Luhan never planned to spend half his Saturday locked in a car, squeezed beside the two lovebirds, but it seemed this was how it was going to be, thanks to Minseok, who felt a picnic would be perfect for the group as a 'bonding activity'. Meanwhile, Jongin had gone ahead and selected a place that seemed to exist in another country entirely. This is a nightmare, he thought, as two different conversations mingled into one another, becoming gibberish to his ears. Yet another pothole sent him flying, and he bored holes into the back of Jongin's head with his glare, who carried on driving whilst chatting amicably with Sehun over god-knows-what.

He groaned lowly, sinking into his seat. "When will we get there?" he whined, covering his eyes, but not before shooting a glare at the couple beside him, practically cuddling in the tiny space.

"Enjoy the ride, Lu! It's half the fun!" Jongin chimed from the driver's seat, followed by a chuckle from Sehun.

Resisiting the urge to snap their necks, he slid back into his seat. Really, what else could he do?

Things had gone back to normal quite effortlessly after that fateful trip, and while questions still swam in his mind, Luhan had learnt to keep them right there in his mind. 
A lot had gone into getting Sehun to finally talk like friend to him - he wouldn't dare risk it again. Sehun was a lot more different now, and it was pleasant to know that he had a part to play in this. He felt a slight tug in his chest whenever Sehun shot his slight smile at him, it sent all his snarky remarks flying out the window. And as desperately as he tried, he could never control it. So, he simply chose to ignore it. 
Perhaps he won't ever admit this, but in some way, Sehun too had changed him, made him happier. The pain and anger that had sat like a tight fist in his stomach wasn't as heavy as it had been. He woke up with a soft smile, and while he still was the dramatic and snarky Luhan, things were...different. 
The good different.

This strange boy had turned his life upside down ever since he first talked to him, and now he was sitting at an arm's length, staring at him.
Wait.

He jumped back, and a small smile came over Sehun's face in amusement. "We're there." he told him, and he looked around, noticing how everyone was smiling teasingly. With heated cheeks, he scowled, opening the car door hurriedly and stepping out, leaving everyone chuckling at his embarrassment.

×-×-×    

Lush, green grounds as far as eyes could see, melting into the bright blue horizon - it looked almost like the default Windows desktop background, except it was dotted by a few groups of people here and there. Just the right amount of populousness. The sun overhead wasn't as menacing, and a soft, pleasant breeze blew Luhan's hair in gentle waves. The soft sunlight illuminated the honey curls, and as he sat on the grass with a slight smile, his eyes shut, Sehun looked on. Of course, when asked, he'd deny it completely with an eyeroll, but alone, he was quite discreetly observing Luhan. He couldn't help but notice how innocent he looked, sprawled out on the lawn, face smiling and serene. He wondered if he'd been raised somewhere like this. The countryside perhaps? A little Luhan struck him as rather unimaginable. He tried to think of a tiny boy, painting his way into adulthood. He wondered if she still had a fringe or braces. Tiny Lu, running around with paint on his hands and swearing at people with a braces-induced lisp. The corners of his lips curled up into a