43: Dream

   A loud applause sounded throughout the bar with shouts of encore punctuating the cheers of delight. Jeongri watched as Baekhyun waved brightly at the crowd, revelling at being in the spotlight again. He had this big goofy grin plastered on his face, unable to stop himself from smiling. Jeongri found herself grinning just watching him; he was like an infectious light of happiness.

   To his side, Kyungsoo seemed more subdued. He said something to Baekhyun and bowed to the audience before making his way off stage alone. Baekhyun faltered a little at his singing partner departing so fast, but he brightened up again at the crowd cheering for him to sing again. Lapping up all the attention, Baekhyun did an elaborate bow.

   “Look at him acting like he’s some superstar,” said Luhan with a chuckle, clapping along with the crowd.

   As Kyungsoo stepped off the stage, he looked back at Baekhyun one more time. The stage lights started to flicker unsteadily, and Kyungsoo turned away fast, pushing his way through the crowd before slipping out the front door. Jeongri became a little worried. Where was he going? She didn’t understand why he looked so solemn; an opposite picture to Baekhyun.

   “What did you say?” asked Jeongri, distracted.

   Baekhyun was still waving at the crowd despite the next singer shuffling in behind him, side-eyeing him to leave. Luhan seemed amused by this; he paid for their drinks and gestured back to the stage.

   “We’re going to have to drag him off at this rate,” Luhan joked. He held out his hand, beckoning Jeongri to follow him, “Come on. Let’s head back before the next performance starts.”

   Jeongri wrapped her hand around his, feeling his slender fingers grasp protectively around hers, before guiding her through the crowd. Several times they had to stop because someone would recognise Luhan, embracing him with a friendly hug and engaging in small talk. Jeongri kept her head down, making sure her facemask was still hiding her identity.

   She was now becoming acutely aware of how popular Luhan was in this small hamlet, or at least, how everyone seemed to know everyone. All these people would ask how Luhan was, and who his new ‘female friend’ was. Each time she shied away, looking to the ground, with Luhan delicately changing the subject without arousing suspicion.

   It took longer than expected to get back to the others. Even Baekhyun had made it back before them, but not without bringing a sizeable crowd of unwanted attention to their table. Jeongri hesitated for a moment upon seeing the throngs of people gathered around their booth, but Luhan gave her a reassuring squeeze of her hand. In a low voice, he told her that he would try to clear some of the crowd, and to wait here for him.

   Jeongri watched on as Luhan went ahead, inserting himself into the crowd. Again, most of them seemed to recognise him, and he masterfully guided most of them away in a chatter of conversation. Feeling relieved, Jeongri quickly walked to their booth, slipping herself by Sehun’s side. Kyungsoo still wasn’t back.

   “Oh noona,” Sehun said, surprised by her sudden appearance, “I was wondering where you were.”

   “Too many people…” she mumbled, looking down again.

   “I wouldn’t be too worried,” said Sehun, “The people of Greyfleur mostly keep themselves to themselves. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the people here didn’t know what was going on in the capital, or who you were.”

   Sehun took a sip of his drink, pausing to think for a moment.

   “Though, I guess it doesn’t hurt to be careful,” he added.

   On the other side of the booth, Chanyeol was in mid-conversation with an elated looking Baekhyun.

   “…haven’t heard you sing like that in a while,” Chanyeol said, his eyebrows raised in delighted surprise, “Looks like none of that talent wasted away while you were in the HLV. Good timing too, you were due for a career change!”

   Chanyeol waved his hand through the air with a flourish, imagining a billboard covered in lights.

   “I can see it now. Byun Baekhyun, singer extraordinaire, with thousands of fans pining over your every move. You know, the way some of the women in the crowd were acting, they might just very well be your first official fans,” Chanyeol remarked, “I can’t wait. You’ll be making millions and looking after my unemployed for the rest of our lives. Right? Right.”

   Baekhyun laughed out loud, rolling his eyes as he did.

   “Keep dreaming, loser. Like I’m going to look after your lame .”

   “Fine, if you won’t look after me, then Kyungsoo will. He’s got a voice that’s equally ready to be famous,” mused Chanyeol, “Where is he anyway?”

   The sound of Kyungsoo’s name drew Jeongri’s attention towards their conversation. She was a bit more worried as he hadn’t returned after so long. Was he okay?

   Luhan re-joined the group alone, slipping back into his seat and resting his head in his hand. He looked content, but a little worn out from talking to so many people.

   “Kyungsoo said he had to go do something,” said Baekhyun.

   “You know, when I first met Kyungsoo, he didn’t strike me as a person who would do this sort of thing,” said Luhan, gesturing to the stage, “He seems like such a reserved person.”

   “Nah, he wasn’t always like that,” said Chanyeol, “Back when he used to visit the orphanage with his grandfather, he was this bright little happy kid. He was a lot more energetic back then, and a little bit boisterous. A bit like how Baekhyun was as a kid.”

