Soda | Seo Changbin

4

Busan wasn't bad, per se, but I did have to spend every waking moment with Seungmin. I hadn't made friends at school, so I stayed with him and his friends. They were nice I guess, but nothing compared to my friends.

I had kept in contact with the boys as much as possible. I tried extra hard with Changbin, calling him whenever I had free time. He never answered.

I'd always ask Hyunjin and Jisung what he was doing, and they said he was totally free. I guess he just didn't want to talk to me.

But the other two still talked to me nonstop. We were on a Facetime call for 12 hours after Hyunjin told us he finally asked out Lia and she said yes.

They still meant the world to me.

It was late June, and we'd be going back home in one week. I was thrilled. I still hadn't told the boys so I could surprise them, but it had been a challenge.

It was the middle of a school day, and I was having lunch with my brother and his friends.

"We're going to miss you guys once you leave." Chan, one of his friends, said.

"We'll keep in touch." Seungmin replied.

"Now's a great time to mention that Jeongin has a massive crush on you, Jihye." Chan said.

"Hyung! I told you not to say anything!" Jeongin whined.

I cleared my throat, instantly thinking of Changbin.

"Ew, that thing? Really, Jeongin? You could do better." Seungmin said.

I started to feel stressed, I don't even know why. I even began shaking.

"I-I'm going to excuse myself-" I said, quickly getting up and walking out of the cafeteria.

It started getting difficult to breathe, and my hands were restless. Seungmin walked over.

"Jihye? You okay? It was a joke." He said.

"Seungmin, I can't breathe-" I said, ignoring what he said.

I began pacing back and forth. He grabbed me and stopped me from moving.

"Jihye what's happening?" He asked.

"I- I don't know.." I muttered.

He had a genuine look of worry on his face.

"I'll take you to the nurse." He said, grabbing my arm and dragging me to the clinic.

When we got there, he sat me one of the beds and the nurse came over.

"What's wrong darling?" She asked.

"It's hard to breathe and I really can't stop shaking-"

"Why don't you take some deep breaths?" She suggested, before turning to my brother. "May I talk to you outside?"

This had happened several times since I left home, but I still didn't know what it was. I was never in public when it happened though, so this was the first time someone noticed.

I took multiple breaths, and eventually I was calmed down. Seungmin and the nurse walked back in.

"You're welcome to stay until you feel better." She said, before sitting at her computer.

"The nurse says you might have some form of anxiety. She wants you to go to a doctor, get diagnosed." He said.

It honestly sounded accurate, but I was sure that I was fine.

"No, I'm okay." I replied.

"Jihye." He groaned.

"Seungmin. I'm fine." I said, getting up and ruffling his hair.

——

The week flew by, and we were already on the drive home. I was texting my group chat with Hyunjin and Jisung.

Apparently, they were hanging out at Hyunjin's house right now. I was pulling up onto my street, and my heart was beating so fast.

When we pulled into the driveway I instantly got out of the car.

"Namjoon, can I go to Hyunjin's??" I asked.

He nodded tiredly. I quickly ran over, knocking on the door. Hyunjin's mom answered.

"Jihye! What a nice surprise!" She smiled, hugging me. "Hyunjinnie's upstairs. Go on ahead."

I nodded, walking up to Hyunjin's room. I took a moment before I knocked on the door.

"Come in." He said.

I opened up the door, and both of the boys were focused on their phone.

"Yeah, Eomma?" He asked, still looking down.

"I'm not your mother." I said.

He looked up and gasped, causing Jisung to look over.

"JIHYE!!!" Jisung shouted, running over and hugging me. "I missed you!!"

I earned several forehead kisses, and he refused to let me go. Hyunjin walked over and I hugged him as well.

"God, I missed hugging you." He said with a smile.

"How do you think I feel? I lost my cuddle buddy." Jisung said, ushering Hyunjin away so he could hug me again.

"I missed you too guys." I smiled, patting Jisung's head. "Hyunjin- your hair."

"It's long. I know." He replied.

"It looks good. You should let me dye it." I suggested.

He shook his head, sitting down on his bed.

a few hours later...

I was sitting behind Hyunjin, dying his hair brown, rather than his usual bleach blonde.

"I can't believe I'm letting you do this." He whined.

"It looks good." I said.

Jisung agreed. We were all sitting (Jisung was laying) on the floor watching music videos on Hyunjin's TV.

"Just let it sit for a few hours." I said, putting a hair net on his head.

The two of us laid down next to Jisung.

"Hey, how's Changbin?" I asked.

"He's good. He was just here a few hours before you came. He went to see his girlfriend." Jisung said.

"Girlfriend?" I asked, feeling a pang in my heart.

"You didn't know?" Hyunjin asked.

"He hasn't talked to me since I left." I sighed.

"For real? I'll go beat his ass-"

"No! Han Jisung, sit down." Hyunjin ordered. "He told us he talked to you every day, and you didn't like him anymore, so he got a girlfriend."

"That's not true..." I said.

"Come here, I'll comfort you." Jisung smiled, opening his arms so I could cuddle him.

I rest my head on his chest and he began caressing my head.

"We'll all meet up again tomorrow. We can talk to him about it, okay?" He suggested.

I nodded.

"I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when I need to wash this out." Hyunjin said, rolling over.

Before I knew it, I was asleep as well.

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