5/20 note: so when I read the headline of an article about Sungjong being in a car accident my heart literally dropped to where my kidney was but when I read the article I was relieved but still super worried because everyone is getting hurt so much ;-; (seriously car accidents bring up bad memories with K-Pop idols so obviously I was worried about my ultimate bias Sungjongie T^T)

5/29 note: Also I think it was obvious that I intended to finish this story first what with my constant updates beforehand... but then came Produce 101... so I kinda wanna focus working on my Produce 101 fics  *insert more crying emojis here* I'm so sorry

6/28 note: the fact that 6/7 members renewed their contract scares me like who's the member who hasn't signed yet?? Are they not signing for a good reason???? Like all articles only sttat that they're under "positive discussion" and it'd be nice if we actually got an update instead of just that -.-

"Is something wrong?"

Sungjong looks at him, panic faintly obvious as seen in his eyes. The feminine boy stutters a 'what', making Myungsoo pout before retreating his arm and reaching over to hug him like before with his arm brushing against his side and making Sungjong flinch and hiss from before.

"Don't 'what' me, what happened?" Myungsoo asked, concerned for his childhood friend as he tries to reach for the hem of Sungjong's shirt to see what was underneath before Sungjong backs away quickly, cowering slightly as he holds himself.

"I-It's nothing... reallly..." Sungjong murmurs nervously before quickly running away from the latter to head to class.

That day, it suddenly felt like they were more distant than before, worrying Myungsoo greatly.

It continued.

As the days kept coming, Sungjong continued to avoid having any sort of contact with Myungsoo, leaving the latter confused and sad because he dearly missed his childhood friend. At first, he thought that it would be a one time thing and pushed it out of his thoughts quickly but seeing how distressed the younger became made his concern for him build up. Because he couldn't even go into any type of conversation with him, his only option left was to really talk to Woohyun.

To which the latter had the nerve to tell him, "Why should I?"

"Because he's my best friend!" Myungsoo frowned, not understanding why Woohyun blinked, then sighed, then face-palmed.

"You are SO stupid!" Woohyun muttered under his breath.

"Yah! I'm not stupid! Now tell me, I'm worried about him!"

He watched as Woohyun then glared at him, a rare expression on his face considering that he was basically an aegyo machine, "Oh, so now you notice."

"What do you mean 'now'?" Myungsoo was lost at this point before Woohyun walks up to him and starts poking him in his chest to emphasize his words, hissing, "If you only realized it now without even being aware about the actual situation, then you don't have the right to know at all. He's being destroyed on the inside and outside and so far I've been the only one that he can rely on."

Woohyun backs away, passing one last glance at Myungsoo, "You need to change your ways or else he won't come back to you one day," and he turned and left him in the pathway leading up to the school.

Myungsoo bit the bottom of his lip, contemplating as to what exactly he's missed to cause this sort of reaction before chasing to try to find Woohyun. He was cluelessly walking around the school before heading into the building and seeing a group of students fleeing from the classroom down the hall. He heard hushed voices echo from the classroom, slowly walking to it before peeking into it.

He was shocked by the sight of Sungjong on the floor, fresh cuts and bruises along with tears on his uniform, with Woohyun taking off his blazer and hanging it around Sungjong's small frame. Myungsoo wanted to step in and demand for answers but seeing how Sungjong was shivering ever with the blazer, he knew that he had no rights to do that when he looked even smaller than he usually did. He helplessly watched his childhood friend shook with choked sobs even when Woohyun had pulled him over into a tight hug.

He made a promise to himself then.

To be stronger for the sake of protecting Sungjong.

"YOU BETTER RUN AWAY!" his voice went hoarse from yelling that at the group of bullies who were helping their leader up before fleeing. Myungsoo huffed as he wiped at the corner of his lips that stung a bit. Along with his lips, his arms and a side of his abdomen hurts too.

"W-Why..." a broken sob came from behind him, making him immediately turn aroound and bend down to be at the same level as Sungjong, a bruise blooming on the left side of his cheek and eyes red and puffy from crying. Myungsoo didn't answer, instead turning around and pulling Sungjong into a hug.

"You should've told me that you were being bullied. Sungjong, you could've died right there..." he murmured softly, feeling the alarmingly quick thumping of Sungjong's heart against his chest, his own heart following the same pattern. Myungsoo continued to speak, "I'm so sorry for not noticing before... I promise that I'll always protect you because you are the most precious person in the world to me..." 

"Myu...ng...soo...!"

He clutched the boy tighter, fearing that if he lets go, the boy would just crumble with the weight of everything that he's lost.

"Plea...se... don't... lea...ve... me...!" he was trembling, clutching onto him even tighter, as though he was trying to hide away from the world by burying himself in his arms.

"I would never do that."

You still are the most precious person to me. That's why, I'm not going to leave your side! Myungsoo cheered himself on, standing in the middle of the outdoors mall he decided to meet up at with Sungjong. He takes a glance around before a sigh escapes his mouth, thinking that maybe Sungjong ditched him at the last minute considering that he's been loitering here long enough to gain weird glances from vaguely familiar faces.

"Hey."

He easily recognized his voice, turning around to see Sungjong fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, looking down at the ground. Hesitantly, the younger looks up, stuttering, "W-Where do you want to go?"

"Oh, well there's this new crepes place I thought that you might want to try..."

Was this really going to end everything?