----This is a triple update! So it's chapter 16, 17, and 18 at one go. So read 16 first!----

Hangeng's POV:

"So... Is hanchul real?" I asked. I had done it. Finally it came out. It took me a long time to decide to do this. I didn't really mind even if he said no, I mean, I could play it off as a joke, right? It wouldn't be that hard. Well I got my answer to that -- it was hard. Like really hard. Replaying our conversation in my head, I sighed deeply.

"No, geng. No." He said. Well there it went, all my hope down the drain.

"B-but why? Chul, you said..." I said sadly.

"No, geng. I said no. And I mean it."

"But Chul, then what... What did you mean back there then?"

"Huh? What did I say?" He asked. Ouch. That hurt. So bad.

"You know, your response to my question?" I tried.

"Oh that. Well. It was probably just on impulse. You know I was sorta out of my mind just now. We all were. I didn't even know what I was doing."

"Chul-ah..." I said. 

"Also, I'm suprised you even remembered it." He replied quickly. I could see the tears in his eyes, which he was trying to conceal.

"No, Chul. Don't lie, please." 

"I'm not lying, geng." 

"Chul, please."

"Also, I didn't mean a thing at all, geng. Like really?"

"How could I not remember, Chul..."

"Well in any case I remember saying 'I LIKE you' not 'I LOVE you'. There's a difference you know. I do love you geng..." He said. I looked up, a glimmer of hope in my heart.

"But if ever I do love you, I love you only as a friend. A great friend." I cringed. Ouch.

"Please, geng. I didn't mean it."

"Ok then, Chul. I hope you don't take it to heart. Let's keep being friends, okay?" I forced.

"Yes, ok. But NEVER EVER mention the words HANCHUL in front of me. NEVER. I can't stop kyu and the rest of them, but at least you won't do it, right?" He said, eyeing me.

"Yes, I won't..." I said awkwardly and forced a smile. Wow. Friend zoned.

"Thanks hannie, for being my best friend. I really don't want to lose you as a friend."

"You won't, Chul. I'll be here for you. Always." I said. I didn't care. If we couldn't be hanchul, I would be satisfied just being near him, protecting him. Just... Like a best friend. It hurt to say those words, but if he doesn't like me the way I do, I might as well stop crying over it. 

"Let's go..." He said, turning away.

"So, are you guys done gossiping?" He asked. 

"Yea. Sit down and eat, heechul." Leeteuk said. 

"Good." He said and sat down. I followed. Throughout the meal I was just looking at him, I don't really know if he noticed, but if he did then well. I didn't really want to look like some stalker but I couldn't help myself. If he only reacted...

"So..." Leeteuk started. 

"Can I ask you a question?" He continued. Heechul nodded in response.

"Is hanchul real?" They asked in unison.

"No. It never was, and never will be." He said, coldly. I looked down sadly, and continued eating in silence. Why, heechul? Why?

Leeteuk's POV:

What. Heechul just denied hanchul. And coldly at that. Before all he did was blush or shout but now... Maybe it really was not meant to be then. But they seemed so close before, so why are they like that now? It's not true, right?

Henry's POV:

Aw did heechul just reject hangeng ;-; whatever, I still ship them. I mean, their bromance is so strong. Maybe they just had a fight? I don't know. I really hope they patch up soon, I don't like seeing them like that.

Sungmin's POV:

OMONA WHY HEECHUL HYUNG?! I shipped hanchul. So. Bad 3!! and I'm pretty sure geng hyung likes heechul hyung too so why? Did they have a lovers quarrel just now when they left? Once they came back they became totally distant, especially heechul hyung... Aigoo, my hanchul feels D': please, hyungs. Stop it...

Zhou Mi's POV:

Aww my poor hyung just got rejected D: I know he really liked heechul hyung, I hope they don't stay like this. I know he's lying. He must be lying. Please, heechul hyung, don't break my hyung's heart like this...

Kyuhyun's POV:

What the heck? I mean, it's not like I was expecting a "YES, we are going out!" Or something from heechul but that was way too hurtful. A simple "NO" would suffice, right? What's up with the "it never was, and never will be"? Like really? I mean, since before it was pretty obvious that heechul hyung and hangeng hyung were like totally in love with each other. They blushed so much it was impossible to hide. They could have said something like: "no, we are just BFFs" or "haha nice joke guys" but no. Heechul hyung was so cold. I knew that even if they really were just BFFs, (which I highly doubt they are), Heechul hyung would NEVER say that to hangeng hyung. He wouldn't want to hurt him in any way. I knew heechul hyung well. So well, in fact, that I know he was faking it. 

