Eyes Wide Open

Chapter Four

It was a full week without Hyukjae speaking to me. Normally, I would have been anxious for him to say a single word to me, but strangely, I was okay with the silence between us. Occasionally, I'd catch myself looking at him, but when he saw me staring, he looked away with some sort of hurt expression. In a sense, it was unusual for us to be this way towards each other, but neither of us did anything to fix it. There was nothing to fix.

Of course, people questioned us. Yesung would cast confused glances between the two of us. Heechul stated multiple times that "the two who seemed so inseparable were now intolerant of each others presence". Ryeowook would try to get us in situations where we had to be together and speak to each other, but it only resonated in silence. I even found myself becoming silent altogether, meanwhile Hyukjae became more open.

"Donghae, what's been going on?" Hyukjae had finally gained the courage to confront me, cornering me in our room before I exited. "Why are you so different now? It's not the same anymore."

I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to wrap my arms around Hyukjae's seemingly torn figure. It was unlike him to be so emotional... That, or I had just changed so much. I felt Hyukjae's shoulders tremble, an unfamiliar feeling to me. Uncaringly, almost, my hand slid limply down his back, making him shiver. Somehow, the tables had turned. Hyukjae was now the one begging for affection, and I was the one who had none to give.

"Hyukjae," My voice was raspier than what I had planned, and it took me a minute to gather myself once more. "Hyukjae, remember what Sungmin said."

Then he began to recite, doing almost each action as he stated it. "Ankles crossed. Hands clasped. Eyes forward. Jaw s--"

"No, Hyukjae," I pushed away from him, my eyes locking with his and my jaw set firmly. "Think. The main point of perfection. The thing Sungmin drilled into our heads."

Hyukjae caught on, but he shook his head frantically. "Donghae, please, think about this. We can... We can be perfect together. You don't have to let me go..."

"You taught me best, Hyukjae," I kissed him gently, letting my lips linger on his, my secrets hidden behind each second they lingered. Suddenly, our bedroom door was thrown open, and there was Kangin, a look of horror plastered on his face.

"It's Kyuhyun."