Seaside ✅

ㅇ7

Everyone had fallen silent at Hyunjoon's sentence. "You aren't very truthful yourself, Joon." "Maybe so, but I lie only when it won't hurt anyone nor anything." "I've had enough of this, I'm going back to my room." I quickly hid in one of the closets then cracked it open so I could see out. Haknyeon had come out, followed by Sangyeon. "Haknyeon, don't go anywhere alone. Who knows what'll happen." "This is what annoys me. You always act like you're our dad when you're clearly not. Just stop. We don't like it." "Well, I'm sorry for actually caring about you idiotic shits." Sangyeon had gone back in while Haknyeon stood there for a bit before going downstairs.

"People really do show their true colors during a crisis..." I was about to leave the closet until I saw Changmin step out. I turned off my phone as I saw him take out his. "Ms. Yue, is he still with you? No, he isn't back. Thank you." I wasn't sure if I should feel happy that he cared or disappointed that it was probably all fake. He stared at the bedroom door for a bit before going back in. It was then that I heard a loud thud and loud voices. "Do I go? But what if..." Haknyeon had come back up and disappeared into the room, which only increased the loudness. I decided to yolo it and head inside as well.

Everyone quieted down at the sight of me. Sangyeon was holding Hyunjoon who was growling at Jaehyun until I had entered. Changmin was rubbing his arm and I assumed he was the one that fell and caused the thud sound. Haknyeon was behind Jaehyun holding his arms back. "Did I miss anything?" I tried to sound as clueless as I could to not arouse suspicion. "No, not really..." Everyone had calmed down and sat down in their original places. I sat next to Sangyeon and Haknyeon as I didn't want to interact with Changmin just yet. "Where have you been?" "Oh, just in town. Wanted to see if there was anything fun around."

After talking for a while, everyone left to their rooms. I knew I shouldn't trust any of them, but Sangyeon was the least suspicious. "What's up?" "I wanted to know about Younghoon as you two were close." "Why are you asking?" "I never properly got to know him." He seemed to buy into my lie. "Well, you already know that he's a liar. A good one at that. He had quite the intimidation factor and usually got what he wanted. Like that one time he and Ch-actually, no. Never mind." I wanted to ask, but my relationship problem could wait. "Oh! He told me he constantly wrote in a book, but wouldn't tell me which..." Could it be?

Not much of what else was said had importance, but I sought out the book we had found in Juyeon's bag. I compared the writing to a note I had kept from Younghoon, but was disappointed to see it didn't match. "Then is it really Juyeon's writing?" I closed my bag and slid it back under the bed. The door opened revealing Changmin. "I'm going to take a walk. Stay safe." I walked past him then heard him call my name. "It's dark out...stay inside. Please."

I found myself wandering around as I didn't know where I was. It was pretty dark as there weren't a lot of streetlights. "Maybe I should've stayed inside." I sighed then kept walking. I stepped and felt myself falling flat on my face. I felt searing pain in my ankle and had tried hard to keep quiet. I turned on my phone's flashlight and saw I had stepped into a pothole. I noticed something reflecting the light. "A key"? I picked it up then noticed letters on it.

"Y.H? Younghoon?"