That night, Minghao went home alone, driving through the highways, taking a few detours here and there. He wasn't really going anywhere specific. He just wanted to be alone and drive away for now.

The moment he got to his unit, he rummaged through his drawers, the closets, the table, under the table, and pretty much everywhere.

But what exactly was he looking for?

He reached on the upper part of his bookshelf, feeling the surface, as if reading braille. Midway, he felt something faint that met his fingers. He picked it up and looked at it.

It was a SIM card.

He held it in his hands for a few seconds, just looking at it. His hand was slightly shaking, flipping the object with his fingers.

I don't know...

He walked over to his desk and took his phone out from his pocket, placing it down. He took the phone case off of his phone, holding the SIM card in his other hand.

He stared at it just like that for a few moments.

No, I shouldn't.

He sighed, tossing the SIM card on his desk and placing his phone down on the desk, not bothering to put the case back in. He slowly walked to his bed and sat down for a while, staring blankly ahead.

After some time, he lay himself down the bed, just staring at the ceiling.

He didn't know what he was feeling right now. He didn't talk. He didn't move. All he did was just to breathe and blink.

Was he sad?

Was he mad?

Was he jealous?

Was he okay?

He didn't know either.

His face wasn't showing any emotions.

Maybe he was in a state of shock,

A state of disbelief,

A state of denial,

Or maybe he was just tired.

He wasn't really sure.

He could've drank alcohol, but he didn't. His fridge was fully stocked with alcohol, but he showed no signs of wanting to drink. Well, he showed no signs of wanting to do anything in general. He didn't scream. He didn't cry. He didn't smile. He didn't frown.

It went like that until the sun came up. He was awake the whole time, not doing anything.

Soon enough, his alarm rang and it was time to get ready for work. He dismissed the alarm and walked up to his closet, finding clothes to put on. He did all he needed to, just like nothing happened. He cooked, ate breakfast, showered, and made sure all the electronics were turned off. He left to go to work right after.

As he got to work, he was greeted by Soonyoung.

"Hey, Minghao! You okay?" Soonyoung asked, linking his arm on Minghao's.

"Yeah." Minghao smiled.

"How was it yesterday? What did Jun say? You sure everything's alright?" Soonyoung asked as the two continued walking the hallway with their arms linked together.

Minghao nodded. "Yeah, it was all good." He checked his watch. "Hyung, let's go. They're probably waiting for us."

"O-Oh... yeah. Okay. Let's go then." Soonyoung stuttered.

Was everything really okay?

As they continued their work, teaching the choreography to one of the male K-Pop groups, Soonyoung took glances at Minghao every once in a while, worried.

Minghao, on the other hand, was doing well. It was as if nothing happened yesterday.

As if the person he liked for several years, didn't just tell him that he was getting married to someone else.

The whole week went on, just like that. Soonyoung asked about what they actually talked about a few times, but all Minghao told him was that they just caught up with each other, like any other friendly meeting. After a few days, Soonyoung was convinced that there was nothing to be worried about. During that week, Minghao behaved like he normally would and he planned on continuing to do so.

It was all going like it normally did, until...

"MINGHAO!" Soonyoung stormed in the practice room where Minghao was dancing in.

Minghao stopped and turned to Soonyoung, wondering what was happening. "Something wrong?"

"Is something wrong?" Soonyoung placed a hand in his forehead, pressing on it. "Why didn't you tell us that Jun was getting married?"

Minghao's expression turned back to normal. "Oh, that."

Soonyoung furrowed his eyebrows., confused. "Why... why do you look like you aren't bothered?"

Minghao placed a finger on his chin. "Hmm... was I supposed to be bothered?"

Soonyoung stood frozen.

Jihoon entered the practice room, who seemed to have been chasing Soonyoung. He figured that if Minghao wasn't saying anything about it to them, it meant that he didn't want to talk about it. So, he came there to stop Soonyoung, before the situation escalates. He paused there in front of the door as he saw the two boys standing.

