empty fridge | johnny seo

十八, eye smiles

the sun had hid behind the black sky, and they turned on the lights in the dance practice room that no longer had the sun's support.

well maybe the loud kid, haechan, could count as a source of sunlight.

his clear laughters echoed through the room, as the young ones tackled the older ones onto the floor and wendy recorded the scene with her phone.

the middle of the room was now piles of empty plates and used tissues. only taeyong seemed to be the only one stressing out about the mess, and bending over with a plastic bag in hand collecting the garbage.

but just like every other party, june's focus seemed to forever be on something else. she looked around the room, feeling like something was missing- someone in particular.

she pushed open the glass door, stepping into the unlit corridor. june tilted her head, trying to fish out that particular face in her brain that was missing. and no, he was not johnny, nor taeyong.

she remembered when the kids who addressed themselves as the "dreamies" crashed the party, there was one boy. one quite boy, who never joined in with his peers' banters. for as long as he was there, he simply sat silently by the side, giving small smiles.

there was a figure at the very end of the narrow corridor, sitting by himself. June walked over as the screaming from the party faded away behind her.

she took a clearer look of the boy's face, and then sighed in relief as she recognized him.

"why aren't you having fun with your friends and sunbaes?"

the boy looked up, clearly not in the mood for parties.

"what?" he sniffled.

"come on, why you sad?"

she sat down next to him, feeling deja vu at the whole situation. remembering about johnny's sleepless night, which she was only beginning to forget.

the boy wouldn't say a word, but buried his head deep into his knees as soft whimpers continued to be heard.

and neither did she say anything. june patter his back, feeling like an older sister. neither of them knew how long it took before the silent tears stopped and he spoke his first word voluntarily.

but behind the corner, johnny saw it all. he knew that, although it seemed long, june was able to calm him down in only a few minutes. johnny's eyes softened at the sight, right hand holding the cup of bubble tea that he intended to give her.

"jeno. that's my name."

"i'm june," she smiled, "you probably already know from earlier."

then he gave her a big innocent smile. and she awed at the sight of his crescent shaped eyes.

as the two stood up to return to the party, johnny appeared from behind the corner. he extended his cup of boba towards jeno, mouthing a thank you at june.

the boy with the pretty smile accepted the drink with two hands,

"let's go little one!"

johnny ruffled his hair with his big hand, joining side by side with june as they walked back.

and june once again witnessed the inside of the cruel music industry. she realized that it's not all fame and glamorous. thinking back, perhaps she chose a much easier path than those like jeno, johnny and many more inside the dance practice room. as they returned back, it was as if she could see all the pain behind the happy smiles. the pain of their uncertain futures, or the pain of those like wendy and key: who have made it big yet live everyday like is a competition that they could not afford to loose after those tough trainee days.

so june packed away the envy that she had for her friends, and began to feel a great respect for every soul who chose this path.

a/n:

long time no update :)

sorry if it's not the best but y'all have a wonderful 2019!

and go listen to dpr live hehe!

Wei.