Left Out Friend

The Beginning (edited)

The dance studio pulsed with life despite holding only a single occupant. Loud music blasted from the speakers, vibrating through the mirrored walls and polished wooden floor. The air was thick with heat, carrying the scent of effort and exhaustion. In the center of the room, a lone figure moved relentlessly, feet striking the floor in precise rhythm, breaths growing heavier with each passing second.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat clinging to his skin and dampening his clothes. Still, he didn’t stop. Not until the music finally cut off.

The sudden silence rang louder than the song itself.

As if his body had been held together by nothing but the beat, he collapsed onto the floor the moment it ended. He lay flat on his back, chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath, staring blankly at the ceiling while the echoes of the music lingered in his ears.

Today, Heeseung, Sunoo’s friend and fellow member had won a trophy.

Sunoo had been thrilled when he heard the news. Truly thrilled. But beneath that excitement, a quiet pang of regret settled deep in his chest. He hadn’t been able to watch the game.

His choreographer had insisted he stay behind to practice, saying he needed to put in more effort. Because of that, he had been the only member who didn’t attend.

Pouting at the thought, Sunoo pressed his lips together. He didn’t want to give them more reasons to ignore him, more reasons to make him feel like he wasn’t really part of the group.

Still, when he heard that Heeseung’s team had won, he didn’t hesitate. He immediately pulled out his phone and typed a message.

Sunoo:
Hyung!! Congratulations on winning!! You did it!!

A small smile formed on his lips as he watched the message get delivered… then seen. Unexpectedly, a reply came.

Heeseung Hyung:
Hmm. Thanks.

Sunoo slowly sat up, eyes fixed on the screen. Something unfamiliar flickered in his chest, a faint, aching pang at the coldness of the reply. But he quickly brushed it off, thumbs moving again over his phone.

Sunoo:
Would you like to eat some tteokbokki?? I’ll cook for you and for the others, too!

Seen.

Sunoo frowned. Heeseung had read it… but didn’t reply.

Does that mean yes? Or no?

His lips formed a small pout as he slipped his phone back into his bag. Letting out a quiet sigh, he shook his head.

Never mind. I’ll just cook for them anyway.

The thought softened his expression, a small smile returning as he pushed aside the uncertainty.

After finishing his practice, Sunoo hurried back to the dorm. It only took about ten minutes, but he didn’t waste a second. Without even taking a break, he went straight to the kitchen, determination and excitement guiding his movements as he began preparing dinner.

By the time he finished, the clock read 7 PM.

Right on cue, the dorm door opened.

Voices filled the space instantly, bright, energetic, overlapping with excitement as the members talked about the game. Laughter echoed through the hallway as they stepped inside, still riding the high of their victory.

Sunoo peeked out from the kitchen, his face lighting up with a warm grin.

“Hey, guys! Come here, I cooked dinner for us!”

His voice carried cheerfulness, genuine and inviting. The members stopped.

For a brief moment, silence fell over the room. Not long, but long enough for Sunoo to notice.

Then Jake spoke, a polite smile forming on his lips… though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Oh… Sunoo. We’re sorry, but we already ate dinner not long ago,” he said gently before heading upstairs.

One by one, the others followed.

Jay and Sunghoon offered quick apologies before heading straight to their rooms, not sparing him another glance.

Ni-ki scratched the back of his neck, looking a bit guilty. “Uh… we forgot to inform you, cuz... we were so tired after the match… sorry about that.”

Sunoo felt his heart sink.

But he didn’t let it show. Instead, he forced a bright smile, one that didn’t quite reach his own eyes.

“No, it’s okay! I can just give some of this to the neighbor,” he said lightly, as if it didn’t sting at all.

The neighbor was another boy group under the same company, just a five-minute walk away.

Ni-ki pressed his lips together and gave a small nod before heading off.

“Good night!” Sunoo called out, keeping his tone light.

But deep inside, the rejection lingered.

He had put so much effort into preparing everything, hoping, just a little to celebrate with them. Yet now, he stood there alone with a table full of untouched food.

Jungwon gave him one last apologetic smile before following the others upstairs.

The dorm fell quiet again.

Sunoo let out a heavy sigh and turned back to the kitchen—

Only to freeze. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

Heeseung was there. Standing alone.

The sound of the fridge opening broke the silence, drawing Sunoo closer as he stepped in. He watched as Heeseung grabbed a bottle of juice, then reached for a plate and fork.

Sunoo’s brows furrowed in confusion.

What is he doing?

Then, to his surprise, Heeseung walked over to the table, sat down… and began serving himself some of the food.

Sunoo’s eyes widened.

For a brief moment, pure joy surged through him, so sudden and overwhelming that he almost jumped.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Heeseung asked casually, barely glancing at him.

Snapping out of his daze, Sunoo quickly sat down beside him. A smile spread across his face, bright and uncontrollable—

Until a bitter thought crept in.

I worked so hard to prepare this for everyone… and only two of us are eating.

The realization dimmed his excitement for just a second. But he pushed it away.

Heeseung staying… that was enough.

“Heeseung-hyung…” Sunoo started hesitantly.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come to your game. They made me stay behind to practice my footwork. They said I wasn’t putting in enough effort.” He swallowed lightly before adding, “But I promise I’ll be there for the next one!”

He looked at Heeseung expectantly.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Silence.

Heeseung didn’t respond. He simply continued eating, as if the words hadn’t reached him at all.

Sunoo blinked. His smile faltered—just for a second.

Maybe he hadn’t heard.

Or maybe…

Heeseung just didn’t care.

Either way, Sunoo didn’t push it further.

Instead, he quietly picked up his chopsticks and continued eating beside him, pretending that the silence didn’t weigh on him as much as it actually did.

To be continued…