Sentience

43

"Sometimes, I really want to know what's living inside your head."

At the sudden remark that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere on Friday in the photography club room, Ji Changmin broke his gaze from his laptop and lifted his head to find his best friend's face across from him. Chanhee was still focused on his job, but he still could catch Changmin's movement. He could tell that the long-neck boy was now shooting daggers at him.

"Care to explain?" Changmin questioned, slumping against the chair. "What do you mean by that?"

Chanhee smirked, somehow feeling victorious. For, he managed to drive his best friend crazy just from a simple remark.

He then abandoned his work, mirroring Changmin's posture by leaning against the chair he was seated on, arms crossed. Thoroughly scanning the demeanour on the other side, his best friend's anxious state somehow made him smile.

"I was just wondering why you did all this for Belle. To what extent will you sacrifice just for her? You guys are just friends," Chanhee emphasized the last word, obviously wanting to challenge his best friend.

But, it seemed like Changmin didn't get the hint. Because he leisurely breathed out, returning his hands to the keyboard of his laptop.

"I've promised Brianna to take care of Belle, you know that too," he said for what seemed like a reminder for the latter. "Too many things happened at one time, and sadly, Belle couldn't process all those alone. She's lost."

"Tch..." Chanhee chuckled, leaning in closer to his laptop as well. "You haven't deleted her photos yet from your social."

"Why should I? It's giving a teaser vibe to my followers," Changmin glanced over at Chanhee, pointing at his face. "That they will see her at the upcoming festival as my model."

Chanhee swore he truly wanted to curse, his patience slowly running thin. Seeing the victorious smile on his friend's face made him want to smack the boy on the head. Perhaps, if he did that, Changmin would come back to his senses to realize what was the real deal he was facing right now.

That it wasn't about a festival or the project. But, it was about his heart, his feelings.

The pretty boy then laid his cheek on his palm as he planted his elbow on the table, staring at his friend, who was focused on editing his model's photos.

"How long has it been since we're stuck inside here?" He casually asked but didn't intend to get any reply as he swiftly added, "Belle is not looking for you?"

Changmin then breathed out, glancing over his watch in the process. 4.30 p.m. it showed, making it 3 hours since the lunch he skipped to be here; one of the chances he could see Belle.

"She's busy with her club. They are doing final checking or something," Changmin recalled this morning's conversation, which the two had at the locker room before parting ways for respective classes. "Ah... And she's staying at her Mother's house this weekend. So, we will not go home together."

"You aren't joining her there? I thought you were her mother's adopted son."

He shook his head. "I shall let them bond. Maybe I'll go tomorrow."

Chanhee bitterly chuckled, straightening his posture in the process. Even from the answer given, Chanhee could tell that his best friend was madly in love, and he seemed to not be able to breathe before he could see Belle's face.

However, unbeknownst to Chanhee, missing Belle perhaps wasn't really the case. Because the only thing that lingered in Changmin's head right now was Sunwoo.

The thought that the racoon boy was living next door to her house made him anxious. What if their rooms are next to each other and so they are sharing the wall? He started thinking about weird and unfriendly things.

"Oh my god... I'm hallucinating," Changmin shrugged before he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to buy coffee."

Then, he got up, striding to the door after being shooed by Chanhee.

Fewer people were in the building by now. All crook of the campus was now started to be silent. Only those who were hardworking to work on the preparation of the festival were left, and that included the boys.

And somehow, Changmin loved the idea that fewer people existed. For, he didn't have to queue up for the vending machine at the end of the hallway he trailed on; the one that sold coffee which Belle had fallen in love with.

He never knew that watching the brewed coffee dripped from the pipe to fill the paper cup could be this soothing, his dimple was carved deeper as he watched over. And then, his movement was rather spontaneous. He unknowingly pulled up his phone, opened the camera and took a photo. He didn't wait for long until he forwarded the photo to Belle, a cheeky caption underneath 'I bet you are jealous right now.'

The chat then was replied with an incoming call instead, Belle's name shining bright on the screen. But, somehow, receiving a call from her made him feel nervous.

Does something happen? He thought, not wasting time anymore to answer the call.

"Belle... where are you?" The first query he asked upon answering.

"At home... packing my bag," she sighed for what seemed like she just plopped down the bed. "Breathe, Changmin... Nothing's wrong. I just want to talk to you."

The boy breathed out as instructed, even though he didn't realize that he had been holding back his breath. But, it was a relief that she was fine.

As Changmin picked up the coffee cup and took a sip, the bitter taste hit right at the spot. He felt refreshed instantly.

"You're absolutely correct about this machine serving good coffee," he said, leaning against the wall next to the machine as a proud I told you was heard from the girl at the end of the line.

"Why are you still at the campus?" Belle then questioned; a rustling could be heard, and Changmin assumed that she was now lying down.

"My sisters will never let me breathe at home. They will keep pestering me with my task," he took another sip of the hot drink. "I still have a lot to do."

"Ooh... Why does it feel so tingling?" She cutely giggled. "I'm so excited to see the outcome."

"Just see yourself in the mirror, then. You look the same in or out of the photos."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Urm... maybe?" Changmin shrugged. "If you need me to spell it out, then... it will be... gorgeous."

Again, Arabelle giggled. Again, this kind of conversation was so normal within their friendship that both still managed to stay composed without any interruption of heartbeats or the tied knot inside their guts.

For them, this was how a friendship should be.

"What time will you come tomorrow?" Belle then questioned, rising from the bed.

"Do you want me to come in the afternoon? Then we can go for lunch together with your mother."

"Afternoon?" She then drowned in silence. Obviously, something was lingering inside her head. And it concreted, when she spoke up, "Then, I shall go for a round of run with Sunwoo first. He asked me to accompany him for a morning jog."

"Belle, you know what..." Changmin unknowingly spoke up and didn't let any gap grow between their conversation. With harsh hammering inside his chest, he remarked, "We shall go out for breakfast together. There is one restaurant that opens so early in the morning. I'll come after dawn."

"Oh, okay! Sounds interesting!" She beamed, truly didn't catch any weirdness from the sudden change of stance. "Then, I'll tell Sunwoo that I'll not be able to go with him."

As you should, Changmin smirked victoriously as he thought.

A small part of him did think that maybe it was enough for revenge for the Sunwoo boy who unknowingly had clenched his heart, creating an unbearable pain he needed to endure just at the faint imagination seeing Belle with the latter.