Hoseok.

I look at the plate of untouched salad he had ordered earlier before stepping out, and sigh out in worry. Something is up, he is not okay, he hasn't been since he came back to the office from retrieving his sketch book, an hour later than he was supposed to return. He didn't even look to care as the boss questioned him about it, only bowed, and muttered a low apology, his thoughts clearly somewhere else.

Solar and I had shared a knowing look before asking him what was going on, to which he waved us off, saying he was fine, but we knew better. We are his best friends, and we could tell instantly something was wrong. The problem is, Seokjin gets quiet when he has an issue, he chews on his lips, and gets all in his head because he fears sharing his worries with people. It's just how he is.

Solar and I have gotten accustomed to it, to waiting for him to open up whenever he wants to. Up to now we still don't a lot about his family, or why he does this, or just the basic things about a person, only able to put together a few pieces of him, and pick a few things from what he tells us. We are not bitter about it, and don't try to push him to tell us either. We only know he is a good person, and for that we are his unconditional friends. We try to remind him that he could absolutely come to us for anything, for any sort of help, including financial issues. We are always there for him, ready to help him.

Although I doubt this one is within a range of our hands. I have a feeling it's something way personal, one my, and Solar's brainstorming wouldn't be able to solve. "He'll come around."

"Will he?" I ask to Solar's question, my eyes glued outside the window, where Seokjin is pacing around slowly, one foot after the other, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. He is talking to himself again, probably leaving a message, like he has been trying for the past twenty minutes. It's not difficult to tell who it might be to, seeing as Namjoon is missing from his usual spot, and so is Jackson.

It's not unusual for them to arrive early or late within minutes of us, something Seokjin has never made a fuss about, especially when the latter occurs. He seems to know the two might be full on absent today, something that worries me a lot because the other construction works are right here in the lunchroom.

"I've seen a lot of things from him, but never devastation. He looks like he is about cry." Solar comments, seeing exactly what I see when I look at Seokjin right now. He is distressed, not the kind that needs a way out, but the type that is confused, seeking answers, scared. I've never seen him this troubled either, so...so anxious, and careworn. "Maybe Namjoon and him had a fight." I say, sighing out once again as he goes around the corner to enter into the lunchroom once more.

It's possible they fought, but also highly unlikely since they were ok in the morning, I know because we teased him about the slight limp in his step when he came to work. He wouldn't say it, but I could see it in his face, how happy he was, how happy he's been since Namjoon and him got together, it's strange to see him like this all over sudden.

"Sorry, I had to make that call." He apologizes as soon as he sits, shaky fingers putting away his phone. "It's alright, don't apologise." I assure him with a smile, one he has a hard time returning. "Is everything alright?" Solar inquires from beside me, her youthful beauty creasing into concern as she stares over to Seokjin.

The afro mentioned doesn't meet either of our eyes for a few seconds, attempted to nod in a lie, but he knows we know him too well, and when we wouldn't push him to tell anything he doesn't want to, he's gonna have to sooner or later. "It's Namjoon." He breathes out, confirming my earlier suspicions, his voice sounding a bit on edge, clogged up. "What's wrong, you two fought?" I ask him, afraid they might be trouble in paradise for them, but skeptical about that theory at the same time.

He shakes in head in disagreement, a small smile on his lips at my assumptions. They haven't had their first couple fight yet, something we have teased him about, and promised to be there for him even if he will be on the wrong, (friend goals) maybe this was it, but of course it isn't, his smile gradually falling before he looks at me. "He isn't answering his phone." He says again, but we already know that, so we nod, urging him to continue.

"He had an emergency back at his parent's and had to go, but he isn't answering my calls, I am worried about him." He clarifies, casting down his gaze in the said worry. The picture is starting to make sense, and the separation anxiety he has is starting to show. He might be fearful of what his boyfriend is going through, but he is also scared of not having him around, even for a few hours. They've been each other's worlds this past month, and it's not surprising that he is having this.

"Maybe he misplaced his phone, you know how he is." I try to sooth him, and remind him of his boyfriend's clumsiness. He smiles a bit again, nodding, but it visibly doesn't take away any of his uneasiness, his sweaty fingers wring themselves together, lips setting back into a small pout almost immediately. "Yeah, he probably misplaced it in his rush, don't worry too much." Solar urges on, pushing back a stray stand of hair from Seokjin's face, her finger tips grazing slightly on his skin, care and admiration shining over in her eyes.

