A whole month later and Jihoon is finally joining them. Chan wonders what they talked about with Seungcheol and Soonyoung a month ago when Jihoon asked to talk to them in private. It does not seem like a bad thing because Soonyoung, the ones who gives away what is happening between the trio with his mood, was actually happy that day and every day after that while Seungcheol started flirting back with Joshua and Mingyu was right, it is sickeningly sweet.
Chan is the first to look up when Jihoon took a seat next to Vernon. "Hello" Jihoon greets them all with a small smile "Sorry for leaving for so long" He adds. They stare in disbelief. Minghao was the first to break into a smile. He giggles shaking his head, removing the negative emotions from the air around them. Chan smiles slightly because his hyung looks cute like that.
"Welcome back Hyung" He says and Jihoon smiles slightly. Chan smiles at Jihoon, glad that he is back. None of the have the same classes with Jihoon, even though they are in the same department with him and Vernon, they hardly see Jihoon in the halls when they walk to their lectures. Jihoon has not been on campus either for the month that he went missing and they couldn't reach him because his phone was off or unavailable. Chan was worried and scared, after all, he has come to learn a lot about his hyung when he actually started paying attention and trying to get to know Jihoon instead of just blending him into his life like before, so, he is glad that Jihoon is fine.
Youngjae walks to their table with a smile and hands Jihoon a tray with food. "Thank you Hyung" Jihoon says and Youngjae nods. He greets the group and goes back to his friend group after telling Jihoon to finish it all. Jihoon sigh quietly, picking up his chopstick and eating.
"Ah~" Chan look across the table to Joshua and Seungcheol. Joshua is feeding Seungcheol a strawberry with a cute adoring smile on his face. "Pick a fruit Cheol" Chan hates how lovey-dovey they are sometimes.
"I love the fact that my OTP is sailing, but y'all, it's too early for all that lovey-dovey shit" Jeonghan says adding an exaggerated scowl to emphasis his point. Joshua just rolls his eyes at Jonghan's statement as he continues to happily feed Seungcheol fruits from their shared plate. Yes, they share a plate.
Chan only turns away from the two when his phone vibrates. He takes it out if his pocket and throws Vernon a questioning gaze when he reads his name on the screen. Shrugging, he opens the message and reads it.
Vernonie: 'Is Jihoon Hyung crying?'
Chan looks up from his phone and toward Jihoon. He purses his lips when he sees his hyung subtly wipe his left cheek. Is his Jihoon-hyung really crying? But what happened to him? Why is he crying, if he is that is? Does Jihon even cry?
Chan: 'I don't know, if I am being honest'
Chan and Vernon share concerned looks.
Jihoon can't be crying, right?
<.>
Another month later and Joshua is basically joined to the hip with Seungcheol now. Chan can see them, it's only a matter of time before they announce that they are in a relationship. He is literally counting the days. Chan is also counting the day Jihoon will break. Unlike the others who are rooting for Cheolsoo, Chan is worried for Jihoon. It has come to the point where he does not talk anymore. During their hangouts as a group, Jihoon would be found a little far from them, looking frustrated as he does his work. He told them beforehand that his semester end Researches are coming up so he won't be able to hang out with them as much or talk to them much, but every time he is with them he is either on his phone or on his computer. Jihoon does not even acknowledge their presence anymore, not even Seungcheol or Soonyoung and that has Chan thinking that maybe there is more to it than just school, maybe school is just the cover up for Jihoon. Could it be?
During dinner time when they join Jihoon, who has a paper in front of him scrolling through his phone biting his pen, Chan almost changes his mind about his theory. He almost does, if he had not seen the way Jihoon looks at Seungcheol for a split second. That millisecond glance filled with so many emotions, emotions that Chan has never seen on Jihoon's face ever. He looks around, looking for signs of anyone else having seen that look. He cannot be the only one, how is he the only one? Somebody tell him how?!
"What are you doing hyung?" Seokmin asks Jihoon. The younger take the paper and reads through it "Andy Warhol, Picasso, Van Gogh, Michaelangelo— what is this Hao?"
"Names of some of the greates artists of the past" Minghao answers. "Are you doing research on the history of art Hyung?"
"No" Jihoon says asking for his paper back "I have to recreate a modern version of one of these artists' paintings" Minghao, the only other Painting student looks at Jihoon with wide eyes. Chan thinks it might be a hard thing to do judging by Minghao's reaction, because Chan does not know bat shit about painting, he can't even sketch.
The conversation would have continued if Joshua did not join them at the table, making a beeline for Seungcheol. Everyone turn their attention to Joshua and Seungcheol, teasing them and making silly comments. Chan notices how Soonyoung takes a sit next to Jihoon and they begin talking in quiet whispers. Jihoon and Soonyoung's whisper game is no joke, if they decide they are going to whisper that day, then not a single soul will be able to hear what they are saying. It's as frustrating as it is amazing.
One thing they are whispering, the next thing Jihoon is dropping his head on Sooyoung's shoulder as the older pat his back softly, then Jihoon is getting up and joining the cafeteria line. Chan makes his way to the line as well, hopng to get a chance to talk to his yung in private. He unfortunately is standing behind Kihyun who is standing Behind Jihoon. Chan knows that apart from the group, Kihyun and Youngjae are the closest to Jihoon, Chan believes that if they all were not a part of their own friend groups they would have formed one. Yeah that close. He does not know how to feel about that, but he guesses it's a good thing.
"Come here" Chan hears before he sees Jihoon wrap his arms around Kihyun's waist. The older begins to sway lightly softly singing the lyrics to 'Don't give up on me' by Andy Grammer. Chan smiles slightly, he does not know why Jihoon needs to hear that song or why Kihyun is giving him a hug, but he is glad someone is able to comfort Jihoon. Even though he never knew his hyung as one to like physical affection.
Chan would like to believe that Jihoon is just stressed and worried about his school. The way he is swamped with his school, his internship and his workshop, Jihoon ought to be exhausted, but Chan isn't stupid. He knows that is has something to do with Seungcheol as well. Jihoon has been ignoring Seungcheol like he's the plague, he does not know if Jihoon is avoiding him, but when the group is together Jihoon ignores Seungcheol's existence completely. Does that mean Wonwoo was right? That Seungcheol will replace Jihoon in his life with Joshua? That those eighteen years of friendship have come to an end? Exactly why has everything been going downhill for Jihoon and Seungcheol's friendship ever since the necklace incident?
Is it because Jihoon is hiding the truth about the necklace that hangs on Seungcheol's neck at the moment or is the something much more to Jihoon's change?
Chan might just be overthinking it.
<.>
Thoughts?
