The corridor hadn't changed in the slightest since they'd left the school and for a moment, pausing in front of the double doors, JunPyo felt a rush of familiarity. He stopped short of opening the heavy double doors that still more the placard daintily engraved with the word F4 to reflect. It was becoming increasingly difficult to believe that it had been four years since he'd walked this floor and almost five since he'd first met Guem JanDi. It seemed so far ago, yet so many memories were already bouncing around his mind with the sights and smells of his youth.

"Ya! JunPyo, are you going to make us wait all day?" YiJung had joined in on the teasing as well, flashing his classic casanova smile.

"Aish. You're still so pushy." He made a playfully disgusted face at his two friends who gestured for him to get on with it. With a firm push, the doors swung over and the three of them entered their former classroom, still brightly lit with the spring sun. Slowly, they each paced the floor, once in a whole lingering by their own desks with each pass, the warm wood. So much of their childhood had been spent in this one room, yet despite the familiarity part of the situation felt foreign like running into an old face from the past and not knowing what to say.

"So you're really going to marry Guem JanDi." WooBin was always the first to break the silence and it was comfortable, the way they began to settle into old habits and roles within the friendship.

"Yes," he answered, biting back a grin.

"Ah I can't believe it. JunPyo is growing up."

"And Guem JanDi of all people."

"Remember when she roundhouse kicked him?" Both of his comrades laughed warmly. "He was so convinced that she liked him when really she wanted nothing to do with him."

"Ya!" He responded quickly, "I knew what I was doing. It worked didn't it?" There was more laughter from his friends and JunPyo couldn't help but to add a stray chuckle in to the mix. "We were quite the team weren't we."

YiJung leaned up against his desk looking pensive. "Ah… ShinWa High, the red card… It's hard to believe how different our lives were just four years ago." They all nodded in agreement as JunPyo and WooBin followed his cue, also taking residence at their assigned desks.

"Ya! Have you been to see GaEul?" WooBin inquired suddenly.

YiJung nodded, a grin escaping across his lips and a faint blush appearing on his cheeks.

"I see that."

"What?" The potter looked sheepish, fiddling with a pen he's found lying on the desk.

"That, right there. That smile." JunPyo pointed mischievously at him as he averted his gaze, a full grin obvious to both patrons in the room.

"I knew it! He is! He's actually going for a relationship now."

"Ya! You guys used to say that to me when I went after JanDi."

"No, what we told you was that you were being stupid."

"Anyo!"

"For a while you were. You put trash and ducks in her pool."

"It wasn't her pool."

"Either way… Not very charming."

"I don't see you with a woman." The words slipped out playfully but JunPyo instantly saw their negative effect on WooBin. Quickly, he looked down and stopped laughing.

"Mian." There was an uncomfortable silence. Four years ago he would have said the same thing in fun, but four years ago an apology wouldn't have even been part of his vocabulary. WooBin probably would have also laughed it off, but this was not four years ago and they had all changed.

YiJung sighed, returning them to conversation. "Where is JiHoo?"

"Probably sleeping somewhere like usual."

"That rascal cat."

"He never did care for F4's 'activities'."

"In all fairness we weren't exactly nice guys…"

WooBin smiled, remembering spin-the bottle at JanDi's place. "Self-centered egoist, 4th dimensional, and cold-hearted Casanova."

"Ya!" JunPyo launched himself at WooBin, playfully hitting him at that remark. WooBin pulled away laughing and then, abruptly looked down. "What?"

"Spider," he replied nonchalantly.

"Spider?" JunPyo leapt backward onto the desk, pulling his feet up. "Where? Kill it!"

Laughing hysterically WooBin gave him a push, as he tottered on the edge. "You fell for that?"

"Aish!" He pushed WooBin back, straightening out his jacket. "Ah really, Do you want to die?" WooBin continued to laugh and again, JunPyo was forced to smile. After a few moments of chuckling, he looked across the room, puzzled by the silence from his friend.

