✦

Darkness comes in many forms, and is not only limited to the bleak nothingness of the night. It may even come in the shape of something as ordinary as a well-dressed bank teller, with dark hair and plump lips.

This is the darkness Yeosang has tried to escape for so long, the darkness he has told himself was bad for him - something so wicked and dangerous that he couldn't possibly relate to it in any way. But now, he realizes he has been a fool all along; he will never be able to escape something that is also rooted deep within himself.

And for the first time in ten years, he finally lets go of his last hesitation, the last part of him that restricted him from being swallowed whole, by the self-desctruction he has dared to believe he was too good for.

"Yeosang?" Hyunjin asks in surprise, as he steps out the door from the bank he currently works at. "What are you doing here?"

He seems confused, and with good reason - the amount of times Yeosang has told him to stay away are countless. Hyunjin tilts his head to the side, his dark hair swaying down over his eyes, while he looks at Yeosang who is leaning against the building.

"Do you have time for coffee?" Yeosang asks, stepping out on the sidewalk to stand face to face with the person he used to hate so much.

Hyunjin seems hesitant at first, slowly brushing the hair away from his face, and Yeosang briefly wonders if maybe Hyunjin has changed after all, he almost seems too calm in this given situation. But as their eyes meet again, Yeosang swears he catches onto a sinister glimpse of the boy he used to know.

✦

The sun is setting over the city, but with the late opening hours of the coffee house, no one is in a rush to leave - that includes Yeosang and the last person he had thought he would ever let come this close again.

While Hyunjin still seems a little confused, but whether it's actually sincere or just for show is unclear. Not that Yeosang cares anyway.

Their cups have been empty for quite some time now, while they've been catching up on each other's lives. Hyunjin cautiously chooses his words, as if one wrong word will scare Yeosang away, which wouldn't be unrealistic given their past together.

Afterwards they walk down the street, but as both are running out of things to say - things that will stay inside the frames of the normal conversation they have held onto for now, only the sounds of people and cars passing by are heard.

"Well..." Hyunjin says, after an eternity of heavy silence, "This is me..."

He tilts his head in the direction of the apartment complex next to them, and shrugs his shoulders a little, waiting for Yeosang to say just anything.

Looking into his eyes, Yeosang suddenly feels unsure on what to do or say. He thought he wanted this, to give into Hyunjin and just let himself disappear into the amazing nothingness that he used to know the older could make him feel.

But now, he isn't sure anymore. And maybe, Hyunjin isn't capable of doing just that any longer, maybe he has outgrown his dark side, and if so - Yeosang should just leave him alone.

"It was great seeing you," Hyunjin then says. He slowly leans in, his fingers stroking Yeosang's cheek, but he doesn't do anything else than that - leaving his touch feeling like an infuriating burn.

As he turns to walk into the building, he looks over his shoulder, and the look he sends Yeosang speaks louder than any of the words that have left either of their lips tonight.

The darkness is still there, and it is just waiting for Yeosang to return to its poisonous embrace.

✦

"Where have you been?" Wooyoung asks, almost running from the couch towards Yeosang the second he arrives back home.

Yeosang sighs at the sound of his worry. By now, it's too much - like an overprotective parent who just won't leave him alone. And Yeosang doesn't need anyone to protect him, he just needs to be left alone.

"Just out."

While Yeosang hangs his coat, and kicks off his shoes, neither of them speak a word. The silence is strange and uncommon between the two of them.

"Anyway," Wooyoung says, deliberately trying to ignore the awkwardness in the situation. "I have a job interview for you!"

"For me?"

It doesn't come as a surprise that it's about time Yeosang finds a job. He has been postponing it for too long, living off the small savings he had brought with him from his life overseas - and it wasn't much. At this point he doesn't care what job he will end up with, if it has anything to do with his field of study or not. He just needs to earn some money, so he can pay the rent and save up so he can move out of this place.

The mix between Wooyoung's suffocating worry, and San's angry glares is definitely something Yeosang wants to get away from as soon as possible.

"Yeah, it's tomorrow! I have written the address down for you, here!" The blonde hands over a small piece of paper, with the usual, almost, unreadable handwriting on it.

"Thanks, Woo..."

✦

Although Yeosang thought he wasn't picky when it came to a new job, it definitely surprises him to see Wooyoung has sent him to a job interview at a kindergarten. Children have never interested him, and as he walks through the door, he questions himself on he will even have the patience for this job.

