“You idiot! If you damage my door, you’re gonna have to pay up!”

“Open.” Slam “Up, you hermit!” Eddie yelled through the door as he banged open the bedroom door, with Yohan dropping onto his bottom.

“Ow! What the hell?! Why are you barging into my home at 9am in the morning?! Don’t you know that people usually try to sleep in during the weekends?!”

“Nope, I don’t know. You think someone who works as an ER doctor would know about sleeping in? Come on, we don’t have all day! Didn’t you say you’re going to ‘work out’? Up! Come on!” Eddie bellowed, grabbing onto the nape of Yohan’s blue hoodie and pulling the struggling author along like a sack of potatoes.

“Wait! I need to use the bathroom!” Yohan grunted as he tried to pull off Eddie’s grip from his jacket.

“Nuh-uh. We’re leaving right now.”

“Wait! Wait! I need to take a dump! Let go, you idiot, I’m about to crap my pants!” Yohan screamed, punching his friend’s abdomen as he tried to make his voice panicked as possible.

“Oh. Then, let’s use the bathroom together. I’ll watch you go.” Eddie responded, stopping in his tracks.

“What the fuck?! You disgusting perv! Who the hell watches their friend take a shit?!”

“Language… Also, if you can keep up a conversation with me about using the toilet, you’re good to head out for a morning run at the beach, come on!” Eddie yelled out happily, bounding down the stairs as Yohan struggled to keep up with the joyful doctor.

~~~

Running his 5th lap around the beach, Yohan panted, struggling to keep going. Eddie whooped and hollered as he watched from the stairs, encouraging the author to run faster while he sipped on his venti iced matcha latte. Yohan glared up at his friend, flipping him off as he continued to jog around the area. He was exhausted, but it felt nice to be running around while watching the ocean waves come and go. He hadn’t had a chance to relax like this for the past week as he had been finishing up his draft for his first meeting with Andrew on Tuesday. The thought of Andrew soured his mood as he started to sprint down the hill. 

“Yo! Yohan, slow down or you’re gonna fall over, dude! HEY!” Yohan ignored his friend’s warning as he continued to sprint down the small hill. Just as he was reaching the foot of the sandy hill, a tall man with jet black hair and toned, tan muscles emerged from the right side, about to cross paths with the oncoming author.

“Fuck… hEY MOVE. MOVE AWAY!” Yohan yelled out, slamming hard, against the man in front of him, causing them both to topple over one another.

“Urgh…” the man groaned, his right arm still holding onto Yohan, who was on top of his chest.

Taking off his sunglasses, Andrew squinted at the bright sun as he looked down at the person who had crashed into him. His eyes widened, making eye contact with Yohan. Andrew panicked as his heart started to race with vigor, his first love was on top of him?! Scrambling off of Andrew’s bare abs, Yohan stared at the editor in horror, his face flushed pink. Of all the people he had to run into, he had to run into him?! What were the odds that they would meet each other like this again?!

The two men gaped at one another as bystanders stared down at them, confused. Andrew felt his ears turn red, realizing that Yohan could have easily heard his thrumming heartbeat. No! He heard it! Oh no… What should I do?! Andrew panicked, looking away from Yohan before wincing in pain. He glanced down at his bleeding palm… This was just like eleven years ago.

  Emerging from the crowd that had gathered around the two “colleagues”, Eddie sighed in relief upon seeing Yohan. Thankfully, he was unhurt; if May found out that her brother got hurt while exercising with him, she would probably nag at the ER doctor whenever she saw him… And Eddie did not want that to happen— he already heard enough from his mother!

“…Eddie, can you help him? It-it’s my fault he got hurt…” Yohan mumbled, still staring at Andrew blankly, his face hot with embarrassment. 

“Sir, are you okay? Yohan, what are you doing? Go get my first aid kit from my car.” Eddie ordered, tossing his keys at the author.

“R-right.” Yohan mumbled, running off to the parking lot before Andrew could reject their help.

“Um… it’s just a small scrape...” Andrew mumbled, feeling conscious of all the attention he was getting. This was so awkward! The editor pulled his Hawaiian shirt close, covering his exposed abs.

“Excuse me, everyone… Thanks for all your concern, but please give him some space. Thank you. I have the situation all under control.” Eddie addressed the crowd, not hearing what Andrew was muttering.

The crowd murmured as they slowly walked away from the pair, leaving them alone on the foot of the hill. Moving Andrew to the nearby bench, Eddie looked at Andrew’s wound, assessing the damage.

“Sorry, what were you saying before?” Eddie asked, smiling gently at Andrew.

“Huh? Oh. I was just saying that I’m fine. It’s only a little scrape.”

“It’s best to treat it immediately, though. It could get infected with all the sand and dirt on the wound. Sorry about my friend… I was trying to get him to exercise but I guess I made him work out too long. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“Uh, no. I’m good.” He wanted to say more, but what would he say?

Andrew glanced over at the parking lot, watching Yohan making his way back to them. His cheeks turned bright red at the thought of Yohan on top of him. He quickly looked away and down at the ground, his heart thumping like crazy. Why was he thinking about that, now of all times?! Aghh! Andrew hoped that the doctor next to him couldn’t hear his pounding heart— God, this was too embarrassing. 

Noticing Andrew’s bright cheeks and quickened pulse, Eddie slightly smirked—he didn’t think anyone would fall for his crabby friend. Hmm. Maybe he should leave…? It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Yohan to make another friend. Lost in his thoughts, Eddie didn’t hear Yohan approach them, until the writer nudged his friend’s back. Yohan handed the first aid kit to him while glancing at Andrew who was still avoiding eye contact with the author.

“… Sorry about that. Are you hurt anywhere else?” Yohan asked Andrew, squatting down next to the editor.

“Er… Nope. I’m good.”

“Okay… Uh. What’re you doing here at the beach?” 

“Huh? You two know each other?” Eddie looked up from Andrew’s wound.

“Yeah. He’s my new editor…” Yohan mumbled, glancing down at Andrew’s palm. Something was definitely weird… Why did this feel so familiar—

“Oh… Yohan, can you help him out? I need to go; there’s an emergency patient I have to see.” Eddie suddenly exclaimed, staring at his phone.

“Huh?! So suddenly? You’re not pulling my leg, are you?” Yohan gasped, panicked that Eddie was going to leave him all alone with Andrew.

“Nope, I really do need to go. Don’t worry, Yohan’s pretty good with first aid; it was nice to meet you!” Eddie addressed Andrew, waving his hand.

“Oh, thanks for helping me out.” Andrew smiled, nodding his thanks.

“Take good care of him, all right?” Eddie whispered to Yohan, winking at him before a huge smile broke out on his lips.

“Wait! Hey, uh… I’ll be right back. Eddie!” Yohan called out, running after his best friend.

“Dude! Why are you leaving?! I don’t—”

“Hey, this is your chance to get close to him! He is your new editor. Go on, help him and let me know what happens later!” Eddie chuckled, hightailing it out of there.

Yohan stared after his friend, shocked and feeling betrayed that his friend abandoned him with a stranger. He watched Eddie drive away before slowly turning to face Andrew who was trying to put on a band-aid on his palm. Yohan groaned; this was definitely the worst morning ever!

“Oh, for God’s sake…” 

**NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**