He sighed as he bent down and fixed Hak-yeon’s scarf, the other too disorientated to do it himself. Hong-bin yawned next to him, rubbing his eyes, as he leaned his head on the elder’s shoulders. 

He knew they didn’t like being woken up early, but he had morning classes today and he had to make sure the two of them were dressed warmly before leaving. To save on gas bills he usually turned the heat off during the day, and if they were left alone would spend the whole day freezing. They were pretty good about keeping their clothes on, so he never had to worry too much once he left. 

He made sure the two of them had started eating before leaving, locking the door behind him. 

Normally a good student, he found it increasingly frustrating that he couldn’t pay attention throughout his classes, his thoughts mainly preoccupied with Hak-yeon. For years, he had watched the other boy wither away; eventually becoming the reclusive hermit he was now. He had watched him suffer for so long, suffering to the point he became completely dependent on Taek-woon. There had never been any change, so the fact that Hak-yeon had been so out-spoken last night worried him. 

Was he getting better? Worse? What if he hurt himself? He had never gotten to that point, but it was always something he worried about. Especially when Hong-bin was there to encourage every single thing he did. 

The day passed in a blur, the result being he probably would have been better off not coming at all. But he didn’t pay any attention to that, only wanting to get back home as soon as possible. He was barely off campus when he felt something hard connect with the back of his head. He whirled around, glaring down at…the shoe at his feet. He snapped his head up to try and find the one who threw it, eyes narrowing on one guy with only one shoe, waving cheekily. The guy hobbled over, ignoring him as he slipped his shoe back on. 

He pursed his lips as he impatiently waited, growing more and more agitated the longer the guy took. Finally he looked up at him, the same annoying smile on his face, snickering. “And hello to you too.” 

“Who-”

“How are Hak-yeon and Bin?” The words he had been preparing to snap were quickly lost as he stumbled, trying to figure out how he knew about the two. He didn’t recognize him, but then the only people who know about both Hak-yeon and Hong-bin had been the guys admitted to the hospital with them. He stared a little longer, trying to figure out which one of the guys he was, there were so many of them, when-

“Baek-hyun.”

The guy’s eyebrows raised in slight surprise before snorting. “That’s great you remember me. Now answer my question. How are they?” 

“They’re fine,” he said tersely, stepping away to leave. He needed to get home, to check on them, still worried about Hak-yeon’s recent behavior. But Baek-hyun didn’t seem intent on letting him go, a hand shooting out and yanking him back. He glared right back at the other, not about to show how his grip actually hurt. 

“I don’t think you understand,” he growled, stepping forward. He couldn’t help but think the other was amusing, trying to glare him down when he barely passed his chest. “Even though we didn’t want to, we let Hak-yeon and Bin go with you because it was something Hak-yeon wanted. That didn’t mean they cut off contact with us and you hide them away. You moved away without telling us, and I am this close to beating you to find them myself.”

He showed no reaction to the other’s words as his mind swirled, trying to process this new information. He didn’t realize Hak-yeon bad been that close with these guys; he had never made any attempt to call them. He wasn’t sure of their relationship with the two, but if Hak-yeon didn’t want to talk to them, he wasn’t going to give them anything.

“We moved for school.” 

Baek-hyun blinked, his grip loosening for a second before growing just as tight. “I ing threaten to kill you and that’s all you have to say?” He hummed in response, forcibly ripping his arm away. Baek-hyun’s face clouded. 

“Hey-”

“If Hak-yeon wants to talk to you, he’ll talk to you.” He didn’t wait for the other’s response as he crossed the street. He could hear him shouting his name, his shoe hitting him in the back, but he kept going until he could no longer hear him. 

He could barely hold back a gasp when he came home to see a pair of scissors in Hong-bin’s hand, half of Hak-yeon’s hair on the floor. The two blinked owlishly up at him, as if there was nothing wrong with the situation. He hurriedly ran over and pried the scissors from his hand, the other only letting out an indignant huff, and to get a better look at Hak-yeon’s hair. Parts of his hair stuck straight up while a few strands here and there hung limply at his shoulders. He groaned. 

