"HEECHUL didn't even say goodbye." Sungmin wondered where his friend went off too. All his clothes were gone and the music sheets were all over the floor, some torn, others were shredded. He couldn't contact him, his phone was turned off. It was like a tornado hit his living room and had exited with no notice.

Tao was there with him, picking up the music sheets confetti from the floor and placing them in a tin box for cookies. Sungmin placed the basket in the kitchen and loaded the containers in the dishwasher. It struck Sungmin as very domestic that Tao was cleaning up and he was clearing things away. He touched his lips and had to smile. Had it only been a few hours ago that they'd shared that kiss?

The EXO group had welcomed him into their fold. They told him the story about the Sakura tree and what it meant for their group. They called it EXO love spot though they don't exclusively own it, a couple of their love stories had begun at that place. Xiumin had declared his love there to a very young Luhan who didn't understand it then but had understood it later that Xiumin had wanted them to be partners for the rest of their lives and not just be best friends. Chanyeol chose that spot for the do or it or die date he had with Baekhyun. Always there was one person who knew his feelings well and told the other one at that spot about it. It was there that the feelings of the other person awakened. Or at the very least the feelings of the one who was already in love flowed to the heart of the other.

They spent the rest of the night at an outdoor pub where they drank a little soju to celebrate. The others showed them the pictures that were taken on their date. Tao was blushed profusely and denied knowing anything about the pictures. All he admitted to knowing was that the date was set up for them by his friends. He admitted to owning the pink panda-themed blanket too.

"Where do you think he's gone off to?" Sungmin was brought back to the present when Tao placed the tin box on the kitchen counter. It had the bits of the music sheet in it.

"I guess he got tired of staying here. But I wondered why he tore this up." Sungmin looked at the larger pieces of the torn music sheet.

"WI & CHB." he read the title and wondered what it meant.

"What if's & Could have been's," Tao whispered to his ear.

"How would you know that?" Sungmin felt the warmth travel downwards from where Tao's breathe hit.

"I saw some of the lyrics from the other sheets." He put back the sheet Sungmin was holding back into the tin box. "I think he might come back for it. My composer friends are forever tearing up music sheets but trying to find them them again after they're calmer." Sungmin knew Heechul to be like that. "So it's best to either gather the pieces or just leave them be." Tao moved his face closer to Sungmin's ear. "But since you like to keep things neat, I figured gathering them would be best."

TAO wanted to breathe the rain in from Sungmin's hair. He wanted to kiss the cold off Sungmin's skin. But he didn't want to scare him off with what he was feeling for him. That kiss felt like it was enough excitement for one night. And he didn't know if Sungmin would let him have more than that for now...

"A-are you thirsty?" Sungmin had his eyes closed but Tao didn't see that. He wanted to control his urges too much so his eyes were also shut.

Tao shook his head slowly and had to just breathe one more whiff before he moved away. Sungmin had shuddered lightly, trying not to sigh. "I'll make us some tea."

Tao had given him space to get the teacups and the tea ready. Tao had to move as far away as he could so he sat on the couch away from the smell of the rain on Sungmin. With Sungmin's back to him, Tao gave out a silent sigh.

SUNGMIN dropped the jasmine buds into the cups and poured the water into them. He needed to let out a silent sigh to steady him and he took the cups to the living room. He placed them on the center table and sat next to Tao careful not to be too close or too far.

"A-are you not up for tea?" Sungmin debated whether or not he had served the wrong thing. "Do you want anything else?"

Tao reached for the cup nearest to him and sipped the tea hurriedly. "Hot!" he put the cup down suddenly and spilled it. "Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!" Sungmin panicked and tried to wipe the tea with the edge of his shirt.

Then he stood up and ran to the kitchen to get the ice cube maker from the freezer. He threw the lot of it at Tao's crotch. Tao sighed as he gathered the ice cubes to his leg which was where the tea had actually hit.

Tao looked at Sungmin then and they had both let the awkwardness go by laughing out loud.

Tao reached out for Sungmin. Sungmin came to him. "I don't care much for What if's." and Tao stood up to gather Sungmin in his arms. "Or What could have been. It's either Tao or now."

Sungmin laughed at the play of words but held on to Tao's sturdy arms. He hasn't expected to be swept off his feet but Tao had gone off and done it. Who was he to complain?