𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

#.. SEVENTEEN

jungsu was genuinely concerned. jiseok really seemed to love his struggling.

it was clear once both of them applied for a boxing workshop, wanting to do some sports together. for that, the instructors needed an up-to-date check of their height and weight.

jiseok seemed to be really proud of his stats. he was the lightest on the workshop by far. even the instructors noticed.

"jiseok, i know you're not that tall but you should still weigh at least above 50kg, that can't be healthy."

the boy just smiled, waving it off. "it's okay, really. it's genetics."

this didn't calm the instructor, but at least he had a reason. which was completely false.

"stop lying" jungsu muttered once the woman left, collecting the other participant's stats. jiseok just rolled his eyes.

"relax, jungsu. she's just jealous she's not as skinny." "as if that's something good. i'm pretty sure gunil doesn't like sticks."

jiseok paused his movements, not daring to look at his friend in that moment. "he does, i'm sure. he wasn't satisfied the last time."

there was nothing the elder could say. there was nothing he could even think of saying. it was clear that jiseok's brain turned disordered.

especially after gunil's attempt to kill himself. the latter still didn't come back to consciousness, as seungmin told him. though it's been a week already.

"please go to therapy" was all that jungsu was able to say, before the instructor started dividing them into weight classes.

jiseok just looked at him, a tear threatening to escape, yet he quickly wiped it away.

jungsu seemed to have stopped supporting him, every word laced with malice as he criticized everything jiseok did.

he never thought about the fact that jungsu might be right.

[...]

visiting jooyeon in the clinic, hyeongjun found him sitting on the bench outside, a bunny sitting on his lap as he pet it.

his arms and thighs were covered in thick bandages, making his thin clothes look bulky. he didn't really look better, deep in his thoughts as he scratched the bunny's ears.

hyeongjun smiled, stepping closer as he sat down right next to his friend. jooyeon snapped out of his trance, turning his head to face his friend.

"you finally came" the younger smiled, watching the bunny writhe in his lap, resulting in putting it down on the grass again.

hyeongjun sighed. "sorry, they didn't allow me to before.. how are you?" it was silent. they both knew the answer to that.

he was not okay. otherwise he wouldn't have to be sent to the clinic through compulsory admission.

jooyeon's mother was on a call with his mom that particular day. she never knew that her son still harms himself, thinking that he was clean all the time since the last day she caught him cutting himself.

but when she walked into jooyeon's room, jooyeon was doing it again. doctors said the fresh cuts reach deep down to his hypodermis.

his mother had to call an ambulance because her son was not reacting to anything she said, just staring on his legs as the skin ripped apart further and further the more minutes passed, losing more and more blood.

jooyeon landed in the clinic the same evening, after they had to treat the wounds in the intensive care unit.

"not too bad" ended up being the answer, giving hyeongjun a small forced smile. "i'm sorry you have to see me this way."

the elder shook his head and took jooyeon's hand, comfortingly starting to rub his thumb over the skin. "don't apologize, i'm glad i still get to see you."

it was quiet afterwards, no words needed. hyeongjun's presence was enough to make himself feel a tad bit better.

maybe because he finally felt his pulse rise again after being told that it's too low. or he felt his cold skin flush hot on his face.

"how's everything in school?" jooyeon asked in return. "oh, talking about that. i just finished writing the short story for my and seungmin's project. could you please give this to him?"

it was a small notebook, the cover titled with "project 2003". hyeongjun nodded, stuffing it in his bag.

"school's weird lately. that senior, gunil, tried killing himself, still didn't wake up. turned out seungmin has a nicotine addiction, saw him smoking today at least three times.

poor him, must be so stressed, now that his best friend is on the brink of dying..."

jooyeon was surprised to hear that. a lot was happening now that he was gone. but he wasn't done.

"jungsu and jiseok aren't that close anymore, too. heard that jiseok is changing himself to appeal more to gunil.

though i noticed that, too. jiseok loved himself before, you should see him now - that boy is basically just bones. he looks so sick, i hope he gets help."

jooyeon chuckled. "well, seems like i'll get some company soon." hyeongjun tilted his head, not quite understanding what the other meant.

"pretty sure gunil will be admitted here after waking up. and jiseok might end up here, too."

hyeongjun just sighed, squeezing jooyeon's hand. "you shouldn't wait for someone you know joining you. focus on getting better instead."