There's a popular saying : Time heals all wounds.

Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.

15 years is a long time - long enough for most scars to fade, for most pain to dull. Eunwoo had found that time didn't necessarily heal much, but rather buried it.

He doesn't think about that time in his life very often, and when he does, it makes him a little sad, but it doesn't haunt him anymore, not like it used to.

Sometimes, he does wonder how Rian is doing. Where he is now, what kind of man he's become. He wonders because he simply doesn't know.

After Rian was sent away, Eunwoo had tried to visit him, more times than he could count... But each time, the answer was always the same: No. Rian didn't want to see him, and he never found out why - whether it was from shame, anger, or something else entirely.

The second Eunwoo turned 17 and graduated, he packed all that he owned and left Russia as fast as he could. That last year of school had been too much - balancing the emotional weight of what happened, trying to visit Rian at the treatment center, trying to finish school. He needed to escape.

That wasn't the only reason he left Russia, though. America had more promising opportunities, more chances to start over. He's always wanted to be a teacher, and the schools in America were desperate for them. The pay wasn't great, but it was something new- something that might help him move on with his life.

It's been 13 years since then. A long time - long enough for him to grow up and learn how to live with the quiet.

He's 30 now, and teaches first graders now, at a small school in New York.

He likes it here. The city's loud and busy - people always rushing somewhere. It took a bit of time for him to adjust, but learning to do so was actually something he had grown to enjoy.

"Good morning."

Eunwoo kicks open the door to the teachers' lounge, one hand balancing a bunch of workbooks and the other clutching a coffee cup. He's slightly out of breath - a product of fighting the wind on the walk over. If it weren't for his calm voice, he'd seem look like an absolute wreck.

"Morning," Comes a short reply from a man sprawled across one of the lounge couches, eyes fixated on the news channel playing on the tv. "How was your date?"

Eunwoo clicks his tongue, letting the pile of workbooks drop onto a large table with a thud. "The same as they always are."

"Ah. So it was terrible."

"Not terrible," Eunwoo sighs "Just nothing worth my my time. He and I didn't really have much in common."

He's aware that his dating life is... bleak. He was popular in high school, sure - but only because he was the only openly gay dude there. Back then, all the jocks and curious boys wanted to see what it was like to "try a twink".

But dating as an adult, especially in America, is quite difficult. And Eunwoo has certain standards that have never been met.

Chase smirks. "Couldn't have been that bad, considering you didn't come home last night. You're too picky, man."

"You're just salty because I left you to watch Drag Race all by yourself."

"Eh? Of course I'm angry! You know how long we waited for the showdown?!"

Chase is... a unique individual. He doesn't have too many hobbies aside from working out and playing video games, and he's way too outgoing for his own good. Eunwoo had met him on his first day here - Chase had offered his spare room until Eunwoo found a place of his own. That turned into them just moving into a townhome together and splitting rent.

Two single guys in their 30s with no romantic prospects - it worked out fine.

"Well, that's why we recorded it." Eunwoo says lightly, taking a sip of his coffee before sinking onto the couch beside him.

Chase just grumbles in response, messing with the whistle around his neck. "Hey, when're you leaving again?"

"Hm?"

"To Russia."

Oh. Right.

Eunwoo glances away. He had completely forgotten about that. With state testing coming up, he's been too focused on lesson plans to think about his little "vacation".

"This weekend, I think." He says finally, voice soft - almost regretful. He shouldn't feel so dreadful about it, but he does. He's afraid that the moment he sets foot back there, everything he's buried will come rushing back.

A light kick to his leg pulls him out of his thoughts.

"Don't look so miserable," Chase says. "Didn't you want to go back anyway? Better pay, new start... and you get to reunite with your old boyfriend."

Eunwoo flushes scarlet. "You-" He stutters, shoving Chase's shoulder. "He's not my boyfriend. We've never dated, and I've never felt that way about him."

Chase just shrugs. "My bad. I ain't used to seeing dudes that close."

Eunwoo gives him a look - the kind that says I'm done with you. "This is also why I want to go back, so I that I don't have to deal with your ass."

"Oh, you love me."

Chase states it like it's obvious, because it is. They're good friends. Chase might've been the classic jock type back in the day, but he's grown up - for the most part.

-

Chase drives Eunwoo to the airport early Saturday morning. The city is still half asleep, lights dimmed and streets quiet. It had rained only a few hours prior, leaving everything in a soft, silver sheen.

"You sure you've got everything?"

"Yeah, I think so." Eunwoo says softly, gripping the strap of his backpack. Of course he has everything packed - he'd stayed up all night checking, then rechecking. Maybe it's his OCD, or maybe he just needed the distraction from what's coming.

"It'll be fine." Chase glances over, catching the tension in his friend's shoulders. "It's not like it'll be forever." He tries to lighten the mood a bit. "You'll be calling me in a week complaining how bored you are."

