to jihoon // ljh + ot13

― 15.

" he's...well, dead? "

—

the decision stressed hansol out for days. he was glad that the members didn't question him too much, despite their occasional questions and concerned glances whenever he spaced out more than normal. it wasn't the deciding part was hard: in fact, it was the easiest part. the thing the hard part was how to approach the members.

sure, he could trust them. but that doesn't mean he had the courage to go " hey, jihoon's dead " to the members. his only hope was to get some help from beomju, the only other person who could give him some support.

-

beomju sighed. he had attended the funeral with hansol earlier that week and didn't expect even more pressure coming his way.

" i understand. the sooner we get over it, the better. call the members now, we can talk about it here. " hansol nodded and went into their group chat. he took a deep breath before pressing the send button.

-

< seventeen ! >

chwenotchew

guys
can you come over right now?

hanangel

where?

chwenotchew

bumzu-hyung's studio
please say yes

saveshua

is it urgent?
like, really urgent?

chwenotchew

yes
please
i'm begging you

hanangel

we're getting the members now
i think some might have personal schedules
but we'll try to get them anyway
give us a good five to ten minutes

chwenotchew

thank you
see you later

-

around fifteen minutes later, all the members and beomju were together. the studio was a bit on the small side for thirteen people, but they could manage.

hansol felt his heart quicken and panic hit him like a truck. all the members had their eyes on hansol and he has never felt so nervous in his life.

beomju started, seeing hansol's nervous state: " we're here to talk - well announce - something about jihoon. " everyone immediately seemed interested at the mention of the former, and their full attention was on beomju and vernon.

" he...he's...well, dead? " an uncomfortable silence filled the room. seungcheol and soonyoung stared at hansol dead in the eye and the other members were wide-eyed. no one knew what to say for a good couple of minutes. beomju and hansol's eyes bounced from member to member, unsure of what their reactions could be.

" why didn't you guys say anything? " seungcheol managed to utter out. " it was his personal choice to keep quiet...he...i guess he didn't want to burden anyone. i just found out on accident? " seungcheol nodded. the silence continued until seungcheol signalled for the members to leave for practise.

—

end of chapter 15