↱REPUTATION↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

열여덟째

The walk back to his own dorm felt twice as long as usual.

He felt a heavy weight on his shoulders that made his chest feel even tighter.

He might have just made a huge mistake in possibly saving the mangled parts of their friendship.

Hongjoong was sure that was no longer possible now and in the end he'd acted like an asshole, said things he didn't mean to and couldn't be honest about how he felt.

You really fucked yourself over this time, he thought with a heavy sigh.

Despite the beginnings of spring the nights still got cold, only made worse by the breeze that whistled through the trees and made the leaves dance.

Hongjoong slipped his jacket on only to find that it reeked entirely of Seonghwa and his body wash and his shampoo and just him.

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket and tried his best to ignore the scent that permeated the fabric.

Curious to see what all he missed, and to try and distract himself from the thought of Seonghwa, Hongjoong pulled out his phone.

He was surprised to see that it wasn't dead yet, but it was almost there with only three percent battery left.

There were four missed calls from Mingi, a couple of texts from him beforehand that inquired about his whereabouts with increasing concern.

Hongjoong opened his message log with Mingi to shoot him a quick apology and say he was on his way back to the dorm.

He knew he'd get an earful of a lecture later about worrying Mingi half to death but there wasn't much he could do about that now.

He had a handful of other notifications he didn't care about but texts from a certain person in particular made Hongjoong stop in his tracks.

(Saturday 8:12PM)

hwa: hey

hwa: i think we should talk

hwa: can we do it in person? it'll be easier that way

(Saturday 8:43PM)

hwa: meet me for coffee

hwa: same time, same place

(Sunday 12:11AM)

hwa: ill be here for another hour if you change your mind

(Sunday 1:37AM)

hwa: the shops closing soon

(Sunday 2:24AM)

hwa: guess ill see you around sometime

Hongjoong shoved his phone into his pocket, his stomach unsettled with bile that threatened to rise.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and bit his lower lip until he tasted blood.