Soonyoung walked up to Minghao and slowly took the boy's hand. "You can lean on me if you want to. We can drink together if you need it. I can listen when you speak. If you need a hug, I can give it."

Minghao paused for a few seconds, looking at Soonyoung's eyes, then, smiled. He ruffled Soonyoung's hair. "When did hyung become so mature and dependable, hm?" He chuckled. "I'm really fine, hyung. You don't have to worry too much." He looked at Jihoon, who was standing by the door and smiled. "Jihoon-hyung, you came too? I'm okay. Thanks for worrying about me."

Jihoon couldn't say anything. He couldn't find the words to say, but even if he did, his mouth wouldn't open. He just looked right back at Minghao.

"Jihoon-hyung, you aren't pitying me right now, are you?" Minghao smirked. "Hey, hyung, the both of you should know already that I'm a strong person." He laughed.

Soonyoung unconsciously gripped Minghao's hand tighter. "O-o-of course! Hahaha..." He tried to lift the mood, but wasn't very successful in doing so.

Minghao smiled. "Sorry, but I need to practice right now. I'm trying to make a new choregraphy, so..."

"R-right. O-okay." Soonyoung nodded excessively. "I can help yo-"

Jihoon cleared his throat.

"Or I can just leave you be." Soonyoung faked a laugh.

"Thanks, hyung." Minghao smiled.

The two boys went out of the practice room, leaving Minghao alone.

Minghao sighed, looking at the mirrored walls in front of him. He stayed like that for a few seconds, blinking, before going back to restart the music and dancing.

An hour passed and his mind was getting messy. Maybe it was because of the sudden confrontation or maybe because the thoughts he had bottled in were trying to break open. He was having a hard time concentrating.

He sighed, thinking that he should call it a day. He checked his phone only to see a whole bunch of unopened messages.

[3 New Messages from Wonu]

[14 New Messages from KwannieBoo]

[5 New Messages from Gyu]

[5 New Messages from HumanNotTiger]

He opened Soonyoung's messages, not opening the others'. He could guess what the messages might be about and that Junhui had just announced the wedding to them.

HumanNotTiger:

minghao
lets go home together with jihoon
or u hungry?
we can eat smth together

Minghao-ya:

sorry hyung
maybe next time

HumanNotTiger:

oh ok
just msg me when u get home, ok?
stay safe

Minghao-ya:

thanks

HumanNotTiger:

ofc ^~^

read

He sighed, putting his phone back in his pocket. He took out an extra shirt from his bag and changed his clothes. He put on his coat and exited the practice room.

As he got into the parking lot and into his car, he paused before slotting the key in.

The thought of returning to an empty and quiet unit, somehow made him feel lonely. In that moment, he didn't want to feel lonely, but he declined Soonyoung's request to go with him and Jihoon.

Kinda ironic, right?

To want company, yet still not show weakness.

So, he somehow ended up here.

He's sitting on a bench in the park he used to go to all the time back when he was still in college. He recalled that he used to go here and walk around whenever he felt sad. It was nearing night with the sun setting. All the post lights had already opened, despite the sun still slightly visible in the orange, pink, and purple sky.

The sky looked beautiful and so did the river, the way the colors of the sky were reflecting from the waters. He would've taken a photo of it, but he wasn't in the mood for it. He remembered the days when he used to take photos with his polaroid camera.

But he stopped it.

He stopped taking photos. There no longer existed a wall of polaroids. He already threw them all away.

Why did he throw it away?

I don't know either.

Maybe he thought that throwing away those pictures meant being one step closer to moving on.

Maybe he thought that getting rid of them meant erasing the memories.

Or maybe looking at them reminded him too much of the past.

The past where he was happy.

Happy together with Junhui.

Laughing together with Junhui.

Crying together with Junhui.

Eating together with Junhui.

Each and every memory with him.

He smiled, closing his eyes.

I guess I'm weaker than I thought.

"Minghao?" A voice called.

END

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A/N: Don't y'all just love cliffhangers?