Should've Held Onto You (CHA EUNWOO)

22 - Obligations

"Okay, so I'm thinking, we'll practice here tonight? The music rooms open, and we can use their piano. Then we can run some lines before auditions, and the boys and I can rush over to Fantagio."

I nodded along with what Dongmin was saying as we sat on the blanket in the courtyard for lunch. "Works for me... All these obligations are getting to me. The music class performance and musical auditions, and you even have Astro practice," I sighed, and Sumi turned to me, mouth full of food.

She began to speak in incoherent mumbles due to the food in her mouth, and the rest of us simply stared at her. She raised a finger, telling us to wait, before chewing and swallowing. "What I said was that you have one more obligation. We all do."

"What more could we possibly have to do?" Bin stared at her, exasperated.

Sumi grinned at us all, before shouting excitedly, "The Winter Formal!"

"What?" I asked. "It's not even really winter.."

Smiling smugly at me, Sumi said, "Well, its close enough. It's starting to get cold anyways. But that's beside the point. The point is, the formal's in less than two weeks. We need dresses."

"And we need dates!" Sanha added.

I groaned, "Why can't we just go in a group or something?"

"Well, what's the fun in that?" Minhyuk asked. "Besides, there's got to be someone you have your eye on, Miyeong."

"Yeah," MJ smirked, "Who do you have your eye on?"

MJ, Minhyuk, and JinJin began creeping towards me on all fours, before I said,

"Okay, this is getting weird. Can we please just all go together?"

"No! We need dates! We need social lives!" MJ yelled.

Bin sighed. "Why can't we just pair up? Like JinJin hyung can take Sumi, I'll take Miyeong, and Rocky and Sanha can go together, and-"

"What?" Dongmin glared at him.

"Hey, now!" Sumi shouted above the ruckus. "We are all going to try and get dates. If anybody wants to ask anybody, grow a pair and do it, okay?"

"So does that mean you will..?" I asked, and she smacked my arm, making me laugh.

-----

When class was over, I rushed to the music room, to see Dongmin already there.

"Sorry, I got held up.. I needed help on a writing assignment.."

He turned around on the piano bench, sending me a grin. "It's no problem. Let's run this thing."

Everything fell into place. It seemed that luck was on our side. Our harmonies worked together with ease, and the part distribution was perfect. Dongmin was amazing at piano, so it was no surprise that he already had the music practically memorized.

"That's A material!" I clapped my hands together before high-fiving Dongmin. "Go us!"

He laughed. Oh, how I loved his eye smile. "Alright, we have twenty minutes before auditions. Let's run some lines."

In nineteen minutes we were running down the hallways, trying not to be late to auditions. We got there just in time, flinging open the door in a mad rush to see Sanha, Bin, Sumi, JinJin, Minhyuk, MJ, and about twenty other students.

"How nice of you to join us," the head of the drama department said.

We sheepishly smiled at her before quietly walking over to our friends.

The audition consisted of the usual stuff. We all had to sing a solo song. I was a little nervous since I didn't think my voice was that great. The dancing part I had a lot of fun with. I really do enjoy dancing, I just don't have a lot of time for it. The acting portion of the audition was a piece of cake, and I also had fun with that one.

When I was done, I sat back and watched Dongmin do his acting portion. He was so intense. Although I'd been running lines with him, I didn't have much time to really focus in on his skills. I admired how easily he slipped into any character, fully embodying who they were.

Bin auditioned next, and I didn't realize before how much I had missed his voice. When we were little, he was always singing. I can't wait till Astro debuts, and I can listen to all their songs on repeat. Bin acted really well also. He had a softer aura about him, seemingly fit for less aggressive characters than Dongmin. In real life, Bin was pretty emotional, so I think that carried over. I glanced over at Sumi, who was going to be on the crew rather than the cast. She was watching Bin with a shine in her eyes.

"I've actually.. I've always liked him. I can't really remember a time when I didn't.."

I could feel a knot in my stomach as I remembered the words she said to me. She never told me she liked him. She never told me why she didn't tell me. I trusted her, but I can't help but think it's because of me.. I'm not dumb, I know Bin likes me, but I don't know how to feel about him. The whole situation is simply weird. I'd do anything to see them together, though, if it'd make Sumi happy.

When the auditions were over, the director thanked us all and told us the results would be posted within three days, so be looking. The six Astro boys quickly ran out of the gym, yelling a quick goodbye to us.

"Wait!" Dongmin came back, standing in front of me silently before pulling me in for a tight hug. When he released me, he gave a shy smile, and ran to catch the others.

Sumi nudged me with a smirk as he ran off, and I blushed to myself.

My parents picked us up and took us to my house, as she was spending the night. We walked into my room, closing the door behind us as we sat down on the bed.

"If you're not asking Eunwoo to the formal, I'm killing you," She said seriously before laying back on my duvet.

I rolled my eyes. "I really don't see why we can't all go together."

"You like Eunwoo."

"I never said that."

She scoffed, "And he likes you."

"I highly doubt that."

She scoffed again, and, as I lied down beside her, she turned to me. "What are you afraid of? He cares about you so much, and I know you care about him. There's nothing to be scared of. You were meant to be.. always."

I sighed before changing the subject, "So will you ask Bin?"

"Ha, no!" She snorted, but when I gave her a look she sighed as well. "Alright.. if you go to the formal with Eunwoo, I'll go with Bin."

"Promise?"

"Pinky promise."

I was long asleep when I got a text I wouldn't see until the morning.

Unknown: do yourself a favor and stay away from him