B A R C O D E

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⟦12:56AM⟧
          ⟦UNKNOWN NUMBER⟧
Hey Hyungwon, it's Wonho. I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. I don't know why I did that honestly, I just know I'm really sorry and I hope you still want to be friends.
Hyungwon looked at his phone and smiled. He wasn't mad about it, just confused, shocked, and flustered. He's glad Wonho texted him. He wanted to text Wonho and apologize but he didn't have his number and was too afraid to ask Changkyun. He added him to his contacts, typed back and laid his phone down. He picked his guitar back up and began to play Beautiful by Monsta X. This was his favorite song they did. He began softly singing as his message was sent.
⟦Hyungwon:)⟧
Hey! Don't worry about it. I was just confused haha. I'm sorry too, I was dramatic about the whole idol thing and it was rude of me to just barge out like that. Also, go to bed and stop worrying about it. It's one in the morning loser. I hope you sleep well. Happy birthday by the way :)
    Wonho's head shot up when he heard his phone buzz. He grabbed the phone and smiled brightly. He rolled back over and began typing, not losing his smile.
⟦Wonhoʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔ⟧
Wow, how'd you know I wasn't sleeping because of it, are you stalking me? And don't apologize, I understand now why you got so upset. My mom knew who you were and I may or may not have looked you up, I get why.
Thank you by the way, finally 17. 
I hope you sleep well and I will see you at school tomorrow.
Goodnight Hyungwon.
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    He laid his phone down and smiled. He laid down and was about to fall asleep when his eyes shot open. "Holy crap my barcode," he said loudly and ran to the bathroom. He rolled down the top of his sweatpants and his smile faded. It wasn't there. He walked back to his room and sat down on the edge of his bed. He grabbed his phone and looked up why his barcode wasn't there. His eyes widened as he read the results. Stuff such as broken the system, error in dates, and rules broken were popping up. Obviously the rules were broken, but he had never heard of that making the code not show up. He convinced himself it was just a delay and went to sleep, well at least tried.
    Hyungwon was hung over his guitar sound asleep when his phone started ringing. He slowly opened his eyes and shifted around. He picked up his guitar from his lap and placed it next to his bed. He shook his head and rolled his shoulders while reaching over to get the ringing phone.
    "Hello?" he said groggily.
    "Hyungwon? I know it's early, like four in the morning early, but I need help."
    "Wait what? Wonho?" he realized who the voice on the other side was.
    "Duh, did you not look at your phone before picking it up?" he snorted.
"Wonho it's four am and I was asleep over my guitar so no I didn't look at who it was. But why do you need help? Are you okay?" he rubbed his eyes and laid on his back.
    "My barcode didn't show up," he said quietly.
    "Wonho it's probably just a delay," he giggled. "I'm sure it will show up. Have you slept?"
    "Well no but, what if they found out and deactivated my chip?"
    "Wonho, I doubt that's the case. You're fine, sleep and when you wake it up it will be there. Yours might just be showing up slower. Some barcodes take like two days for it to fully develop. I think you're just paranoid," he laughed and rubbed his eyes.
    "I guess but like I looked it up and it said I could've broken the system. That means there's someone else who broke the system before me. Maybe that means I can choose who I end up with! Or, I'll die," he mumbled the last few words.
    "Wonho you won't die, they rarely ever do that in America. I'm pretty sure there is a law trying to be passed about getting the barcodes removed. The system is insane and usually the people who follow the rules are miserable. The restrictions are ridiculous and most people hate them anyways," he tried to reassure the boy.
    "Well what if they don't get the law passed and I end up miserable or dead, then what?" he asked.
    "Wonho, you will be okay. Well if we both hate it and already broke the rules anyways then we can just be together."
    "Wait, what?" he felt his face get hot.
    "I- I uh, was uh joking, haha," his cheeks burned a deep red and his palms started to sweat. "Well I-I'm gonna get some sleep and you should too," he rubbed his eyes and laid his head in his hand.
    "Yeah, goodnight Hyungwon," he hung up.
Hyungwon buried his face in his hands and shook his head. "Oh my god what is wrong with me," he laughed angrily and laid back down. They both laid in their beds staring at the ceiling. Wondering why he didn't have his code, and why Hyungwon said something like that. He didn't like Wonho, right? No, he likes him as a friend. And Wonho didn't like him. Or, did he?