Left Out Friend

14

Ni-ki sat next to Sunoo, holding him close, trying to comfort him, but it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on Sunoo's chest. He sobbed harder, his body trembling, his face buried in Ni-ki's shirt. The sting of betrayal from Jake still felt raw, a sharp pain that wouldn't dull.

"Ni-ki-yah... Tell me. Jake hyung didn't mean that..." Sunoo's voice cracked, his eyes red from crying. He looked up at Ni-ki with pleading eyes. "Jake hyung... didn't mean it, right? He wasn't himself... That wasn't him!" His sobs echoed in the silence of the room, desperate and broken.

Ni-ki's voice was soft, almost a whisper, as he brushed Sunoo's hair back gently. "Hyung... Please stop crying..."

Sunoo pulled back slightly, a frown knitting his brows together in confusion. How could Ni-ki be so calm? How could he not understand the gravity of what had just happened? Sunoo's heart ached. Was Ni-ki really taking this so lightly?

"How can you say that?" Sunoo's voice trembled with frustration, his words sharp. "Don't you get it? Do you really think this is just a joke? How can you just sit there and tell me to stop crying? Nishimura Riki, are you even listening to me?"

Ni-ki's eyes softened, his lips pressing together. "I... I'm sorry, Sunoo," he whispered, his hands stilling in Sunoo's hair. "It's just... it hurts me too, seeing you like this. I don't know what to do..." His voice cracked slightly, betraying the concern he was trying to hide.

Sunoo stared at him for a long moment. He couldn't bring himself to be angry at Ni-ki, not really. The younger had always been there for him in ways he hadn't expected. But this time... this time, Sunoo felt so lost. He was drowning, and no one could pull him out. Not even Ni-ki's gentle comfort seemed enough.

He closed his eyes, breathing heavily. "Why did it have to be like this? I thought... I thought Jake hyung was different," Sunoo whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "Is there something I missed? Did he ever care? Or was I just a fool all along?"

Ni-ki didn't answer immediately, but Sunoo could feel the weight of his gaze. The silence stretched between them, and in that moment, Sunoo wasn't sure if he felt more alone or more understood.

***

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT, JAKE!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" Heeseung's voice thundered through the living room, his chest heaving with the fury of his breath. He stood there, a mix of disbelief and rage on his face, staring down at Jake who was sitting on the couch, his posture slumped, his face hidden in his hands.

Jungwon's jaw was clenched so tight that his teeth ground together, his body rigid with tension. His eyes, sharp and filled with a simmering anger, never left Jake. Every muscle in his body was poised to lash out, though the restraint in him kept it at bay for now.

Jay stood frozen, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, a deep breath leaving his lungs like a barely contained sigh. His face, usually calm and collected, was a storm of emotions-disappointment, frustration, confusion. His eyes bore into Jake, and for the first time in a long while, Jake could feel the weight of his judgment, as though the air between them had thickened with every unspoken word. Jay's silence was more cutting than any shout could have been.

"Look at what you've done, you idiot!" Sunghoon's voice broke through the tension, a dark chuckle escaping him. His lips twisted into a bitter smirk. "You perverted asshole. Do you have any idea what you've just ruined? He's probably going to try even harder to avoid us now. This... this wasn't the plan, you dumbass!" Sunghoon's tone dripped with venom as he took a step forward, fists clenching, though he stopped just short of going further. His rage was palpable, but he was still trying to make sense of everything.