"How did the meeting go?" Kyungsoo asked as he set down a mug of tea on the table. He then put his arms around Jongin who didn't seem distracted. Kyungsoo couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when Jongin's gaze stayed on the computer screen. But at the same time, he didn't shrug him off either.

Kyungsoo then shifted his head until it was resting on Jongin's shoulder. The latter gave a small smile and reached out for the tea. He said after taking a sip, "Same thing. Stocks are going fine, nobody fired recently and- Why are you smiling?" That jolted Kyungsoo out from his dream world.

"You're still the same," he answered. It was true. Kyungsoo had fallen in love with Jongin in middle school. Jongin used to be the center of attraction, and he attracted people like moths to a flame. Sehun told him once that it was just puppy love, but Kyungsoo knew otherwise.

The problem was, it was difficult to get Jongin's attention back then. Kyungsoo was just a nobody at school, one of the nerds. He had little friends while on the other hand Baekhyun was quite popular. Once the word that his father was the famous designer, people became interested in him. No doubt, Baekhyun's polite and cheerful demeanor was the x-factor of his popularity.

It was natural that Jongin had set his eyes on Baekhyun. He always heard Baekhyun saying how handsome Jongin was but they never spoke to each other. This was an unsolved mystery for Kyungsoo, until now.

Jongin gave no reply to that and Kyungsoo wished that he could be more responsive. Jongin continued tapping away on his keyboard. Then he asked, "By the way, can you ask Sehun to stop crashing the office building?" At this, Kyungsoo released his arms around Jongin.

"He has been going to the building?" Kyungsoo asked in surprise. Jongin gave a small nod and replied, "Quite a few times this month." Kyungsoo had to talk to Sehun about that. He couldn't keep entering the building like it was nobody's business.

He knew that Sehun could be quite a hard nut to crack and not to mention, a major busybody, so it would be difficult to stop him from going. Kyungsoo pursed his lips, "Why has he been going there? No wonder I always don't see him our office." "I think he has been checking out people," Jongin snorted as he took another sip of tea, "Maybe your place ran out of good looking-"

Kyungsoo gave Jongin a whack on the shoulder and he winced, "Okay okay. But please, go talk to him. The ladies in the building are beginning to be interested in him. I don't need fawning girls in there."

Seeing Sehun was one thing. Seeing Baekhyun was another. All his life, he had only scorned him. Kyungsoo hadn't been at home since the wedding so he didn't really meet Baekhyun. If Baekhyun never hated him since the start, he would have surely hated him after what he did. Kyungsoo had taken away Jongin, the only hope of leaving the house.

If only Kyungsoo didn't hate Baekhyun so much. Even if he apologised right now, what difference would it make? Everything had past and meeting Baekhyun was inevitable. He might as well return home now and get everything over and done with.

An hour later, Kyungsoo reached the front gate of his old house. Touching the wooden gate, he could still see the childish carvings he, Sehun and Baekhyun had carved there once upon a time when they did not feel that much dislike for each other. The house itself was in a worse state than when he left. Ivy was beginning to grow down the stained walls of the exterior and it gave a lonely aura of abandonment.

Just as he was punching in the passcode at the gate, he heard Sehun's voice behind him, "Don't bother. We've changed the password about a hundred times since you left." Kyungsoo turned around to see Sehun standing behind him with his usual bored look. He had only met Sehun about a week ago and he had already changed his hair color from blonde to a chestnut brown.

"Let me do it," Sehun said as Kyungsoo stepped aside and let him enter the passcode. Kyungsoo peered over Sehun's shoulder to see what the passcode was. He asked blandly with interest, "1430?" Sehun shrugged in reply as the gate beeped and he pushed it open, "Don't ask how Mum gets all these numbers. The one before this was 5200 and the one before that was 2086."

Kyungsoo trudged after Sehun up the pavement while commenting, "You know, those numbers all represent love." He saw Sehun freeze for a fraction of a minute before he continued walking. An amusing idea popped into Kyungsoo mind.