Hak-yeon smiled, reaching out and patting Hong-bin’s hand gently. “Binnie wanted to cut my hair.”

“Mm.” He ran a hand through Hak-yeon’s hair, trying to figure the best way to fix it. He started cutting, Hong-bin whining behind him. It was silent for a while, the only sound being the scissors cutting, when Hak-yeon suddenly spoke up again, his voice choked with sobs.

“Thank you, Taek-woon.” 

He frowned in concern when the older sniffled, hurriedly pushing his thick bangs away to see tears running down his cheeks. He took in the flushed face and trembling lips, inwardly panicking. Hak-yeon never cried; in the many years he knew him, he never cried. “What’s wrong Hak-yeon?” he asked gently. Hak-yeon opened his mouth to answer when Hong-bin shoved Taek-woon aside, burying himself in the elder’s lap and wrapping his arms around his waist. Hak-yeon crushed the younger boy close to him, a hand wrapped around his head and his face buried in the other’s hair. 

He waited patiently for Hak-yeon to continue, watching as he heaved quietly, his knuckles turning white as his nails dug into Hong-bin’s skin. He wasn’t surprised, however, when Hak-yeon eventually did look up at him expectantly, the only evidence he had cried being his red eyes and dried tears. He sighed tiredly and continued cutting his hair, patiently pausing every time the two of them squirmed. 

Hong-bin demanded his hair cut too, insisting he had to because Hak-yeon did. He refused to move from Hak-yeon’s lap, however, so Taek-woon had to awkwardly work around the other. He had to frustratingly yank the boy still whenever he insisted on cuddling into Hak-yeon’s chest, earning him a glare from the younger boy. 

He was in the middle of cutting Hong-bin’s hair when he said gently, carefully, “Hak-yeon, do you know a Baek-hyun?” 

Hak-yeon immediately stiffened, jerking Hong-bin and causing Taek-woon to chop off a large chunk of hair. He treaded very carefully. “Hak-yeon?”

“I know,” was the whispered answer, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“Baek-hyun hyung?” Hong-bin piped up, his hands clasping over Hak-yeon’s. 

“Mm,” he hummed, grabbing Hong-bin’s head again to hold him still. “I saw him today.”

“What?” Hak-yeon snapped his head up to stare at him, eyes scrunched in confusion. “Why? What did he do to you?”

He blinked, surprised at his sudden viciousness. “He didn’t do anything. He asked about you.” 

“Don’t say anything,” he demanded, hand shooting out and closing tightly around his wrist. “Don’t tell him anything Taek-woon.” He paused for a second before nodding reassuringly.

“I won’t.” 

Baek-hyun was waiting for him outside his school gate, a couple other guys on either side of him. They glared at all the passersby, scoping out for him and scowling to themselves. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he walked up to them, the tall guy to Baek-hyun’s left glaring daggers at him. 

“You!”Baek-hyun snapped, jabbing a finger into his chest. “Did you think we would leave you alone?” 

“What do you want?” he asked tiredly. The tall guy suddenly stepped forward, pushing Baek-hyun behind him protectively. 

“Where are Hak-yeon and Bin?” he demanded, straightening as best he could to appear to glare down at him. He stared back, unfazed, and attempted to walk away. He hissed, beyond annoyed, when one of them grabbed his wrist. 

“I’m going to ask one last time. Where-”

“They don’t want to see you.” 

“Bull!” Baek-hyun nearly shrieked, jumping out and getting dangerously close again. “They would never-”

“They did.” He yanked his hand back, his wrist throbbing, and headed to class. He could see Baek-hyun attempted to charge at him out of the corner of his eye, the taller one reluctantly holding him back. 

Whispers went out around campus of the three boys stationed outside the front gate, his own name sprinkled here and there. He loathed the glances sent his way, it feeling too reminiscent to his high school days, and scowled when he saw them waiting for him on his way home. 

He made sure to go a different way. 

The two were cuddling on the sofa when he came home, Hong-bin asleep in Hak-yeon’s arms while the other his head. Hak-yeon made no movement when he closed the door, lost in his own world, until he passed by, his hand shooting out and pulling him back. He looked up at him with his listless eyes, his face stone cold as he whispered out, “Who did this to you, Taek-woonie?” 

