A Wish Upon a Star | Yeonbin ✓

LXIII

"Hey Kai!"

The younger looked up from the street, using his palm to shield his face from the sun, "What're you up to, Hyung? Waiting for something?"

Soobin didn't know if he should tell the younger or not. He decided that the younger didn't have to necessarily know, the curious boy would have a lot of questions to ask.

"Oh, I'm just, you know... kinda bored. What about you?" Soobin replied.

"Oh, just walking back home from the convenience store," Kai lifted the plastic bag in his hand.

Just then, Soobin's mother walked up the street towards the house, seeing Kai and Soobin.

"Hello there," Soobin's mother greeted Kai after giving a small wave to her own son.

"Oh, hello there," Kai bowed, not knowing who the woman was.

"I'm Soobin's mother," Soobin's mother then turned to Soobin, "Who's this young man, son?"

"A friend from school, his name is Kai."

"Hello Mrs. Choi, I'm Huening Kai, a friend of your son's."

"Hello," Soobin's mum smiled, "Would you like to come in for some tea, Kai?"

Kai looked back at Soobin.

"Yeah, want to come in?" Soobin asked.

Kai paused, surprised, "Sure!"

"Okay, I'll be right there at the door, wait a sec."

Soobin opened the door and greeted both his mother along with his friend.

"You boys can go up to Soobin's room, I'll bring you guys some snacks," Soobin's mother said as she left, leaving the two boys in the hall.

"Let's go?" Soobin asked.

"Yeah, sure," Kai replied, following Soobin up the stairs and into his room as Kai let his eyes wander around the house.

"Nice room," Kai commented, picking up a pillow from the bed and sitting down, hugging the pillow.

"Thanks," Soobin said with a chuckle.

"What?"

"You're always so quick to make yourself comfortable."

"And that's bad because?"

"It's not. Just means I don't have to put an effort to clear the awkward air," Soobin said, stretching and sitting on his chair.

"Well, you like that, right?"

"What?"

"Not needing to clear the awkward air or whatever."

"Hmm, yeah."

"Thought so."

"Why?"

"You don't have the best social skills so."

Soobin picked up a cushion that was lying on the floor and threw it at Kai.

"Hey, what?"

"You don't have to point it out!"

Kai laughed, "Sure."

Kai picked up the cushion that had just missed him and put it neatly on the bed, "I thought your room would be neater though, not going to lie."

"It is better usually," Soobin shrugged, following Kai's gaze to see the albums and boxes littering a corner of the room.

"What are all of those?"

"Oh, things from back when I was a kid. Photo albums and things."

"Can I see?"

Soobin paused wondering if he should allow it but he knew he had to tell someone about all the things that had happened the night before, it was puzzling him and he needed outside insight.

"Sure."

Kai walked to the closet and picked up the first album he saw. Kai turned the page, "Oh my God, you're so tiny!"

Soobin just nodded, body tense with clenched fists thinking about the pictures.

"How come you look sad in all of them?" Kai suddenly had an extremely sad look on his face, almost exaggerated, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."

"Huh?"

"I should've come into your life earlier, I understand that I'm the one who brought all the happiness in your life..." Kai couldn't keep up the serious face and burst out laughing.

"Oh shut up!" Soobin laughed along, lightly hitting the younger.

"Ooh there's another boy here. Tiny Soobin-hyung's friend!"

Kai was about to turn the page when Soobin suddenly stopped his hand, "Wait."

"What, Hyung?"

"Take that picture out and look at the back of it."

Kai gave Soobin a weird look but complied, reading the short note, "So it's Junnie-hyung..?"

Soobin took a deep breath before replying, "Yeah."

Kai paused awkwardly before commenting, "Ah. Cool cool. So, uh, you guys were childhood friends?"

Soobin had a tight smile on his face as he hesitantly nodded.

There was a short silence before Kai sang, "On to the next page then!"

As Kai was about to turn the page, Soobin again stopped his hand, "Kai, do you think there's something off about Junnie-hyung?"

"Weird..? Like?"

"I don't know. Sometimes, he's just weird..."

"Like, quirky? Different than other people?" Kai laughed.

Kai stopped midway seeing that Soobin looked dead serious and had a concerning look on his face.

"Hyung, did something happen?"

"I don't even know where to start..."