Hanahaki Strings • seventeen jihancheol

Chapter 59: Of Outburst and Disbelief

Joshua

"What happened to us, Cheol?"

As soon as I asked that, Seungcheol quickly averted his eyes away from us. I glanced at Jeonghan and he was staring at Seungcheol with something similar to... longing.

So I'm not the only one who really noticed how Seungcheol is avoiding us, huh?

"W-what do you mean?" Seungcheol asked, still not glancing in our direction.

My brows furrowed, "You know what I mean, Cheol. And please, look at us?"

For the next few moments, no one moved nor said a thing. I remained staring at Seungcheol, waiting for him to say something. 

But instead, he let out a deep sigh, then he slowly tilted his head in our direction, meeting Jeonghan's eyes briefly before training it on mine.

"I don't know what you actually mean by your question, Josh. Can you make it clear?" Seungcheol asked.

"Cheol," I called him, "I don't know when it started but I just noticed that one day... you've been so tense around us, around me. You won't even talk to me, let alone glance at me. Things become awkward between us."

"It... it..." Seungcheol stuttered, then he heaved out a frustrated sigh as he ruffled his hair.

I waited for him to answer for a few seconds, but he still didn't respond. It made my shoulders drop. Instead of pushing him, I just turned to Jeonghan.

"And Jeonghan..." I faced him who seemed surprised when I called him out.

"W-what?"

"Ever since that day we fought because of Hyungwon, things went awkward between us two. Even though we settled things already, there still seemed to be lingering tension between you and me. Sure, we hang out and joke around like usual. But I know you noticed it's not the same anymore."

Silence.

Both of them stared at me with wide eyes after what I said. Their lips parted, words seemed to be caught on their throat.

Do they really think I wouldn't notice?

I admit, I was oblivious about it at first. Being surrounded by all our friends, I didn't notice it that much. Probably because just like what they described me to be; naive, which is why I didn't catch up immediately. 

But as soon as I noticed it, I was so confused. I would understand Jeonghan if things become awkward with us. I unintentionally hurt him with my words, but Seungcheol? We never had any misunderstanding that would make him distance himself from me.

"I'm sorry, Shua," Jeonghan suddenly spoke, breaking me out of my trance. I looked at him and our eyes met. I'm not great at reading someone's eyes but if I'm not mistaken, I could see how sincere and apologetic Jeonghan seemed as we stared at each other.

"About what?" I asked.

"If you feel like things went downhill between us. I didn't mean to make you feel like that," he said.

I shook my head, "I would understand the rift between us. I hurt you and begged for forgiveness, which you quickly gave. It's not hard to forget it, I know. I'm just... really sad that it happened between us."

He looked down, "Me too..."

"Are... are you still mad at me, Han?" I asked in a low voice, almost inaudible if we're not so close to each other.