𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

#.. FORTY-FOUR

it was the first time all of them met up outside of school. well, except for-

"where's hyeongjun?" jiseok asked once jooyeon was the last to enter. "haven't heard of him for a long time already."

right, hyeongjun didn't tell them. jooyeon felt his heart break just at the thought.

all of them met up at jungsu's place, his parents not being home. and as they still had a few more days left of the winter break, they decided to hang out and give each other their presents.

"he moved.." jooyeon muttered, scratching the back of his head. the atmosphere shifted, everyone seemed surprised.

it was quiet for a few moments, everyone was thinking of what to say. "oh... and i assume he moved out of the country?" gunil asked.

no one got used to his voice yet. thanks to speech therapy he was able to fully talk again, but his voice still sounded strained and squeaky.

so jooyeon lightly shrugged once the elder asked him the question. and then answered with a nod.

"his parents divorced and his mom got full custody" he explained. "and his mom wanted to go back to indonesia... don't know why."

jooyeon didn't know if hyeongjun wanted him to tell them more. for example why his mother got full custody.

but the rest didn't need more explanation, satisfied with what they were given. well, not satisfied in a sense that hyeongjun wasn't there anymore.

everyone wanted to try out jungsu's playstation, especially the new gta game he bought himself just recently. taking turns with playing, seungmin went to the bathroom after finishing his turn.

just to find it locked. and hearing someone vomit. he knocked on the door, concerned. "is everything okay?" seungmin called out, knocking again when there was no answer.

he tried to think of who it could be, trying to recall who else was missing when he left jungsu's room.

the sound of the toilet flushing startled him, and the next moment, the door was opened. "so, recovered, huh?" seungmin asked as soon as he realised that it was no other but jiseok.

they've ordered two large pizzas before, so everyone would get a fair amount of food to feel full. jiseok ate the most out of them, but no one complained.

they were glad the boy could enjoy eating again. but hearing jiseok purge it all out again proved the point as false.

"don't tell gunil- no- don't tell jungsu!" the boy exclaimed in a whisper-scream, stepping closer. "please, whatever you do, don't tell jungsu! he'll be so mad.. why did i do this.."

seungmin sighed, putting his hand on jiseok's shoulder. "i won't tell him. but you really have to focus on getting better. binging just to purge it all out later is not recovered, you know that, right?"

jiseok nodded. of course he knew it. he just didn't want to worry anyone - gunil and jungsu were worried about him too long, they should take care of their own problems.

"and if there's something bothering you, talk to someone. i promise you'll feel better."

jiseok just nodded, wiping his tears before walking back to jungsu's room, finding his place inbetween gunil's crossed legs.

it was currently jooyeon's turn, watching their youngest flee from the police after stealing a vehicle.

then he suddenly received a call by an unknown number. with curiosity taking over him, he just gave the controller to gunil before walking out of the room to take the call.

"hello?"

"oh god, joo, i'm glad i memorised your number!"

"hyeongjun?!"