He followed his line of sight down to his wrist where a large purple bruise had formed. He frowned. He didn’t think he grabbed him that hard. He gently pulled his hand away, attempting to hide the bruise, but that only made it worse. Hak-yeon rolled Hong-bin off his lap as he stood up, snatching his wrist and holding it up in front of him. 

“Did Baek-hyun do this to you?”

“Hak-yeon-”

“Did he?” Hak-yeon pressed, his voice growing more and more clipped. “Did they hurt you trying to find me?”

“It’s nothing,” he tried again, putting a hand over the other’s and gently pushing it off. Hak-yeon stared at his hand for a second, as if trying to figure out what he was doing, before glaring at him again. 

“If he’s hurting you to find me-”

“He’s not,” he cut in, hoping for once that Hak-yeon would get scared from his harsher tone and back off. He wasn’t sure why Hak-yeon was so afraid of Baek-hyun finding him; he didn’t find the other very intimidating despite all the threats he spewed at him. There wasn’t any threat. If Hak-yeon didn’t want them finding him, he wouldn’t let them. It was as simple as that. 

His hard tone surprisingly had the opposite effect, Hak-yeon’s face tightening and suddenly he was out of the room. Panicking at what could be going through his mind, he hurriedly followed after him, Hong-bin hot on his heels. He ran to see Hak-yeon fumbling with one of Taek-woon’s coats, the large piece of clothing draping off his thin frame, the sleeves billowing over his shaking fingers as he tried to do one of the buttons. 

He ran over and quickly grabbed the other’s hands, ignoring his frustrated yell. “What are you doing?” 

“I’m going to find him. I’m going to beat his for hurting you.” 

If it wasn’t for the situation, he would have been touched.

“Hak-yeon, you have no idea where he is.”

“I’ll find him.”

“Do you even know what to do when you go outside? You haven’t been outside since...” he trailed off, not wanting to bring up the last time he had been outside. Hak-yeon understood though, irritably pushing his hands off and finishing buttoning. Hak-yeon shoved him aside, hand reaching for the doorknob, when Hong-bin suddenly cried out, lunging and pulling Hak-yeon’s hand away. 

“Don’t go hyung!” he shouted, clinging desperately to his arm. “Don’t leave me hyung!” 

Hak-yeon’s determination vanished the moment he saw the tears on the other’s face, cupping his cheeks in his hands and cooing softly. “Shh, Binnie, I won’t leave you. I’ll never leave you.” 

“Don’t go,” Hong-bin rasped, his clumsy fingers picking at the buttons of Hak-yeon’s jacket. “Don’t leave Bin.” 

“I won’t leave you,” Hak-yeon repeated, using one hand to the younger boy’s head and the other to push Hong-bin’s fingers away. “But Baek-hyun hurt Taek-woon, and I-”

“Taek-woon hyung said he didn’t,” Bin snapped, squirming in his hold. “Don’t go outside...outside is scary. I don’t want to lose Hak-yeon hyung.” Hak-yeon faltered at that, his hands dropping to his side and allowing Hong-bin to rip the jacket off. Taek-woon grunted when Hong-bin chucked the coat to the floor, tugging Hak-yeon away back to the couch. By the time he hung the coat back up, the two were already cuddling again. 

But Hak-yeon wasn’t ready to let go of the matter. 

After putting the two of them to bed, he took a quick shower before heading to his room, quickly masking his surprise when he found Hak-yeon sitting on his bed. He cleared his throat as he hurried over to change, only a towel wrapped around his waist, feeling Hak-yeon’s eyes on him the entire time. He frowned when Hak-yeon only continued to stare at him, the fierceness in his stare from earlier already gone. 

“Is something wrong?” 

Hak-yeon fidgeted, his eyes glancing at the spot next to him, and he understood immediately, taking a seat next to him. “Hak-yeon-"

His mouth snapped shut when Hak-yeon silently took his hand in his own, his lithe fingers tracing Taek-woon’s. He watched as Hak-yeon slowly traced down his palm, moving to his bruised wrist. Knowing what the other was doing, he tried to yank his hand away but Hak-yeon held onto him viciously, the tight grip nearly crushing him. “Does it hurt?” Hak-yeon asked gently, his touch suddenly so gentle it almost tickled. He shook his head and Hak-yeon breathed out softly, rubbing circles over his skin with his thumb.

