Seaside ✅

ㅇ9

Changmin and Haknyeon were the first to come back. I became suspicious of Haknyeon as he had scratches all over him. "Haknyeon, do you mind if we talk?" "Fine." I patted the spot next to me and gestured for Changmin to leave us. "Why are you covered in scratches?" He instinctively covered his arms then sighed. "I was tailing Hyunjoon, but I lost him. Then I saw a trash bag that was moving." I couldn't judge whether or not he was being truthful, but there was nothing to say he was lying. "Why were you tailing Hyunjoon?" "I was worried about him. He looked upset last night. Also, I found this in his bag." He revealed a book that had a lock on it to me. "This could be Younghoon's..." "May I hold onto it? I think I can get this open." He nodded then stood up. "This conversation never happened."

I tried putting the key in and it seemed to fit. I turned it, but it didn't open. I tried it the other way and it didn't open. "Then who's book is this?" I covered it with a pillow as the front door had opened. "Hey, Hyunjoon." He sat down next to me and it kind of spooked me. "What happened to your ankle?" "Pothole." He nodded then reached over to touch it. "I have a question." "Hm?" "I heard you were out this morning. Where did you go?" "Town. I wanted good breakfast." "I see. Did you get any?" "Yeah." I noticed he kept looking at my ankle. I was hoping he didn't notice that I had put the key there at the last minute.

"Get better. You're going to need it." "What do you mean? Hyunjoon?" He walked upstairs and I couldn't help but make him the most suspicious on my list. I heard someone walk back in and was kind of relieved to see Sangyeon. "Hyunjoon...I'm worried about him. I think he's really shaken up about all of this. And Haknyeon has been sneaking around lately. And Changmin...he always looks close to having a meltdown. We're all a mess and I just..." I couldn't help but pat his back as he probably has it rougher than us.

"We all should just relax and think rationally, but I really want to get to bed..." Sangyeon helped me back to the room then left after I got situated. "Kevin." "Not now, I'm trying to sleep." "But it's important." "What could be more important than thinking of ways to keep us alive?" He quieted down after I said that and I was a bit thankful. "Kevin, please." "What is it?" I waited for him to speak, but it seemed as if he wasn't going to. "You're going to hate me after I tell you this, but it's been eating me alive." "Go on." I heard him sigh and assumed it was about what I heard the night before.

"I went to a party with Younghoon, Eric and Juyeon." Eric? I hadn't heard that name in a long time since then. I didn't know him too well, but he and Hyunjoon used to date. They were a cute couple. "We were having a good time, lots of dancing and dirty jokes. I got wasted and you know how I get. I saw Juyeon and Eric go off somewhere and Younghoon had dragged me elsewhere. We were both pretty drunk and we kissed." I wondered how long he's been keeping quiet about the event. "There's more." "More?" "It escalated from there. Basically, we fucked." I sighed heavily and honestly thought of breaking up with him. I could forgive a kiss, but sex was another story. But, I was curious as to what happened between Juyeon and Eric.

"Do you know what happened between Eric and Juyeon?" "Not really. All I remember is that Eric wasn't the same, like he was scared of something."

"Flinching at the slightest touch."