They had drifted apart, just like that. Donghae thought it had all been bad timing. Hyukjae said there was nothing wrong with the timing, some people were just not meant to be.

Two young high school graduates who looked for to a future together with shinning eyes, who thought it would be perfect to get into the same college. They decided to make common friends and get into the same major .They would have each other and life would be perfect.

They forgot just one little thing:

Life on Earth was not meant to be perfect.

One after another things went wrong, they began to have fights, some nonsense fights and some days spent foolishly avoiding each other. Neither did they manage to make mutual friends nor did they manage to stay in the same majors.

So they broke up.

They broke on a bright morning, not too bright to be piercing for the eyes, nor to grey to set a gloom around the place, the break-up happened as naturally as their first kiss happened. Of course they felt as if someone had pressed their hearts through a shredder, but it was happening.

“Hyukjae, you must know this” Donghae had taken hold of a teary-eyed Hyukjae’s wrist “In a certain corner of my heart I’m still in love with you.”

Hyukjae nodded slowly as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Donghae, possibly for the last time “Same goes for me and I don’t think that will ever change.”

Parting ways was excruciatingly painful; they had entered the college as an ambitious couple and graduated from it as strong, heart-broken adults. Donghae and Hyukjae did have a few common friends, that nad Facebook was a good source to occasionally remain in touch with each other, well it was mostly stalking each other, since they never really talked.

What was there to talk about?

Donghae and Hyukjae were soon employed by well-reputed companies. While Donghae could not help but notice something was stirring within his heart once again, he decided to drown himself in his work. Keeping his weekdays busy enough to not have enough energy to over-think and keeping the weekends social enough to be able to meet new people and a potential life-partner even.

That stirring never really went away, even when his mind would be dead tired and begging his heart to let him fall asleep, the heart would constantly pound memories after memories and just how much he missed his Hyukjae.

It felt like ages, they had let go, so why was he still feeling this?

Had Donghae let go too easily? Willingly given up on them? But then so had Hyukjae.

Donghae felt a mix of anger and hurt, especially when one day, on a Saturday, his eyes got stuck on a certain post on Facebook.

Lee Hyukjae had changed his relationship status to engaged and below it was a cheerfully smiling Hyukjae with a unfamiliar girl.

The sense of betrayal surged through his body along with a strong panic attack. Hyukjae was engaged to be married!

Donghae slammed the lid shut, dressed hurriedly and flew out of his apartment room. He spent most of the day driving recklessly and ended up finding himself parked in front of Hyukjae’s apartment.

Sure they had broken all ties but both of them very well knew about things such as where each of them lived or worked, or how they had not changed much, well aside from not being what they used to be. At times like this Donghae found out, having common friends .

Donghae’s phone was vibrating with messages, his and Hyukjae’s friends either telling him cheerfully about Hyukjae’s marriage that was to be held very soon, or sending him encouraging messages, that he should get married soon too.

Donghae heaved a dry sigh, it had been too long, he should let go. Strangely, his heart was not letting him do just that. He reached home in the evening, scolding himself about having ending up outside Hyukjae’s apartment like a lost pup. All the while he had just sat in the car, staring silently at a window through which he hoped he could spot Hyukjae. Longingly.

It was as if he felt he needed to stop Hyukjae from doing this, ehe felt what Hyukjae was doing was something wrong, a mistake.

So when the day of the wedding did arrive, Donghae stood in front of the mirror with a determined face, dressed in a formal white suit he drove over to the venue, hoping his presence would not bring about commotion. However soon some of the friends that  both, Hyukjae and Donghae, looked up to as big brothers spotted him and cornered him silently in an empty room.

“What are you doing here, Donghae?” Sungmin demanded, his stare was intimidating but greatly concerned as well.

“Is it possible Hyukjae invited you? He didn’t mention it to me.” Kangin hovered over him and Donghae shook his head “No…no I’m actually not invited, Hyukjae and I don’t talk much-well, not at all.”

So, then? Donghae I will have to ask you to leave.” The eldest of them, Leeteuk, calmly took hold of Donghae’s shoulders and gently shook him “You need to go.”

“I can’t go, hyung” Donghae mumbled, expressions desperate and helpless “ I tried letting go, I thought I had let go! It was years ago after all. Bu-but when I saw the post about him being engaged, I just-I just.”

“Hyukjae and you used to be something, not anymore” Kangin asserted somewhat harshly to which Leeteuk gave Kangin a small look. Returning his gaze to Donghae he smiled softly, tenderly, his voice however was firm.

“Donghae, I need you to listen carefully to what I’m going to say. Hyukjae is finally happy, in the truest sense of the word. His smiles are not strained or forced anymore, he’s truly living and not just existing-“

“But hyung-

“Ssh, crying doesn’t do you nor him any good, so please, if  you have the tiniest concern for his happiness and well-being, please leave. Let go. Hyukjae's trying and he has moved on, it's about time you did too”

Oh...Hyukjae had moved on..of course he had.

Donghae’s frame was shaking, he tried holding a strong expression but those watery eyes and face were totally giving away the turmoil he was going through.

Let go

Again

“Hyung is right..” Sungmin added softly, even Kangin came up with an apologetic look and pulled a broken and speechless Donghae in his arms “It won’t be good for Hyukjae to see you here, nor would it be easy for you…”

“C-can I at least see him from a distance?” Donghae gasped through a sob he had been holding back for way too long now, tears finally spilling, he didn’t have to really say it, he was showing it.

Just how much he was still in love. How he had never truly let go, or moved on.

“Please hyung, I beg of you. One last time.”

Leeteuk pursed is lips as Sungmin sighed grimly; watching Donghae break away like this was never easy, he felt a heavy pressure on his chest as he nodded slowly. “I’ll help you in seeing him, but we make sure he does not see you. I warn you though; he will be with his bride-to-be.”

Donghae nodded vigourously, trying to smile through all those tears “Nothing will happen hyung, I’ll only look and go away.”

“Don’t you dare do anything stupid to yourself or I’ll hunt you down and you know it.” Kangin threatened, his tone however was utterly endearing and Donghae laughed a humorless laugh “No hyung, I won’t try killing myself, this already feels like I’m dying though “

“Hush, now go, before the ceremony begins, you need to get out by then.” Leeteuk gently coaxed Donghae, clearing away tears with his hand and encouragingly patting his back as Sungmin sneaked out of the room with Donghae.

Once the two left Leeteuk allowed the sorrow to appear in his eyes as he speechlessly looked at Kangin who instantly hugged him “Something are just not meant to be.” He softly mumbled as he consoled the man.

--

Donghae's eyes roamed all over Hyukjae. He watched from a distance, as promised, hidden and completley mesmerized. There he was, the one his eyes were yearning for. He was soaking in the view. Those cricnkled eyes, twinkling happily, that widest gummy smile that made his heart flutter, every single thing that was Lee Hyukjae and oh so dear to him, there he was, simply being, stnading there talking to some ladies Donghae did not know of.

The view sure did settle some of the stirring in his heart, it was as if he had been thristy for years and someone had quenched his thrist, he felt like he was being healed. The anger, hurt, longing, regret, everything, slowly, being taken away. It was easier to admit it to himself now.

He still loved Lee Hyukjae.

“Donghae...”

“I know..thank you Sungmin, thank you.” Sungmin found it hard to breathe as Donghae struggled to speak.

And then Donghae turned and ran, this time he was going to make sure he let go and moved on.

Because somethings were just not meant to be.

--

-A/n: This was not easy to write, sorry.