Kim Woojin had always loved Bang Chan. He still does, honestly. He probably always will. That's why he's here; at the restaurant they used to have their dates at back when they were trainees and back when Woojin was in the group. Woojin didn't think leaving would be this big of a deal. It probably wouldn't have been had that ridiculous rumor not spread. The rumor that wasn't true. At least it wouldn't have been a big deal to the fans. But him and Chan breaking up was enough for it to be a big enough deal for everyone who knew. (Which was only the nine of them.)

It was inevitable. If Woojin didn't break up with Chan, the long distance relationship with many restrictions wouldn't have worked and they'd eventually break up anyway. If Woojin had told Chan he was going to leave prior to the actual event, Chan would've given reasons to stay. Woojin knew he would've listened, but Woojin also knew that it would be a temporary consolation. He was meant to leave eventually. The quicker the better. So that day, the six younger ones had lost their other makeshift father figure. That day, Woojin lost the love of his life. That day, Chan lost the love of his life. Nothing was ever the same again.

Kim Woojin probably always will love Bang Chan. That's why he's visiting the restaurant they used to go to on their dates. Back then.

"Woojinnie?" Choi Aeja, the owner of the restaurant, exclaims at the sight of Woojin.

Woojin gets up from his seat to greet her back. Woojin just examines the old woman for a moment. Her hair has grayed significantly from the few strands that were present the last time he was here. Her face has double the amount of wrinkles. But she still has that same warm and unwavering smile directed at Woojin.

"Hello, halmeonim." Woojin bows.

"It's been so long since you last visited. Over a decade. How are you, dear?"

"I'm well, halmeonim." Woojin answers.

"Did something happen between you and Channie? You're not with him this time." she asks.

Woojin is both surprised and grateful that she doesn't know.

"You may or may not know that we were in an idol group. Well, I decided to leave the group. Not long after our last visit here." Woojin explains.

Aeja rushes up to him to engulf him in a hug, "I don't know why you decided to leave but I trust that Channie at least tried to understand why you did."

Chan's cry of "Then make me understand!" reverberates around in Woojin's mind.

Woojin releases the embrace to smile "The group is disbanded now though. So, maybe it's my chance to approach him again."

Aeja returns that smile with equal parts nostalgia and hope. She sits down on the chair across to Woojin and gestures for him to sit back down. He does so.

"You and Channie were my favorite customers. The cutest couple. You never directly confirmed that but I could see it in how you looked at each other. Even at 22 years old you were the embodiment of true love." Aeja says.

"I wish that at 33 we can be again." Woojin muses.

"You will be. I'm sure of it." Aeja responds.

Then the door of the restaurant opens. Woojin and Aeja turn to find — speak of the devil — Bang Chan himself.

He looks around and his gaze lands on the table they're sitting at, "Halmeonim. Woojin." Chan says simply.

"This must be fate. We must be fated to meet again." Chan starts lightly sobbing.

Woojin grabs his hand and he sits down next to him.

"Maybe it is." Woojin agrees, stroking the other man's hair.

Chan melts into his touch, continuing to sob but with a faint smile on his face.

***

The two people bid Aeja farewell after their meal. Not lovers quite yet but not strangers anymore. They walk side-by-side, their hands awkwardly brushing against each other on occasion. They stop at the junction between the restaurant's terrace and the parking lot.

Chan fumbles in his pocket and fishes out his phone, then holds it up and mimes typing on it.

"Number?" Woojin inquires.

Chan nods.

Woojin types out the string of numbers unfamiliar to Chan. Courtesy of that time his old one was leaked to the world so he had no other choice than to get a new one.

Then they reluctantly part ways. Though unlike last time, they have promises and plans of meeting again later.