To See The Moon

Facing Facts

     For a top-secret meeting for the purpose of learning illegal trades, everyone was strangely chill during the second meeting, holding casual chatters and passing around a few basketballs, waiting for the final people, Changbin and Hyunjin, to arrive.

     "I hate to break it to you, Innie, but in order to harmonize, the notes you sing have to actually have some sort of correlation to what Seungmin is singing," Chan said.

     Jeongin looked at Seungmin. "It looks like Channie hyung isn't appreciating our late birthday gift to him."

     "Yeah, but Innie, I can kind of agree with Channie hyung."

     "That's it, I hate you both!" Jeongin declared, launching himself off the stage and mockingly storming off.

     Chan shook his head in disbelief. "I get an out-of-key verse of Happy Birthday as my present. I feel so special."

     "Dang it, Channie hyung had a birthday and it was right in the week we had exams," Felix groaned. "And since my parents are probably going to ship me off after seeing my exam scores, I will never get to experience another party again."

     "I'm not worried!" Jisung said. "I ordered the answers and they came in the mail the day before the test. The answer to question 34 is ¾!"

     "Right, I will get a fraction answer for a budgeting question. VERY funny," Felix said, punching Jisung in the shoulder.

     "I really hope you're joking..." Chan said wearily, looking at Jisung.

     "Jisung's not smart enough to order exam answers off the black market."

     "Seungmin, shut it! You actually studied!" Jisung said.

     "Like I was supposed to. Is that a problem, or..."

     "Imagine having to do exams."

     "Shut up, Minho hyung!"

     "You know, Felix, if you broke your right arm instead, you'd have been able to skip the exam."

     "Be right back, going to go find a window to chuck Jisung out of. And then myself."

     It was more or less peaceful the entire time.

     That was until Changbin stormed into the gym, his eyes locking onto Minho like a target acquired. Catching the older boy in surprise enough to grab him by the collar and shove him against the stage.

     "Changbin!" Chan exclaimed. "What's gotten into you!?" Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing.

     Changbin ignored him, looking at Minho with a murderous glare. It almost made the others back away, despite not being in the line of fire.

     "I met with a contact," Changbin said, his words soft but threatening, like ice about to crack under pressure. "He told me something... interesting, but I'm sure it won't surprise you."

     Minho's expression had originally been one of momentous surprise at being cornered. However, his eyes got a sad gloom over them at Changbin's words. "So you know, huh?"

     "Don't act so pitiful!" Changbin growled, the volume of his voice increasing exponentially. "You knew all along, didn't you!? You knew that everything Hyunjin and I had ever been taught was lies, and you just played along! I hope you got some good laughs out of that!"

     Minho's arms fell by his side in surrender. Despite Changbin's strong grip on his collar, he could easily break away. But he chose to stay in this place of vulnerability if it meant he could quell the situation.