Only when the sun shone onto his face did Yunho awaken from his slumber, the events of the night before still etched in his memory. Delicately, he poked at his lower lip, still unable to process what had happened. Did you really have to do that? He sighed and sat bolt upright, realising that he was the only one in the room, another human absent from his side. Slightly panicked, he marched to the living room, where on the table a note lay.

"Good morning, Yun! Cheol hyung called me this morning, asking if I could start work earlier today. Of course, I agreed, after all I can't reject my boss's request on the second day. You quit your previous job on the second day, mister! Sorry I couldn't be around to have breakfast with you. I'll make it up to you by cooking dinner later tonight, okay? Sorry again. Love, your flower. P.S. I made your portion of breakfast. It's in the fridge. Just heat it up in the microwave. 😊" Sure enough, there was a small stack of pikelets in the fridge.

After a very delicious meal of pikelets with jam and butter, Yunho took a shower before leaving for work. Looking at himself in the mirror now gave off a different vibe as compared to a few days ago. He felt... confident, more in control of life, and he knew it would stay like this for the rest of his life. As long as he had love.

.

.

Seonghwa got to Cheol's an hour early, the stipulated time. Thankfully, the doors were already unlocked. After all, he didn't want to become known as the employee who broke into their boss's store. "Hey, Seonghwa."

It was Seungcheol himself. "Thanks for coming early. Sorry about the last-minute distress call. Something went wrong with the new shipment, and I'll have to go to the harbour personally to settle it, unfortunately. But I hate to leave you here alone. You think you can manage? Otherwise I can always call backup?"

"That might be good."

"Okay, I'll arrange someone to come down, maybe in about half an hour? Guess I'll be off then, see you later!" And Seungcheol vanished in a puff of smoke. He didn't actually do that, but it was THAT fast.

Left alone for the time being, Seonghwa got everything set up, in his impeccably neat and organised style, and was ready for whenever another customer emerged. Fortunately, the next person that entered the store was not a customer. The extra help, who introduced himself as Yeonjun, turned out to be Seungcheol's cousin. The two bonded very quickly, seeing as they were only a year or so apart in terms of age. Normally, finding a stable working pattern is difficult with someone you're unfamiliar with, but their process ran as smooth as clockwork.

At the end of the day, the boss returned, tired, but apparently pleased with his argumentative skills. The issues had been appropriately dealt with, although with much persuasion involved.

"Hi Yeonjunnie, thanks for coming down. Hwa. I can't thank you both enough. By the way, did anything interesting happen?" Seungcheol was one of those bosses who liked to be informed of his customers.

"His boyfriend came over." Seonghwa mischievously offered.

"Oh? Junnie, when did you have a bf?"

"Ohmygosh, how many times do I have to tell you, that was Soobin. We're just friends."

"Just friends he says."

"I mean it, don't say anymore otherwise Cheol hyung will ramble about HIS relationship... With a celebrity no less." (A/N: Jeongcheol or Jicheol or other Jicheol or Seokcheol, whichever is fine 😉)

The two younger continued to bicker, before the eldest interrupted. "Anyways, since I'm back, you both can be off now. Hurry, go, can't stand your annoying chatter." He put on a faux pompous air as he shooed them away like mosquitoes.

Before he left, though, Seonghwa remembered his promise, and selected some ingredients for dinner later. "Some fancy meal you're cooking. For Yunho, I presume?"

"Yeah, since I wasn't able to have breakfast with him, I said I'll make dinner as compensation."

"Your boyfriend is a lucky man."

Embarrassed, Seonghwa seemed to start swatting invisible wasps, his face starting to look like he'd been stung too. "No, no, I just try my best." "Even so, I can tell you care about him, to a great extent. I'll see you tomorrow, Hwa."

He picked up his purchases and left, carefully crossing the street back to the apartment. Gazing up subtly before entering the lobby, he noticed the sky was growing cloudy, probably was gonna rain in a while. His phone buzzed as he unlocked the front door, and he placed one bag on the ground to reach for it. It was a text from Yunho.

