TRUST || STRAY KIDS

PART XX - SECRETS

As expected, his college life was bland without her. Except with the article about her going on around. After someone unknown posted the article, people speculated Y/N abused her sister or something which made her sister left. Well, he already expected she has something going on, on her own family but decided not to ask. He'll wait for her to open up once she felt comfortable with him.

Chan and the others constantly asked him about her whereabout once the article came up. Probably asking if it was true. But still he didn't give them an answer. Once in a while, she would contact him asking about him and the others. It was enough for him. Really. Hearing her voice the first time in the morning really hyped him up. But he knew it wasn't enough. The tiredness on her voice constantly made him realized that they're on a different part of the world. Making him even more lonely.

Sometimes, he couldn't sleep at night as he was expecting something from her. A single message of 'good morning' while the sky was dark outside his window. Or a video call ringtone which lightened his dark bedroom. It would be worst if his friends weren't with him hanging out every day. They're dorks, but really loyal.

"Oh! And remember when Chan slipped on a banana when he was supposed to be angry at us? We're not supposed to be laughing but I cracked back then," he wheezed remembering the past actions. "That was hilarious!" Yes, they're friends since high school. Not close at first, but they're getting closer when they're on detention together just because initiating a food war at lunch. Stupid? Yeah. Memorable? Totally.

"That was embarrassing," Chan sighed while mixing his drink. Chan suggested that since it was a day off, they should grab a lunch on the old café they used to visit. As expected, their food still has it taste and brought a nostalgic memory on them. The others laughed after they took turn telling the past stories, funny or not. However, Chan's mind travelled elsewhere thinking about her whereabout. He did as she asked though, taking notes for her on every class. Tried several times on contacting her but still no respond. He has a hunch that Seung Min knew something but won't let him or the others know about it. Again, in the end, his thought ended up on the same question. 'What's their relationship?'

"Chan, are you even listening?" Min Ho noticed how his eyes kept looking outside the big window. The habit he usually showed whenever he was thinking hard about something. Chan looked at the boys who's now focusing their attention on him, waiting for his explanation. Words stuck on his throat not letting him talked and only made him shook his head silently, looking down to his half-eaten food.

"Don't worry about him! Probably he's thinking about Y/N," Felix slurped his smoothie calmly. Seung Min almost choked on his food after hearing what Felix said. He did have a hunch that Chan might be interested in her since he's the only one who's been asking about her whereabout. But he only thought because she was left him hanging the last time.

"Really?" Min Ho looked at the boy rather surprised. "Hyun Jin, you have a rival!" Great. His appetite now perfectly gone. Hyun Jin was shocked too after his name got mention suddenly. Looking at the older boy asking for an explanation. The other looked at Hyun Jin questioning about the statement Min Ho just said, including Chan who's finally into the conversation. He gulped while letting down his dining utensil down slowly, avoiding their piercing gaze.

"That's supposed to be a secret!" he hissed to Min Ho silently but unfortunately, the other heard. "I only said that she was interesting. Not like I have a crush on her or something." Min Ho just rolled his eyes playfully and then shook his head afterwards. He knew this boy was not made for lying. Still confused how he could play poker without letting his emotion showed while this time, he left a big opening for others to see everything.

"Anyway, did you hear anything about her? Other than the article, I mean," Jeong In asked, already felt the conversation would lead to a big fight. He's the youngest yet very quick witted. In seconds, he could read all of their emotions, even if they're good at hiding it. That's why some of them liked to talk with him, like Ji Sung while some just scared he might find out about whatever they're hiding. "It's been two weeks since she's gone. If Seung Min said a while ago about her joining the next game night was true, she's supposed to be here next week for preparation. But we still haven't heard any news about her."

Seung Min kept silence while the others tried to give out their opinion about the new topic Jeong In brought up. He didn't want the others to know that he's the only one that kept in touch with her while she's overseas. Other than it was a promise with her to keep her whereabouts a secret, he didn't want Chan or even Hyun Jin about her. They might even try to call her after they parted. He sighed silently, confused about the new negative thought he had these days.

His phone which he put on the table showed someone called. It was Y/N. Unfortunately, not only it caught Seung Min's attention, but also Hyun Jin's who sat across him. As swift as he could, he snatched the phone before Seung Min could even touched it and put the call on speaker. Seung Min sighed knowing her plan of keeping them a secret blew off.

"Y/N?" Hyun Jin asked, heart thumping on his chest. It's been so long for him to hear her voice after all these times. The other line went silence the moment he finished calling her name, only a few mumbles behind could be heard before a playful scoff came to his ear.

"Hyun Jin, huh?" her voice suddenly appeared which made him unconsciously smiled. "Well, I originally wanted to ask Seung Min about his opinion, but since I know you're with him then I can ask you directly." He gulped while waiting for her question and the other also focused on her call. "Do you really want Ye Ji to come back?"

"Hell, yeah, I do," he said confidently without a single stutter. "Ye Ji is my sister and I wouldn't let anyone or even the fucking world hurt her." He heard a chuckled on the other side and a very familiar voice that he hasn't heard for years. How he missed the voice. How he missed seeing her smiling face first thing in the morning when his day was rough. The way she took his side whenever he has a fight with their parents.

"You hear that?" Y/N asked the girl beside her while still making the call. A silent gap entered the call line while he and the other boy still waiting for whatever something happened there.

"I heard that loud and clear, big brother," Ye Ji replied loud enough until the boys heard her clearly. Hyun Jin smiled softly after hearing her voice, finally clear. Min Ho and Ji Sung patted the back of his friend back. They knew how deep their siblings bond was. The last time they have an argument was at 6th grade when Ye Ji stole his hoodie without telling him. His favorite one on top of it. After that, as if they've matured, they understood each other feelings and never had a single argument ever again.

"Oh, wait!" Hyun Jin suddenly thought of a question about something. "Y/N, when will you come back? I heard you're going to join our next month game night, you should be here next week for preparation if that's true."

"Just know I'll definitely come to your next month game night," she replied. "Don't worry about it. Anyway, I should go. See you at the game night." Then, the call ended leaving the boys still focusing on Seung Min's phone which the screen already turned off.