Left Out Friend

24

The meeting room was simple, with plain beige walls and a long table in the center. The overhead lights buzzed faintly, casting a soft glow on the papers spread out in front of everyone. Some employees sat straight, focused on the manager as he spoke, while others flipped through the handouts without much interest. The quiet rustle of papers and the hum of the air conditioner filled the room. In the corner, a tray of coffee and cookies sat untouched, forgotten in the middle of the announcements.

"So... Tonight, you’ll be doing a live session to discuss parts of the behind-the-scenes process. We’ve prepared a set of guide questions to help you start, but the rest will come from your fans. You’ll have exactly one hour, so use the time wisely. That will be all. Dismissed."

With that, the manager straightened his posture, gave the group a firm nod, and walked out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him. One by one, the staff began to gather their things and leave as well, their murmured conversations fading into the hallway. Left behind in the now-quiet room, the ENHYPEN members exchanged tired glances.

Sunghoon let out a frustrated sigh, leaning back in his chair, while Jungwon absently flipped through the guide questions, his brows furrowed.

Jake slouched forward, resting his chin on his hand.

“Another challenges.” Ni-ki muttered under his breath, earning a few nods of agreement from the others. The tension in the room was palpable as they tried to process the packed schedule ahead of them.

"So, the next interview is next week?" Ni-ki asked, leaning forward with his arm resting on the table, his chin propped up in his palm.

"Yeah, that's what the manager said," Jungwon replied, jotting down a few notes in his notebook. "Also, don’t forget we’ve got our performance on The Show tomorrow. We need to polish our choreography," he added, his tone calm but firm.

"I agree," Sunghoon chimed in with a slight nod.

Jake groaned, dragging both hands down his face in frustration. "When are we even supposed to breathe?" he muttered, his voice muffled by his palms.

Sunoo secretly rolled his eyes. "Too many complaints. It doesn’t even compare to the shamelessness they’ve shown and gave me," he thought bitterly as flashes of the past clouded his mind. The memories were sharp and unrelenting, stirring a storm of emotions he struggled to suppress.

His chest tightened, the weight of humiliation and anger crashing over him like a tidal wave. He remembered the mocking laughter, the most disrespectful words that cut deeper than he cared to admit, and the betrayal that stung worse than anything else. The faces of those he once trusted blurred into a haze of disdain, their taunts ringing in his ears. Sunoo clenched his fists under the table, his nails digging into his palms as he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn’t let them see his weakness again.

No matter what he did, there seemed to be no way out. Every attempt to stand his ground ended with him being pushed back down... sometimes with words, sometimes with actions. He felt trapped, like a bird in a cage, its wings clipped and its song silenced. Resignation had settled deep in his heart, and as much as he hated it, he couldn't see any other way. His throat tightened, and he felt the sting of tears threatening to spill, but he quickly blinked them away. Showing his emotions would only give them more power over him. So, he swallowed the lump in his throat and sat in silence, hoping that someday he might find a way to reclaim his freedom.

Jake’s sharp gaze landed on Sunoo, and he raised a brow with a sly smirk. “I heard you, My Sunny,” he said, his voice laced with mock sweetness. His words made Sunoo’s stomach churn, especially when the room fell silent, all eyes now on him. Jake’s smile deepened, but it wasn’t comforting...it was unnerving, sending a shiver down Sunoo’s spine.

Sunoo froze, his heart pounding in his chest. How did he hear me? he thought, panic setting in. He kept his head low, hoping the moment would pass, but Jake wasn’t letting it slide.

“Why?” Jake’s voice dropped to a dangerously calm tone, one that was more intimidating than any outburst could have been. “You think you can fight us now? Found your strength? Go ahead! Say it again,” he challenged, his eyes never leaving Sunoo, daring him to speak.

Sunoo’s hands clenched tightly around the fabric of his pants as he closed his eyes, willing himself to disappear. He kept his head down, refusing to meet Jake’s piercing stare.

“What’s going on here?” Heeseung’s voice broke through the tense silence, a scoff escaping his lips as his sharp eyes flicked toward Sunoo.

Jake turned to him with a casual shrug and a smug grin. “Oh, nothing much. Just this little guy over here showing off the courage he’s been hiding all this time,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Niki, sitting a little further back, rolled his eyes. “Just drop it already. We’ve got enough on our plates as it is,” he muttered, standing up and stretching his arms with a frustrated sigh. “I’m taking a nap. Call me if you need me,” he added before striding out of the room without a backward glance.

“Yeah, we need to stay focused on what we have to do tonight,” Jungwon interjected, his voice calm but tinged with authority. His gaze shifted to Sunoo, narrowing slightly. “And speaking of focus... Sunoo, you’d better behave yourself. If I catch you messing up or doing something you’re not supposed to, I swear you won’t be sleeping tonight.”

Jungwon’s words were soft, almost gentle, but the warning behind them was clear. Sunoo’s chest tightened as Jungwon’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before he turned and walked toward the door. “Let’s go,” Jungwon ordered, and the rest of the group followed without hesitation, leaving Sunoo alone in the stifling silence of the room.

As the last footsteps faded from the room, Sunoo let out a shaky breath he didn’t know he was holding. His hands, still gripping the fabric of his pants, trembled slightly as the overwhelming mix of emotions bubbled inside him. Anger, frustration, and humiliation fought for dominance in his chest, making it hard to breathe. His heart raced, thudding loudly in his ears as if trying to drown out the echoes of the cruel words thrown his way. It wasn’t the first time, but each time hurt just as much... maybe even more.

The room felt colder, emptier, now that the others were gone. The harsh fluorescent lights above made the glossy surface of the table seem even more reflective, forcing him to see himself, small and defeated, in its sheen. He bit his lip hard, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall. Crying wouldn’t change anything, he told himself. It wouldn’t make them stop or suddenly treat him with the kindness he desperately longed for. All he could do was endure... because that’s what he always did. But the weight of it all was starting to feel unbearable, like he was suffocating under a mountain of expectations and disdain.

Lost in his thoughts, Sunoo didn’t notice the sound of steady footsteps approaching until they stopped right in front of him. Startled, he looked up to find Jay standing there, his face neutral but his eyes holding something Sunoo couldn’t quite place... Concern, maybe?

“Let’s go outside,” Jay said, his voice calm but firm. “You need a break before the live later. Get some air, clear your head.”

Sunoo blinked, unsure of how to respond. He had braced himself for more ridicule or maybe a demand, but not this. Jay’s tone wasn’t mocking, nor was it dripping with pity... it was just... straightforward. It caught him off guard. As Jay waited, still standing patiently in front of him, Sunoo felt a flicker of something unfamiliar... relief, perhaps? Or confusion at the small but unexpected kindness. Swallowing hard, Sunoo nodded silently and slowly stood, his legs still shaky from the earlier tension. Even as he followed Jay out, the gesture stayed with him, leaving him stunned and uncertain of what it meant.

To be continued...