Cupcakes | j.wy ✓

18

"Kyung?" Yunho waved a hand in front of my face, trying to snap me back to reality. "Are you alright?"

"Huh, what?" I blinked, almost dropping the spoon in my hand.

"You spaced out," Yunho answered. "Again. Are you okay?"

I look down at my bowl of chicken soup and stirred it slowly. "Yeah. I'm okay."

"You sure?" Yunho asked.

In reality, no. I don't know how to break the news to Yunho that his brother is sick and refused to be treated in a hospital. I'm worried that he might react angrily and yell at me again. I'm worried he might faint from fear or anxiety or something. I'm worried about many things, and I can't help it.

"Yeah," I nodded, spooning some soup into my mouth. "I'm good."

Yunho cocked his head at me but didn't say anything. Then he said, "Hongjoong and the other guys are heading off to the recording studio to record the last song in our mini album. Do you want to come over and watch us?"

I smiled. "Sure. I'm intrigued in how your recording process works—and how you guys haven't burned Hongjoong's recording studio to the ground yet."

Yunho pouted at me. "Hey, we can be serious at times, you know."

After lunch Yunho and I chatted and walked to the recording studio. I felt guilty the entire time because I wanted to tell Yunho the turth about his brother, but I was too nervous to utter a single word. When finally reached Hongjoong's house, I decided just to tell Yunho later. I don't feel ready to tell him the truth yet.

We entered the house (which, very strangely, seemed completely abandoned) and found the studio. San and Hongjoong were in there, recording a song. I could faintly hear San's voice from the recording space, and honestly, his voice is amazing. Hongjoong had headphones on, concentrating on San's voice. When San was done with his part, Hongjoong paused the music playing. He spotted us and took off his headphones, smiling.

"Hey guys," he greeted. "Is anyone else here yet?"

"Nah, just us," I answer. "Why does your house seem so abandoned?"

"My parents are at work and my brother is out on a date," Hongjoong replies, slipping his headphones on. "Okay, San, one more time, but this time, with more feeling into the music."

While San sang loud and clear on the other side, Yunho whispered into my ear, "And this is why Joongie doesn't have a girlfriend yet."

I nudge his shoulder playfully. "Don't rush him, he probably needs time."

"Yeah, right." Yunho rolled his eyes as he glanced at his friend. "Time to start hanging out with actual people and not recording or musical objects."

"I could hear you, you know that right, Yunho?" Hongjoong shouts at him as he pressed the stop button. "Okay San, you're done. Yunho, you're next."

"Which song is this?" Yunho asked, slipping into the recording room and taking the headphones San passed to him.

"My Way," Hongjoong answered. "Don't forget your lyrics, did you memorize them?"

"I'm pretty sure they were only two words," Yunho answered.

Hongjoong nodded as San plopped onto the couch next to me, where Yunho was. "Okay, Yunho. Recording in three, two, one."

As Yunho sang his lungs out in that room, San played his phone and I heard noises outside the studio. We turned and to my dismay, Wooyoung and Yeosang were already entering the studio. Wooyoung smiled brightly as soon as he saw me. I gave him a weak smile, and quickly turned to nod at Yeosang. Yunho gave a worried look at my direction. I gave him a weak smile to tell him that I'm okay. He gave me an unsure look, but I waved him off. Then Wooyoung slipped onto the couch next to me. My heart clenched.