“If anything ever hurts, let me know. Don’t hide anything from me Taek-woonie.” He gasped in surprise when Hak-yeon stood up and abruptly pushed him down, his hands harsh. Hak-yeon grabbed a pillow and forcibly shoved it under Taek-woon’s head, slapping the blanket over him. While he winced every time Hak-yeon unwittingly smacked and slapped him, he noted grimly that he was mimicking how Taek-woon would tuck the two of them to bed every night. 

He forgot all that though when Hak-yeon quietly climbed into bed next to him, pressing his body up against his own. He made sure not to make any sudden movements, letting Hak-yeon take his time settling, the bed sheets rustling every time the elder tossed and turned. Finally Hak-yeon stopped moving, his arms reaching over and wrapping around Taek-woon’s waist, his fingers intertwining over his stomach. He was acutely aware of Hak-yeon’s warm breath on his back, his forehead pressing gently into the nape of his neck; he held back every instinct to roll over and hug him only because he knew it would scare the other. 

So instead, he relished in the feeling of Hak-yeon’s body melded into his own. They were never able to spend much time together, the latter nearly always having Hong-bin attached to the side, and Hong-bin hated sharing. It was strange that Hak-yeon willingly left Hong-bin by himself, something he never does, and he wondered if Hong-bin knew. 

He found out three hours later, when the apartment was filled with ear-piercing screams and Hak-yeon shot off to the other bedroom to soothe the terrified boy. 

--

“Hyukkie!” A large, embarrassed smile broke out on Sang-hyuk’s face when Saet-byul called out his name, waving excitedly. He shook off the snow in his hair as he glanced around the small café, noting that it was completely empty save for a couple talking mutely in the corner. But he kept the smile on his face as he walked up to the counter, focusing on how wide Saet-byul’s grin was as she leaned over the counter, her newly dyed hair flowing down her shoulders. “Did you come to see me on my first day?” 

“Of course!” he laughed, reaching over and ruffling her hair. He could feel her stiffen slightly under his touch and he quickly pulled away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She was still smiling though, pushing her hair back behind her ears and flashing him her teeth. 

“Would you like to order something?”

“Just my regular.”

It was quiet as she made his coffee, the place eerily silent. He watched out of the corner of his eyes as the couple got up and left. He wasn’t sure if he liked this place; it was out of the way and near the bad part of the city. Not only that but the place was so empty and seemed to be doing bad –there had to be better places she could be working at. 

“Here you go!” she shouted cheerfully, shoving his cappuccino into his hands. 

“Thank you!” he replied back just as cheerfully, taking the hot cup and taking a sip. The moment the drink hit his tongue he gagged at the taste, coughing into his hand. Saet-byul was quick to react, hurriedly shoving napkins into his hands. 

“I’m sorry,” she gushed. “I haven’t made a cappuccino before so I tried to follow the instructions and-”

“It’s fine,” he wheezed out, smacking his lips as he tried fruitlessly to get rid of the awful taste in his mouth. She continued to apologize to him until he agreed to let her make him a new cup. He sat down at the table nearest the counter, sending her a reassuring smile. It didn’t work; she was completely focused as she attempted to make the perfect coffee. 

He was in the middle of checking his phone when someone sat in the chair opposite of him; he looked up to see Saet-byul holding his coffee. “Here Hyukkie,” she said quietly, handing the cup over carefully. She watched him silently as he took a sip, her eyes focused on the cup, and her whole face lit up when he sighed contently. “It’s perfect,” he praised, this time much more prepared in hiding how bad it tasted. 

“Really?” she asked in relief, clapping her hands together. “I was worried I would mess it up again.” 

“It’s much better this time,” he reassured, forcing himself to take another sip. She squealed in delight as she quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of him. He watched sadly as she hurriedly checked the picture, humming happily. 

