Writer's Block (Meanie) [HIATUS]

Absence

  For four days in a row, the absence of Wonwoo haunted Mingyu.  How long had they known each other?  A month?  Two?  He hadn't realized how much a part of his life the other boy had become in that short amount of time.  The few minutes in the hallway between third and fourth period when he usually talked with Wonwoo was now silent aside from the chatter of other students.  The lunch table was strangely empty, not only void of Wonwoo, but Mingyu had noticed that most of his other friends has grown distant.  Even Seungcheol and Jihoon, who were sitting right next to him, seemed off in their own little world.

  And the walk home was unbearably quiet.  He looked into Wonwoo's windows as he passed twice a day for four days, but the light in his room was perpetually darkened and the only sounds that could be heard from outside were the voices of newscasters on a TV with the volume turned up too high.  No Wonwoo.

  The first day, Mingyu had texted Wonwoo asking if he was okay.  Wonwoo said he was okay, just recovering from a cold.  Nothing to worry about.  Then they texted back and forth for awhile, joking like anyone would, and Mingyu was convinced he really was okay.  The second day was the same until Mingyu asked where he was.  Wonwoo didn't reply.  It was like he just completely shut down without any warning.  This sort of radio silence continued for two more days, no matter how much Mingyu spammed.

  But finally, today Mingyu saw a familiar face among the crowd in the hall.

  "Won--"  Mingyu cut himself off when Wonwoo turned away from him.  Maybe he hadn't seen him.  He tried again.

  "Hey Wonwoo!"  A second time, no luck, and Wonwoo was quickly getting farther away.  Biology could wait.  Mingyu pushed against the steady stream of students and practically bolted down the hallway, his shoes squeaking on the linoleum.

  "Wonwoo!"  He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, attracting some attention.  Wonwoo whipped around.

  "Why are you doing this?  Isn't it obvious I don't want to talk?"

  Mingyu was surprised.  Shocked, almost.  But he quickly caught up, determined to find out what was wrong.  Wonwoo had never spoken to him like that before.

  "What's wrong?  Did something happen?" he asked.

  "Nothing, I just don't want to talk to you!" Wonwoo yelled.  The hallway was for the most part empty now, except for some stragglers who were always late to class, like Seokmin.

  "There's obviously something going on, why are you avoiding me?"

  "Stop wasting your time with me!  I'm just a burden!  You can be happy if you just leave me alone.  I want that for you I'm doing this for you!  Besides, you won't have to deal with me for much longer anyway."

  What?  Mingyu was completely taken aback.  It was like they were right back at the start of everything.  He thought he'd gotten rid of that attitude, those thoughts by now.  He thought Wonwoo was okay.  He thought he had helped.  But here they were, back at square one.  Everything had been fine, hadn't it?  So why. . .?

  "You're being irrational and I want to know why!"  Mingyu hadn't expected to raise his voice at Wonwoo.  He took a step back, almost afraid.  There was no change in Wonwoo's expression, but he knew he was hurt.  Wonwoo was fragile, Mingyu knew that.  He could break at any moment and maybe this was that moment.

  "I'm not being irrational," Wonwoo said defensively.

  "We're friends, you can't just ignore me!"

  "We're not friends.  We never were, Mingyu."

  And that was what really hurt.  "You don't mean that," Mingyu said, his voice cracking.  "Why are you doing this?"

  "I have my reasons.  It's none of your business."

  "I want to know!"

  "Why does it matter!?"

  "How does it not?  You're acting crazy.  You're acting like. . . Like you're dying or something!"

  Silence.  No reply, no more shots fired.  Tears.  Crystal tears running down Wonwoo's face, dropping onto his clothes and the floor.  It seemed like years until anyone spoke up.

  "Oh my god.  For how long-- Why. . . Why didn't you tell me?"

  But Wonwoo just turned and ran.  He didn't look back because he couldn't bear to see Mingyu's face.  It would have been better if he was angry, but Wonwoo knew that wasn't possible.  He would be sad and hurt and that was even worse.