SeolHyun's POV

We sit here in silence for a while and then he pulls out a bag. He empties it and I look at the content of it. It's all some kind of snack that I can't afford to eat. Maybe he can eat anything and stay in shape like that, but I'm a girl and I gain weight.

"I told you I can't eat that.." I sigh and turn my head away from him and the content of the bag.

"Come on, why not?" He's pouting, I just know he is by the tone of his voice. Some things never change.

"Because I am on a strict diet for the debut. I need to lose at least 5 more pounds.." My desperation hangs in the air. The manager told me today that it's better I lose 5 more pounds, in addition to the 10 I already lost.

"Wow, seriously? They are being harsh on you.. You like just fine", he comments with a strong voice. The kind of voice he didn't have back then.

"Well, it's what they want. You know better than anyone that what they want is what you do", I comment a little annoyed. I want to believe he said that because he cares, but who am I kidding?

"That's true. Just look at my hair", he joked and I actually laughed along. It's a real sound I haven't made in almost 5 years. It seems like forever when you put it like that. "I missed that sound to be honest."

I shake my head at his comment. It makes me feel gloomy again. "You were the one who never called back."

"I know and I'm really sorry about that.." Wonho dips his head lowly and then offers me some chips.

I take it without thinking and eat it. It's like we used to be at home. Every night we would sit and look at the sky with snacks, talk about our future lives.

"Why?" I ask him honestly. "Why did you not call back? Why are you sorry?" I know those are hard questions to answer like that, but I need to know.

Wonho has a thoughtful look on his face while he finally looks up. His eyes seem to be sorry.

"Because I am a jerk and selfish", he admitted while still looking into my eyes. "I wanted to start over, anew, leave everything behind me."

He is honest and I sigh a little. It was not what I wanted to hear, but if it's the truth, it's better than a lie.

"Was that all I meant to you? The past? I remember us talking about the future and it always contained the two of us", I think back to those nights that resembles this one so well.

"It's got nothing to do with you, I promise. You know how it was back there.. I wanted to have something new here and I lost sight of who I was for a very long time", he turns to face me.

"I think you're still lost", the words are hollow, practiced and devoid of any humor.

"We'll get to know each other now then? Because I sure as hell am not the only one who changed over the course of the years", Wonho suddenly takes my hand in his. "You'll get to know Wonho, member of Monsta X and I'll get to know SeolHyun, leader of Hugs & Kisses."

How can I say no to him when his smile is so genuine and full of honesty? I do want to get to know the new one, the one I observed on TV for so long. But will I like what I see once I do? And will he still like me after all these years? The scared little girl is gone and replaced by a closed off strong and independent girl.

"That sounds fine with me", I force a smile to my lips and look into his eyes.

"Now, can I walk you back to your dorms?" he is still holding my hand captive in his and I shake my head.

"I'm going in to dance some more before returning to the dorms", I say while getting up, pulling my hand out of his in the process.

"It's 1 am! You have to get some sleep!" Wonho protests while getting up too.

"I haven't had the chance to freestyle a lot these days. This time is the only free time I truly have", I give him back his sweater and snacks.

He takes it but takes a step into my direction too. "You're going to wear yourself out if you go on like this. It's not worth it", he tilts his head to the side and looks at me with genuine concern.

"I'm not changing my mind. Bye, Wonho", I emphasize that last part some more.

"Fuck it, I'm coming with you. That way I can keep an eye on you, so you won't be here until 4 am. And we can dance again, like we used to", he follows me while I sigh. If he is anything like the Wonho I used to know, he's not giving up until he gets what he wants. That's why I don't protest. Besides, there's no one left in the building except for the night guard, who will know?

"Fine", I motion for him to come to the building and just follow me wherever I go.

We reach the practice room and I sit down to stretch a little. I'm still a little sore from before because it was so intense. It's the most intense we've ever trained since beginning. The dance is also very hard to master perfectly. Wonho walks around and looks at the walls. There are various pictures of all the trainees on them. I don't really like my picture taken, but there are a few of them there too. The one of my first day and some birthdays of mine too.

"Is this when you first joined?" he asks me and I get up to look at it.

"Yeah", I say while passing by to the sound system.

"Your first day?"

