↱RIBS↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

きゅう

Oh. Sunday.

The morning after, Seonghwa wakes up alone in bed.

There's a note stuck to the wall in front of his face.

'So sorry baby, they sent the fucking guide vocalist to the studio even though I told them I wouldn't be in today. He's just waiting there, apparently it's the only time he can come in. If it takes longer than an hour I'll just say fuck it and come home anyway. Tried to wake you up to tell you, but you seemed kind of out of it. Love you love you love you. Eat something if you can. Love you.'  

It's followed by a doodle of a cat, or maybe it's a bear.

Maybe JuJu?

Hongjoong's always been trash at drawing.

Seonghwa had thought it was a dream, Hongjoong talking to him earlier.

He definitely had been too out of it to comprehend what Hongjoong was whispering, distracted by the call of sleep and the soothing fingers in his hair.

Seonghwa doesn't feel good today.

He knows that within five minutes of being awake.

Hongjoong being gone isn't the cause, but it definitely doesn't help.

He feels empty—with a vague sense of grossness—and so inexplicably alone.

And bad.

And guilty.

He knew Hongjoong couldn't really afford to take off work to look after Seonghwa, knew that this song had a deadline sooner than Hongjoong was letting on.

It was for an assignment on a survival show that surely had to start airing soon.

And Seonghwa's pretty sure the song's not even done yet, Hongjoong would've told him if it was.

What the hell is Hongjoong gonna do with the vocalist if the track's not ready?

He should've been working on it for the past few days instead of sitting around with Seonghwa, cutting up his food, building forts.

Seonghwa doesn't know when the note was written, when Hongjoong left, but it's eleven thirty-ish now.

What day even is it?

Oh.

Sunday.

He's supposed to be practicing with the crew, leading the crew, but he's not allowed to.

He's supposed to rest.

They'll have already been there for a couple hours now.

The practice wouldn't be as effective with a member missing, and that's on Seonghwa.

Yunho wouldn't have his morning coffee or cuddle.

Both Yunho and Seongwoo would have more work to do, leading the kids without him.

And they'd all ask where he was and what's wrong because Seonghwa would never miss a practice.

And what would Yunho tell them?

The truth?

Oh fucking christ.

He should be there.

He rolls over, pushes the covers off of himself, starts to drag himself out of bed and then realizes how much he really doesn't want to get up, really doesn't want to exist.