The Second Chance of A Suicidal Idol

The Downfall of Park Jangsoo (5)

They cared. His roommates, Reggie and Ryeo Hyun. The others, Mi Yong, Jung Hyun-Ok, and even Baek Du-Ho. Song Chunghee even crowded Joon-woo on the way back to the dorms. And the stares that were filled with a slight malice and jealousy were replaced with slightly sad ones.

Immediately, upon entering his dorm room, Reggie pulled Joon-woo into a tight and American hug. Joon-woo's face was still stained with fake tears and his face was puffy. It looked terrible and anyone could tell something had gone down.

"Joon-ah..." Reggie cried into Joon-woo's shoulder, "Joon-ah, I'm sorry."

What? Joon-woo looked down Reggie's slouched body. He saw Ryeo Hyun's feet a few yards away, but in view.

Ryeo Hyun took a step forward and despite being an inch shorter than Reggie, pulled his dongsaeng off of Joon-woo.

"Reggie-ah, don't squeeze him that tight." Ryeo Hyun scolded the now sulking Reggie.

"Yes Hyung..." Reggie huffed, sending Joon-woo a last look before taking a seat on his bed.

Ryeo Hyun turned to Joon-woo. They hadn't really had many conversations since Bo Jaesang's elimination. But still, Ryeo Hyun looked at the shorter and younger with softened eyes on his hardened face.

Joon-woo was slightly giddy that he wouldn't be expected to start a conversation. His acting had fooled many, and based on the look from Ryeo Hyun, him too.

"Joon-ah." Ryeo Hyun placed a hand on Joon-woo's shoulder and looked down to avoid eye contact. Ryeo Hyun had never avoided eye contact with Joon-woo before. Had Joon-woo taken it too far? "You... Why didn't you tell us?"

Joon-woo began to feel slightly bad. Though he had been wronged by Producer Jang-Soo, it really wasn't to the extent everyone was acting as it was.

"I'm... sorry." Joon-woo replied.

"Don't say that, don't." Ryeo Hyun placed a finger to Joon-woo's mouth. "Just– How can you support Jaesang-ah up from his depression so... well, then go and keep a producer literally abusing you to yourself?"

Joon-woo didn't know how to reply.

"You're too good at helping everyone else that you forget about yourself, Joon-woo." Ryeo Hyun spoke and it sent chills down Joon-woo's spine.

Joon-woo was silent, gagged. Even Reggie was silent at the words.

"Hyung, hey–" Reggie spoke after a moment of silence.

Ryeo Hyun removed the hand from Joon-woo's shoulder and turned towards the door. No one stopped him.

"I'll be in the practice room." Ryeo Hyun spoke coldly, softly closing the door behind him. Now Reggie and Joon-woo were left alone in the dorm.

They looked at each other with a worried look, and it was about Ryeo Hyun this time, not Joon-woo.

"Hyun Hyung is... is he mad?" Reggie asked after a moment.

Joon-woo stared at the door Ryeo Hyun left through. "I think so. F*ck, have I– it's my fault, isn't it?" His words held some truth, though communicated through Joon-woo's actor mask.

Reggie shook his head, grabbing Joon-woo's wrist and pulling him to sit on the bed next to him. "No, don't say that Joon-woo. I'll really get mad if you do."

Joon-woo couldn't imagine Reggie being mad. "You? Angry?" He joked.

Reggie nodded. "You should've seen me during the first challenge when that bastard hit you! Yong Hyung said my eyes were all dialated and I walked scarily and all." He replied, almost excited to come off as scary.