Hanahaki Strings • seventeen jihancheol

Chapter 26: New

Joshua

I woke up with the sound of my alarm ringing with a loud vibration on the wooden side table of my bed. I forgot to remove the weekend alarm which keeps on disrupting my supposedly rest.

Without much choice left, I stood up to wash my face so I can proceed to eat breakfast. I can't sleep again after being waken up by the alarm, anyway.

As I enter the bathroom to do my morning routine, I tried to recall what happened last night.

I remembered calling Jeonghan because I was so bored and I couldn't stop worrying about Seungcheol. He wasn't answering my calls or messages. Or am I just too clingy he finds it annoying? But I'm just genuinely worried about him. I couldn't help it.

Then I remember that Jeonghan sang for me! That's the last thing I can recall though. Maybe I had fallen asleep.

But remembering his voice... it was so sweet and soft. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and so I didn't finished hearing all of it.

After doing my usual morning routine, I went out of my room.

It's eerily silent. This is the first time I stayed here at the campus on weekends. Had I really known Seungcheol won't stay here, I would have gone home.

With a sigh, I head towards the cafeteria.

There's still so many students here, though. But I don't have someone else to talk to. I'm acquainted to many, but I don't really have other people who I consider as my friends. Wonwoo and Jihoon had always told me not to trust anyone at this school if their first approach to me is asking for a project or homework. That is something which will always be a mystery to me.

Anyway, I guess I'll have to endure this weekend alone. Geez, I won't stay here again. It's more bearable being alone at home than here. Atleast there, I can go to a mall or wherever or just play video games at my room. I don't have any games here with me.

Also, when 8 p.m. on Friday had passed, they will close the gates already and it will open again on 5 p.m. of Sunday. So I can't go out now.

When I entered the cafeteria, there's only a few students inside, and it's not as loud as the usual. It's so weird to see the campus this quiet.

I took the seat where we usually sit on. Unlike before, I'm alone.

"Well, this is my choice. I have to endure it," I mumbled quietly before I start to dig in my breakfast.

The food tastes so bland right now. Or maybe it was just what I thought. Does our taste bud really changes according to what we feel? Because this is the first time it tasted bland to me.

"Joshua hyung?"

I raised my head to see who just called me and I was a bit startled to see Soonyoung in front of me, carefully examining me while holding a tray of his own.

"Oh, hey Soonyoung," I awkwardly greeted him.

"Are you all alone, hyung?" He asked, roaming his eyes around.

I nodded, "Yeah. All my friends went home."

He nodded, but he didn't walk away. He seemed hesitant to say something as he opened his lips but then he would close it again.