~ Kim Eugene ~

"I'm doing great!" She grinned, "Umm... Were you hanging out with your friends?"

"Yeah. We just got ready to get going, and this is my best buddy, Shin Ro, from our same department."

Stella looked at Shin. 

Shin nodded at her, "Hi."

"Hey, I heard a lot about you. Never gotta talk to you though. And… He is Adan, my best friend. You guys know him, right?"

Adan glanced at Shin and Eugene. Shin also glanced back at him. Shin seemed a little sobered up, looking here and there to avoid Adan's gaze.

"Oh!" Shin tried to pull a smile, "Hahaha, what is there to hear about me? You are the hot talk of our University."

Stella laughed heartily, "Am I? People just exaggerate about everything."

Shin didn't reply. Eugene looked at his watch and said, "Stella, aren't you running out of time? Let's catch up tomorrow at the University if we run into each other again."

"Yeah, let's do that", after a pause, she asked Eugene, "Are you guys heading out together? Do you stay together…?"

Eugene looked surprised, Shin also looked at her with a little frown, "Huh? No no. We don't live together. I will just drop him off... I especially asked Shin to crash at my place for tonight, but he insisted on going home." Eugene laughed and looked at Shin with a pout.

Stella glanced over Shin and said, "Oh! Nevermind, I just asked. Take care on your way back and good night." She smiled innocently.

"Yeah, you too," Eugene smiled back.

In the meantime their cab came. Eugene opened the door and let Shin go in first. Then he got in and closed the door and waved 'bye' at Stella. Stella smiled and nodded her head. 

They took off.

"Did you see? That Adan was acting so cocky, just like a bastard! He didn't even say a single 'Hi' to us!" Eugene fumed up.

Shin didn't respond. He kept looking outside the window quietly.

Eugene continued his grievances, "Hah! They are like a dog and its master, not a boyfriend-girlfriend or best friend's relationship."

Now Shin spoke up without looking at Eugene, "Adan has always been indifferent to everything and everyone except for Stella and his best friend Victor."

Eugene frowned, "How did you know?"

"I just know… I have seen them… and do you know why she asked you that?"

"What? That whether we live together…?"

"Yeah…"

"No... Why?"

Shin didn't say anything. He kept gazing at the bright shops, streets with bustling people, busy cars, small vendors and dazzling bars.

 Eugene had a hunch. 

He shook his head and sighed,"Shin, are you worrying if Stella asked me that knowing the fact that you are a gay?"

Shin flinched, yet said nothing.

Eugene continued,"I know...I understand your insecurities. I know how society works. Despite being a 'Bi', I can date a nice girl and settle down, curtaining the fact that I dated a guy or two, frequented Gay Bars before or may still like and love a guy…" he paused, "but you can't, you can only date a guy and won't even look at a 'Bi' person... and the fact that society will always see you like an alien or some weirdo. I know how much you had to suffer and will from these social humiliations and gossips…"

Eugene paused and sighed again, "Shin, I do know how much you have suffered by some bastards, but you have friends like Jade, Lai and Leah." 

He cleared his throat, "Moreover, you have me, we know each other from our Middle School. Has it been 8 years? Or 9? We know each other like the palm of our hands. So why are you worrying unnecessarily? I will beat the shit out of anyone who looks down on you. Don't worry Shin, you have me…I will always be by your side, I will always be the friend whom you trust the most and seek comfort, I will always be the one whom you lean on...so don't worry and cheer up." He grinned, yet his eyes didn't have a single touch of happiness. He felt like someone was choking him, twisting his heart, yet he smiled to assure Shin.

Shin turned his head towards him and looked at his eyes. For a moment, he felt like he was captivated by Eugene's words.

Shin smiled, "My dummy," and hugged him tightly.

It took Eugene by surprise. He covered his mouth to not let out any sound.

"I feel so lucky, you know, that I met you." Shin mumbled. 

Few minutes passed but still Shin didn't buzz. Huh? Eugene suddenly heard a low soft snore.

*PFFT*

Shin had fallen asleep with his chin on Eugene's shoulder. He carefully put Shin's head on his shoulder and patted his head. He looked outside and smiled.

All the memories, their first meet, friendship and everything they went through together, flooded back to him.

He sank himself in the seat, resting his head against the window, reminiscing about a summer 9 years back. When he was 11 years old and studying in Grade 6, a quiet yet rebellious half Asian boy came to his school…