She had developed the habit of taking pictures of everything, all with the mindset of showing them to Woo-jin. While he wasn’t sure what exactly happened between the two, he did know that Woo-jin had abandoned Saet-byul. He had watched her fall apart, clinging desperately onto anything that reminded her of him, crying, suffering; which was why he was determined to help her forget him. She glanced up from her phone, a phone that he had made sure to replace the one Woo-jin originally bought her, to see him staring at her. Her bright smile faded as she dropped her phone into her lap, guilty. She knew he didn’t like her taking pictures. 

“You know he’s never going to see them,” he said softly, reprimanding, and her lips pursed, her shoulders shaking. 

“He will,” she said weakly, stubbornly. “One day I’ll see him again and I’ll show him all my pictures.”

“Saet-byul, he’s not coming back. It’s been five years already.” Tears were running down her cheeks by now, and he sighed. He hadn’t come here to make her cry. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry. You just need to forget about him. It’s not good to wait like this.” 

“I-I know,” she hiccupped, her fingers absentmindedly running over her phone screen. “I’ll try…it’s just…I really miss him. N was so special to me, and sometimes I imagine waking up and he’s there again. That he never left me.” She grabbed a couple of the napkins she brought him, wiping her cheeks and drying her eyes. “I need to stop crying,” she wheezed, trying her best to appear okay. “My boss is going to think I’m always crying.” 

“You’ll get over him,” he promised and she looked up at him in confusion. “I’ll help you forget him.” 

“How can I?” she asked skeptically. “No one’s arms will ever be as warm as his, no one will make me feel as safe and warm as he did. How can I forget that?” 

“You need to find someone new. As long as you stay to yourself and only remember him, you’ll never forget him.” He suddenly straightened in his seat, shoulders pushed back to puff out his chest. “If you really want, I could-”

“Where’s my little star?” Both their heads snapped to the door at the loud voice that seemed so out of place in the quiet store, a deep scowl growing on his face. 

“Jae-hwan!” Saet-byul cried out excitedly, shoving her phone back in her pocket as she shot up from her seat, running over to greet the older boy. Sang-hyuk couldn’t help but be a little disappointed that his big moment had been cut off, his shoulders drooping. Saet-byul was completely ignorant to his depressed state, instead bouncing with anticipation as Jae-hwan took a sweeping view of the place. 

“So is this the place my little star is working at?” he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and affectionately pulling her head into his side. Sang-hyuk noticed how Saet-byul squirmed at the touch, trying her best to smile despite feeling uncomfortable. If it was anyone else touching her he would have already been up and shoving them away, but Jae-hwan was an exception. Like him, Jae-hwan didn’t know the details of what happened, only knowing that she needed some sort of comfort. 

That was the only thing Sang-hyuk acknowledged Jae-hwan to be better at than him. 

“Y-yes,” Saet-byul stuttered out, pushing Jae-hwan’s big hand away so she could point to the counter. “I make people their coffee.” 

“Is it any good?” Jae-hwan asked, looking right over her head to Sang-hyuk, his whole face scrunching up when Sang-hyuk shook his head frantically. Saet-byul missed the exchange, breaking away and running over to the counter. 

“Yes! I messed up my first cup but Hyukkie said the second one was much better. Would you like anything to drink?” 

Like him, Jae-hwan was unable to tell her no, in the end ordering the same thing he did. He couldn’t help but splutter a laugh at the face he made after his first sip. 

“Does it taste good?” she asked.

“I-it’s…good,” he eventually muttered out, rubbing his large nose as he sniffed, the taste obviously getting to him. But his lie made her extremely happy, the idea that just a few minutes ago she was crying nearly laughable. 

“Sit down,” she offered, running around the counter to lead them back to the table they were sitting at earlier. “I have to clean up the counter really quick, but since it’s not very busy today, I can sit with you until someone else comes.” She sent them both bright smiles before running off, leaving them to sit in awkward silence with two cups of cooling coffee in between them. 

Both of them ignored their coffee, neither knowing what to say when Saet-byul wasn’t with them. Eventually Jae-hwan did speak up, his fingers picking at the napkin dispenser on the table. “So, how are you today Hyukkie?” 

Sang-hyuk scowled again, shoving his hands into his pockets and glaring back at Jae-hwan’s wide smile. “Don’t call me that.” 

