[6:10 am]

Johns: Good morning, Tennn!

[7:55 pm]

10/10: You wanna grab dinner?

[8:15 pm]

Johns: There's NNN tonight :/

-

[6:10 am]

Johns: Good morning, sunshine!

[9:40 am]

10/10: Let's try the new café

Johns: Would love to but let's do it maybe day after?

I have a schedule today

-

[6:10 am]

Johns: Good morning, Tennie

[9:58 pm]

10/10: Jaehyun told me you guys don't have NNN tonight

Want to get dinner?

[10:10 pm]

Johns: I'll be free later than usual, I think

I'm really sorry

I promise I'll make it up to you

Ten sighed and resisted the urge to throw his phone across the practice room.

"Johnny?" Kun asked, sitting on the floor beside him.

Ten nodded. "I know he is really busy but I wish I could at least meet him. Even if for just a few minutes. Here I am, distracted out of my wits because I miss him so much and there he is..." He shrugged.

The room's door opened and someone peeped in.

"Doyoung hyung!" Lucas greeted, leaving his dance practice to run past Ten and Kun towards the door.

"Hey, Lucas," Doyoung said, smiling. "Hey, Ten, Kun. Johnny and I ordered some chicken for ourselves and since I heard you guys might be here, I ordered some extra."

Lucas clapped excitedly. "This is why you're my favourite." He took the takeaway from Doyoung, pulling him towards their group. "Let's eat."

Ten, however, zeroed in on something else. "Wait, Johnny is here?" There was already a hint of a smile around his eyes.

"Yeah, he's still practicing in 415. He said he'll eat later," Doyoung informed, sitting down beside them. "I told him he's too tired to practice but he doesn't listen. He's nearly sleep-walking these days."

Ten stood up, not really listening anymore. "I'll be back." He rushed out of the room.

Lucas' phone rang before he could grab a bite of the takeaway and his face brightened as he saw the caller ID. "Excuse me, guys." He got up too. As he walked out of the room, he could be heard talking on the phone, "Hey, Jungwoo. What's up, man?"

Kun laid out the takeaway carefully and the two of them began to eat. "I thought you guys finished practice a while ago."

"Johnny missed a session a few days ago and he stayed back. I decided to stay back too since he looked sad."

Kun raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Doyoung asked, setting down his chopsticks.

"Nothing."

"Go on, say it."

Kun tilted his head. "I...Is it just me or do you like spending time with sad people?" He blushed at how harsh his words sounded, inadvertently letting out his inner frustration, and started to apologize, not having meant them that way.

It was Doyoung's turn to raise an eyebrow but he just smiled impishly. "Why? Are you sad?"

Kun opened his mouth to retaliate and then closed it.

Doyoung continued to eat. "I guess, I want to be there for any one of us who's hurting. I mean, you all are there for me always. So, even if I can't do anything, I want to be there too...for some kind of comfort—support, I don't know—does it make sense?"

Kun was silent for a long while and then, said, "You are a really nice guy."

"So, will you tell this nice guy what's got you in a bad mood?"

Kun look flustered. "I'm not—"

"C'mon, I know you're worried or irritated or both about something and I've been told I am an excellent listener," Doyoung said, nudging him with his shoulder softly.

"You wo—" Kun stopped as the door opened and Lucas bounded in.

"Please tell me you guys left something for me!" the tall guy said, laughing.

-

When Ten peeped into the practice room, he nearly didn't see Johnny. The latter was lying on the floor, his chest rising and falling as he breathed while he looked at the ceiling.

"Johnny?" Ten said, suddenly feeling nervous. He wanted to ask why Johnny hadn't told him that he was practicing late. No, scratch that, what he wanted to ask was—are you still ignoring me? Are you upset? He felt a flare of angry irritation in his chest. He didn't even know what he had done for Johnny to behave this way ever since their flight back to Seoul. But there was also that bigger part of him which knew that he was letting all the stress of endless practices get to him and that it was unfair to drag Johnny into a conversation, albeit an important and dangerously pending one, the latter might not want to talk about.

Johnny was still staring at the ceiling when he breathed out. "Ten."

Ten's heart fell as he noted that Johnny hadn't even looked at him. The flare of anger leapt up again. It was a combination of sleeplessness, aching limbs and the fact that Johnny was making him feel really, insignificantly small. He sidled up to him and lay down beside him.

"See something interesting?" Ten asked, following his gaze to the ceiling.

Johnny turned his head towards him and gave a small, rueful smile. "I think I pulled a muscle."

Ten blinked as he took in Johnny's faint pink cheeks, tired eyes and damp hair flopping over his forehead, and then, frowned. "Where? Let me help you," he said, half-getting up.

Johnny stopped him. "It's fine. Don't bother. I just feel a little tired, I think."

"Come, I'll take you back to your dorm."

Johnny shook his head. "You practice. Doyoung will take me."

"Doyoung's eating. I can practice some extra tomorrow. So, don't worry. Besides, a night with me? Healing," he winked.