"Sehun ah, has Mum been asking you to find someone?" Kyungsoo asked. They reached the porch and he noticed that Sehun had gone all red. "She's bonkers. You of all people should know I can't-"

"You can always start again. Come on, Soojin was such a long time ago!" Kyungsoo complained. The door unlocked and Sehun said, "Home sweet home." Nothing changed.

Except there was a new table beside the sofa set and as far as Kyungsoo could see, there were dress designs drawn on different sheets of paper. Different material booklets also littered the surface. "Don't touch those-" Sehun tried to warn but Kyungsoo had already snatched up a stack and began sifting through them.

He asked with genuine interest, "You drew all these? Why don't you bring them to the office? The new line is coming up." Sehun's face turned a shade redder and he replied, "I don't think they're good enough." Kyungsoo turned around in surprise as he held up one design.

"What do you mean they're not good enough? Sehun, this is the best work I've seen you do in my entire life."

"They're still not good enough."

If it was possible for the younger's face to turn redder, it sure did. Sehun turned and walked away, mumbling to himself. "Yah! And stop going to the building!" Kyungsoo stared after his brother in astonishment after shouting. Sehun was acting really weird. He then put down the pieces of paper back onto the table.

A series of footsteps coming down the staircase made Kyungsoo turned his head. It was Baekhyun.

Baekhyun had grown a few centimeters taller but his angelic features barely changed. But it looked like this angel had lost his wings. Looking at Kyungsoo, Baekhyun had no trace of a smile. He wore a shirt from one of their previous lines and a pair of cargo pants. They looked new. Then he noticed that Baekhyun was carrying a parcel wrapped elegantly with their brand logo etched on it. 

They stared at each other in a stinging silence. Kyungsoo's heart beat fast. He waited for Baekhyun to lash out. But he didn't. Instead, Baekhyun shook his head solemnly and he dashed down the remaining steps before unlocking the door and walking out.

Kyungsoo understood. If they both kept it neutral, there was nothing to worry about. But what surprised him was that Baekhyun was allowed to go out. He was always locked up in the house. 

Sighing heavily, Kyungsoo made his way up the steps to his mother's room. He paused in front of her door and knocked. "Come in."

Kyungsoo pushed the door open and said, "Mum." His mother was sitting at her work table, sketching out designs. Mannequins were strewn across the room with pieces of fabric hanging on them haphazardly. A smile broke onto her face as she stood up and dropped her pencil. "Kyungsoo!" she cried before dashing over and squashing him with a hug.

She planted a kiss on his forehead and said in a pleased voice, "You've grown. Jongin must be treating you well." At that, Kyungsoo's stomach did a flip. His mother must have seen the look on his face. Her smile disappeared and she asked worriedly, "Is there something wrong?"

He in a deep breath and forced a smile, "Nothing, Mum. But why is Baekhyun going out?"

His mother let go of him and sauntered back to the table. Kyungsoo suddenly noticed the fine white hairs growing on her head. She told him, "He's delivering a dress to a family who just came back from the US. They've paid me quite a huge sum for that. Anyway, I think it's time we losen up on Baekhyun."

------

Baekhyun didn't blame Kyungsoo. A few years ago, he realised what Sehun said was correct. Love is not permanament. At least for him.

Love used to be everything in his life. His father and mother, neighbours and friends. Now, he was sour. All the love disappeared in a matter of seconds. His mother was gone. His father was gone. His friends were gone. His life was gone.

Love is a backstabbing thing. He know understood why Sehun never believed in it. It was his fault in the first place to think that Jongin and him had feelings for each other. Baekhyun laughed dryly to himself as he cycled down the street.

If it was real love, he would still be longing for Jongin. But no, he was longing for himself more. Byun Baekhyun had died along with his father. He made a choice to never talk again. What is the use of talking if everyone you see does nothing but scorn you? 

He was tired. He was drained. He considered suicide once, but something stopped him.

Placing one hand on the handle of the bicycle, Baekhyun felt his pocket unconsciously for the little metal box. Then he halted the bicycle and took it out. It wasn't much. The once gleaming coat of silver was stained with layers of dirt and it's intricate engravings could be seen no more.

