After The Dance

❁23❁

Placing a suitcase on his bed with a huff, Yeosang pulls on the zipper and hears the satisfying sound of it opening. He starts grabbing his neatly folded clothes from his closet and began placing them in the suitcase, making it sure that it was organized and that it still had some space for more clothes.

The babysitter had left the Choi's home a little over an hour ago. The image of Jongho's heartbroken face that he saw in the rear view mirror when he was leaving had now imprinted itself in his mind. Still surprised by the fact that he actually told the younger about him leaving tomorrow. At the time he only said it as an excuse, but when he thought about it a second time while he drove back to his apartment.

Maybe it was for the best.

It was selfish of him, yes, but Yeosang needed it. While packing, thoughts began to play out in his mind. He wondered if his friends were willing to keep their friendship even if it was long distance. He wondered if Sungho would burst out crying again if he found out that his babysitter left him again and was forced to get along with a new one. And he wondered if he would get over Jongho and his feelings for him while he was in abroad.

The male felt a dull throb in his heart just thinking about. Yeosang could only assume that the younger knew that this was the last time they would see each other after a while. And the older wouldn't be surprised if somehow either of the two found someone else while they were apart from each other. But again, the thought of it pained him. The babysitter has had his feelings for the other male for a few years while Jongho only had them for a few months?

Yeosang thought that it was unfair.

Not realizing that he was so far in his thoughts, The male suddenly felt his cheeks were damp. Lifting his finger to swipe it over his cheeks, he realized that tears had escaped his eyes. Yeosang let out a pained scoffed, imagining how he looks so pathetic and broken right now. Yet, he let a couple more tears drip down, allowing his emotions to break free in the form of the liquid.

He resumed his packing, not caring that some of his clothing had small wet spots on them.

An hour had passed, the babysitter had managed to pack his belongings in a suitcase and another shoulder bag, and had stop crying. His tears had eventually dried up on his cheeks, his nose slightly clogged up, and his puffy eyes were slightly red around the pupil. With a sigh, he placed his bowl of mac n' cheese on the coffee table while beside it was a box of chicken. The mac n' cheese just had to remind of Sungho. He ponders if the boy has realized that they may not see each other again, though the older has a hunch that it may take him a while to accept it.

Biting into the fried chicken, Yeosang sighs in delight. Feeling a little better once he had began eating his worries away. His eyes focusing on the crime series that he became fond of that played on his TV screen. Memories in his head began rolling in like a movie's end credits. Becoming sad that some things were coming to an end.

The male gnaws on his lips as he abruptly got an idea. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he  hesitates for a moment before calling a number and waiting for the person on the other line to pick up.

“Hey, I need a favour”

-

Students, teachers and other guests crowded the school's auditorium. It's the day of the school's closing and each student were having different feelings about it. Some were happy that they could get a break, others were already dreading for the next school year, while others were anxious about what's to become of them in the future. All of that was already happening even before the actual ceremony could start.

Jongho held onto his cap as his eyes scanned the rows of seats to find his friends among the sea of people. It wasn't long before his eyes met Yunho's and that the male had waved him over to their spot. The younger quickly headed over to avoid getting his spot taken by a student. He sat down on the white clothed chair that was next to Wooyoung.

The seven of them felt the tension around them but none of them brought it up as they conversed with each other. It wasn't long before the MC of the progam spoke into his mic that the voices in the audience had died down. All of them focusing on the ceremony.

The ceremony was now done after 2 hours. Many still lingered around to take pictures with friends and family while some began making their way out of the school. Jongho and his hyungs was part of the group where they stayed to take pictures with each other.

“Alright, hope you guys are hungry because we still have the after party at our place” Jongho's father told them after taking the last group picture of the friends. The man with his wife and the other parents of the males began walking to leave to head for the parking lot. Before Jongho could get in his parents' car, San had stopped him.

“Jongho” The older and the rest of their friends had gather near the youngest, making him confused.

“What?”

“How are you feeling? About, you know... Him” San has been hesitating about bringing the topic up, but he needed to do it since he had a favour to do. Jongho found the sudden question odd but answered none the less.

“What can I say? I mean, he's probably already gone while we were doing the ceremony. It's sad that I couldn't even say goodbye” His hyung saw right through his calm demeanour.

“Well what if I told you that Yeosang is still at the airport, waiting for you to see him off”  The younger eyes grew wide. His hyung was still here and was waiting for him? He looks at his hyungs to see that they weren't joking.

“I know a shortcut to the airport and our parents wouldn't mind if we were a few minutes late to our own after party” Seonghwa twirled the keys to his parents mini van on his fingers. And who was Jongho to refuse the offer?