"Seriously, it's not a big deal. If Doyoung is busy, I can ask Taeil hyung to pick me up. Don't bother," Johnny said, looking steadfastly at the ceiling again. "You go practice. The earlier you practice, the earlier practice gets over."

There was silence.

"Just say you don't want me near you," Ten said, bitterly.

Johnny sat up. "What?"

Ten got up too, standing as if to leave. "I know you're busy, Johnny. I know you guys had to jump straight from Regular schedule to Regulate preparations but seriously!? You cancel every plan I suggest and now you don't even want me to come to your dorm?"

"When did I say that? You're creating drama out of nothing," Johnny sighed.

"The old Johnny made time even when things were tough. I thought that's what we both did. We put each other first. You've changed and I hate this so much."

Johnny looked taken aback. "Do you hear yourself? That sounds so stupid. You want to come to the dorm? Fine, let's go." He reached for Ten's hand impatiently.

"Okay, so I am overdramatic and stupid. Anything else you'd like to add?" Ten crossed his arms across his chest.

Johnny stepped close to him, putting his hands on his shoulders. He looked at him with sudden understanding. "Ten, I know you're stressed with practices and the unit being pushed back but it'll be fine, I promise. It'll be worth it when the day comes."

Ten flinched away. "See this is the thing. You assume things on your own. You don't even want to know what's wrong but expect me to pick up the hints. You used to be a thoughtful person."

"Okay," Johnny took a deep breath, "what's wrong?"

"You forgot me, Johnny. I don't know what's happened to you. Do you even care about me? From where I stand, all I see is you pushing me away. I feel so replaced all the time and I'm not even supposed to say anything in retaliation? So, don't give me your pity. Just don't pretend like you care one moment only to ignore me in another. I'm not your puppet, dancing to whatever call you decide to make today. Make up your mind and if you can't, just stay away from me!"

"Ten," Johnny's voice was low, an almost dangerous edge to it, "shut up."

"Or what?"

"You of all people should know better than to accuse me of these things. You know how I feel," Johnny said, looking at him with a precise gaze.

Ten walked towards the door, cold decision apparent in his posture. "Save it. I don't care."

Johnny stared at him in shock. He swallowed the emotions that were fighting in his throat and said, "Wow, Ten, you amaze me every time. I should get used to the fact that you don't—can't—understand anything about me but like to create whatever narrative you want about me. When it comes to the two of us, remember that I have been more patient while you have been insensitive. Don't you dare accuse me of thoughtlessness." Johnny was breathing heavily. "Yes, walk away from me. Stay away. You hear me? You stay away."

"It gives me no pleasure to stay with you either," Ten said, gritting his teeth as he walked out.

He was sobbing by the time he reached his practice room to grab his things. Kun and Doyoung were laughing over something Lucas was animatedly retelling. They watched him cross the room and went quiet.

"Ten, wha—?" Kun began, getting up.

"I'll see you at the dorm. I don't feel hungry." Ten hated how his voice wobbled. He ran out of the room, rubbing his eyes.

Kun patted Doyoung's shoulder. "Thanks for the dinner. I'll see you later." He followed Ten. "Ten, wait up! Ten!"

Ten allowed him to walk with him but wouldn't tell him a word, opting to hide his face beneath his hoodie. "I'm okay, Kun. Leave me alone."

It was only when they reached the dorm and Kun threatened to call Johnny that Ten burst into tears. Kun hugged him, patting his back, wishing he knew what to do.

"He hates me. He hates me so much."

Kun shushed him. "He doesn't. It's Johnny. He adores you."

"No," Ten wailed, "he told me he wants me to stay away. It was so horrible."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. He'll call to apologize in the morning you just see."

"He won't. We fought so badly. I didn't want this to happen."

Through the haze of tears, Ten realized that someone had placed a cup of tea in front of him. He looked up and saw a sympathetic Jaemin trying to skulk away quietly. He realized where he was and wiped his tears. He detached himself from a concerned Kun and turned towards where the Dreamies were hiding, watching him with sympathy, a couple of them even tearing up. He cracked a watery smile. "I'm sorry you guys had to see that. I'm going to my room." He walked to his room and locked the door behind him.

"Is Ten hyung going to be okay?" Jisung asked Kun.

"I hope you kids have gone back to playing your irritating and loud games and are not talking about me," Ten said through his bedroom door.

Kun sighed. "It's Ten and Johnny. They'll be fine."

The dreamies nodded, disappearing into their rooms, whispering.

Kun sat down on the couch and pulled out his phone.

Somewhere in the night, Johnny's phone was blinking with messages.

Doyoungie: Dude, you better explain what happened

Ten was crying wtf

Kun Mama: I don't know what happened but Ten is really upset

Johnny

Johnny?

Taeyongie: Hey, so um, Jaehyun is sleeping in your bed tonight

You're rooming with Haechan

Please tell me it's okay?

[ this was so heartbreaking omg :( when will these idiots learn?

so what do you think will happen next? please share your thoughts with us.

thank you for reading and commenting, you all are so sweet.

love, positive vibes and a cup of tea~~ ]