Sentience

50

Belle, how are you feeling today?

Changmin sighed as he pushed the send button on his phone screen, another bubble floating in the chat box. He didn't lie that he was a bit devastated at the one-side bubbles on the right side without any reply from the other side. But, honestly, by now; 7 days after the dreadful incident, he should have felt fine about it.

Belle was still refusing to see and talk to him. Even while she was still in the hospital, she made it clear that she wanted only family members with her in the room. Which made him feel that she totally had thrown him away.

However, despite the brokenheartedness and disappointment for not being able to see her, Changmin needed to be creative to convey his thoughts and feelings for the girl. No matter what kind of situation she was stuck in, Arabelle needed to know that he was still there waiting for her.

Thus, every time his eldest sister would need to see Belle for the case, Changmin would ask her to pass a small note he prepared for Belle. Other than that, he never stopped spamming her messages, although none was read. Ji Changmin honestly, had nothing to worry about, because his sister would definitely update him about Belle's current condition which was so far away from negative.

Noona told me about the hearing today. I'll pray for your good luck. Another message was sent before Changmin put down the phone, suddenly realizing the 4 pairs of eyes staring at him around the table of the cafe they were at.

Feeling intimidated, he cleared his throat once, reaching for his soda.

"Belle hasn't responded yet?" It was Chanhee who sat next to him asking.

Changmin pursed his lips and softly shook his head and then a set of sighs was heard from the rest of his friends.

"Looking back, Belle is a strong girl. She went through a lot," Kevin remarked, silently adoring the girl's resilience and bravery after all the dramatic events she faced.

"And she is loved," Juyeon added, crossing his arms over his chest. "Perhaps, she's just lucky because she has Changmin that will do everything for her."

Eric who happened to sit across from Changmin then kicked his legs lightly, to earn his attention. And as he did, Eric questioned, "Are you still oblivious to your feelings?"

"My... feelings?" Changmin pondered, again unable to catch the point.

This kind of conversation, this kind of topic had been so familiar that at one point he thought that it was a compulsory point to pin in every gathering they had. And that meant that he needn't care too much about it.

"No need to ask that, Eric," Chanhee then voiced out, beckoning the younger to just cut it off. It's useless, he mouthed. Then, Chanhee shifted to Changmin again. "Do you think Belle will come to the festival? She at least needs to see herself in your photos."

Changmin then drowned in his thoughts. He had been thinking about it as well for the past few days. He wanted her to take part in the festival; he wanted to show how beautiful the outcome of the photos he had taken of her.

But, considering the situation, Changmin lost hope. She had been absent from classes now due to the case and recovery phase. Would she be ready within a week to suddenly appear in the crowd again?

It was then, that the sound of the entrance of the cafe opened was heard, two demeanour entering which caught the boys' attention. A boy and a girl came smiling and casually making their way towards their table.

"I don't know that Amy has a boyfriend," Kevin spoke up, scanning the boy who trailed behind the said girl.

"Us neither..." Juyeon supported, lowly swinging his hand to greet the pair.

Seeing the two somehow juggle Changmin's head into a mess to find any connection to make this situation look logical. And slowly the knot in the middle of his neurons finally disentangled, making everything fall into its place. He chuckled at his own finding.

"I was on a date when I saw all of you here," Amy said, cupping her hip as she looked at the boys one by one. "So, I step in to say hi."

"Ah... not to show off your handsome boyfriend?" Chanhee teased, making the girl blush.

"That's correct too..." She shyly tucked her hair to the back of her ear.

Then, Changmin rose from his seat, the screeching sound from the chair against the floor made all head fix on him.

"I'm taking fresh air for a while," he announced, collecting his phone on the table before he looked at Amy's boyfriend. "You look better than the last time, Sunwoo."

Confusion and gasp filled the air, and eyes flickered between the two figures, comprehending the situation. How did they know each other, what was happening, and how they were connected, probably had been the questions.

Sunwoo was amazed at how Changmin chose to reveal their connection. The smirk on his lips as Changmin leapt over making his way behind him and sneaking a pat on his shoulder couldn't be helped from appearing.

Ji Changmin on the other hand felt satisfied. He considered it as revenge to leave ever so innocently and let Sunwoo handle the situation back at the table. That for making me look so dumb, he said in his head as he pushed himself out of the cafe to breathe the fresh air.

However, little did he know, a while later, Sunwoo came joining him in front of the cafe, still with that damn smirk on his lips. Once in a while, he would let an airy scoff out of his system and Changmin understood the hidden meaning really well.

Sunwoo was holding back laughter after scheming everything out.

"Don't you think that after you told me that you already have a girl, you should tell me that she's Amy?" Changmin prompted with a straight face.

Sunwoo shrugged. "You are good at finding things out, don't you? I'm amazed that you can unveil it right away."

"Tch..." Changmin chuckled, raking his hair. "Do Amy and Belle know?"

"Nope..." Sunwoo pocketed his hands, glancing inside the cafe again, at his girlfriend. "We met by fate. I never once knew that she was Arabelle's friend. Then, one day, she showed me a photo of them together. I was startled to see Arabelle in the picture."

"Why didn't you tell her that you know Belle?"

Sunwoo then looked at Changmin again. "I don't know. I thought maybe it's good to just hear the update about her once in a while through someone else. Some more, you were with her all the time. I thought it was enough."

"Me?" Changmin flinched. "Wait... did Amy introduce me to you through photos as well?"

"Then, why do you think I didn't look amazed when I ran into you and Belle at the elevator?"

Reality struck Changmin hard. "Wow... you played with me."

Maniac laughter of Sunwoo then echoed, and he felt victorious. When they ran into each other, Sunwoo was truly startled. Not because of the sudden appearance of Arabelle, but the fact that the people he heard stories from Amy were standing right in front of his eyes and he was witnessing the story come alive.

"She told me that someone named Changmin was totally oblivious. He cares for Arabelle with his whole heart but never once did he realize why he did that," Sunwoo paused, carefully scanning reactions on Changmin's face. The latter seemed to connect the dots but he was still unable to get the full picture. "I'm honoured to get to see all the words into action. You are too oblivious."

"I..."

"Don't understand?" Sunwoo cut him. "Is that what you want to say?"

Although hesitant, Changmin nodded. Which, Sunwoo felt frustration blooming from inside him.

"Hey, I'm talking as Arabelle's friend," Sunwoo stepped closer to him. "You, Ji Changmin, are not looking at Arabelle as a friend."