Hyunseung needed to get out.

 

It would be another half an hour before his parents woke up for the day.

 

He normally got out of the house at least an hour before they did but today, his alarm clock had unfortunately run out of battery and he had woken up instead to the backup alarm on his phone.

 

To top it all off, Hyunseung needed some coffee real bad.

 

It was one thing to be working part-time while studying but having rehearsals and having to sneak out in the mornings was a whole different thing altogether.

 

He grabbed the portable speakers from his desk and slowly pushed open the door, flinching involuntarily at the creaking sounds it made. A quick glance around revealed the living room--kitchen to be empty. The door to his parents’ room was thankfully, still closed.

 

The orange-haired boy heaved a silent sigh of relief.

 

He closed his bedroom door behind him and made his way across the space, carefully avoiding the table in the center.

 

His family wasn’t that well off as compared to some others, evidenced by the fact that the kitchen, living room and the eating area was one and the same. The entire house was probably the size of one of the servant’s rooms in Doojoon’s mansion, judging from Yoseob’s stories.

 

Hyunseung slipped his feet one by one into the well-worn pair of white dunks. Just a little bit more and he would soon be out the door into freedom.

 

“Hyunseung?”

 

Damn.

 

He straightened up and turned around slowly.

 

The silhouette of a much shorter woman approached, her seemingly expressionless face came into view as she neared.

 

“School doesn’t start this early, does it?” Her voice remained as quiet as before.

 

Just his luck for his mother to wake up earlier today.

 

“Going out to get breakfast first.”

 

“So now that you have a bit more money, you can’t eat with the family anymore?”

 

Hyunseung willed himself not to look away.

 

“It’s not that,” he kept his voice steady. “I have projects to do.”

 

Her gaze flicked down to the speakers in his hand.

 

“I guess you won’t be coming home early again today.”

 

It was more of a statement than a question.

 

“We don’t even know what you’re doing in school.”

 

Hyunseung wished he could dash out the door right that very moment.

 

“My grades are fine.”

 

“Are you still dancing?”

 

Hyunseung froze.

 

She looked him in the eye pointedly.

 

“It’s not that hard to figure out. You’ve been keeping the same routine as last time.”

 

He stayed silent.

 

“You know very well what your father thinks of it.”

 

Oh, he knew alright.

 

He remembered the face of disappointment and displeasure when his father had found out that Hyunseung had taken a liking to dance. Even more so when he had started hanging out at a dance school and joining competitions together with the people he had met there. It wasn’t a ‘proper’ profession or career as his father had put it.

 

There was a reason why he didn’t tell his parents that the university he had applied for had a strong performing arts niche. They assumed he was majoring solely in business though he left out the part that it was arts management. Academically, that was the closest he got to his dream.

 

“See you later, Mother,” Hyunseung whispered softly as he turned his back and stepped out.

 

He couldn’t bear it.

 

Every time he walked past the dance studios in school, he fought to keep from looking in. They were reserved solely for the use of the students majoring in dance and music.

 

Students like Junhyung and Yoseob. Who were fortunate enough to have their parents supporting them in what they wanted to do. They didn’t have to lie to their parents. They didn’t have to lug textbooks to school for a subject they weren’t interested in studying.

 

Sometimes, he just wished that he could be just like them for once.

 

His grip on the speakers tightened.

 

It seemed so impossible.

 

---

 

Among Joon’s cohort, he was known for being an idiot.

 

Among the teachers, he was known for being a charming idiot.

 

So it was no surprise (through first hand experience and through peer pressure) that the juniors thought that Joon was simply an attractive boy who unfortunately happened to be an idiot.

 

What Dongwoon would like to know was why he was with Mir on a study session that just happened to be exactly where Joon was working on assignments as well. And how they were sitting just three tables away at a convenient spot behind a pillar.

 

“Mir, you’re an idiot,” Dongwoon knew he was stating the obvious but sometimes the obvious had to be stated.

 

His friend’s look of horror did nothing to change his decision.

 

“B-but why?”

 

“Because,” Dongwoon pointed at Mir. “Only someone like you could end up having a crush on someone like him.”

 

“There’s Seungho-hyung,” Mir shot back. “Though… That isn’t really confirmed. Anyway Joon-hyung has girls liking him too!”

 

“But he isn’t interested in them at all.”

 

Mir paused as he thought about it. “That’s… True.”

 

“Fine,” the other pouted. “So I like an idiot. I’m an idiot for liking an idiot. And Seungho-hyung’s an idiot too.”

 

Dongwoon nodded, finally satisfied at proving his point to some extent.

 

“What about you?”

 

Dongwoon scribbled his answer to the math problem down on the paper before looking up.

 

“What about me?”

 

Mir had already shoved his books to the side of the table, his pretense of studying already ditched a long time ago.

 

“Come on, Woonie,” he leaned forward with a grin, much like an excited puppy. “No need to act like that. You know what I’m talking about.”

