The first group started making their way behind Jonghyun, Haechan leading the followers. Haechan gave Mark, his roommate, a slap on the back and let his arm fall over his shoulders.

   "Come on, Mark." Haechan chuckled.

   Mark shied away from Haechan, looking uncomfortable.

   "What's wrong?" Haechan asked with a bold look. "We're roommates. Let's get along."

   Jiyeon watched the two boys with annoyance. "Leave him alone," she spoke up. Haechan eyed her, focusing in on her arm.

   "Hey, where did you get that bruise?" he asked her, pointing out the purple mark on her inner arm.

   Jiyeon yanked her sleeve down to cover her skin. "I'm clumsy," she lied, but Haechan fell for it.

   "Better be a little more careful." A smirk surfaced on his face.

   Johnny looked up and down the walls, realizing how big this house was. There were so many turns, hallways, and rooms that he struggled keeping up with everything going on around him. Johnny started to feel a little anxious about the surroundings. He also began to thoroughly recognize his separation from his parents. Johnny's always been near them and have had them around to comfort him whenever he started to feel stressed.

   Johnny was prone to anxiety attacks often. Even to the smallest things. His parents were always there to be with him during these situations to hold him and let him calm down. Johnny picked up some medication for his anxiety behind his mother's back and brought the remaining of it with him to the support group. However, he was running out and feared that it would get worse while he's gone.

   Shin-Hye noticed Johnny clenching his jaw and nervously rubbing his hands together. "Are you alright?" she asked.

   Johnny broke from his internal worries and looked to Shin-Hye. He quickly nodded.

   "You seem nervous."

   "I'm fine," Johnny reassured.

   Shin-Hye was suspicious with his words, but decided to leave him alone for now so she didn't seem clingy or intrusive.

   Suzy's group had just entered the study, where there were tall book cases and a couple computers. A nice cozy couch was in the middle accompanied by some other chairs to create a seating area, finished off with a decent sized coffee table facing the giant window.

   "This place is really nice for inspiration or if you want some quiet time," Suzy mentioned.

   "I would come here to write some lyrics," Taeyong said.

   "You write songs?" Yuri questioned. She didn't seem to believe him.

   "Yeah, I rap."

   "Bet."

   The group faced Taeyong, feeling interested. Taeyong slowly inhaled.

   "Ma mama says yeojal jal mannarae eomma naega bol ttaen jeon chwihyang cham hwakgohandeyo ttak yeori yeorihago sonyeo gamseong gajin jjijiriga nara nal joryeon shigil su itneun buni joa. And my dad tells me be the best of the best. I know, I know yeonseuphae late at night. Call me T uri mokpyoga gatdamyeon. Cacao oasisro neol deryeoga."

   Taeyong's lyrics meant something to him. The first part was in reference to his mom telling him that he needs a good girl and someone who can control him. His dad wants him to be the best he can be because his dad constantly asks Taeyong if he's fine. Taeyong lies his way through the questions and stays up late at night to practice his raps as a way to escape.

   The group studied him closing his eyes as the words suddenly fit together. Suzy gave a nice applause for Taeyong at the end of his short example.

   "That was very meaningful, Taeyong," Suzy complimented. "Thank you for sharing. Keep up the good work!"

   The group started to leave the room. Yuri fell to the back, ending up next to Sashimi. Yuri gave a low whistle. "That was unexpected."

   Sashimi nodded in agreement. "If he were to rap, I would guess that it would've been filled with sex and girls, you know? With his cold appearance and sort of... bad boy vibe?"

   "I get what you mean." Yuri sighed. "By the way, I feel like you didn't tell us all of your story. There's more to your backstory, isn't there? So, why are you here?"

   Sashimi let out a breathy laugh. "You must be good at reading people. It's pretty much the same reason as you."

   "I'm not sure I want to believe that."

   "Well, you better get used to it because both of our parents were involved in a murder."

   Yuri tilted her head empathetically. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

   "My mom killed my dad, leading her to prison and me here in Korea with my sick aunt."

   "I'm glad you could open up to me about that."

   "I feel like you're someone I can talk to without an awkward or shy feeling in the atmosphere."

   Yuri smiled at Sashimi's comment. "I like you. You're pretty cool. I think we'll get along just fine with our fucked-up pasts."

   Haeun was now entering the basement with the third group. "We have this downstairs area set up with a TV and gaming system. There's a stereo with Bluetooth for music and a bar." Haeun turned to the group and finished with, "but no alcohol." A joking smile was placed on her face.

   "This place is really nice," Jaein whispered to the quiet boy, Sicheng. He didn't respond to her statement. "Do you like video games?" she asked to try and get a word out of him.

   Sicheng shrugged, not wanting to talk. Ever since the introductions, Jaein noticed Sicheng's tendency to be extremely quiet. Even his appearance was a whisper because many seemed to overlook the broken boy. Jaein had sympathy towards him, and was curious about his past that raised him.

   Youngchu felt a subtle vibration in her pocket. She fought back the urge to answer because she knew it was her boyfriend, Yejun. He's been texting her all day, still not approving of this trip. Before she left Jeju, Youngchu went to say goodbye to him since she'll be gone for a couple weeks. His face immediately showed his disagreement.

⸝⸝⸝

   "I already have everything packed and planned. I'm not giving it up." Youngchu told Yejun.

   "I don't want you gone for so long. How am I supposed to know you aren't seeing another guy while you're gone?"

   "Do you see me as disloyal? You think I would do that?" Youngchu defended with anger building inside her. "I'm leaving!"

   Yejun grabbed her by the wrist before she could leave. "Don't raise your voice at me."

   Younchu yanked away just for him to pull her back. He suddenly hit her across the face.

⸝⸝⸝

   "Hey, we'll leaving." The sound of a voice snapped Younchu back into the present. Yuta waved his hand in front of her eyes. "Are you coming?"

   "Yeah," Youngchu sighed. "I was just distracted."

   "What's on that mind of yours?" Yuta gave a sly smile as the two followed the group.

   "Nothing really." Youngchu rubbed the side of her face to clear the harsh memories that were left on her cheek.

"You shouldn't let things bother you. You're too pretty to be broken."

   "That's what you think." She muttered her words under her breath.

   Yuta chuckled while playfully wrapping an arm over her shoulders. "More like what I know."

   "I have a boyfriend."

   "You mean the one you said you were having complications with? The one you don't think you should be around anymore?" Yuta's grin turned cocky. "Is he what's been bothering you?"

   Youngchu only rolled her eyes, quickening her pace to match with the rest of the group.