Make Me STAY

MOUNTAINS

Rose was worried about Hyunjin.

She had noticed he looked a little sad recently and she would often catch him zoned out. He looked very deep in thought as if something was weighing heavily on his mind.

He'd also been acting a little distant again. They hadn't painted together for a long time, and she missed hanging out with him, just them. Once they moved into their new apartments it wouldn't be as easy to hang out.

The others seemed okay with the idea of moving. Although Jisung had already asked her about mealtimes. As if she would leave them to fend for themselves. She remembered the state of the kitchen when she first arrived. Empty apart from ramen and brownie ingredients. Of course she would still cook them meals.

Rose decided to try and organise a chat with Hyunjin. She wanted to make sure everything was alright, that he wasn't upset about something to do with work. She didn't think that she had upset Jim because it wasn't as if he was avoiding her. He had withdrawn, not just from her but from everyone.

She managed to catch him early one morning. The group had a late start. Chan, Changbin, and Jisung had been working in the studio until the early hours, so they were sleeping in. Hyunjin, she guessed, would be going in to use the dance studio before their schedule started for the day.

Hyunjin paused when he came out of his bedroom to find Rose in the kitchen.

"Morning, Jinnie! Will you have breakfast with me?"

"Oh, uh, I was going to go in early..."

"Please? We haven't spent any time together recently."

Hyunjin couldn't deny Rose, especially when she asked directly like that.

"Sure. I'd love to."

"Awesome! What do you fancy? Pancakes? Waffles? Eggs?"

The dancer came and sat at the kitchen counter. Rose passed him a glass of orange juice.

"Ooh! Can you do that English breakfast?"

"Full English? Of course, I can. Anything for you, Jinnie."

Rose didn't see the look on Hyunjin's face after she said those words. He knew they weren't true. He couldn't have anything from her. At least not what he really wanted. The dancer sat in silence for a while watching her cook.

"I guess I won't be having my dance session this morning."

Rose waved her spatula around.

"Ah, ah, ah. Don't blame me. You chose something heavy."

She glanced over the counter at Hyunjin, trying to get a read on him.

"So, have you done much painting recently?"

The dancer shrugged.

"A little."

"I can't remember the last time I picked up a brush. Managing you boys keeps me busy."

Hyunjin smiled.

"You take great care of us, Noona. We don't thank you enough."

"Aww, you're so sweet."

Hyunjin looked down at his glass, twisting it between his hands. The room was silent other than the sound of sizzling as Rose finished cooking their breakfast.

As they ate breakfast together, Hyunjin couldn't deny that he felt lighter being with her. For a moment, everything felt normal. It was just the two of them and all his worries disappeared. Rose told a few funny stories of things that had happened the past week, and everything was great. Until they finished eating.