At The End of The Day

Part 2

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Taeyong was puzzled as he stared at his phone, wondering why Jaehyun hadn’t responded to his messages. He had seen him online just minutes ago, and when he checked again, there were even some lovely admiration quotes tweeted from Jaehyun’s account. But despite that, his friend hadn’t replied to the message Taeyong sent four hours earlier.

*Did he forget? Or is he sleeping?* Taeyong mused, frowning. It wasn’t like Jaehyun to leave him hanging; he always made it a point to respond.

*Maybe he’s just really busy,* Taeyong reasoned with himself, trying to shake off the gnawing worry in his gut. It was a possibility, after all. Jaehyun had a lot on his plate with classes and extracurricular activities, and sometimes that could lead to him getting overwhelmed.

Still, a part of Taeyong couldn’t help but feel a twinge of concern. He knew he shouldn’t let it get to him, but it was hard to ignore the sinking feeling that something was off. He glanced at the clock, noting how late it had gotten, and finally decided to put his phone down.

With a sigh, he turned off the light and crawled into bed, hoping that he’d wake up to a message from Jaehyun in the morning. As he closed his eyes, he tried to push aside the anxious thoughts swirling in his mind, telling himself that everything was probably fine. But in the stillness of the night, a quiet worry lingered, leaving him restless as he drifted into sleep.

When Taeyong stepped out of his unit the next morning, he immediately noticed that Jaehyun wasn’t around. He must have already left for university, but Taeyong felt a pang of disappointment. Jaehyun hadn’t mentioned he would be leaving early, and while he didn’t owe Taeyong an explanation, it was unusual for them not to connect first thing in the morning.

Taeyong prided himself on being a supportive best friend. He wasn’t toxic; he just enjoyed their morning routine, where they often shared breakfast or chatted about their plans for the day. Today felt off, and the absence of that familiarity left him feeling unsettled.

Jaehyun, who usually would have been waiting for him—perhaps cooking breakfast or just hanging out—was nowhere to be found. A single message from him would have sufficed, yet there was nothing. No text, no doorbell ring.

Did he really forget? Taeyong wondered. Is something bothering him? The thoughts raced through his mind, each one adding to his growing concern. He tried to convince himself that Jaehyun must be stressed or overwhelmed. After all, they were in their third year of college, and the workload was heavier than ever. Taeyong himself was busy, so he could understand how things could slip one’s mind.

Still, something felt different, a shift that made Taeyong uneasy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it. Maybe Jaehyun was just really busy—he repeated the mantra like a soothing balm, hoping it would ease his worries. But deep down, Taeyong couldn’t help but feel that the bond they shared was being tested in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

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It had been a week, and Jaehyun's behavior had become increasingly erratic. He barely texted Taeyong anymore and had stopped going to university with him altogether. Jaehyun had told him not to wait for him, but he never explained why.

Taeyong just wished that if Jaehyun were struggling, he would reach out and talk about it—after all, they were best friends. It hurt to feel this distance grow between them.

During break, the three of them sat together, sharing snacks. Taeyong was exhausted from sleepless nights, and by the way, Jaehyun's still not talking to him. Meanwhile, Jungwoo seemed to thrive, radiating a carefree energy that only highlighted Taeyong’s own turmoil. The contrast stung, amplifying the loneliness that was settling into Taeyong’s chest.