"Hwa, I'm coming back now. Need me to get anything?"

Seonghwa thought for a second, before replying. "I guess not. Just get yourself home in one piece."

"Aw, can't I come home in five pieces?"

"If you do, I'll find the one who did that and make them ten pieces. Don't do stupid things, puppy."

Ignoring Yunho's protests, the elder started executing his plans for dinner, grilling beef, cutting vegetables, he almost cut off a finger in the process, scaring himself. But it appeared Yunho did not share that sentiment.

"Damnit, if you had cut off the finger, I could have come home in two pieces, and we'd match."

"I'm ignoring you."

Luckily no other mishaps occurred, and he breezed through the finishing preparations, even going so far as to light a few candles for the table. The sink was full and slightly messy, which he wasn't pleased about, but the table was pristine, fit for a five-star restaurant.

A knock sounded at the door, and he ran to open it.

"Why didn't you bring your key..." His voice trailed off when he realised the person at the door was not his Yunho. Instead, it was a very scantily dressed girl with two bodyguards.

"W-who are you?"

The girl didn't even bat an eye, entering the apartment without an invitation, strutting over and sitting daintily on the sofa. Seonghwa rushed over, leaving the door open since Yunho would be back soon, and he wanted this bitch out the door as soon as possible. "Get out of my house! What right do you have to barge in unannounced!"

The girl, now polishing her claw like nails, batted her eyelashes and stared at Seonghwa from underneath them. "Jennie doesn't go by other people's rules. Jennie only goes by her own rules."

"I don't care what fucked up logic that is, but I don't care. If you're in my house, it's my rules, and you need to leave before I call the police."

The light tread of footsteps echoed from the exterior corridor, and Seonghwa pulled the girl off the couch, causing her to squeal. "Oppa, what are you doing? Stopppp..." Suddenly, she reached up and tugged Seonghwa's head to her level, voice sugarcoating itself and turning seductive.

"You know," she tilted her head decisively, scrutinising the other top to toe, "You'll do even better than Yeosang." "What's Yeosang got to do with all this?"

Jennie giggled, finding his ignorance foolish. "Don't you know I was with him for a month? Until that asshole came along and ruined everything."

So, this was the nasty homewrecker he was dealing with. "You mean YOU ruined everything for Yunho, he didn't ruin anything in yours. You're just a self-centered bitch who needs to stop spoiling people's relationships."

"But I'm not done spoiling yours." The innocent look on her face was such a contrast to her words.

"I said leave!"

Time seemed to seep through honey, slowing down as Yunho came into the apartment, only to see the girl who ruined his previous relationship kissing his current lover. He didn't give a chance to explain, he had seen enough. Yunho turned and left, as Seonghwa called for him not to go, to no avail. He glared at the girl, whose originally innocent look had morphed into one of mischief and evil, which seemed much more fitting for her wicked soul.

"Why the fuck did you do that!" he didn't even bother controlling his temper now.

"Oh puh-lease, that idiot ruined my relationship, so I got him back. And who better than his new boyfriend? Thanks for your sacrifice, Seonghwa." She leaned in to his ear, whispering with a condescending tone. "It wasn't easy to track you down, by the way." She patted his cheek, and he recoiled.

"Get out of my house before I throw you off the balcony!"

He meant what he said, and Jennie knew it too. "Alright, tata." She was clearly pleased with what she had accomplished.

As soon as she left, Seonghwa raced out the apartment, not even bothering to lock the door. He had to find Yunho, no matter where he may be. Ignoring the rapid falling of rain, Seonghwa ran straight for the rooftop garden, the desperation of the situation dispersing all fear he had of running into Yeosang, only to find no trace.

He couldn't have gotten far... unless he had his car. Panicked, Seonghwa ran back to his own block and to the basement carpark, reassured upon seeing the red sports car. He really couldn't have gotten too far, so where was his beloved pup? It was then that a sudden recollection hit.

"I like being higher up, because I'll be closer to the stars, closer to heaven. Closer to the ones I lost. Feeling like they never left."