"Everyone's part of a wing," Changkyun explained. They were all sitting at a circular table with a capital M engraved in the center. "We're M-wing. We used to be F-wing, but then Jooheon-" He pauses to glare at the boy in question, who only shrugged half-heartedly and took an aggressive swallow of water. "-broke three windows in our classroom - that was all of them - so they had to transfer us into one without windows."
"The lower the letter, the less privileges you are allowed," Shownu hopped in, giving Hyungwon a small smile. "Like windows, for instance. Or having lunch in the cafeteria. Some wings don't have cameras in their dorms, and some even have solo rooms. It's all about how much they can trust us." Shownu paused thoughtfully. "They still have to do Sunday evaluations, though. Everyone does."
"Sunday?" Hyungwon croaked out, shorting a glance over at Kihyun, who had ceased communication once his job as cafeteria escort was over. Now, he was hunched over his tray, eating quickly and methodically, looking up at the cameras in the corners of the room every so often. "What- What happens on Sunday?"
Shownu looked at Changkyun, pity in his eyes, before sighing when he realized he was on his own to explain. "Don't worry about it, Hyungwon. It's- It's not that bad, really, just a little uncomfortable, so..." He trailed off and looked over beseechingly at Changkyun once more.
"So," Changkyun said, looking up at Hyungwon. "What's it like on the outside?"
Hyungwon blinked. What was he supposed to tell them? What did they want to know? He hadn't paid much attention to current events anyway since he'd had more pressing obsessions to fret over. "It's..." He paused. "How long have you been in here?" He asked instead.
Changkyun's lips tugged down at the corners, but he didn't seem particularly upset at having been asked. "Four or five months, give or take. My mom started dating a guy with a young kid, and they didn't want me scaring her." Changkyun's eyes flashed with anger. "I wasn't trying to scare her, and I wasn't telling any lies, you got that?!"
"No ones saying that you lied," Shownu said softly, putting a hand on Changkyun's back without applying any pressure, as he didn't want Changkyun to feel attacked.
"But you're all thinking it," Changkyun snapped, glaring at everyone at the table, only most of them were ignoring him anyway. His eyes ended on Hyungwon before lowering his eyes, his face flushed red, both out of anger and shame.
"No, we aren't," Shownu said before giving Hyungwon a prodding look.
"I don't think you're lying," Hyungwon said somewhat unconvincingly. He was starting to understand what Minhyuk had meant the other day, that they all had to support each other, because who else did hey have?
"He's a bloody liar and he knows it," Jooheon muttered from the other side of the table, and Changkyun's head snapped up.
"Hey!" Changkyun snapped. "Say it to my face you little bitch!"
Jooheon pushed his empty tray toward the center of the table before standing up. "You want me to say it to your face? Huh? Well you're batshit crazy and always making shit up. No wonder your mom put you in here."
"Jooheon, stop provoking him," Shownu said harshly.
Hyungwon stared down at his tray.
Stop telling lies, Hyungwon! No one wants to hear your lies!
We didn't raise you to be a liar!
Why do you insist on saying things that aren't true? Are you trying to upset us?
"I believe you," Hyungwon said abruptly, his words uneven.
The table grew silent.
"Maybe you're a liar too," Jooheon sneered.
Hyungwon looked down. Maybe I am.
"Can't we just enjoy breakfast?" Wonho asked with a strained look on his face. Neither Minhyuk nor Kihyun responded, but Jooheon exhaled sharply before sitting back down.
Wonho sank into his seat in a moment of relief before observing the rest of the table.
Changkyun, his jaw clenched, body language defensive.
Shownu, upset and sympathetic.
Kihyun, unaffected.
Minhyuk, also unaffected.
Jooheon, his momentary adrenaline slowly draining.
And Hyungwon, staring down at the table as though it held the answer to a question he was afraid to voice.
Hyungwon, who had sounded just a little bit broken when he had told Changkyun he'd believed him.
Hyungwon, who has sounded like he'd wished someone else would have said the words to him instead.
