July 1

8:45 pm

"That composition was for your finals?" Kevin asked. They were both in Kevin's room. The curtains were drawn open to let the night breeze in.

"Yeah, Jinxi hyung helped me find inspiration," Minyook said while he laid on the single bed, playing with the string hanging under the little table lamp on the side table.

"Oh, so it's Jinxi hyung," Kevin choked out a reply. He felt stuffy even with the fan at full speed. The light blinked on and off, illuminating Minyook's face, which was forlorn with ethereal longing.

He turned his chair to face the sketchbook that was spread across his table. The table was messy with charcoal stains all over, the single sheet of paper sticking out of the sketchbook laughed at him with malice.

"Yeah, he was the one who asked me to follow my intuition." Minyook stopped playing with the string, "Think of something that matters the most to you and let it take over."

Kevin's eye flashed to the mirror on the table, casting a glance at Minyook, who was now sitting straight and was looking out of the window, "I see. Whatever mattered to you the most, it must have been very special and beautiful."

"Are you not going to ask me what matters to me the most?" Minyook finally saw Kevin. His gaze, sharp and insisting. Like his look alone could imprison Kevin for all of eternity.

"Should I?" Kevin took out the piece of paper from between the sketchbook and looked at the only colorful piece he ever painted, each brushstroke, no longer familiar, no longer his. He wished to postpone that question for as long as he

could.

"It was us, Kevin," Minyook said, curling into himself, he closed his eyes and questioned himself several times.

Was this worth it? Was their friendship worth the leap of faith he took? Was it worth the mistake? But he couldn't stop. If he did, will he ever move?

'Kevin had already figured it out. He would avoid him anyway, so it was not wrong in going all out,' Minyook thought, he took several deep shakey breaths, totally incapable of Kevin's sorry state as he came to terms with what he heard just now before standing up.

"Good night, Kevin," Minyook said while he moved to take his phone that was thrown on the couch.

"Minyook!" Kevin called with urgency, hugging the sheet of paper tight.

He sprang up to stop Minyook from leaving and inched closer to Minyook. It felt like any sudden movement would disrupt this wonderful dream he was having. His palm felt sweaty and clammy, he could hear his heartbeat loud in his ears.

He didn't want Minyook to leave, ever again.

Kevin moved closer, eyes bright and wide, trying to take in all of Minyook and imprint it into his consciousness. So that if at all he woke up, he would live his life peacefully with this memory.

He handed Minyook the painting. The one with Minyook standing under the streetlight, looking at his phone. The scarf was too big, and his hair was unkempt, but there was something magical about it. The colors felt dull under the love and affection that glazed the piece. He felt something delicate when he looked at his own face.

"I-You remember, Yook?" Kevin began, "You once told me to trust you. That, if I fall, you'd catch me."

The room was small and old. It had a heavy smell of old paint. The trinkets, collected from a lifetime of journeys laid strewn across the room, it seemed so personal and intimate.

"I- I fell. I fell hard," Kevin gathered up enough courage to look at Minyook, with eyes so eager, and so nervous, "Minyook, would you catch me?"

Kevin took only one breath before Minyook clung to him, fitting like a piece of the puzzle. He could hear Minyook's frantic short sobs, and everything fell into place. A serenity that was too luxurious to them before had now become abundant and it left them lightheaded.They didn't need the extravagance of the cinematic proposal and cliche lines. They got together in the simplest way possible, exactly like they are, and it was perfect.

They were finally home.