"What's the matter with you?" The potter was sitting in his chair with his eyes closed, fingertips massaging his temples. WooBin turned to look as well, his eyes questioning his friend.

"I haven't slept much since returning, I think it's the jet lag," he replied, opening his eyes and smiling. "Just need more sleep, that's all."

"Well take care of yourself. If the F4 is going to relive its glory days…"

"Glory days? You're getting married JunPyo. Your glory days are over my friend." Woobin patted him on the back, heading towards the door. "I on the other hand, am a free man." YiJung looked at JunPyo and together they nodded, rising slowly before chasing after him.

"Ya!"

"So you're really getting married."

GaEul's question was laced with admiration, excitement, and surprise all in one. JanDi smiled, smoothing out the covers in front of her nodding. She paused for a moment, tilting her head in thought. "Even though it's been four years without him, it is as if he never left. It was hard, but the star cannot get away from the moon," she smiled while her necklace.

"And what about you? I heard YiJung came to the school." Her tone brightened. It was just like JanDi to put her own good news aside to hear from her friend. GaEul could practically feel the blood rush to her face as she shyly played with a lock of her long hair.

"He came to the classroom today. It was such a surprise. The children couldn't keep their mouths closed. My favorite little girl- she asked if he was my boyfriend and even told him I was waiting for him to come back!" The two friends laughed together, sinking back against the pillows and pulling the covers up to their chins. GaEul felt JanDi's head against her shoulder and smiled in the darkness.

"JanDi," she whispered.

"Mmm?"

"I'm so happy for you JanDi."

"I'm happy for you too," came the sleepy reply. "I'm happy for YiJung and my best friend".

The clay was red.

YiJung was almost finished spinning when he noticed something was wrong. For a moment he paused, hands still cupping the spinning vase. A thin, red streak had appeared on the rim of his masterpiece and with each turn of the wheel it widened, a dark band the edge. With one hand he gingerly reached up, his index finger touching his upper lip which felt oddly slick. Peering at his fingers, the bright stain surprised him. His nose was bleeding.

"Aish!" he exclaimed, rising and grabbing a cloth from the workbench. Pressing it to his nose he frowned, looking at the ruined creation sadly. He had liked the way that vase was coming out. Tiredly, he rubbed his eyes glancing at the clock. It was quarter past six and in just forty-five minutes he would need to pick Gaeul up for their date. Spinning always left him oblivious to time. It was as if all else besides the clay seemed to cease to exist once the wheel began to turn.

GaEul leapt to his mind and for a moment he pondered why her face had come to him. Surprised, he realized with startling revelation that the same feeling of time freezing had occurred when he had first glimpsed her among the children in her classroom the day he returned. His heart sped up briefly and he suddenly felt very anxious to see her. Cleaning his workplace quickly, he turned down the lights and retreated to the shower hoping that the fatigue he was experiencing would dissipate so that he could enjoy his night.

When he was finished showering, he paused to survey the wide array of clothing that was at his disposal. Frowning, he absentmindedly the sleeves of a few of the many jackets that were neatly hung in a row. His younger self wouldn't have cared much what he wore seeing as his clothes were all the latest fashions. But tonight was different, tonight for the first time he wanted to be clothed to GaEul's liking.

Standing at the front door he knocked timidly, pulse quickening with each second that passed. Luckily for him, she was quick to answer, her loose curls falling sweetly around her face.

"Oh! They're beautiful!" She exclaimed excitedly, leaning in to smell the bouquet of flowers he was holding. She was so close he could smell her perfume, sweet and just as he remembered. "Thank you."

He smiled, taking a step down the stairs. "Shall we go?"

She nodded her eyes bright under the streetlight. I missed those eyes he thought to himself as he led her towards the car. Opening the door for her, he waited until she was settled before crossing to the driver's side and starting the vehicle.

"Are you sure you're feeling up to this?" She asked as they pulled onto the street. She was surprisingly astute and he was caught off guard with the question. Do I look as tired as I feel?

