The Way It Is

twelve

It was Hyunjin's turn to be speechless.

"I did that once, with Jeno, before," he looked at his cousin, who was still looking at her feet. "And I'd do anything again..."

***

"Yangyang is in his room. Sit down for a while, and I'll be calling him." The three thanked the maid who went to call Yangyang in his room.

Yejin removed Daewon's grip on her arm, "You do know that I do not want to speak with him yet," she muttered.

"For fuck's sake, can you swallow your pride, even for once?!" Daewon said in gritted teeth. "You're also not on good terms with Yiyeon as of the moment, and it's also because of your temperamental ass," he scoffed. "Do you think I'll just sit here, do nothing, and watch all of us crumble into pieces?! Like hell, I would!"

Sungchan sighed, "If Jeongmin were here, she would have said the same thing to you, noona," he said and looked away. "You, Yangyang-hyung, and Yiyeon noona are the closest among all of us, right? You guys were even called as 3y's."

The girl among them looked down. She didn't want to admit it, but Sungchan and Daewon were right. But she also has to do something for Yiyeon and Yangyang as the two have been helping her all the time.

The three of them sat on the couch.

Daewon sighed, "I know that you want to help Yangyang and Yiyeon, but I think it's time for you to let them be. Yangyang knows what he's doing, and I'm sure Yiyeon does, too." His eyes scanned the pictures hung on the wall. "Yes, you want them to be happy, but would they be truly happy if all you do is push them together?"

Yejin looked down.

Yangyang cleared his throat, "What brings you guys here?" He asked and went towards the three. "Shouldn't you be home already? It's getting late?" He asked again, his voice full of concern.

Sungchan and Daewon looked at Yejin, who stood up.

"U-Uh... I'm sorry for everything that I have said," she said and looked down. "I didn't even realize how you were feeling, yet I said those words... I'm sorry."

Yangyang sighed, "It's alright, sit down," he said and placed a hand on his waist. "But I don't think I could talk to Yiyeon again anytime soon."

"But she's asking about you, hyung," Sungchan said. "We said that you were sick earlier, and I don't know what lousy excuse we'll use tomorrow if you'd skip school."

"I won't skip school tomorrow," Yangyang said. "Tomorrow's the opening day of the foundation week, and I'll be performing with the orchestra. I'm more than a hundred percent sure that she'll bombard me with questions tomorrow, though."

"An important question, though," Daewon asked while his hand was on his chin.

"What?"

"Would you still be a part of our booth for the foundation day?"

***

"Shotaro, go and take photos from the east side of the auditorium, Yiyeon and I will be taking photos from the center, and Jisung will be taking photos from the west side," Jaemin instructed his fellow photographers as they went inside the auditorium, which was packed because of students who came from nearby universities.