𝕗𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 | ᴇɴ-

𝟐

"Have you noticed something off with Heeseung-hyung?" I ask Sunoo across the wall. We are sitting in the empty baths of the swimming pool. I often come here to clear my thoughts and get away from the others for a while. Ever since Heeseung-hyung locked himself in his room with that weird fever I habituate the baths, and after he came out I just come here to get away from everything.

It all seemed so odd since the beginning and I can't make out the reason behind it. Just as I had started to conceive theories I'd heard Sunoo come in and sit on the other bath, so that we ended up sitting next to each other with only a wall between us.

"It seems strange," I hear him say now.

"I know. I kind of feel like he's hiding something."

He doesn't say anything and for a moment I hesitate whether I should confess what I thought I saw the other day.

"Actually... his eyes looked strange at breakfast yesterday," I say. "It was probably just the sun though."

We had been picking up after the others and I'd looked at him across the room as I felt his gaze on me. I was pretty sure I saw them glowing, but he turned away too quickly for me to make out what I'd seen properly. Then again, the dining room was always bright because of its big windows, so it could've easily been that. I didn't want to think too much of it, so I ignored it, but it had left an uneasy feeling in me.

"You're overthinking again," he says.

"I'm just worried, aren't—"

"Niki needs me."

"What?"

He stands up swiftly to leave.

"Sunoo!"

He spares a quick glance back and seems surprised to see me there. Hadn't he known I was here this whole time? It doesn't matter, the next second he is off and I follow.

We don't go far. The other swimming pool is down the hallway. I see Jungwon waiting by the entrance and Niki nearly running out.

"Niki, wait!" Sunghoon tries to follow after him but our maknae ignores him.

"Let him go," Jungwon says.

Sunoo tries to go with the youngest but he pushes him away too. I'm not sure what to do or who to go to, so I just stay in the middle trying to assess the situation.

"What happened?" Sunoo voices our thoughts. "What did you do?"

We all look at Sunghoon, who looks shaken and tired. These days he always looks tired.

"I didn't do anything."

"It doesn't really look like you didn't do anything!"

"Sunoo, calm down," I try but he seems distraught.

"You're lying."

He doesn't take his eyes off of Sunghoon, as if they are the only ones in the room. Why is he reacting like this?

"Sunoo, let it go," I say, stepping between them. He scoffs and leaves.

"What was that about?"

Jungwon stares at the place Sunoo had been standing in, contemplating. "I'll talk to him."

When he leaves it is just Sunghoon and I. He avoids my eyes, looking everywhere but at me.

"Are you okay?" I ask him.

"Yes."

"He doesn't mean it, you know? He's just..."

What? Even I don't know what just happened, or why Sunoo is acting like that. He is always bright and kind. Something is off.

"I know, hyung."

His shoulders hang and the bags under his eyes are prominent. What exactly happened when Heeseung-hyung came out of that room? I want to ask and talk to him but I know he won't say much now. Sunghoon needs time and space to open up about his feelings, so I give him some.

He walks away and I stay for a moment in the hallway. Without them it is silent. It makes goosebumps rise on my arm with a cold wave.