Left Out Friend

2

The next morning, Sunoo made his way downstairs, the faint aroma of something sweet filling the air. As he stepped into the kitchen, he found Jay and Jake by the stove, moving with effortless coordination. The sight made him smile.

"Good morning, Jay-hyung, Jake!" he greeted cheerfully, walking toward them. "What are you guys cooking?"

Neither of them responded to his greeting. Sunoo’s smile faltered slightly, but he quickly brushed it off.

"Pancakes," Jake answered flatly, flipping one over in the pan.

Sunoo nodded, inhaling the warm, buttery scent that filled the room. "That smells delicious! Jay-hyung must have taught you well!" He turned to Jay with a grin, hoping for some kind of reaction.

Jay didn’t say a word. Instead, he smirked—a sharp, unreadable expression that made something in Sunoo’s chest tighten. Then, to his confusion, a chuckle escaped one of them. It wasn’t the friendly kind.

Sunoo blinked. Did I say something wrong? He had only stated a fact, after all. But the way they responded—or rather, didn’t respond—made him uneasy.

Still, he pushed the feeling aside and took a seat at the dining table. Soon, the rest of the members joined, and breakfast officially began. Compliments about the food filled the room, mostly directed toward Jay and Jake.

Sunoo quietly ate his portion, listening to their conversation without really joining in. He wasn’t sure why, but something about the atmosphere made him feel like an outsider.

Then, the doorbell rang.

Jungwon stood up to answer it, his footsteps light against the floor. When he opened the door, his body stiffened slightly, his brows twitching in surprise.

"Eunwoo?"

Standing there was Eunwoo, a warm smile on his face, holding a neatly wrapped box of chocolates.

"Good morning, Jungwon. I'm looking for Sunoo," he said politely, his tone gentle.

Jungwon’s fingers curled slightly around the edge of the door. There was a brief pause before he spoke again. "Oh… uh, let me call him. Come in." He stepped aside, and Eunwoo entered.

Sunoo’s eyes lit up when he saw him. "Eunwoo-hyung!" He quickly stood from his seat and approached with a bright smile. "What brings you here?"

Eunwoo chuckled, holding out the box of chocolates. "About the tteokbokki you gave us last night—it was amazing. My members wouldn’t stop talking about it, so I thought I’d come by and ask if you could make more."

Sunoo giggled at that, nodding eagerly. "Of course, hyung! I’d be happy to cook more for you!"

The two of them laughed together, completely missing the way a few of the members subtly turned their heads, watching the exchange with unreadable expressions.

"And as a small thank-you, I brought you this." Eunwoo handed him the box. "My members don’t like sweets, so I figured you’d appreciate it more."

Sunoo’s eyes widened as he accepted it with both hands. The packaging alone looked expensive. "Aww, you didn’t have to… but thank you! I love chocolates!"

Eunwoo smiled. "Hmm, I can buy you more if you’d like."

Sunoo laughed, shaking his head. "That’s too much already!"

Eunwoo simply chuckled. "Alright, alright. I should probably get going before my members start looking for me. See you later, Sunoo."

They exchanged goodbyes, and as Eunwoo left, Sunoo returned to the table, still smiling as he held the box of chocolates.

"Guys, here, let’s taste it!" He excitedly placed the opened box in the center of the table, eager to share.

The reaction was instant.

"Sweets in the morning? Seriously?" Jay’s voice cut through the air, laced with irritation. He shot Sunoo a look of disbelief, as if the very idea was ridiculous.

Sunoo blinked, caught off guard. "But isn’t it go—"

"Manager already told us not to eat sweets," Sunghoon interrupted coldly, his gaze sharp as it landed on Sunoo. "Look at you—you’re gaining weight."

The words hit like a slap.

Sunoo felt his stomach drop, his breath catching in his throat. His heart clenched painfully. Gaining weight? He glanced down at himself unconsciously, his fingers tightening around the box.

Is that why my manager told me to practice more?

His mind raced. He never really thought much about his weight, but hearing it said so bluntly—especially in front of everyone—made it feel like something he should have been paying attention to all along.

His appetite vanished.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled under his breath. His voice was small, barely audible. "I'll just leave it in the fridge, then."

Without another word, Jungwon and Niki stood up and left the table, their expressions unreadable.

Heeseung followed shortly after. "I'll wash the dishes," he muttered, not looking at anyone as he collected his plate.

Sunoo forced a small nod, though Heeseung had already turned away.

Still gripping the chocolate box, Sunoo stood up and made his way to the fridge. He placed it inside carefully, his fingers lingering on the cool surface before he shut the door.

His steps felt heavier as he walked toward his room, leaving Jay, Jake, and Sunghoon at the dining table.

The morning had started off bright, but now…

It felt like something inside him had dimmed.

To be continued...