~Time skip: 1 month~

Haknyeon lightly tapped his pen against the table and so did Juyeon. "Did you write anything?" Juyeon looked up from his books and waited for an answer. "Yeah, but now I really wish I had Kim Namjoon's IQ of 148." Juyeon laughed then wrote down a few answers. "Don't we all? Either way, you look like you're struggling somewhere. Let me see." Haknyeon showed Juyeon the part that was giving him trouble. "Oh, this part of Korean history. It's always a toughie. So, what you do is..." Haknyeon listened closely as Juyeon gave him tips on how to remember key points. "I never looked at it that way. Thank you, Juyeon." They continued to study a while longer before breaking for a food break.

Haknyeon had a craving for grapes but then stopped when he actually saw them. "You're going to ruin our image if you keep pigging out the way you do." He shook his head to rid himself of the thought but it didn't seem to want to go away. This has happened plenty of times before, but this is the first time it wouldn't go away. "I should talk to someone. No, maybe not. I've been fine up until now, so I'm doing something right." He reached for the grapes again but ended up closing the fridge altogether. "At least I won't look as big as a pig." "No one would want you as their bias if you look like that. I'm surprised you even have fans." "You're going to ruin our image if you keep pigging out the way you do." He held onto the counter for support then sank to the floor as he started to quietly sob.

He didn't know how long he'd been crying until he heard someone calling for him. He quickly wiped away any traces of tears and blew his nose. "Haknyeon, do you want to study more or is this good enough for today?" "Let's pick up tomorrow. I suddenly lost the energy to study." Juyeon sighed then shrugged. "Korean history can do that to you." Haknyeon watched Juyeon walk away then tried to grab some grapes from the fridge. "I can't do it..." He closed the fridge once more and heads back to his own room.

He heard a knock a while later and saw Sunwoo standing in the doorway. "No, no, no, no, no, no..." Sunwoo waved then left, which confused the older. "I was sure he'd come in. Was I secretly hoping he would...?" He sighed as he hugged the stuffed toy close to him. He dialed someone's number and they pick up after a few rings. "Yeoboseyo?" "Hey, Chanhee. Are you still out? I want to talk to you..." "Yes, I'm still out but I'm coming back. Just give me about 10 minutes. Do you want to talk outside? It's pretty nice out for a cold day." "That sounds good. See you." He hung up then rolled onto his right side. Haknyeon decided that it was for the best to let someone be aware of how he really is.

"So, what's up Haknyeon?" Haknyeon eyed Chanhee as the elder took a sip of his bubble tea. "They haunt me day in and day out." "What does?" "Sunwoo's words. I can't even go in the fridge at this point, Chanhee. At first, I could just shake it off and eat, but now? I'm lucky if I can even get myself to touch something in the fridge. And no matter how many times I keep telling myself to stop wanting Sunwoo around, it just makes me want it more." Haknyeon was at the point of pulling his hair as he looked down at the ground. He felt someone wrap him in an embrace then start rubbing his back. "Cry. We both know that's what you need to do now." Haknyeon felt tears stream down his face as if a dam had just been opened. "Why did you keep something like this to yourself?" "I thought it wouldn't have gotten serious. And when it did, I was scared to say anything in fear that I'd be told to stop my idol activities. I love being with you all."

Chanhee continued to comfort the younger, hoping it was doing something to console him. "About Sunwoo...lately you two have been distant. Tell me what happened." Haknyeon wiped his cheeks then pulled back from Chanhee's embrace. "He told me one day that he liked me and I was surprised. The stuffed toy...he actually gave it to me and I was trying to give it back ever since, but I grew attached to it. So, the following day, I told him that I couldn't accept his feelings. That was also the day we went out searching for him. Whenever I'm around him, I feel warm and weird. But when I'm not, I feel empty. I often find myself just wanting to be near him just to be near him. I guess it's 'cause I got used to him hanging around me so much..."

Chanhee wiped a few tears from Haknyeon's face. "You're not going to like this, but, you're starting to grow to like him. As more than a friend." Haknyeon blankly stared at Chanhee trying to understand. "Is that even possible? He's the reason why I'm like this." Chanhee could see the conflict on the younger's face then started regretting his choice of telling him. "Well, it's up to you on what you want to do now. You could let your feelings for him grow, or, you could try to make them disappear. I'll tell you now, a close friend to a close friend. I don't recommend trying to make them disappear, you'll hurt yourself more than the other person." Haknyeon took Chanhee's hands in his then gave his hyung a weak smile. "What would I do without you, hyung?" New chuckles then looked up at the sky. "I don't know, Haknyeon."

Sunwoo has noticed that Haknyeon hadn't been looking well lately, so he planned to cheer up him up with his favorite food and game. He had seen him go outside so he planned to wait a bit before inviting him back in. After a bit, he walked towards the front door then opened it a bit before his heart shattered. "...but, you're starting to grow to like him. As more than a friend." Sunwoo took a step back then leaned on the wall for support. "So he likes someone else. I should've expected this, but..." He quietly walked back to his room then flopped down onto his bed.

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"Here, open your mouth." Haknyeon hesitantly opened his mouth then Chanhee quickly put the food into his mouth before he closed it. "I know you don't want to seek therapy, but I think it would be best if you did. I know that it means taking a break from being an idol." Haknyeon nodded as Chanhee fed him another piece of food. "Can we ask the company to not give the truth out? Like, fabricate a lie?" "Well, I'm sure the company would want the same thing as well." He let out a sigh then noticed he hasn't seen Sunwoo at all. "I'm going to go talk to Sunwoo. I kind of miss his presence." Chanhee nodded then started eating the rest of the food.

"Sunwoo...?" He looked around the room then noticed a game and some boxes of food on the floor. He noticed Sunwoo was lying on his side and was perfectly still. Haknyeon walked over and saw that the younger was asleep, with traces of tears evident on his cheeks. "I'm sorry. I promise, I'll be nicer from now on." He ran his hand through Sunwoo's hair then noticed the younger started to stir. "Haknyeon...?" "That's me. If you don't mind me asking, why were you crying?" Sunwoo blinked then his eyes widened in surprise. "I-I had a bad dream. I was strapped to a bomb. Yeah..."

Haknyeon wasn't sure if he could believe what Sunwoo told him, but who's to say he wasn't lying? "Sunwoo, this is going to sound strange, but, don't...don't stop liking me." "That is strange. After rejecting me, you want me to keep liking you?" Haknyeon rubbed the back of his neck then looked anywhere but at Sunwoo. "Okay." This made him look at Sunwoo then he surprisingly gave him a hug. "Haknyeon, you're being strange. Are you sleep deprived?" Haknyeon shook his head and looked Sunwoo in the eyes. "I'm just accepting reality."

a/n: don't forget to vote, share and comment! well, escalated. hopefully they'll be happy.