Future Lover [SeongJoong]

004

Seonghwa 

I went to eat lunch with Yunho since we did that pretty often now that I came back. This morning though, he's been distant. 

He was constantly checking his phone and not paying attention to anything I was saying, which wasn't usually like Yunho. He was always very present with the person he was with, even if he had other things to worry about. It just made me concerned. 

Finally, having enough after repeating myself for the fifth time, I said, "Yunho...what is wrong?" 

Yunho looked up, his eyes widening once he realized he had zoned out again. "Shit, sorry Hwa. I guess my mind has been elsewhere."

"Why?" I pushed. If there was something bothering him, I wanted to help. 

"It's not important." He waved his hand, smiling at me but it wasn't convincing. 

"Yunho...it is if it's bothering you." I said. 

He gave me a hesitant look and I didn't know why he was struggling so much to spit it out! 

"It's about Hongjoong." He said. 

Oh. 

I leaned back in my seat, "Okay...what about Hongjoong?" 

He gave me a look like he saw through my bullshit, and despite trying to actually show I cared about his problems, it being Hongjoong made things...complicated. 

He was hesitant but reluctantly he gave in, "He's been really off lately, I mean I'm always worried about him. Now he's just been...distant. Like he's furthering himself from everyone. I mean the day of our reunion, I asked him to message me when he got home and he didn't. He doesn't even write me unless I write first. I actually..." He paused but I nodded for him to continue, "I asked him if his distancing was because of you, but he told me that he was happy that we had you back, and he seemed genuine. So I don't know why..." 

"Maybe he's gotten bored of you guys." I said, knowing it was a rude thing to say. 

And it was by his reaction. He just stared at me blankly. 

"Sorry," And I actually meant it. "I just get a bit snippy when he's the topic." I sighed, thinking over what he said. "You said you were always worried about him. Why? Does he do things to worry you?" 

"Dammit, Hwa. You know how hard it is? I always have to tiptoe around you two so I don't say the wrong thing. I can't even feel like I can talk about him without worrying you'd use it against him. Plus he'd hate me for telling you anything personal." 

We were really making it that hard for them? 

"I can't help if you don't tell me. Plus if he gets angry, just blame me. He already hates me, what's one more thing?" I said. 

"He just..." He looked pained by the topic and by worrying for overstepping. "He gets in these moods, I guess. Sometimes over the time we've been friends, he's isolated himself from the group. There had been many incidents..." Again, he paused. "Sometimes things got serious. I'm just worried it might happen again." 

"Is it because of me?" I asked, surprising myself by feeling guilt. 

His face turned grim, "It's not just because of you Hwa. He's always been like this apparently. Even Mingi has told me that he used to be like this when he was younger too. I'm sure the conflict you two have doesn't help though."