"Perhaps we should- I mean it's just that... You just got back from a long trip."

He laughed as she tripped across her words, his hand reaching out and smoothly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I waited four years to go out with you and you want to cancel on me? I thought that was my move."

She giggled a bit as he parked the car. Gosh, he found her so cute when she laughed. He opened her door for her, extending a hand to help her out of the car. She accepted and together they headed down the sidewalk, elbows gently touching every so often. He was surprised at the fervor in which he wanted to grab her hand. He decided to go for it, slipping his fingers between hers. She paused for a moment, slightly shocked and he gave a subtle tug. "Let's not miss our reservation." Grinning she nodded in agreement, her steps hastening to keep up with his longer strides. The clicking of her heels against the pavement as she followed him put him in a good mood.

Once they had given their orders, he couldn't help but to simply stare at her. In the four years he had been gone there were so many small details he had not quite forgotten, but certainly missed; he small curve at the end of her nose, the adorable pink color her blush made as it blended into her cheek , the smooth texture of her hair falling freely about her shoulders. She caught him looking and blushed shyly.

"Tell me about Sweden."

"What is it you wanted to know?"

"Mmm." She thought about it for a moment, once more looking ridiculously cute.

"Was it beautiful?"

"Yes, very much so. But it wasn't home."

"Are you glad to be back?"

He nodded sincerely, taking a sip of wine.

"Were you waiting… for me?"

"I hoped you were coming. I would walk by your studio sometimes so that it was still real."

"And now, does it feel real now?" He asked as the waitress placed their food in front of them.

"Anyo." She shook her head, tucking her napkin neatly into her collar. "Now it feels like a dream."

JiHoo was tired, but by no means ready to sleep. He didn't remember the last time the insomnia had kept him awake like this. Sighing, he laid on his bed looking up at the ceiling. Since JunPyo had returned home, he was seeing less and less of JanDi and it felt all wrong. He knew he shouldn't complain, but JunPyo's return had opened up a whole new set of emotions for him.

In four years, he had almost convinced himself that over the years, all that mattered was to see JanDi smile. For four years he had accepted the fact that she was waiting for JunPyo to come back. Even when he had walked onto the beach to find his friend on one knee, presenting JanDi with an engagement ring he had been happy because they were happy.

But now, in the dark- in his empty house… he felt angry and hurt and betrayed. He had been her firefighter. He was the one that held her up when the man she loved broke her down. And JunPyo, practically his brother- JiHoo had done nothing but respect him and stay behind the line. But now he was back and he was marrying JanDi. His hands were clenched around fistfuls of blanket and hot tears escaped from his eyes. My oldest friend is taking away my reason for existing.

YiJung was starting to feel sleepy; probably from the effect of the wine and the continuing jet lag. He picked at his food, trying to figure out why nothing was appealing to him. His stomach didn't feel sick, but he couldn't bring himself to eat any of the dinner in front of him.

"How is your dinner? You don't seem to like it. Is there something wrong?" GaEul was looking at his plate and back at her own which was nearly empty.

"The food is fine. I'm just not very hungry." Her reaction was visible as she bit her lip worriedly, eyes b with concern. He caught a flash of her face and immediately reached a hand across the table, taking hers in his fingers.

"GaEul. Please don't worry, I will be fine. I may not be my usual self but I assure you I wouldn't want to miss this night with you for anything." She still looked hesitant, but nodded. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Four years was enough. I don't want to miss any more time with you."

"Do you really mean that?" Her beautiful eyes were searching his, reaching for the truth he kept locked away. Holding his breath he forced himself to let the walls down.

"I do."

Jandi paused, looking at the words written on the page before her. Little by little, for each day he had been gone she had stored up thoughts and words connected to their relationship until the little tattered piece of paper had been carrying in her pocket was b with expressions of love.

Looking at the collection before her, she was filled with a warm sense of contentedness. Locating one small section that was not filled in yet, she leaned forward and traced a box around the spot. There were two more words that had yet to be spoken before it was complete.

"I do."