STEP

CHAPTER 8

Drenched trainees walk past Kris, occasionally greeting him, "Kris~~""Kris let's go eat~~"
The sky darkens; the familiar building is just right beside it. Kim Junmyeon walks from the opposite direction and pats his shoulders, "don't forget about the mobilization dinner tonight."

Turning around, Kris looks at familiar, yet somehow unfamiliar youthful silhouettes on the familiar road, 2012, 22nd March, exactly one year ago, that was their graduation, one without a bachelor's hat.

Entering the building he has walked through to and fro more than a thousand times, Kris shuts his eyes and walks through the long corridors. 31st March was their debut in Seoul. A day before their debut was the 30th of March.... Gently tapping the doors beside him one by one, he reaches the last 8th door as it gently opens. In the scarcely surfaced training room quietly sits two people.

-

The one seated on the floor has himself leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window while the one lying rests on the former's stretch out legs. Both lay against the window with their hands held together, fingers intertwined.
The dim sunlight illuminates Luhan's long eyelashes as he turns slightly to look at Kris. Sehun who is lying down doesn't turn his head, keeping his eyes fixed on the windows. In the silent atmosphere, the presence of too many people can't seem to be withstood. Shutting the door, Kris gently backs out of the room.

Everyone's faces beam with smiles. Kris randomly greets every passing person; his mood, just like the river water at dusk, and in that instant, all he wants is a deserted place to smoke.

A not too distant Yixing approaches, "it's almost time to eat, where is Luhan?"
"Perhaps he's gone." Kris drags Yixing by the hand and walks in the opposite direction. Yixing suspiciously looks backwards into the corridors, blanking being pulled by Kris outside.

How many doors aren't supposed to be opened?

In the practice room, Sehun looks to the windows silently.
"You are by far the person who loves to escape the most." Sehun bats his eyelids slightly.
Luhan falls silent, keeping his bent fingers tightly intertwined with Sehun's.
"Once a person breaks through your safety zone, it's time you escape." Sehun hints calmly.
Luhan chuckles, "what about now?"
"You are the most at peace now," Sehun says, "because in a while, you will be escaping again."
Luhan looks out the windows, speechless.
"I can still continue to care for you like before, am I right?" Sehun laughs, "Like a little brother."
"Of course," hums Luhan, "I will forever be your brother."
"That's good." Sehun twists his mouth.

Turning around, Luhan looks at the big window as two familiar figures walk past, tightly wrapped around each other.

Yixing lowers his head and blanks out looking at the rosary around his wrist. Kris swings his arms around the smaller one's shoulders, "you are still wearing this rosary?"
Yixing pounds at his hands and ignores, raising his eyebrows.
"That really is fake. When I came back, I bought it for 20 dollars." Kris stands and shakes his head from behind, looking at the souvenir he casually bought back then.
"No problem. Compared to Luhan's birthday present, this is considered good." Yixing turns and strolls backwards, hands kept in his pockets.
"What did he give you?" Kris asks.
"A bag of pistachios." Yixing answers, "and in an instant, everything was snatched."
Kris laughs, "Why is your life so tragic?"
"My life has been bought off like that by you guys," the other person lifts his head to look at him, his hands swinging gently in the faint sunlight from while the sun sets. "However it doesn't matter. God has made it up to me by letting us debut." He laughs and looks at the other, their shadows stretching in the distance.

"As a celebration, you should change your phone." While he speaks, Kris drags Yixing's shoulder, "treat it as an advanced birthday gift."
"There's no need for that........ The old one isn't faulty," Yixing is being dragged forward, "there's still half a year to my birthday."
"But I've only got a few hours," he laughs, "I mean a few hours before I regret."
"No no..... This phone is pretty pricey. I'll buy it when I go home......." Yixing begins nagging, "don't you have a dinner function to attend later? you're almost going to be late......"
"Will you stop nagging?" Kris drags him forward while Yixing leans backwards, turning to watch as Baekhyun and Jongin are walking in front.
While observing Yixing's expression shows his concern, Kris looks in the other direction and waves, "Jongin!"
Jongin does not turn instantly. He is looking at Baekhyun, as though waiting in silence for the other party to say something.
"We'll talk later." Baekhyun lowers his gaze and lets go of his hands, turning to respond to the other two.
"We'll be late." Kris shouts.
"Alright, I got it." Baekhyun replies, Jongin however still does not turn his head, he continues looking at Baekhyun.
Kris looks at them for 2 seconds, "let's go." He drags Yixing.