Step by Step [TO1 ROMEYOU 1]

CHAPTER 11

     »Everything going on right now is not really right, you know?« Chihoon tried to choose his words carefully while looking at Jerome, who surely knew what was coming next. The other's even stopped eating, the situation seemed to become more serious than they thought. They planned on talking about it in a comfortable atmosphere while eating delicious food. To loosen the tension, Jaeyun filled his mouth with rice and proceeded „Twe thing wiw Donggeon haw to stop...« he said as he lifted another spoon full of rice. Jisu next to him stopped his hand and suggested Jaeyun to chew first. However, it worked. The other's started eating as well, even Jerome picked up a piece of mango and started munching cutely.

»You are being hurt by this more than you thought.« Jisu admitted. Jerome looked at his group of friends, nodding collectively.

»Guys wait... I know. I promise I'll stop it.« He said as he put down the strawberry he wanted to eat. »I feel like....he already noticed that I know he is my old friend and started avoiding me.« He continued, eating the strawberry in one go.

»Oh, really?« Woonggi voiced with surprise.

»It may sound painful, but probably it's the best for you.« Minsu started piling up some trash on the side.

»Minsu knows?« Jerome asked in a sad tone. He just nodded in response.

»Donggeon was often there for me, but now he kind of...vanished. As if I never existed. It's so hard to decide. I feel like I can't leave it unsolved, but at the same time I just want to throw the lion away.« Jerome wanted to get out the keychain but actually left it a home. Usually he would bring it every day, carrying it in his pocket. The other's remained silent. It seemed best to let Jerome sort and voice his feelings and thoughts without influencing them.

»Why is he like that suddenly...« He said quietly, looking at a fly sitting down on a piece of a cut apple and Woonggi's hand suddenly slapping it.

»You know, lions are sensitive.« Minsu said for comfort.

Even though Jerome couldn't recall his best friend's face, he surely remembered their fights. Disagreeing on which game to play, who to play with, being jealous of each other when they saw the other playing with other kids. But his friend never let Jerome know. He became distant, and didn't want to talk. Trying to avoid and ignore Jerome when he was mad.

»Right...he always became quiet when we fought. I can't even say we fought...he just kept ignoring me.« Jerome said while trying to find an explanation. In the same moment, Jisu and Jaeyun looked at each other, puzzled. Jisu turned back to Jerome.

»Wait, you're talking about Donggeon? Quiet and ignorant when mad?« He exchanged eye contact with Jaeyun once again.

»That doesn't sound like Donggeon tho...« Jaeyun finished their thoughts. 

Jerome couldn't understand what they were talking about, yet he just ignored it and thought about his next actions. 

»I am not a child anymore. I can't just walk away from this issue...« Jerome shifted his stance, uncomfortably. The interested eyes of the others' demanded for a further explanation. 

»I guess I will just ask him, talk to him. If he says it's not his keychain, I'll quit it.« He continued while playing with one of Jaeyun's pencils. 

»What if it's his, though?« Chihoon still looked concerned, watching every reaction of the other boys. 

»I haven't worked out a plan for this kind of outcome yet.« Jerome answered giggling. Probably he felt a piece of happiness filling his heart when thinking about this possibility to happen.