Drowning & Suffocating [ENG]

Suffocating

The first time Hyunggu noticed that something was going on, he was hanging out in the new dorm B. It was shortly after their return from their tour in Japan for Cosmo's release. They were all exhausted but extremely happy. Hyunggu still felt the energy buzzing under his skin, despite the fact that he'd hurt himself during the promotion and now wasn't allowed to move about without a pair of crutches.

The company had given them a few days of rest after their return to Seoul, allowing them to relax and replace the exhaustion that had sunk into their bones. However, not all the members had chosen to relax.

It was only the second day when Hui decided that he could no longer stay at the apartment.

"I'm going to the studio," he says, putting his bowl in the sink. "I don't have time to rest. I have a lot to do."

He had left as quickly as he had announced. Hyunggu wasn't surprised. After all, they had a comeback planned soon, and there were still arrangements to be made. Besides, it wasn't in Hui's nature to just sit idle and do nothing.

Shinwon also got up, announcing that he was going to join a friend to spend the day with him in town.

Hyunggu then found himself alone at the table with Hongseok, who was finishing his breakfast. The younger got up, picked up his dirty dishes and hopped, on his good ankle, over to the sink to quickly clean up what the elders had left lying around.

"Your crutches aren't here for decoration, Hyunggu-ya."

Hyunggu groaned audibly, scrubbing the bowl in his hands with a little more force. He had expected that particular comment, since it had been the older members' favourite go-to quip for when they wanted to annoy him, for two whole weeks now. "I know, but I can't do the dishes while I'm holding the crutches. I won't be long," then, quickly, "you got plans today?" Hyunggu asked, trying to deviate from the initial subject.

"Actually, yeah. I'm going to the gym with Changgu. What about you?" replied Hongseok.

"I don't really have any plans. I think I'll just stay here and try to work on creating something new. It's been a while since I've had time to produce my own music," Hyunggu added with a shrug.

He wiped his hands dry, awkwardly hopping back to his chair to retrieve his crutches from the ground. It was then that he noticed the pout on his friend's face.

Hyunggu frowned, "Is there something wrong?"

"Are you going to stay here alone?"

"Yeah, what's the matter?"

"I'd rather you didn't stay alone. You never know what might happen. What if you fall or something?"

"Hyung. I'm not handicapped," the younger moaned with an offended pout.

He sulked a little more at the look Hongseok threw at him. Okay, maybe he was somewhat categorized as the group's perpetual wounded boy. It wasn't his fault that he hurt himself often, it was just proof that he was working hard.

"I'd still rather you weren't alone all day."

"Hyung, I'm sure everyone already has their own scheduled activities and I'm definitely not going to go with you to the gym just to watch you sweat," Hyunggu quipped with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm pretty sure Wooseok-ah and Yuto-ya are going to spend the day in their dorm. There's no harm in asking them," Hongseok insisted.

At the mention of the other two, Hyunggu raised his head. He didn't want to admit defeat so quickly against his hyung, he had a reputation to maintain, afterall, but he had to admit that the suggestion already sounded tempting. Much more tempting. It must have been written on his face as the other man displayed a winning smile before rising to clean his own dishes.