Baekhyun took hold of the tiny handle at the side and spun it gently. A lovely melody, as clear as when he heard it for the first time came out from it. It was hopeful, and he immediately felt better. The melody reminded him that there were still things worth living for out there. Music.

The piano he and his father used to play on was discarded by his step-mother once he had passed away. The only form of delight in his life was gone. But one day when he was sitting by the lake during winter, thinking whether he should jump inside and cease to exist, a boy, about his age passed by and sat beside him.

"I'll miss this place," the boy first said. Baekhyun still remembered his squeaky voice, having not passed puberty yet. "Why?" Baekhyun had asked.

"My family's migrating tomorrow. My friends are all here."

"Forget about them."

"I can't."

Silence.

"T-Then... Think of what you like and take it with you."

"What do you like?"

Silence.

"Music."

"Me too. Hey, let me give you something."

"A music box? Why are you giving me this?"

"Because there are still good things out there. Music is one of them. Jumping into there isn't going to help you."

Baekhyun never saw that boy again. He was fifteen at that time. He lived by four years with the boy's words in his mind, and of course, the little music box. He tucked it away in his pocket once the song ended and continued cycling.

It wasn't very often that his step-mother let him out of the house. So, Baekhyun tried to take in everything. The market place, the children, the food, almost everything. He wondered when he would be one of those people in the streets, living a normal life.

Soon, he entered a quiet neighbourhood very much like his. Baekhyun checked the address once in a while as he cycled. #20, #21, #22, #23, #24-

Baekhyun stopped in front of a single storey house. It wasn't as fancy as the houses around it. It looked pretty out of place with it's large garden and wooden exterior, almost like a holiday cabin. Baekhyun thought that it was quite cozy looking.

He rang the doorbell and a lady a few years older than him popped her head out of the door. She caught sight of the package in Baekhyun's arms and grinned. The wrought iron gates opened slowly and the lady gestured for him to enter.

Baekhyun walked towards the lady nervously. She looked friendly enough though. 

"Go in a have a seat while I go take the cheque," she told him as she held open the door for him. Baekhyun tried not to show his surprise when she did that. He gulped and nodded as he entered, dusting his feet. 

The interior was as cozy as the exterior. Colourful bean bags dotted the large living area and potted plants were placed around it. He looked around for the lady but she had already gone to take the money.

Baekhyun carefully scanned the surroundings, cradling the package in his arms. Then he saw the grand piano, sitting almost magically in the evening sun.

Excitement bubbled up in him as he walked towards it. Could he play it? He then looked around for the lady but there was still no sign of her. Baekhyun placed the package on his lap as he sat down on the bench. His fingers trembled as they felt across the polished keys.

Memories of the songs he used to play flooded his mind and Baekhyun pressed down a key, another, followed by another. He slowly added his left hand and his heart swelled with a happiness he never felt for a long time.

The lyrics of the song rang in his mind as he played the melody.

I returned to that day, unknowingly, carelessly
History repeated itself in my moment of folly
The perfect you actually appeared in my world
You never liked to repeat yourself
But that night on Valentine's Day
You gave me your cherished necklace
And repeatedly declared your love for me
I was confused that night
And didn't understand why you were crying
But eventually, I understood
 

I want to freeze that moment in time
Freeze the day that I met you
Freeze the love between us
Freeze that short moment in time when I kissed you

Baekhyun played as the melody both rang out from the piano and his heart. When he ended, the lady said behind him, "That was beautiful!" Baekhyun almost toppled the chair in his rush to stand up.

He felt his cheeks burn slightly when the lady stared at him. "You know," she said thoughtfully, "My younger brother also likes that song." Baekhyun nodded and took the parcel from the top of the piano and handed it to the lady.

After receiving the cheque, she ushered Baekhyun out of the house with a smile. "Tell Mrs Do that the dress is very beautiful," she said. 

Baekhyun was halfway back home when he realised his pocket felt light. Oh no. He immediately halted and searched his pockets in panic. His heart felt like it was being ripped and tears threatened to fall. Baekhyun grasped the handles of the bicycle as he choked back a sob.

He lost it. It was gone.