 

“No, I don’t?”

 

Mir placed his palm down with a thud, covering the page that Dongwoon was working on.

 

“Lee Kikwang.”

 

Oh.

 

Dongwoon forced himself to look at his friend calmly. If he looked away, it would be highly suspicious after all. Not that it helped the fact that his spirits soared at the mention of Kikwang’s name. “What about him?”

 

“You like-like him don’t you?”

 

Dongwoon’s heart nearly jumped out of his throat. Certainly he did not like-like his hyung. So there was no reason for him to be behaving like this.

 

“No, I don’t like-like him,” he insisted.

 

The look of disbelief that Mir gave him at that moment reminded him of the one Dongwoon gave the shorter boy earlier when Mir proudly announced that he was going to study.

 

“Yes, you do.”

 

“No, I don’t.”

 

Dongwoon frowned and added. “I only like him as a hyung.”

 

Mir shook his head, with an exasperated sigh. (A little too dramatically, in Dongwoon’s opinion but that was the downside of hanging out too much with Kibum.) He had the smug look of someone who knew something that the other didn’t.

 

“What’s the first thing you do when you’re awake?”

 

“What?” The blond blinked. “How is this relevant?”

 

“Just answer the question.”

 

“Fine,” Dongwoon thought back to this morning. “Wash up? And er… Reply hyung’s message?”

 

“History this morning, you were messaging someone,” Mir continued.

 

“Are you stalking me now, Mir?”

 

Dongwoon couldn’t help but recall Kikwang’s message in the morning about a cute puppy he saw while leaving his house.

 

“And then you run off immediately after school,” the other ignored him. “Smile to yourself during lunch, then excuse yourself to call somebody….”

 

Yes, come to think of it. Dongwoon had been going to the café a lot and the only reason why he had agreed to accompany Mir today was because Kikwang had some stuff to do so he didn’t go to the café.

 

And oh, the phone calls. Right. He supposed that he had been talking to him more frequently. He couldn’t help it though. Kikwang really was an interesting person to talk to…

 

But yes, Dongwoon could see where this was going.

 

Not that he wanted to admit it.

 

There was a sharp movement as Mir grabbed his phone and dangled it just out of reach.

 

“I bet if I looked through the caller list and the inbox, I would find my answer~”

 

The other male was exceptionally proud of himself for finally one-upping Dongwoon, which the latter thought was quite sad.

 

The taller blond gave Mir his most threatening look.

 

“Return me my phone,” Dongwoon stated calmly. “Or I’ll go over and tell Joon-hyung everything you’ve said about him.”

 

Mir paled. “Wait, no. You wouldn’t.

 

Dongwoon shifted his chair back and slowly stood up, causing his best friend to panic and flail.

 

“Okay okay! You can have it back,” Mir threw the phone back at him lightly, upset that his moment of glory only lasted less than three minutes.

 

“But I’m sure you get my point. You’re acting…” He paused for the lack of a good example. “Like me.”

 

Now, to be reduced to the level of Mir after proving that he was an idiot, was something that Dongwoon did not want to admit. On the other hand, the evidence against his case was certainly piling up.

 

Fine. Maybe. Just maybe. Dongwoon like-liked his hyung.

 

But if that was true then…

 

Dongwoon facepalmed. “I’m dead.”

 

Mir patted him on the shoulder with an understanding nod, his gaze wandering over to where Joon was laughing with Seungho.

 

“Yup, we’re both dead.”

 

---

 

“Hyung~”

 

Kikwang smiled at the sound of the other’s voice over the phone as he adjusted the grocery bags in his other hand.

 

“What’s up Dongwoon?”

 

“Nothing much…. Just felt like calling. By the way hyung, what time will you be heading home later?”

 

“Around nine or so?”

 

“Is it okay if I wait for you then?”

 

Kikwang was ok with this. More than okay in fact.

 

It was usually around this time that the door to the café would open and Dongwoon would walk in, either alone or with a few of his friends. But today Kikwang wasn’t in the café so he figured that he wouldn’t be seeing the younger male till the next day. This however, was a pleasant surprise.

 

“Sure,” he replied casually, not wanting to sound overly excited. “I’ll be dropping by the café first. I’ll see you there?”

 

“Alright, Mir here dragged me out on a study session which turned out to be a stalking session.”

 

Kikwang listened to Dongwoon tell him about his friend’s crush on this popular senior. He couldn’t help but wonder when was the last time he had one of those. It seemed like ages since he had been a student.

 

He hadn't been as close to any of his dongsaengs as he was now to this particular one which wasn't that bad a feeling he presumed.

 

Glancing up, Kikwang spotted a familiar figure walking out briskly from the gates ahead. That orange hair was unmistakable anywhere.

 

"Hyunseung?" He waved and made to go over when the expression on the other's face made him stop in his tracks.

 

There was a hard look in his eyes, frustration clearly written across his features. His usually calm demeanor was gone.