“Ooh, is that reserved only for Saet-byul?” The -eating grin grew even bigger, him wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. He bit back a growl as he kicked him in the shin.

“No, I just don’t want you saying it.” 

“I’m hurt! Here your hyung is asking how you’re doing and all you do is kick him. I’m hurt Hyukkie, so hurt!” 

“Shut up and just drink your coffee!”

“Only if you drink first!” Sang-hyuk’s mouth snapped shut as he hurriedly looked out the window, not wanting to be called on his bluff. He really didn’t want to drink that coffee again. Still laughing, Jae-hwan leaned in conspiringly, a hand cupped over his mouth as if he didn’t want anyone in the empty café to hear. “So…did you ask Saet-byul out yet?”

“W-what?” he spluttered, his face beat red as he felt his heart race. Jae-hwan burst out laughing, falling back into his chair. 

“Come on, you’re so obvious only someone like Saet-byul wouldn’t be able to notice. You need to just get over yourself before someone else asks.” Sang-hyuk sighed, knowing that Jae-hwan, as big of a pain in the that he was, was right. He stole a glance over to Saet-byul who was organizing the counter, catching her eye and blanching when she waved prettily at him. He hurriedly looked away. “See? You’re going to lose her if you keep acting like a scaredy-cat.” 

“I can’t,” he snapped back, straightening in his chair. “She’s still so hung up on Woo-jin sunbae that she’ll never look at me.” 

The mention of Woo-jin’s name wiped the smirk right off the other’s face, suddenly becoming much mellower. “You know, I really thought he was her brother that whole time. To think he was just some random guy that lived with her-”

“Who are you talking about?”

Both bit back high-pitched squeals when Saet-byul appeared behind Jae-hwan’s back, her bright face looking back and forth between the two of them curiously. Jae-hwan was able to cover his shock quicker than Sang-hyuk, and he distracted her by taking her hand and guiding her to sit down. It worked; she honed in on his hand and quickly pulled away when she sat down, rubbing her hand as if trying to wipe away his touch. 

“I was just telling Sang-hyuk that he should just confess.” Sang-hyuk’s eyes nearly burst out of their sockets, motioning with his eyes to the other that he would kill him if he continued talking. Saet-byul didn’t react for a few seconds before she silently turned to him, eyes questioning. 

“You like someone Hyukkie?” she asked, and if he didn’t know her as well as he did, he would have missed the playful tone in her voice. 

“N-no! Jae-hwan hyung is just being dumb! Don’t listen to him!”

“I’m serious,” Jae-hwan insisted, scooting closer to her. “He’s just scared she’s going to say no and cry. Help me convince him!” 

She was giggling now, his face burning, as she leaned towards him, her smile wide across her face. “Is she pretty?”

“She’s very, very pretty,” Jae-hwan cut in helpfully, earning himself another glare from Sang-hyuk. 

“Really? Is she nice?”

“Yes!” 

“Stop it hyung!” Sang-hyuk whined, glancing to Saet-byul to see if she had figured it out or not. She didn’t seem to, luckily, instead only looking at him supportively. 

“Don’t be embarrassed Hyukkie, if you like her you should ask her. You’re smart and very nice, I’m sure she’ll say yes.” 

“But she might like someone else,” Sang-hyuk muttered quietly, hurriedly taking a big chug of coffee to hide how embarrassed he was, and just as quickly regretting it when he tasted the awful drink. Saet-byul nodded understandingly, her lower lip stuck out slightly in thought. 

“It still won’t hurt to ask,” she said thoughtfully, and he glanced up at her from under his fringe. “When I was with N, even though I knew he didn’t love me, I always told him how much I loved him. Even though it hurt, I was happy to tell him. I would rather him know at least how I felt than to never know.”

That took the wind right out of his sails and he slumped back into his seat, Jae-hwan burying his face into his hands, ignoring how Saet-byul asked confusedly what was wrong. 

He really hated Woo-jin.

Hello!

I just finished my classes, so I was finally able to find some time to write. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to respond to everyone's comments, but I want to say that I'm extremely thankful to how many people subscribed and commented last chapter. Thank you so much!