old friend | the boyz

7

Author's pov

Aera was startled to see the others when she stepped out of the classroom, feeling more nervous than ever.

"Hey," Juyeon greeted her with a smile.

Aera smiled back, and greet the rest of the boys.

"Shall we go?" Sangyeon asked the others. Everyone nodded their head and they start walking home.

"We will send you home, Aera," Eric suddenly spoke, startling the girl beside him. "Oh, alright," she replied.

"Your house is still in the same address, right?" Sunwoo asked, and the girl nodded.

"So.. how is life going for you?" Changmin asked the girl. "I don't know, so-so i guess? Nothing much happened to be honest,"

The boys chuckled at her response. "I'm gonna be honest, it was tough for us at first without you here," Kevin said, the girl felt her heart ache at his words.

"But we managed to get through it, and so i hope you did too," he continued.

Aera stayed silent for awhile, before she starts telling her true feelings.

"No, i actually didn't. I was hurting badly when i left Busan because i never get to see you guys for the last time since that day,"

"and i never get to smile like i used to. Years passed by, it didn't heal the wounds but it changed to numbness. That was how i tried to move on from that," she continued.

The boys stayed silent.

"I'm not gonna lie, when i get to know i'm gonna be back here again you guys were the first person i thought of. But hey, everything is in the past now, right? We are all good now," she continued again with a small smile.

"You're right. It's all in the past, let's not stressed about it again, yeah?" Jacob said. "Yeah, and we are all grown up now, we were just immature back then," Haknyeon added.

Aera agreed and so are the rest of the boys.

"But Aera," Younghoon spoke.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for still thinking about us when you got back here,"

Aera smiled and says, "How could i not?"

"What about you guys? How is life going for you? Have you been well?" Aera asked.

"We are chaotic as ever. More chaotic as we grow, to be exact. 11 men living in a house is a terrifying experience, you know?" Chanhee said, chuckled.

Aera laughed upon hearing that, "Yeah, I can tell,"

"But i'm gonna admit it is fun!" Juyeon said. The other boys nodded their head, agreeing.

"Not when Eric stole my drinks," Sunwoo glared at the boy. Eric sticked his tongue out on the other boy. "Some things never changed, huh, Eric?" Aera asked.

"Life is tough, but what is life without the thrill, right," he replied, making Sunwoo rolled his eyes and the rest laughed.

"You guys grew up well," Aera said, and all the boys turned to her.

"What?" the girl is getting nervous when all eyes are on her.

"So you think we are attractive?" Hyunjae teased. Just like the old days, Hyunjae is always the first one to tease Aera.

"Oh stop that! You're twisting my words," Aera said and he laughed.

"You grew up well too, Aera," Hyunjae said.