Three more days passed. Inhan, who returned to the dorm after a long time due to drama filming, looked for Yuho first.
“Raulie hyung. Have you seen Yuho hyung? He’s not in his room.”
“He went out to the convenience store a while ago.”
“When?”
“About 10 minutes ago? He should be back soon.”
“He’s not answering his phone.”
“He’ll be back soon. He’s not a child.”
However, Yuho hadn’t returned by the time Inhan left the dorm again for his individual schedule.
Two more days passed.
“Jueon hyung. Where’s Yuho hyung?”
“Yuho? He’s probably sleeping now.”
“It’s 9 o’clock now.”
“He said he was tired and going to bed early.”
At Jueon’s answer, Inhan let out a deep sigh.
He was trying to understand this ridiculous repetition of coincidences that had been going on for a week already.
Why bother returning to the dorm after overnight filming?
While it made sense that he missed Yuho at night due to his late returns, Inhan couldn’t accept how Yuho seemed to vanish like a ghost every morning.
“He’s not sick, is he?”
“It’s not that. He just said he had trouble sleeping last night.”
Inhan’s face turned glum at Jueon’s blunt answer.
He had finally avoided overnight filming and arrived at the dorm earlier than expected, but only Jueon and Taylor were there to welcome him in the living room.
He had even sent a message that he’d be home early.
Inhan hadn’t realized that Yuho’s reply to “be careful” literally just meant to be careful.
“Dinner? Want me to make you something?”
“It’s okay. I’m not hungry.”
After rejecting Jueon’s offer, Inhan headed straight to Yuho’s room. I’ll be careful when I enter so I won’t wake him up. But that action was soon stopped by Taylor.
“Don’t wake him up for nothing. Sleep in your own room. Yuho’s not in good condition these days.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened, so don’t overreact.”
Inhan stared at the door crack where no light was seeping through, and eventually walked toward his own room.
I have to leave early again tomorrow. Though his steps were reluctant with disappointment, he had no choice.
That’s how the rift between the two began.
* * *
“Where’s Yuho hyung?”
“He went for lessons.”
“At this hour?”
“He said the vocal teacher was only available at this time.”
This was two days later.
At Raulie’s answer, Inhan quickly looked for his phone. Then he checked the messages he had exchanged with Yuho the day before.
Inhan – [Tomorrow I only have afternoon filming]
Yuho – [Oh really? Then you can get some good sleep tonight]
Inhan – [I want to see you more than taking a nap]
Yuho – [Me too]
Inhan – [Then see you tomorrow]
No matter how much he searched, there was no mention of leaving early for lessons. Inhan sent Yuho another message.
Inhan – [When are you coming back, hyung?] 9:23 AM
Yuho – [Sorry, the teacher asked me to have lunch together] 12:34 PM
Yuho’s reply came three hours after Inhan had sent his message.
It was just as Inhan was leaving the dorm for the filming location.
“Suhyung hyung. Did something happen to Yuho hyung these days?”
Inhan asked the manager Suhyung, who was driving. Half of his heart was worried, and half was hurt.
“I don’t know. Juseung didn’t say anything special.”
Juseung was the manager who worked with Suhyung, taking care of 7SPOT.
Suhyung, the team leader, mainly handled Inhan and Yeomin’s individual schedules, while Juseung, in his second year, managed the other four members.
“Taeyoon hyung said he’s not in good condition these days.”
“Well, as the years go by and he gets older, he probably has a lot on his mind. You have those times too, don’t you?”
Though Inhan thought Suhyung’s words made sense, he found it hard to accept Yuho’s change. He hadn’t been like this even during their debut when the hate comments were at their worst. It made him even more concerned.
“Do you think Yuho hyung still looks up hate comments these days?”
“I don’t know. I specifically told him not to, but you know him. Yuho isn’t the type to get discouraged over such things.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
Even while pretending to be unfazed, Yuho is the type to internalize everything and get hurt. And still, he’s the type to steadfastly do his part. Of course, he’s still doing that now.
“You don’t know Yuho? That can’t be. Who knows Yuho better than you?”
“I think Yuho hyung is avoiding me these days.”
If there’s one thing that has changed, it must be that hyung no longer needs me. Inhan realized this and bit his lower lip.
“Oh, come on. What are you saying? It’s just that your timing kept missing. Why would Yuho avoid you?”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. You’re misunderstanding.”
I wish it was a misunderstanding as Suhyung hyung says. Inhan tried to suppress his hurt feelings and sent a message to Yuho.
Inhan – [You said you missed me]
Yuho – [Sorry] [Have a good shoot]
Inhan couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling from Yuho’s distant reply.
It had been ten days since Inhan had seen Yuho.
“Yuho went down first. Said he’s not hungry.”
Before Inhan could ask, Jueon, who was having dinner, informed him of Yuho’s whereabouts.
