noticing that the other had not move even just an inch.

“Cho Kyuhyun, if I wasn’t mistaken? He even said some interesting stuff because he probably thought you were the one who answered the phone” He said as he opened the door to his room and went inside. Three seconds after, Jungsu was already knocking in his door, also trying to open it by turning the knob but Sungmin had locked it when he went inside.

“Sungmin? Open the door please. I need to talk to you.” Sungmin heard from the other side of the door.

“Sorry I am tired. I’ll go to sleep early” He shrugged and yawned on his way to his bed and then he smirked. Of course, now Jungsu knew that he could destroy him, Sungmin doesn’t even know why but it made him shiver with anticipation.

Sungmin was then standing at the front of their house after his father called him a few days later. His father called him around 4 in the morning, when the sun hasn’t even risen and even morning birds were still asleep. Sungmin’s mood was also not in the best state because of his lack of sleep. He had to pass a science project that day and he wasn’t able to finish his on time because he had to help Sunkyu. His bad mood was made worse however, when his father skipped the good mornings and proceeded to reprimand him through the phone. He told him he needed to talk to him personally, he told him that the words he wished to tell him won’t be properly delivered through phone. Sungmin was about to ask how his day went so far then when his father suddenly hung up.

He had rang the bell two times, his feet was already tapping heavily on the concrete pavement, when the head helper, Auntie Jane, opened the gate for him.

“Young master, it’s good to see you after so long!” The old lady told him as he ushered him through the gate. He smiled timidly in response, not really in the best of moods but trying his best to not dampen the mood of the cheery Auntie Jane.

They walked across the garden, through the flowers his mother grew and the fountain that used to be his playground when he was a child. The place brought a mild feeling of nostalgia that Sungmin did not know the reason of. Maybe he missed his mother, the times when they played in the fountain and that time when he accidentally cut himself through his mother’s roses. Sungmin sighed. “How are you doing? It seemed that you grew thinner, aren’t you eating well?” Sungmin heard her say after a mixture of babbles and blabbers whom Sungmin accidentally tuned out.

“I am fine, Auntie Jane, just a little stressed with university that’s all” Sungmin said with a smile. “Do you know where dad is? He kind of made me go here because he said he wanted to talk to me or something”

“Oh, your dad? He’s right where you used to find him all the time. His music room, of course! He seemed to be composing some songs again, probably for your mom for their anniversary or something.” Auntie Jane said thoughtfully

Sungmin nodded. “I’ll be going straight there then, Auntie Jane. Cook some pumpkin pies for me? I kind of missed how you do your pumpkin pies since no one cooks the same as you do in Seoul.” Sungmin grinned as he saw the almost toothless smile of his most trusted keeper. He saw her nod her head and hurry to the kitchen as if the thing he made her do is really an important task.

After watching her turn around the corner going to the kitchen, he immediately took his first step going to where his dad is. He passed by his room and his parents’ room, wanting to knock to see if his mother was inside their room but deciding against it when he remembered that he was here because he was called by his father. After a few seconds, he was then standing in front of a dark oak door, and before he even got the chance to knock, his father already appeared.

“You wanted to talk to me, dad?” He said as he waited for his father to let him inside. His father then turned to his side to let him in, lightly closing the door behind Sungmin as the younger turned around to suddenly face him.

“Yes, son. I heard a few things about you and I don’t like how you are behaving in the past few days.” His father said with a mixture of disappointment and frustration in his voice. Sungmin furrowed his eyebrows, not really knowing what his father was talking about since he knows he had been doing well in school and his extra-curriculars.

“I had been elected as the president of the taekwondo club, dad. And I’ll be participating in a competition at Busan next week with the Seoul National Choir”, he said immediately. Whoever told his dad that he is not doing well at his academics can then screw up in hell. He was smiling from ears to ears waiting for his dad’s good job, it wasn’t easy to be part of the national choir and being elected as a president is something only popular people get anyway.

He didn’t get it.

“Just because the apartment was given to you doesn’t mean you should bully other people who will live there”, his father said coldly the moment he sat on his chair. Sungmin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “What are you talking about, dad?”

“Jungsu told me that it seemed as if you don’t really like him staying in your apartment. And he requested to move out so he won’t trouble you anymore. You see, Sungmin, what have you been doing to him to make him think that way?” His father said and Sungmin felt quite offended. It seemed like his dad always sides with whoever Sungmin is against with. He hasn’t done anything to Jungsu, and his dad already thinks he did something just because Jungsu told him that he thinks Sungmin doesn’t like him. The thought of Jungsu acting pleadingly irks Sungmin so much.

“I haven’t done anything to him, dad. It was he who kept on disturbing me when I study, he who kept on laughing loudly so early in the mornings, he who is always nosy with everything I do. I don’t give a damn about him dad, so—”

“Sungmin!” The younger was shocked when his father’s hand collided with the desk. “We never taught you language like that! I am very disappointed with you.”

“But dad! He was very annoying! He still is, actually! You don’t know how it feels because you’re not living with him!” Sungmin noticed the slight rise in his voice but he did not care. He was irritated like hell and he doesn’t care about his dad anymore, not when it is clearly evident that the feeling is mutual as well.

“Enough!” The younger was shocked when his father’s hand collided with the desk. “Be kind to him, and if ever I heard you did something wrong to him again, I am cutting your allowance for a week, understood?!”

“Dad!” Sungmin tried to explain as he tried not to falter with the glare his father is giving him. “You don’t under—”

“Did you understand what I said, Sungmin?!”

Sungmin swallowed the hard lump in his throat and he nodded wordlessly. There was no point arguing to his dad and it won’t do him any favor to fight with him. He resorted to glaring at one portion of the table while a few seconds of tense silence took place.

