𝖲𝗎𝗋𝗏𝗂𝗏𝖺𝗅 | 𝖧𝖺𝗈𝖻𝗂𝗇

Chapter 15:

The tears they shared that day would not go forgotten.

The way they hugged that day would not go forgotten.

"I'm sorry... this is all my fault" Zhanghao sobbed, holding Kuan Jui in his arms.

"It's not, please stop. It was meant to go like this." Kuan Jui cried, squeezing his Chinese friend.

"Debut for the both of us, okay? You have to promise me this" Kuan Jui held up his pinky, his vision blurry because of the tears.

"I promise, I'll make you proud"

Letting go was something Zhanghao could never learn to endure.

———

The last teams were assigned. Zhanghao and Hanbin were in different groups, but honestly, they could both understand why.

Together, they would be too powerful.

All the remaining trainees were currently filming the video which would decide who would get the killing part, and Zhanghao hoped he could also get it this time.

The viewers would decide, and the winner will be chosen simply by the most amount of views on a trainees video.

As they practiced the song, the killing part was temporarily given to Matthew, who exceeded effortlessly in the role.

This time, he had some real competition.

But Zhanghao could not view him as competition, because Matthew was just way too cute.

"Hyung, how do I do this move?" Matthew pouted, showing Zhanghao the iPad.

The older gladly helped him out, showing him the moves step by step.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome" Zhanghao ruffled Matthews hair, informing them that he would be going to use the bathroom.

"How's practice going?" Hanbin asked as soon as Zhanghao stepped out of the room, walking besides him.

The two of them had chosen a fixed time wherein they would meet up, since they didn't have any free time to spend together.

"Very well, yours?"

"Extremely well" Hanbin laughed, as they walked outside the building to go sit on a bench in the fresh spring air.

"We've got one week"

"One week and this hell is over" Zhanghao mumbled, receiving a light punch from Hanbin.

"Hey! Why hell?"

"This is tiring me out" Zhanghao sighed, massaging his scalp.

"But the time spend with me isn't hell, right?" Hanbin whispered, getting closer to Zhanghao.

"Stop it. Not outside" Zhanghao pushed Hanbin back, as he pouted.

There really wasn't any space where they could be close to one another.

"No, the time I spend with you isn't hell"

"You should enjoy it, we never know what is going to happen" Hanbin shrugged, placing his hands in the pockets of his zip up jacket.

"What are you insinuating?" Zhanghao frowned, turning his head to look at the younger boy.

"You saw the interm ranking. Mine is dropping. I might not make it"

The punch Hanbin received was anything but soft.

"Ouch!" He hissed, his hand instinctively going to touch the spot.

"That's deserved." Zhanghao stated, standing up to go back inside.

"Where are you going now??"

"We're here since three minutes, they'll think I fell into the toilet or something"

"Tell them that you were shitting!"

Zhanghao stopped in his tracks.

"Will you stop hitting me?!" Hanbin wailed, caressing his head.

————

"We're baking today???" Zhanghao questioned, staring at the equipment on the tables as he entered the room.

"For the star masters!"

"This is going to be a disaster" Yujin commented, putting on his apron.

"Optimism, Yujin!" Hanbin reminded him, patting his head.

He's like a dad

Soon enough the teams had started decorating the cakes, which was kind of fun. Zhanghao tried to open the whipped cream, scaring both him and Yujin.

They looked at each other, laughing.

That day, they did many different activities. Alongside creating flower hats and singing their own version of 'here I am' for the star masters.

It was a touching day.

A touching day which did indeed signal that it was time.

It was time to shine one last time. All 18 of them together.