"Oh sorry guys I need to go now! Sungmin let's go. It's getting late." Leeteuk said, glancing at his watch. We nodded in response.

"Okay hyung! Just let me pack first..." Sungmin replied with a smile. A few minutes later they were off. 

"BYE HYUNGS :3" sungmin shrieked before turning to leave.

"Sungmin-ah!!!!" We whisper-shouted. Sungmin smiled sheepishly at us.

"I think I need to go too." Henry said.

"Ok, bye Henry, Leeteuk and sungmin!" We chorused as they waved goodbye. Now it was just me, heechul hyung, hangeng hyung, and Zhou Mi. Awkward much?

"Zhou Mi I think we should go too..." Hangeng hyung said, standing up. He was so obviously trying to avoid having to stay any longer with heechul hyung.

"Oh... Ok then 哥哥. Let's go... Bye kyu, bye heechul hyung!" Zhou Mi said awkwardly.

"Mm ok bye Mimi, and bye h-- no geng." Heechul said, not bothering to look up at them. Well this was definitely weird. What's with the 'geng'?

"Bye Mimi, bye hyung!" I said  smiling at them as they left. Once they got out the door, I turned to heechul.

"Ok, spill." I said. Heechul looked up.

"What?" He asked. I rolled my eyes.

"Spill, heechul. What the heck happened between you and hangeng hyung?" He turned away.

"N-nothing. Why do you ask?" He said, avoiding eye contact with me.

"Hyung, you may be able to fool them, but you can't fool me. I know you, hyung. I know you're lying. This is not how you really feel. Tell me, heechul." I tried.

"And how well do you know me, kyu?!" He glared. Usually people would just shut up and leave, but not me. I continued.

"I know you very well hyung. You and I both know that."

"I-I'm sorry kyu... I didn't mean to get all sensitive."

"It's ok. Let's not talk here, hyung. Let's go home. Tell me everything then." I said. He nodded weakly and we headed to the car. There was silence on the way home. I had so many burning questions inside of me, but I knew better than to make my hyung cry in public.

Heechul's POV:

It felt like all the energy had drained from me as I walked in through the door to my home. I fell on the couch, weak. I wanted to cry, cry so badly. But I won't show my weak side.

"Hyung... Here have some water." Kyuhyun said gently, handing me a cup of water. I rejected.

"Hyung." He frowned. "You can cry it out." I shook my head.

"Do it, heechul. You will feel better. I've seen it before, heechul. Don't worry. I won't judge, I won't tell, I won't say anything. So just cry it all out! It hurts me to see you like that hyung!"

Tears started to flow down my cheeks as I trembled softly. I held onto kyuhyun for support.

"Kyu-ah... Did I do the right thing?" I asked.

"Hyung... First answer me. What happened exactly?" He replied, putting his arms around me.

"I-I... Hangeng, h-he confessed to me... And I-I... I rejected him." I said.

"Hyung... Do you like him?" 

"No, kyu. I don't like him... I love him. So much."

"Then why, hyung? Why reject the one you love?"

"Because... I don't want to feel the pain when he leaves. When he dies."

"Hyung... Follow your heart. What's wrong with feeling pain? That's just proof of your love."

"But kyu... I-I'm scared. If only I didn't win... We could live happily."

"Don't be. Trust me, hyung. It's all for the better. To love someone so much that you are willing to die for them, so much that you are sure you will feel hurt if they leave you, so much that you would rather give up your greatest dreams to be with him, you know how rare that is?"

"B-but kyu, I..." 

"Hyung, listen to me. Don't do something you will regret. Don't. I don't want to see you in pain anymore. I don't want to see hangeng hyung in pain. Stop it, hyung. Stop hurting both yourself and hangeng hyung. Don't harm him anymore."

"I-I need to go, kyu. Let's talk tomorrow." I said, climbing up from the couch. He pondered for a while.

"Okay then, hyung. Rest well." He said. I nodded and left.

That night, I spent crying my heart out. What should I do now, hannie? I thought as I drifted into unconsciousness. 

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So... Well. What will heechul do? :3

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