 

Hyunseung's head jerked up in surprise at the sight of Kikwang as he hesitated. Kikwang decided it was best to tell Dongwoon that he would call him back later.

 

"Hyunseung," Kikwang started again. "Is everything alright?"

 

Before he could offer any answer, another voice called out his name.

 

“Hyunseung!”

 

Kikwang noticed Hyunseung stiffen slightly at the voice as the other male, (Junhyung was it?) came running out of the building.

 

Without even bothering to glance back, Hyunseung walked off, leaving Junhyung to stare at his retreating figure.

 

Describing this situation as awkward was a slight understatement. Kikwang glanced back and forth from Junhyung to Hyunseung, who was already at the crossing up ahead, unsure of what to do.

 

“I’ll make sure he’s fine,” he muttered, probably too soft for Junhyung to catch but that wasn’t the main point at the moment.

 

It took a short sprint (and Kikwang thanked the fact that he bothered to keep fit) to catch up with Hyunseung’s long strides. He fell into step beside him, adjusting the bags he was carrying yet again. The only acknowledgement of his presence was a tilt of Hyunseung’s head as he continued to walk, though his pace slowed a little.

 

The next thirty minutes passed in utter silence. Kikwang supposed the obvious question to ask right now would be “what happened?” or “are you alright?” or something along those lines.

 

“I’m okay,” whispered the taller male, beating him to it. “Just… Had a bad day. Sorry.”

 

People said that Kikwang was a fool at times, but even he knew not to probe further in this situation. He simply nodded and reassured the other that it was alright.

 

“Where are you headed?” Hyunseung asked.

 

Kikwang could tell that he was making an effort to talk and so he obliged, not that he knew what else to do.

 

“I’m heading back to the café to put all these down first, then meeting Dongwoon on the way home.”

 

A faintly amused smile crossed Hyunseung’s lips upon hearing that. The first sign of positivity that Kikwang had seen since he had bumped into him just now.

 

“Oh, I see,” he nodded in understanding. “No surprise there.”

 

“Yeah,” Kikwang nodded in agreement as well. “A few times here and there.”

 

Wait.

 

Kikwang turned to Hyunseung, who appeared in a much better mood now that the topic had switched to something else. “What do you mean by ‘no surprise’?”

 

Hyunseung blinked, answering in a matter-of-fact tone. “It means what it means? That it’s totally expected, isn’t it? What do you think it means?”

 

Kikwang had to pause for a bit to sort out the reply he got, including all the ‘means’. Did Hyunseung just…

 

“I didn’t mean the definition…” He began, but upon seeing the seriously puzzled look on Hyunseung’s face, he gave up. “Oh never mind.”

 

Sometimes, talking with Hyunseung made him wonder just where on earth did the boy grow up in.

 

---

 

There was such a thing as ‘having a bad day’. Sure, everyone had those from time to time. Some unfortunate souls had them more often. They must have done something horrible like kill a puppy in their past life, Hyunseung presumed.

 

After that, there was ‘having a horrible-terrible-whatever-else-you-want-to-include day’. Thank goodness those didn’t happen too often. Those were the days that made you feel like killing something (but not puppies, cause that’s just cruelty). Stabbing stacks of paper were totally fine, as long as they were recycled later on.

 

Then, there was ‘having the worst day of your life’ where you wanted to just kill yourself. Based on the above rating, Hyunseung decided that the current situation fell somewhere in between ‘having a horrible-terrible-whatever-else-you-want-to-include day’ and ‘having the worst day of your life’.

 

If it wasn’t bad enough with the events earlier in the day, this must be the icing on the cake with a cherry on top as they called it. For Hyunseung to walk into the café and see the person, he least wanted to see.

 

Hyunseung attempted to tell himself it was a lie, a dream and he was just seeing things and it was just another person who happened to look like him. But no, it wasn’t.

 

There he was, bending over the table and talking agitatedly to the well-dressed man in the silver hair. His black hair was now bleached a pale blond and cut much shorter than last time. Multiple rings still adorned his fingers and ears. Even his fashion sense was the same, ever stylish and colourful.

 

“Look,” he slammed his hand on the table. “There’s no point in you drowning your sorrows here. She’s not going to come back and you’ve been missing for a few days already.”

 

Hyunseung merely watched the scene unfold in silence, not quite understanding what was going on but trying his best to stop the inner emotions that he had buried from surfacing. It was a good thing that Kikwang was talking to Dongwoon somewhere in the kitchen right now.

 

Perhaps he should walk over? Or run, yes, it was just a few steps back out the door. Hyunseung would’ve done one of the above if his feet weren’t magically rooted to the ground from shock.

 

“Fine,” he sighed in exasperation. “I’ll leave you for now. Call me when you get back home.”

 

He turned around to leave and stopped short.

 

Hyunseung was sure both their expressions mirrored each other’s.

 

“Hyunseung?”

 

“Jiyong-ah…”