Overboard (iKON JunHwan Angst)

Chapter 14: Broken Hearts

Chapter 14: Broken Hearts

Junhoe was preparing a tea from his sister's supply to give it to Jinhwan who stayed at the guest room the entire afternoon being quiet. He didn't know how or what to talk to him. The silence from his friend was deafening and worrying him so much.

"Hyung?" He called out from the door of the guest room with the cup of tea on his hands.

"Junhoe-ya...come in." He heard him said so he opened the door and walked in.

"Have some tea. Noona bought this from Japan last time. It's really good." He said trying to be as lively as he could.

"Oh, thanks. You didn't have to." Jinhwan sounded weak but tried to smile.

It hurt Junhoe to see him trying to show he was fine. Hurtful silence followed. Junhoe can feel the weight of what Jinhwan is feeling right now. He felt helpless. He wanted to console his friend, just like what he did for him when he needed someone. But he didn't know what exact words to say to comfort Jinhwan. He was no expert in comforting people. He is always the one who receives it - from Bobby, from his sister and his mom, and even from his dad.

There were no spoken words after Jinhwan finished his tea. He requested to be alone and said he just wanted to rest. Junhoe even insisted him to have dinner at least, but he firmly refused.

He texted his sister to ask for permission to use the penthouse for a couple more days. He didn't mention Jinhwan to her. He just lied saying he needed it for some personal reason she didn't have to worry about.

He was forced to eat dinner alone. He couldn't even finish his food because his mind wandered in the guest room. Hours passed felt like forever. The clock was ticking so slowly. He didn't know what to do. He often checked Jinhwan in the room trying to peak and see if he was really sleeping. He was afraid Jinhwan would also harm himself. He knew this was even more painful for him than what he went through before.

Junhoe tossed on his bed. He couldn't sleep. He knew Jinhwan was deeply sleeping when he last checked him. But every time he closes his eyes, Jinhwan's image keeps on flashing - his crying image. He checked the time from his phone on the side table. It showed 1:47am. He still needed to sleep since he had his training in the company that day. He decided to get up and have a glass of water to calm himself down and help him sleep.

He brought a glass full of water with him on his way to his room just across the guest room where Jinhwan stays. He was about to open his door when he stared at the door on the opposite direction. He slowly walked towards there with his hand on his pocket and the other one holding his water.

He slowly grabbed the door knob when he felt a sudden prick on his chest. Jinhwan is...crying. He could hear the sobs from where he was standing. His grip from the knob tightened, as his hands felt cold on the glass of water he was also holding. He gritted his teeth to soothe his pounding chest. He was torn between barging in and letting Jinhwan have the space he needed.

The sobs grew louder as he slowly opened the door as gently as he could to avoid any sound to be heard. The dim light illuminated the room as he still listened to Jinhwan's heartbreaking weeps. In the end, his body betrayed his mind to just let Jinhwan cry his pain alone. He couldn't turn away from the cry he heard.

He was not sure if Jinhwan heard him walk in the room, but he saw his friend crying on his knees with his head buried on it. He was sitting at the corner of the glass window of the room. His heart ached again at the sight of his grieving friend.

He didn't mouth any words and just sat on the opposite side fronting Jinhwan. He copied his sitting position with his knees folded up to his chest. He put down the glass of water beside him before speaking.