'' To be Liu Zhiyu was to be patient.
But he had been patient enough. ''
Can't change the weather, might not be forever
But if it's forever, it's even better
-BILLIE EILISH, BIRDS OF A FEATHER
He is okay with being unloved.
They refuse to accept...
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Wen Junhui was born to be an actor. He'd had brilliant control over his expressiveness ever since he was a toddler, though his array of lackluster personas had caused his parents quite a bit of grief over the years. But now, his ability to don any facade was his greatest asset, and above all, his most unbreakable. It took a lot for Jun to slip up with his emotional regulation.
And if there was one thing about the SEVONG Music Troupe, it was that they were a lot.
"Stop throwing your damned peppers at me!"
"You need some fire in you! Everytime you perform, it feels like you don't want to be here!"
"I don't! You're literally assaulting me with Cheongyang chilis right now! For what possible reason would I want to be here?"
Jun stifled a laugh as he entered further into Auditorium 13, keeping his gaze trained on the spectacle taking place on stage. Yoon Jeonghan was currently chasing Xu Minghao in circles atop the wooden construct, pelting the latter with hot green peppers. Lee Seonsaengnim stood at the center of the ruckus, trying and failing to calm the two bickering boys down. His efforts were blatantly ignored, and when Jun reached the first row of theater chairs where six other troupe members were seated, the maestro had sullenly retreated into the audience.
How do those two have the energy to be this crazy? They're usually so mellow.
He sighed at the situation, though he remained grinning from ear to ear. The troupe was always pulling off one fanatical antic or another, that was nothing abnormal. But in spite of their deranged behavior, they were still family. Though overly enthusiastic at times, the ensemble remained his safe space. They always had been, and they always would be.
"Oh, Jun! You're finally here!" Snapping him out of his rambling thoughts, Kim Mingyu waved him over towards a seat in the first row. "Did you happen to bump into Chan on your way in? You two are the last people we're waiting on and none of us have seen him around."
Jun shook his head as he sat down between Mingyu and Kwon Soonyoung, crossing his legs to settle into a comfortable position. "Just me and him? What about Jihoon? I don't think he's here yet either."
"He told us he can't make it today, but that's expected of him. You know how busy that guy can get, even if it is only the first day of school. Chan, on the other hand, is always punctual and he's never absent, so we're all wondering what he's got himself caught up in for him to be late."
Just as Mingyu finished speaking, the auditorium's double doors burst open, slamming against the walls with loud thuds. Everyone paused what they were doing, including the two who were fighting with peppers, to see who'd made such a dramatic entrance. To absolutely nobody's surprise, there stood Chan at the threshold, looking incredibly proud of himself. What they all were shocked about, however, was the sight of a shy boy trailing behind their fellow member, posture not unlike that of a hostage.