He never thought he would hate someone like how he hated Jungsu right now, he never thought he would feel such an intense emotion just like how he feels for the other man. His face is not as pretty as Sungmin, he doesn’t excel in his studies as much, he is old and he’s gay and Sungmin is almost perfect so he doesn’t understand why he still competes. Why he still needed to, despite the fact that looking at their baseline he should already automatically win.

“You can go now” His father said after a couple minutes of silence. Sungmin was brought out from his trance and he lifted his head in surprise and confusion. He then saw his father now back to scribbling on his sheets, so he then stood up, lightly bowed his head and frowned when he saw his father not spare him another glance.

He walked through the corridors with a confused mind and a broken heart. He did everything he could to make his father proud, he studied hard, excelled in martial arts, he even learned playing the piano during those times when all he wanted was to play outside. All he wanted was his father’s praise, his father’s recognition that the latter had been depriving him ever since he was born.

He continued striding along the corridor until he stopped at the top of their marble staircase. He heaved a long sigh before he went down, continuing his steps until he reached the bottom end. He was about to go through the front door out when a frail yet cheerful voice halted him from turning the door’s knob.

“Vincent dear, aren’t you going to stay? Your pie won’t be cooked until 20 more minutes.” Auntie Jane said, smiling that lively toothless grin Sungmin has grown fond of.

“I…” Sungmin started, thinking of the consequences of him staying and denying Auntie Jane. “I’ll just walk around the garden, Auntie. I’ll be back when you call me.”

“Do you need someone to talk to?” Sungmin turned towards her and gently shook his head, “I’ll be fine… your pumpkin pie always makes me happy”

“Well, if suddenly, you needed something more than what my pumpkin pie can give, remember I am your best nanny okay?” Auntie Jane said with a wave. Sungmin smiled and went straight to the garden he used to love so much. It was still beautiful, with the remnants of his childhood scattered everywhere from the writings he did in the fountain to the pot he sculpted when he was 9.

He sat on the marble fountain and looked up in the sky, the same time he heard a woman’s voice call his name ever so softly and he smiled. He saw the beautiful outline of his mother from afar and stood up to meet her halfway.

“Hello, mother” He said when his mother hugged him before she even greeted him hello. “It’s been a long time, yes?”

“I’m really sorry I wasn’t able to go to your apartment these past few weeks. There has been a lot going on here and I am confused too” His mother said with a frown.

“Why mother? Is there anything bothering you? I’d do it so you can rest.” Sungmin said as he caressed his mother’s cheeks. His mother has been his only foundation even when he was still young, the one who would go to his school’s family day even though she gets mobbed all the time, the one who would pick him up from his school in the middle of her schedules just so he could watch her rehearse and film… she is the epitome of goodness in Sungmin’s eyes, and he swore he would not let anything harm her, lest make her worry about something Sungmin can actually handle.

“Your father, he has been doing preparations for a funeral. I don’t know who it is for but it seems he’s getting worked up over it. He also composed a song.” His mother smiled bitterly before he leaned towards the hug. “I thought it was for me for our anniversary at first but then I realized it wasn’t when I heard something about seeing her in the next life”

Sungmin pulled back, “What do you mean mom? Dad is cheating on you?”

“Well, I don’t know. It might just be a friend and I am over analyzing, but…” His mother sighed. “Never mind, let’s just go inside and eat some pumpkin pie? I smelled Auntie Jane’s cooking in the kitchen when I went down to see you.”

Sungmin was in pure thought as he opened the door to his empty and peaceful apartment. The older man had gone to a trip at school and he said it will last for a few days. Sungmin thought it is better this way, he is not really in the mood to pretend he likes him and it’s better to not see him rather than reprimanding him for kissing his father’s so much.

He was watching his favorite English series when he heard a timid knock on the door. He stared at it in disbelief before he stood from the couch and strode to the door. Who could it be? He looked at the peep hole and saw an unfamiliar brown bush of hair standing so close to his door. He continued to survey him through the hole to identify him until the person from the other side also peeped from it. Sungmin stumbled backwards in shock of the big brown eyes who suddenly stared back.

He opened the door with an annoyed huff. “Who are you?” He noticed the other man suddenly froze.

After getting over the shock of coming face to face with him, the man, who is way taller than him, answered him in straight English albeit the noticeable Japanese accent. “Hi, sorry for disturbing. Is Park Jungsu living here?”

Sungmin rolled his eyes and held the door as if he’s going to close it. Of all the moments, why would someone look for him when he is still trying to convince himself that as long as he doesn’t disturb me, he isn’t really that bad? He answered the man in fluent English. “You didn’t answer my question, who are you?”

“I-I’m sorry, I couldn’t understand that much Korean… I’m Cho Kyuhyun. I’m his friend.” The other man stuttered as he bowed. So this was Cho Kyuhyun. He smirked inside. Sungmin took a glance of the other man from head to toe, from his messy hair to the mismatched clothing, he doesn’t believe in hate at first sight but he sure doesn’t like him all that much.

“He isn’t here so just go back some other time” Sungmin made to close the door but a shivering hand stopped him from doing so. “Wait.” The man kept his hold on the door and Sungmin just groaned in disbelief. “Um, I… I just came from the airport and I really don’t have a place to stay, so I can please stay here until I find a nearby hotel?”

Sungmin snorted at him and raised his eyebrows as he crossed his arms. “So you think I’ll let you in because you simply said you are a friend of someone who happened to live here too?” He chuckles. “No Sherlock, either find a hotel or stay out in the cold” And then he closed the door.

Sungmin groaned in annoyance, why does everyone related to Jungsu irritate him so much?

By the looks of all his things, he seemed like he was going to stay for a while. Sungmin didn’t like that. He didn’t need another baggage to annoy him at times when all he needed was a good and peaceful life.