Until The End of Time | Wonho [√]

35: AFTERSOME

He was going out. And he looked completely natural.

Maybe not really. His complexion was so pale he almost looked translucent, as if I could see through him and peer at his glass heart with a dead rose deep within it. Though, he's always been pale.

His hair was a mixture of ashen gray and faded black, the bleached blond color was dissipating already. He wore a hoodie the color of the gray of his hair.

Among the others I could see his eyes on me, just taking me in for a second, then he averted his stare and observed the rest.

"What's the occasion guys?" His lips broke out into a big smile that took over his whole face.

Suddenly, the tense air was gone and I could feel Changkyun's shoulders dropping in relief as he was standing just by my side. I was still rigid, holding my breath and looking for even a subtle sign.

"We haven't seen you in ages, man!" Changkyun busted out, the joy visible in his boisterous tone.

"You can't up and vanish like that, bro. We worry. Your phone has been off too." I could imagine the sulk on Jooheon's face by his remark from the back.

"I don't want to sound rude but I kind of want to punch you, Wonho," Minhyuk said next.

"I think, me too," Hanbyul whispered, and then Wonho laughed out, finally moving another step towards us.

"I'm just going out to get the groceries." His coal eyes with long eyelashes and bluish circles around them looked over at me, he gave a small smile towards my way. Probably no one else noticed it, but I did, and I could finally feel my shoulders loosening up.

"I see that you're here to whoop my back too, Hyungwon." Wonho recognized Hyungwon right away.

Hyungwon only grunted in response.

"We've missed you in the kendo club. The juniors kept on asking about you," Shownu said.

"Are you taking this semester off?" Kihyun asked earnestly, but then his voice deflated a little. "We are already so close to the finals; you will at least attend those, right?"

Wonho exhaled a small breath of air and nodded at him, that smile still lingering on his face. "You guys needn't worry. You all know I'm always like this," he left out a small chuckle, turned around and locked his apartment's door. "This was Sunny's idea, wasn't it?"

Before anyone could say anything, he spoke again. "I would want you guys inside but-," his eyes scanned over our faces. "I really need to go shopping. Need to buy my mom's medicines and a few weeks of grocery supplies for her."

Why would he need to buy few weeks of supplies so urgently? I could feel all the blood rushing to my head again, defying gravity like a waterfall going upward its stream. I felt mild vertigo, everything spun around me for a second.

"Why are you hoarding stuff? You guys are in quarantine?" Changkyun brawled, I could hear some of them snickering with that.

Wonho laughed a little and averted his eyes. "Mom doesn't like going out."

There wasn't much to do anymore. Contented seeing Wonho, the others were ready to leave too. We descended the stairs with him, everyone laughing and joking as if everything was okay, except for me and Hyungwon. His placid face showed a subtle sign of bewilderment.

All this time, I had said nothing. When he was finally parting with the rest, he glanced at my way and I just had to utter out something.

"How are you Wonho?" That slipped my tongue before I could fathom it. I did wonder, I always did, if he was actually okay.