Cemetery visit

2 YEARS LATER, same day.

“Are you going to stay for practice,hyung?” asked his junior. 

“No, today I have something important to do.” Seo-yun said nonchalantly. He walked out of the training room and went to the changing room. When changing his shirt his junior came in. Genuinely curious, Tae-Hyun asked. 

“But, hyung, why are you leaving? Can you tell me?i-i mean.. if it's not too much to ask of course-” 

“Tae Hyun” Interrupted Seo-yun. Tae Hyun was taken aback but listened carefully awaiting his answer. 

“Nothing important” Seo-yun said, noticing that he had been too harsh on his junior for absolutely no reason whatsoever. He softened his voice. Tae Hyun was confused but he understood the hint and left after saying a casual “ok”. 

Stepping out of the changing room, Tae Hyun felt weird. Usually his hyung never hid anything from him nor their friends. It was quite rare, still.. The only thing they never talked about was their love life. He always avoided those conversations, so the others would talk about it while he wasn't present. Out of mutual respect, to not make him feel uncomfortable of course.

Seo-yun, still in the changing room, packed his bags. It was today. 

Two years ago, the day Yi Joon passed away.

                -16/3/2024-

Seo-yun was never the type to like going to cemeteries, as a decent person would. When he was young, he used to go to visit his late grandpa who passed away when he was 12 every year. Now, he had another reason to come to the cemetery. As everyone knows, it's never a good reason. Yi Joon was buried in the same cemetery as his grandfather. Which was oddly convenient for him, that way, he didn't need to go to two places, one right after another. Placing a bouquet of white flowers in his grandpa’s tomb felt familiar. As he'd done it every single year for 13 years straight, without any exceptions whatsoever. 

When it came to placing the flowers on Yi Joon’s tomb, it was hard for him.

 “How many years have passed since you were gone?” he paused and thought for a second,trying to reply to his own question. 

“two, right?” Seo-yun’s tone was heavy somehow. The guiltiness in his sentence could be noticed by anyone. “I got asked about my leave today. Yi Joon.. If I were to talk to my coworkers about you, would they pity me?” After an incense time he didn't know what he was expecting anymore. Maybe for the photo on Yi Joon’s tomb to magically start talking? He didn't know, but he felt ridiculously stupid at the mere thought of it. What was true, was that it was impossible for him to talk with a photo. Some would call him delusional for even thinking about that. Wishing it could come true? Ridiculous. Sadly, that isn't how life works. 

At least- not for him.  

The way back to his house was the same as the one he took to get here. Passing by the little flower shop, he heard a middle aged woman call out to him. “youngman, over here! Would you like some flowers? Maybe for your lover?”

The moment he heard the word ‘lover’,Seo-yun gazed subconsciously at the cemetery. The woman noticed and shut up. When Seo-yun turned back his gaze he saw that the flower shop auntie had somehow understood the situation and did not push into the subject any further. “oh- er.. For your mom?” The woman looked as she was trying to change the subject. She really didn't mean any harm and Seo-yun wasn't dumb enough to not notice. After some time he agreed to buy some flowers. 

Seo-yun’s mother was a kind hearted woman who loved flowers. Most importantly, lilies. Their faint smell wrapping you in sweet-like illusions. By the time she was 21 she had already had her first child. Who was, obviously, Seo-Yun. The first and only child of the family. His dad, Kyeong-wo had him when he was 23. So, technically it's if Seo-Yun, himself had a baby, right here right now at his 23 years of age. But, of course he was going to debut and didn't have the time to find a girlfriend or a boyfriend even if he wanted to. Even so, he didn't have the interest to go find one. No one caught his eye apart from Yi Joon. His only love. He already lost so much, what if Yi Joon was, in fact, his destined one? 

Now that he was no more, he thought he might just focus on his career, nothing else. 

Seo-yun paid the middle aged woman and took the lilies she offered him. His mother lived in Japan, so he couldn't actually give her the flowers he just bought. So he just kept them to himself. 

The practice room in his return was as noisy and lively as ever. 

“I don't know about you guys but I need fresh air,” said Haneul while stretching his arms. 

“That's because you stay practicing all day long and don't go outside to touch grass” says Soo-won coldly.

“I know! that's why i searched it up, there's a restaurant nearby where we can eat” he added.

His pushy personality would push others to accompany him even if people thought it was unlikely.

“You know well we can't be seen by other people, right?” added Tae-hyun.

“Yeah, I know. That's why we're going to this one specifically, they have private rooms like in BBQ places.” Haneul paused, “so, who’s in it with me?”

Haneul looked around the room to see if anyone objected, as expected Park-Mingyu raised his slightly raised hand.

“Sorry, I can't go today. I had something planned already, you guys go.”

Followed by the mainlead Choi-Minho commented the same thing.

“me neither.”

Disappointed, Haneul asked again hoping that those were all the people who couldn't go.

“and? Who else will leave me alone?”pouted Haneul.

“yes, i'll go with you” coaxed Soo-won, aloof.

“Sure, I'm hungry either way” stated Tae-hyun.

Everyone looked at Seo-yun,

“hyung, will you go with us?” Asked Haneul.

Soo-won started with indifference and hid his curiosity not like the others present, who were practically open books.

Out of nowhere Sunghee thrusted the door open with a kick and a loud ‘BANG!’. Holding numerous drinks in both arms he shouted. 

“Im back!”

Everyone, startled, looked at him blankly. Haneul was the first one to react.

“Holy fuck, Sunghee! You scared me, I almost had a heart attack”

Sunghee was confused.

“Why were you so silent, i thought you were dead if not gone without me”

Park-Mingyu sighed after nearly ascending to heaven and grabbed his grey bag in the corner of the training room.

“I'll go now, I have an appointment. I'll go with you next time.”

“Wait, I'll go with you,” said Choi minho.

“sure no problem”

“buh-bye Minny, Minho, take care”

Soo-won turned around and frowned dismissively.

“‘Minny’?” he remarked, with a bitter expression, failing to mask his expression for the first time.

Oblivious, Haneul, without even looking at Soo-won replied.

“Yeah, that's the nickname I gave him. Right Minny?” he shouted.

Mingyu nodded with a light smile while heading out with Minho. Soo-won ignored the last sentence and turned away resentfully.

“Oh-yeah back to where we were- Seo-yun!”

“Are you going after all?”

Sunghee approached after saying ‘bye’ to the duo outside and put his arm around Seo-Yun’s neck.

“Let's go, you have to go somewhere for once and a while. Or else you'll get a burn out”

Haneul agreed silently, but excitedly nodded his head, up and down non stop. Seo-yun without a choice approved.

“Fine, I'll go with you” Even so, he didn't actually have a choice when it came down to this duo of Haneul and Sughee. Wonderful bastards at convincing people out of their crap, more or less forcing without seeing they are forcing you.

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