“Everyone good to go?” Yunho asked a while later. They had been sitting at Lotteria for almost two hours in total and the subway would be closing soon.

“Who’s taking Line 7?” MiYoung asked and Changmin and Yunho raised their hands.

“We’re on Line 3!” Jessica spoke up and the others started figuring out their own subway lines.

“Hey Hyo, are you ready to go?” Hyukjae called out from where he was standing with Donghae and Jessica.

Yoochun turned to Hyoyeon, “Hey, I can drop you off.”

“Neh?”’

“I’m staying at my parents so I have their car. You live really far, don’t you? I can give you a ride.”

Hyoyeon instantly protested, not wanting to make Yoochun drive an hour away to her home in Incheon, “Thanks oppa, but I’m –”

“If you’re worried about me driving for a long time, then don’t,” Yoochun smiled, “I love long drives. So what do you say?”

Hyoyeon felt herself getting lost in his absolutely charming smile. If he had asked her to jump off a cliff with him at that moment, she probably would have. But she was broken out of her reverie by Hyukjae’s tug on her arm, “We’re gonna miss the train dummy. Let’s go!”

“Actually, I am going to..” Yoochun’s hand was hovering over Hyoyeon’s other arm, when she interrupted him, “Thanks for the offer oppa but I’m sleeping over at Sica’s tonight so...”

“Ah.. I see. Another time, then.” Yoochun smiled again and gave her a side hug before leaving to say goodbye to the others.

****************************************************************

Jessica’s parents lived in Apgujeong, not too far away from where Donghae and Hyukjae’s dorm was located so they decided or rather, Donghae and Sica decided, that they wanted to spend some more time together before they headed home.

“We’re just going for a walk in the park so you two entertain yourselves for half an hour or so,” Donghae ordered as he put his arm around Sica and led her towards the willow trees lined path.  “And no spying on us,” his girlfriend added with a smirk.

“I hate you guys! I am so sleepy~ I should’ve just taken the ride from Yoochun oppa!” Hyoyeon wailed after them but the couple walked off in giggles showing no sympathy to their friend.

Hyoyeon sat down on one of the swings in the playground grumpily.

“Yah! Aren’t you being too much? Looking like you’re going to die of boredom. I am still here!” Hyukjae scolded as he sat down on the swing next to her.

“Ah.. mian oppa,” Hyoyeon yawned, “but I’m really exhausted.”

“Probably cause you couldn’t close your mouth ogling at Yoochun all night long” he retorted with a laugh. “Nice one, dummy! You couldn’t make your crush on him more obvious if you tried.”

“Hey! I don’t have a crush on him!”

“It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone.” He smiled sincerely and she knew she could trust him. Despite their bickering and name calling, they were best friends for all these years for a reason.

Hyukjae sighed contentedly as he dug his shoes into the sand.

She had been back for a little less than a month and everything was just so much more reassuring with her around. He was also relieved that those funny feelings he had first felt when they met again had gone away. His heart was back to being in that comfortable space with her – a feeling that he could only describe as “hyoyeon-ness” – a sense of family, friend, comfort, warmth, security.

It had also led to him to a realization …

‘Speaking of which I need to talk to Heechul hyung tomorrow’ he made a personal reminder to himself.

“You should go for it if you really like him,” Hyukjae remarked – a grin forming on his face when he saw a blush creeping across her cheeks.

“Yah! Aren’t you getting a little too ahead of yourself, fairy godmother?” Hyoyeon complained turning her flushed face away, “I just got to know him better a few hours ago. I can’t like him already….right?”

There were a few moments of pensive silence and then she looked back, “I almost forgot! Why didn’t you tell me that Yoochun oppa wanted to hang out with me? When was this anyway?”

“Oh that.. Like when he had just joined SM.” Hyukjae rubbed the back of his neck, “Sorry. I just didn’t want you to get into trouble back then.”

“Trouble?”

“Yes trouble,” he poked her forehead with his index finger lightly, “you were so wild I was worried that if you started dating that young, you wouldn’t focus on your training. And what a good job I did! You ended up getting an awesome experience in China thanks to me.”

“Lies!” Hyoyeon laughed, unable to believe that Hyukjae would ever have such serious thoughts. “I bet you just didn’t want me to be in a real relationship before you did!”

Hyukjae’s mature concerns had surprised himself too.. but he kind of saw himself as her protector.. of course, he wouldn’t tell her that. Independent girls these days didn’t want a bodyguard!

He joined in on her laughter, “You caught me! You know me too well Hyoyeonnie. But now I give you full permission. I think we’re both old enough to date responsibly.”

“It’s weird isn’t it?” Hyoyeon spoke a few minutes later.

“What is?”

“That…” her voice was soft and contemplative, “one day we are both going to have another boy and another girl that are more important to us.”

“Huh?”

“You know.. girlfriends boyfriends.. eventually wives husbands…. I just had never thought of that before.” It somehow made her very sad thinking about it – so bad that her heart physically hurt a little.

“Ah..” It seemed that the thought hadn’t occurred to Hyukjae either so he let it sink in.

After a while he, looked up at the bright star filled sky and spoke, “I won’t let that happen.”

“What about your poor wife, oppa?” Hyoyeon giggled at his absurdity but when Hyukjae replied, his voice was firm and earnest, “I’ll just find a way to care about you both equally.”

It was weird but what he said – even though probably just momentary and idealistic – tugged at her heart so strongly, it made her eyes tear up. It wasn’t because she was sad or happy…. his words had just .... stirred something inside her that she didn’t quite understand herself.

“Ah you’re so cheesy,” she pushed him away lightly and started to swing herself higher on the swing-set; letting the air dry her tears.

****************************************************************************

Fast update :D and this chapter is 85% HyoHyuk ^^. I hope it didn't confuse you guys though.

Just to clarify - Hyoyeon and Hyukjae are back to being friends and Hyukjae's gotten over his weird physical reactions(? lol) to her. I'll try and explain that in the next chapter or so. And when he's telling Hyoyeon to go for Yoochun, he's being sincere. Don't get too frustrated with the two - neither of them have really fallen in love before so, things might not turn out how you expect them to.. for now. Remember the foreword - there is bound to be heartaches and bad timing etc. But don't worry there will be some - alot of HyoHyuk in all the chapters.