Inhan, who had been looking around the living room, went to his room without a response and packed his bag.
“Dinner?”
“I’m not hungry either.”
Jueon responded as if he had expected Inhan’s answer. The other three members didn’t care and focused on their meal. Inhan hurriedly headed to the underground parking lot.
“Hi.”
Yuho greeted Inhan with a casual face. Inhan looked at Yuho with mixed emotions. Yuho’s face, which he saw after ten days, was annoyingly unchanged and clear.
“It’s been a while, Yuho hyung.”
“Yeah. This is the first time we haven’t seen each other for this long, right?”
“I thought you were avoiding me.”
“Why would I avoid you? You haven’t done anything wrong to me.”
Seeing the concern in Yuho’s eyes as he said those words, Inhan was convinced something was wrong.
So, with a hopeful heart, he asked Yuho.
“And you haven’t done anything wrong to me, right?”
“Well. Maybe I have?”
Yuho’s unexpected answer caught Inhan off guard for a moment. But he concealed his emotions, pretending to be unaffected.
“Maybe you have?”
“Yes. Maybe I have.”
“What could you possibly have done wrong to me?”
“Why do you think there couldn’t be anything?”
Inhan grew even more tense at Yuho’s subtly sharp tone. He feared that pushing harder would lead to a fight. How did it come to this? Inhan found it hard to accept the situation.
“I’ll forgive you anyway.”
Inhan chose to take a step back. Though it was said to avoid the situation, it was sincere. Inhan was prepared to forgive Yuho for any wrongdoing.
“Since I seem to love you more, I’ll try to understand. But hyung, don’t avoid me. I’ll overlook and forgive anything.”
“Even if I did something wrong?”
“Yes. Even if you did something wrong.”
“Okay. Got it.”
Yuho’s expression remained stiff despite saying he understood, making it difficult for Inhan to approach him. Still, Inhan passed by Yuho, took a seat right behind him, and spoke to him.
“Hyung. Can I hold your hand?”
“Ah sorry. It’s uncomfortable while I’m using my phone.”
But Yuho’s response remained cold.
It was a complete rift.
* * *
“Inhan. I’m hot.”
“Huh?”
“Your arm.”
“Ah. Okay.”
At Yuho’s words, Inhan removed his arm that was around Yuho’s shoulder.
They were in the middle of a group photo shoot, and since it was indoors, the air conditioner was working hard.
I hope he’s not running a fever. Concerned, Inhan asked Yuho.
“Yuho hyung. Are you very hot?”
“No. It’s bearable.”
“Should I get you some cold water?”
“No. I’m fine.”
Despite Yuho’s repeated refusals, Inhan reached out and touched Yuho’s forehead. Yuho was startled and knocked away Inhan’s hand. Inhan’s hand remained awkwardly suspended in the air.
“Sorry. I was startled.”
Yuho apologized and avoided Inhan’s eyes. Inhan’s face showed clear signs of embarrassment.
“Ah. I just thought you might be sick. I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about me.”
The relationship between the two was rapidly deteriorating. Inhan was personally experiencing that fact.
“What’s going on with you two lately? Did you fight?”
Even Raulie, who usually didn’t care about others’ business, had noticed, so Inhan had to completely acknowledge the rift between them.
“What fight? Nothing happened.”
“True. How could it be a fight? Jung Inhan, you’d just apologize and say it was all your fault.”
“That’s right.”
While Inhan responded casually to Raulie’s words, he couldn’t hide the bitter feeling.
Even though he knew Yuho was avoiding him, he had to stand by helplessly because he didn’t know the reason.
That reality was so frustrating.
“Yuho hyung. Can I sleep in your room tonight?”
“Ah. Sorry, but I haven’t been able to sleep well for the past few days.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Now Inhan no longer fell asleep together with Yuho in Yuho’s room.
“Hyung. You’re going to the practice room now, right?”
“No. I’m planning to stop by the convenience store.”
“The convenience store?”
“Yes. I need to buy something.”
“Can I come with you?”
“No.”
“…”
“Sorry. I’m not just going to the convenience store. I’ll go by myself.”
Inhan could no longer even stick to Yuho like glue.
He wasn’t even given the opportunity to stand beside Yuho anymore.
* * *
“Hyung. I’m coming in.”
After knocking, Inhan entered Yuho’s room and stood at the door, watching Yuho’s reaction.
Yuho, who had been sitting in a desk chair listening to music, hung his headset around his neck and turned toward the door when Inhan appeared. Yeomin was away from the room due to drama filming. Yuho asked Inhan with an expressionless face.
“What?”
Inhan was momentarily taken aback by Yuho’s cold response.
But he thought they couldn’t continue like this.
In the end, Inhan decided to stir up what might be a beehive he should have passed by. He thought it would be better to directly experience whether what followed would be honey or a sting.
“Did I really do something wrong to you?”
“No.”
Yuho firmly denied Inhan’s words.