Seokjin smiles lightly at her, "I guess." He concedes, his still edgy tone betraying his words. He shifts on his seats, a sigh escaping him as he notices the free space beside him, one that has always been occupied by Namjoon. Usually they'd be holding hands under the table now, sharing longing loving stares that make us sick, but are undeniably cute, wiping at each other's lips, and pretending to care about our stories while all they want to do is share kisses. His gaze lingers there for a second, reminiscing on the recent past, one that is now turning into only talk.

"Where is Jackson?" He asks, finally noticing his absence, his empty space beside Solar, just as of impact as Namjoon's. Those two boys have become a huge part of our friend group, not just because Namjoon and Seokjin have a thing going on, but because they are good people too. They have showed us a side to them, especially Jackson -when he's not trying to have a threesome with solar and I - that they are principled people, with dreams, and goals, and a whole lot of view to life than what meets they eye. They are just one of those friends you would remember in your life no matter what.

"I don't know, he didn't show up either."

"Maybe he gave Namjoon ride?" Solar adds, her tone questioning. It would make sense, because neither Namjoon or Seokjin have any cars, and Jackson with his truck, might have been the next available option. But Seokjin doesn't seem to know either, he looks just as clueless, almost like he hadn't considered that an option.

"Maybe..." He shrugs. Namjoon must have really left in a hurry to not even say how he was going, it must really unsettle Seokjin to not know, to be just as clueless about his where bouts and safety. I understand his concern, but looking at him I see more than that, maybe it's all in my head, and my need to scrutinize things to the latter it's at his peak, but something isn't adding up.

The way he fidgets is more than just worry for his boyfriend, the way he blinks back tears every few minutes, and stares into space while he holds his breath says a lot. They are in love, that I know, and I am guessing such a strong feeling might be accompanied by equally strong emotions, even in the slightest of things, but something else did happen earlier, something that is causing him all this anxiety. I doubt he would talk about it now, I doubt he wants to prioritize it over Namjoon's welfare, despite it taking a large part of his thoughts.

"Is that all?" I find myself asking, not expecting an answer, especially when he glances at my knowing eyes, then back quickly to his untouched food. Hiding. "Huh?" He questions, and even Solar looks at me confused. "You seem too stressed, did something else happen?" I am not trying to say his response is over the board, and he seems to know that, I am just worried something else is eating him up.

"No, he just...he left in such a hurry, and didn't say much except for goodbye..." He trails off, keeping the end of his sentence open for me, to fill out with my thoughts, or his. He is worried about what's between them as well, what this is going to do them. I am not sure of the exact words they said in their goodbye, but it must have left him wondering about something.

"He cares about you..." Solar chimes in reminder, "...so don't worry too much about it." She adds, Seokjin smiling softly at the compliment. "I know, I am just...I am so worried, it's weird." He says with a shake of his head, looking a side and taking a breath before gazing back at us.

"There is just this heavy thing in my chest that won't go away since he left, it's just sitting there, and it makes me want to go out and look for him, and be with him. It's scares me." He whispers the last part, his gaze casting down, unsure if we're following on what he is trying to say. Personally I can't say I can relate to that, it's probably associated with what they feel for each, and that's foreign to me. All I hope for is that everything turns out well, I hope it goes well for Namjoon and his family, and I hope he reunites with my best friend soon. I can't provide more than the slight physical and emotional support right now for Seokjin and I hope it doesn't come to a point I'll have to.

"You just miss him." Solar jokes, smiling along and popping a fry into her mouth then proceeds to draw her drink with the straw loudly, to annoy the other or brighten his mood, which works when the other groans in fake annoyance, a genuine smile - first one since this afternoon - appears on his face.

But like we would establish in the coming days, he wasn't just missing him, that feeling of dread wouldn't  just be temporary fear, and those worries one by one would manifest into something. In the coming days Namjoon still wouldn't answer his phone, he wouldn't read the texts and he wouldn't check the emails, all until all possible communications with him would die. In the coming days Seokjin would worry, sleeping at his boyfriend's apartment in hopes of him coming home, and being on the verge of tears with every thought of him.

Jackson would eventually show himself, bearing news of Namjoon's and his family's welfare, but nonetheless clueless of the whys, or so he would try to convince us. Tensions will rise in the coming days, emotions will soar high; desperation for Seokjin, anger for Solar, and indecision for Jackson. I'd be caught right in the middle, I'd be torn on what even to think.

The coming days would be hell for all of us, Namjoon included.