Saviors

17

Soonyoung watched Jihoon run down the street. It seemed like Jihoon was always running away from him. He pushed up to the front of the group and tapped Seungcheol on the shoulder.

"Jihoon went home."

"What? Why?!"

"He looked kind of like he was having a panic attack, he was hyperventilating and he looked like a caged animal. Was it right for me to let him go? Should I have gone after him?" Soonyoung asked, tears in his eyes.

"No. I think that what you did was right. He probably needed some alone time." Seungcheol said in a reassuring voice. Jeonghan, who was next to him nodded. Soonyoung breathed out a sigh of relief, but still looked back anxiously at the direction that Jihoon ran off to.

Barely five minutes had passed since Jihoon laid down in his bed and his members were already home. He heard them searching for him, calling out his name, but he didn't respond. The door opened to the dark room and a wave of light washed in.

"Ah, Jihoon. There you are." Someone sat on the edge of his bed, making it dip slightly. They brushed the hair away from his face. "Good night Jihoon."

A little bit later, his roommates crept in quietly. The metal groaned as they got into their beds. Soon they were asleep. Jihoon still stared at the wall. Why do I keep on having these dreams? These dreams about my past.

Jihoon eventually fell asleep, if one could even call it that. He woke up every thirty minutes or so. So when he woke, he was more tired than the night before.

He woke to the sound of the quiet beeping of his alarm. Jihoon got up and got ready as if on autopilot.

As usual, when he got into the kitchen, Jun and Mingyu were already in there.

"Apple?" Mingyu asked hesitantly.

"No, thanks."

"Did you eat anything last night?" Jihoon slowly shook his head. "Yeah, that's what I thought." Jun took the apple out of Mingyu's hand and put it into Jihoon's. His stomach churned as he slowly bit in. Jun set water and a granola bar in front of Jihoon.

A couple more members shambled tiredly into the kitchen, Soonyoung among them. They each grabbed an apple and sat down, rubbing their bleary eyes.

"Do you feel better today Jihoon?" Soonyoung asked with a yawn. Jihoon took another bite and nodded.

"What was wrong?" Minghao asked cutely.

"I- just needed some alone time." Jihoon's voice was monotonous and scratchy from the bad night's sleep.

"But you're always alone Hyung. Don't you want to be with people sometimes?" Chan asked. Sometimes. Jihoon shrugged. Seokmin walked into the kitchen.

"Seungcheol Hyung has the second group. Let's go." Seokmin told the group. He scanned their faces but avoided looking at Jihoon.

"Alright, let's go." The group of seven left the house. The early November air was bitter and bit at their noses and fingers. Jihoon walked in the back of the group and Seokmin let himself fall back to talk to him.

"Hyung."

"What?" Jihoon asked suspiciously.

"What are they from? Please, tell me. Are you self-harming?" He asked with a gasp.

"Of course not." Jihoon whispered.

"Then what..."

"It's none of your business." Jihoon mumbled. He began walking a little faster and stopped by Mingyu and Chan.

"Hi Hyung!" Chan said brightly.

"Hey Hyung, isn't your birthday coming up in a couple of days?"

"Yeah..."

"What do you want?"

"Nothing."

"Oh come on Hyung! You have to want something."

"Do you want to do something instead?" Chan asked.

"No. I don't really like celebrating my birthday."

"Why?" Jihoon sighed.

"I just never really did in the past. I just don't see the point in it."

"Alright." They let it drop.

They walked to the practice room in silence. Once there, everyone began stretching and warming up their vocals. Five minutes later, the rest of the group came. They danced to their new songs over and over again then took a break to sing them. It was normal.

Everything was normal once they got back too. They washed up and went to bed. The repetitive life of an idol.

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Sorry for such a short chapter. I'm not super good with filler so it's dragging a bit. Hope you all still enjoyed!