"You mean the other way around?" Eunwoo arches an eyebrow, chuckling.

Chase smirks, leaning forward onto the steering wheel. "Just a few months."

A few months. That's a long time.

Out the window, a plane lifts off, its blinking lights vanishing into the pale dawn.

"Eunwoo, seriously. Just don't overthink it." Chase's tone softens, a rare edge of sincerity breaking through.

"Yeah. I know."

Eunwoo steps out of the car, the cool morning air hitting his skin. He grabs his suitcase from the trunk, it's wheels dragging loudly against the rocky, wet cement underneath.

"Hey!" Chase calls out just as Eunwoo starts towards the entrance. "If you run into that guy - Rian, right? Don't overthink that either."

Eunwoo stills, hand tightening around the handle of his suitcase. "I'll text you when I land," He shouts over the growing noise.

"You better! I expect a good morning and goodnight call! Don't forget about me! Have a safe flight - I love you!"

Eunwoo laughs. For someone who doesn't know much about gay people, Chase sure acts the part.

-

The flight is long - too long. Usually Eunwoo doesn't mind flying, but ten hours of stale air and restless shifting in a cramped seat is enough to make him grateful to be anywhere else but that plane.

"Теперь вы можете покинуть свои места. Благодарим за полёт и желаем приятного пребывания в Москве, Россия. (Thank you for flying, and enjoy your stay here in Moscow, Russia.)"

The familiar sound of Russian gives Eunwoo an odd sense of comfort - of home, even. He still can't understand a word of it.

"Excuse me-" His voice comes out small as he tries to squeeze past a large group of people blocking the aisle. "Uhm - pardon - Двигаться! (Move it!)"

It comes out sharper than he intended, the old Russian phrase tumbling off his tongue like muscle memory from his time with Maksim.

The group of men all pause and turn to glare at him.

"Ahem. Thank you." he mutters quickly, cheeks flushed as he slips past. By gods.... This is already a disaster.

"EUNWOO!"

Wait - did he hear that correctly?

He looks up, scanning around the crowd until his eyes land on someone. Well kept, hair slicked back, dressed in a sharp suit.

He blinks, doing a double take. No way.

He doesn't even think before rushing forward, colliding into his friend hard enough to knock the breath out of both of them. Maksim's arms catch him instantly, solid and steady.

"Eunwoo god, I missed you so much. How was your flight?"

Eunwoo pulls back, still grinning. Maksim looks older now - sharper, maybe - but his eyes are the same.

"It was okay." Eunwoo says, taking a step back to look him over. "You look so fancy. What's with the expensive clothes?"

Maksim scoffs, brushing at his tie. "It's my work attire. Got a problem with it?"

"Not at all. It looks sexy." Eunwoo sticks out his tongue, winks, and brushes past him with a laugh.

They make their way outside, the cold Russian air instantly nipping at Eunwoo's nose. He'd forgotten k[ how brutal the winters are here. A snowflake lands on his cheek, and he blinks up at the cloudy sky. "It's snowing?"

"Why do you look so afraid?" Maksim laughs as they walk towards a sleek black car that sticks out like a sore thumb in the lot. "Right here."

Eunwoo stops in his tracks, staring at it. "This car is yours? What happened to that old SUV?"

"Sheila? Her time was up when the hood fell off." Maksim sighs, looking sad. It was his first car.

"Right... So you got an Audi A6 instead?"

"Got it from work," Maksim says casually, grabbing Eunwoo's suitcase and sliding it into the trunk. "Complimentary gift."

Once they're both inside, Eunwoo takes a moment to breathe in the new-leather smell. "So what exactly do you do again?" He asks, breaking the ice.

It had been easy to keep in touch at first, but life caught up - jobs, rent, responsibilities. Messages grew shorter, calls less frequent.

"I'm a corporate sports sponsor." Maksim syas, tapping the steering wheel as the GPS hums in the background.

"Oh, wow."

"You don't know what that is, do you?" Maksim teases.

"I do too! I'm not stupid you know-"

"I don't know," Maksim interrupts, grinning. "America could've fried your brain."

"Shut up, would you." Eunwoo swats his leg. "You just give athletes money and stuff for them showing off your brand."

"Yeah, more or less." Maksim chuckles, glances over every now and then. "You still plan on touring schools here? Any idea where you're starting?"

Eunwoo shrugs. "Not yet. I'll figure that out later." He yawns, stretching in his seat. "Thanks again for letting me stay with you."

"Of course, but we won't be heading to my place just yet."

"Oh? Why?"

"I told Mama that you were coming, and she's so excited. She's been up since six this morning cooking for you."

The car takes a sharp turn, and Eunwoo's hands slam down on the console. "AH!"

Maksim bursts out laughing

"Good to see you still suck at driving."

"Yeah," Maksim grins, taking another turn just sharp enough to make eunwoo grab the handle. "Welcome home.