But it will soon turn out to be the least of his worries, as he hears someone call out his name.

It's been a long time, but Yeosang still recognizes the guy who is approaching him. The one who was one of Wooyoung's tutors in his first year at Yonsei. The one, who was Seonghwa's best friend.

Kim Hongjoong.

"It's been so long! How are you doing?" Hongjoong smiles brightly, as he stands in front of Yeosang.

"I... I'm fine... You?" Yeosang asks, a little confused.

He would've expected Hongjoong to work as a accountant for some big company, just like Seonghwa, and not be the one standing in front of him - wearing dungarees with paint stains all over them, and glitter in his hair.

"I'm good, thanks," Hongjoong laughs, clearly catching onto the questioning look on Yeosang's face. "You look surprised, and I get it. I definitely thought I would live the rest of my life, wearing uncomfortable suits and looking at numbers until my eyes fell out. But... This happened, and I've never felt better!"

While talking, Hongjoong leads Yeosang to his office, which has to be the most down to earth place ever. But it makes sense, when Hongjoong talks about their big focus on the nature and making sure to go on a lot of field trips with the kids. Hongjoong might as well just spit sunshine and organic meal plans directly from his lips, instead of actual words.

Everything does sound really great, there is just big problem. Yeosang has never been around Hongjoong without Seonghwa being there too, and seeing him now brings everything back.

"I know you're a good guy," Hongjoong smiles, as they are saying goodbye in the door. "And it'd be great to get you onboard."

"Thanks... I will think about," Yeosang mumbles, but forces a small smile.

"Great. Talk to you later then!"

✦

Walking down the streets, Yeosang turns the volume on his phone up as loud as his ears can manage, letting himself get caught up in his own moment, where it's only him and the music - although being surrounded by so many people.

The sun is shining brightly today, warming his cheeks and blinding his sight, as if it's deliberately trying to fight off the darkness that is luring in his mind.

While the job did sound nice, Yeosang worries it'll be too much to be around Hongjoong due to all the memories that comes with him. Despite the older never being directly involved in anything, Yeosang will always remember him as Seonghwa's best friend, and as long as that certain name will hover over him, he isn't sure he'll ever find the peace he needs.

Yeosang has soon lost track of time, and where his legs are taking him. He just aimlessly walks around the city, looking at shops through the windows, and doing the best he can to drag the day out so he won't have to go home and spend time with Wooyoung and San.

Turning a corner, Yeosang suddenly freezes, heart in his throat - and shivers running down his back. On the other side of the road is Lucas walking towards his car, his usual driver standing ready to open the door for him.

Beige trenchcoat, leather briefcase in hand, hair slicked back and looking more handsome than Yeosang remembers. Hiding behind the corner of the building, Yeosang follows his ex-boyfriend with his eyes, remembering the very last word the older spoke to him. To stay away from him.

When Lucas has gotten into the car, and it is driving off, Yeosang sighs relieved, but a horrible pain hits him right in the chest. Leaning his back against the wall, he looks at the sky, tears ready to burst free from his eyes.

What a fool he had been, to ruin things between them. He could've had it all, he had it all - and he threw it away. Tore it apart, left it beyond repair. And for what? A short moment of bliss with someone who will never love him back. Someone who thinks such degrading thoughts of him, and someone who will never be his again.

✦

Biting into his lower lip, Yeosang slides his teeth back and forth, a heavy sigh following as he walks up the stairs.

He wasn't made for a normal life. He was born into the gloomy darkness that most people will run away from, much like he tried to do so himself.

"Yeosang... Hey..." Hyunjin speaks softly, but his eyes light up with a dangerous fire, as he opens the door.

He slowly gestures Yeosang to come inside, and when the door closes behind them, it's like the door to the rest of Yeosang's sanity is closing in his mind.

"What are you doing here?"

The question is the same, as when Yeosang met him outside the bank, but this time one thing is different. The doubt and the fear is gone, and the only thing that is left is the overpowering desire of letting the venom of Hyunjin's lips destroy his every thought. Just like it used to.

"Giving you what you've always wanted," Yeosang replies, his arms wrapping around Hyunjin's neck as he pulls him in to let their lips meet.

______________

A/N: Hey guys, I know it might not seem like it, but I have this story under control - and everything is planned out, down to the very ending ;)