𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

#.. THIRTY-ONE

the next lunch, all of them were sitting in the "jungji" corner. hyeongjun and jiseok were practising their project song, the younger having lent a guitar from the school's music shed.

jooyeon, seungmin and jungsu were talking in the meantime. "gunil's vocal chords are paralyzed" seungmin updated them.

he and jiseok visited the latter before going to school, where they were told the news. seeing that seungmin and jiseok were so worried and genuinely cared, gunil felt a twinge of guilt for the first time.

maybe it was good that he was still alive.

"and i signed us up for partner therapy" jiseok added, taking a small break as the two joined the rest. "so he learns how to behave in a relationship. and i learn how to deal with my attachment."

that sounded amazing. glancing towards jungsu, jiseok knew that the elder was still not supportive of the fact that he wanted gunil even after everything what happened. yet he learned to tolerate it, trusting them that their relationship would get better soon.

"will he go to the clinic again?" jooyeon asked, searching for physical contact as he laid down on the grass, resting his head on hyeongjun's left thigh, right underneath the guitar neck.

jiseok shook his head. "his mom finally succeeded on getting the child protective service on their side.

he'll be sent to a children's home that specifies on suicidal kids from abusive households after recovering.

they're investigating his dad though, finally."

that sounded amazing, like a life that was worth getting better for.

all of them were anticipating that gunil would actually heal, and become a person they could like.

then their actions resumed. hyeongjun and jiseok were practising their song again, the other three started talking with each other.

"you're not surrounded by your usual cloud of smoke" jooyeon chuckled as he nodded towards seungmin, who seemed surprised the younger started talking.

he just nervously scratched his neck. "yeah, gave it up. feel like i can do it now."

subconsciously, his eyes darted towards jungsu, who also seemed to be looking at him. so he instantly looked back at jooyeon, who was grinning wide.

"oh, that's how it is" he chuckled. "and then you two are telling me that there's nothing going on between you two!"

"there's nothing!" both of them exclaimed at the same time, surprised that the other said the exact same thing, as they started laughing.

seungmin was hoping jungsu didn't mean it literally. only if he knew that jungsu hoped the same thing.

"y'all, rate our song!" hyeongjun called, gaining all of their attention.

he started playing a beautiful melody on the guitar, to which jiseok soon started singing. and jungsu once again found a reason to be proud of his best friend.

his voice suited the soft tune of the chords hyeongjun played, resonating the depressing yet comforting meaning of the lyrics.

if they won't receive an A for that, then all of them would sue the school, that's for sure.

once the small snippet of the song ended, the three of them started applauding, telling them their honest opinions.

"i need a full version!" jooyeon said as he grabbed hyeongjun's hand and kissed it, making the elder of the two smile.

jungsu and seungmin agreed simultaneously. "guys, we'll sing the song on presentation day" hyeongjun laughed. "so you'll receive a full version."

"how's your project going, by the way?" jungsu then suddenly asked, remembering that seungmin and jooyeon had one, as well.

he still didn't know what it was about. he just knew that jooyeon wrote a story and seungmin was collecting pictures that suited the vibe.

but why would seungmin take pictures of him?