Tao thought it was awkward, watching Lu Han and Victoria smile at each other, telling their lives in front of them. Kris was pretty much staring at Lu Han, who would look away, blushing. Tao knew for a fact that Lu Han still liked Kris a bit, but he knew also that Kris was hurting on the inside, but some closure would be good for Kris.

“Victoria,” Tao smiled, “Want to go somewhere with me? I think these guys need to catch up with each other, don’t you?”

The girl smiled, and squeezed Lu Han’s hand, “I’ll be back. Don’t miss me too much.”

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Lu Han smiled back, watching as the two walked into the crowd and disappeared.

“What the hell Zitao?!” Victoria slapped him as soon as they were out of the two former love bird’s vision, “Subtle much?”

“Ow, I liked it better when you were pretending to be sweet!”

“Look, I understand you want them to have some closure, I do too, but are you sure this is the best way to go?”

Tao crossed his arms, staring down at the woman, “Tell me what’s been going on at your end. You’re married to him, he must put on a show for you.”

Victoria sat on the bench, and started, “Our parents forced us to marry. We liked each other like friends, and we didn’t mind. I wasn’t aware of Kris until Lu Han swore he saw him somewhere in China a few months ago and broke down as soon as we got back to our apartment. According to his story, his parents threatened to make Kris’s life hell if he didn’t come back to China. Apparently, thirty- five is the magic number in which they want grandchildren and a daughter in law.”

“So, Lu Han still loves Kris?”

Victoria nodded, “Lu Han didn’t want to leave Kris. His parents didn’t like their son dating a man and tried for three years to get him to break up with him. Only the threat worked on him and to protect Kris, he broke his heart.”

Tao remembered when Kris broke down before Baekyeol’s wedding, and shook his head, “No. He should have told Kris. You don’t protect anyone by breaking their heart.”

“Zitao, I understand your getting upset—

“No, I don’t believe what Lu Han did was right. You protect a person by being there for them, to help make both of you stronger! If he wanted to protect Kris, he would stay there and tell him that he loved him and that nothing would separate them. He would be spouting out the truth like water out of tap! Lying only brings hurt and heart break! Where’s the ing protection in that?”

Victoria just sat there, letting Tao yell at her. She knew what he was talking about, she shouted out the same things at Lu Han when he told her like Tao was doing to her. It was odd, sort of déjà vu, and she was sure that this is how Lu Han felt when she yelled at him. Victoria really couldn’t do anything. This wasn’t there argument to fight, only to repeat.

Kris and Tao walked hand in hand, Kris’s grip on Tao firm and strong. Tao didn’t ask about what he and Lu Han talked about. After yelling at Victroia, he regretted doing so. He was just somewhat fed up with this whole incident that Tao decided that if Kris wanted to tell him, he will when he wants to.

He didn’t want to win someone else’s argument.

Tao walked with Kris to his apartment, the crisp cold air biting their faces. Kris was thinking of how Lu Han was more manly, more humble. It made Kris want him even more, and when Lu Han stated that he hoped Kris was happy without him, Kris nearly broke down.

“He seemed like a good guy, your boyfriend there. You must love him a lot, huh?”

“Tao? He’s not my boyfriend. I don’t think he likes me like that.”

“No? Well the way the way you guys kissed each other then said otherwise.”

“I have no idea what your talking about Lu Han. Tao is just a friend.”

“Friends don’t kiss each other like they’re afraid to leave each other.”

“Kris?” Tao asked, bringning the man back from his thoughts, “The passcode is the same right? To get in the building?”

Kris nodded, letting Tao press the buttons. He walked with the man to the elevator, their hands still clutching each other. When they entered, Tao pressed the floor button and watched the light ascend through the numbers. Kris watched Tao, taking in his profile, his sandy blonde hair, his earrings, his dark circles. He watched as Tao looked down at his hand, the many rings armed on his long fingers. Kris felt Tao rub his thumb along his knuckles, and watched as he switched from standing on one leg to the other.

Friends don’t kiss each other like they're afraid to leave each other.