   Jeongri felt her eyes widening in interest.

   “Really?” she asked.

   She couldn’t imagine Kyungsoo with a Baekhyun-style personality. It didn’t seem to match at all.

   “Yeah, he was a pretty loud kid,” noted Baekhyun, nodding along, “It was fun when he came around. But he changed a lot after we lost contact.”

   “Yeah, after his grandfather passed away, Kyungsoo stopped visiting us. We only saw him again when we all enrolled into the HLV during the same year,” recalled Chanyeol, looking nostalgic, “I remember asking him what happened, but he just shook his head and changed the subject. We became friends again, but he’s changed a lot. He used to smile a lot more.”

   Jeongri found herself staring at the front door, waiting for Kyungsoo to walk through them again. Perhaps she should go looking for him. She knew that his grandfather was killed during the war, but he never elaborated beyond that and Jeongri never once thought about how painful it must have been for him. The thought of him changing into a different person after such a traumatic event had never crossed her naïve mind. Guilt began to rack her emotions; there was still so much that Jeongri didn’t know about Kyungsoo, and so much she should have noticed.

   Every fibre of her body was telling her to leave her friends, to go out into the blistering cold and find him. Find Kyungsoo, hug him and apologise for not being there sooner. To run her hands through his short black hair, to look into his dark eyes and to ask him openly about what’s been troubling him. Jeongri moved an inch, before Luhan pulled her on the arm, holding her back.

   “Where are you going?” Luhan asked, his fingers held lightly but firmly around her wrist.

   There was a worried look in his eyes, as they darted through the crowds before looking back at her.

   “I’m going to look for Kyungsoo,” Jeongri said simply.

   Snow as beginning to fall outside, drifting past the windows in a hazy flurry. Kyungsoo’s coat and black scarf lay discarded on the seat. No one should be out there. What kind of girlfriend would she be to stay here when he was out there alone? Jeongri made a move to leave again, only for Luhan to laugh softly.

   “I just saw him walk back in and head to the bathroom,” Luhan said, shaking his head, “You can’t go in there, silly.”

   “Oh, right…” Jeongri said, breaking out into a weak smile, “I can’t go there…”

   She sat back down and stared at her drink, feeling her cheeks flush. Jeongri didn’t know why she got so emotional just now. Of course, Kyungsoo was fine. He would tell her if he wasn’t.

   Laughter from Baekhyun made Jeongri glance at him again. Several times during their performance, she found herself watching Baekhyun instead of Kyungsoo. Was this overreaction compensation for the guilt she felt for looking at the wrong person?

   “Hyung, you did really well,” said Sehun, holding out his drink in a toast.

   “Thanks, Sehun,” Baekhyun replied, grin still on his face. Suddenly, he turned to Jeongri and asked her, “Did you like the duet?”

   Jeongri stared at him for a couple seconds, taken aback by how direct he was being. If she was being honest, it seemed like Baekhyun had been avoiding her since the afternoon. But here he was smiling confidently, drink in hand, waiting intently on her reply. Never once did he look away.

   Nodding, Jeongri gave him a weak smile.

   “Yes, I really liked it,” she said.

   Baekhyun nodded, seemingly happy at her answer.

   “I’m telling you, this guy is wasted on not being a singer,” butted in Chanyeol, “I’m gonna be so set for life after all this war is over.”

   Everyone laughed, but for Jeongri, she couldn’t stop these feelings of guilt growing in her heart. She couldn’t even look at Baekhyun now without thinking of what Chanyeol had said earlier. Every time her thoughts wandered down the path of Baekhyun, her consciousness would drag her thoughts back over to Kyungsoo’s, scolding her for being distracted when she’d made her decision already.

   Baekhyun and Chanyeol started to bicker about the latter’s plans to stay unemployed and looked after by Baekhyun’s future wealth. Despite Jeongri’s conflicting thoughts, she couldn’t help but agree with Chanyeol. Baekhyun was a great singer, surprisingly good even. They used to practise together when they were younger, hoping to make it big one day. Having not heard his voice in almost ten years, Jeongri didn’t anticipate how strongly she would feel drawn to Baekhyun’s singing.

   Baekhyun’s usual image of a joking, bumbling idiot was replaced by one of a serious and sincere man, mirroring her thoughts when she met him again back in Hallowmire. His performance had showcased a side to him that blew Jeongri away, so much so that she couldn’t help but enjoy watching him more than her boyfriend.

   In her heart, Kyungsoo was still the one, but there was a faint curiosity in her thoughts towards her old best friend. Not love per se, but just a yearning to see more.

   Amid her wandering thoughts, a couple of waitresses approached their booth in a flurry of excitement and glee.

   “You guys were absolutely amazing,” gushed one of the waitresses.

   She had poker