"Yes, why?"

"You look horrible. What the hell did they do to you at home?" he asks, concerned again.

"None of your business, remember?" I look at the picture and feel a familiar pang in my chest. I had a lot of bruises, but not from training. My black eye had just healed and I look absolutely sunken and starved. My bones were sticking out and my face was fallen in. It still shocked me to see that that was how I once was. Now I'm so different.

"But still, no wonder you ran away", he mumbles, just loud enough for me to hear.

The truth was I ran to find him, to escape and finally feel safe again. The two years without him had been absolutely torture in more ways than one. It still was none of his business since he gave up on me by then.

I let the music blast through the speakers. It's 'Hot' by Jay Park. It's a song you can really let loose to. I can lose myself in the dance and not think about anything else, let alone Wonho. He stares at me while I get ready for the song. When the beat starts I start my furious moves and Wonho doesn't hesitate to join me in seconds. Jay's raps make it easy for us to fall into step. We still have the same skills as we used to. They were only just a little amplified right now because of the excessive training. Wonho dares me, like he always does, to go even harder. I have no problem with it since I have the stamina.

I'm actually having a pretty good time with Wonho like this. We move in sync just like we used to. When the song ends I fall on the ground, totally exhausted by him. Memories come rushing back and sting like knifes into my heart. I remember how we used to do this all the time. Every single time I felt bad about something, he would take me to the studio and make me dance. That's why some call my style rather aggressive these days. Even on my first audition here they called me aggressive, but they liked it. I learned to tone it down a little because I'm in a girl group, we have to be sexy or cute. There's no in between.

"That was the best I've had in a very long time", he sighs and rolls over to look at me.

"You sound like you just had sex", I joke and he squints his eyes.

"In my opinion, this is even better than sex", he tells and rolls back to his original place.

This means he's had it, sex that is. The innocent Hoseok that left our town is now completely gone. He used to tell me how he wanted to save himself for a special girl, someone he truly loved. Maybe he already met her, who knows? I wouldn't...

"Ass", I insult him and get up from the floor. I'm soaked in sweat and reach for my towel as he grabs my hand in the process. He's become so hands on. "What is it?"

"Don't tell me you didn't love that", he tells me, seriously.

"I did, but it's irrelevant to our situation", I sigh and pull away from him again to take my towel. I wipe away the sweat as he still looks at me.

"You're so different", he says while observing. "And you have abs, what the hell?" He comes over and traces the outline of it. It makes me feel weird inside.

"I do train a lot", I try not to blush, but he makes it so hard for me to concentrate. I can always say it's the because of the heat of the exercise.

"I can see that. You were so innocent and small back then. You're so grown up now", he tilts his head again, he apparently does that a lot, and takes me in. "You're taller too."

"Not as tall as you though", I smile shyly and finally sit down on the floor while he pulls his hand back, awkwardly.

It's weird to get to know him like this again. There are pieces of us that are still the same, just coated in a new layer.

"We should get you back to the dorms. They're probably worried." He gets up and takes my hand to pull me with him.

I grab all of my stuff and walk out of the room, turning the lights off. He follows me in complete silence, though it's not uncomfortable. We're at ease like this, this way I can pretend he's still the same.

The walk back home consists of us bickering and talking a little. It's not like we used to, but we're creating a new bond like this. On top of the one we used to have. We're glueing the pieces of our friendship back together with a new kind of glue and new pieces. He seems to be enjoying it too. I, on the other hand, am still a little weary of it all. It's something new and I don't like new. At all. I'm having a hard time debuting already.

"This is me", I say while turning to face him properly.

"Fancy dorms", he smiles and looks up at the building.

"It's new. We're the only ones here. Seventeen is there", I say, pointing to the place where their dorm is.

"Ahh, they're good guys. I see them a lot", he smiles widely and I like it. It's a genuine smile.

"Well goodnight?" I say and he looks back at me. Then he wraps his arms around me and hugs me tightly.

"Goodnight." He whispers into my ear and lets go of me.

That's when I go inside and try not to faint. He was so sweet.

"SeolHyun? WHAT WAS WONHO OF MONSTA X DOING HERE DROPPING YOU OFF??" YeonA asks whith big eyes.