I waited in the living room for P.O. to return. I didn't know where he went, and it was getting me worried. I tried texting him, calling him, but he wouldn't respond, I sat there on the couch, knees up to my chest and my chin resting on them. I checked my phone regularly, checking for any response. I didn't get any.

   I watched as the sun started to set. My anxiety didn't get any better. I wringed my hands in my lap, thinking the worse. "What if he's dead? What if someone kidnapped him and took him somewhere? It's all my fault." I held my face in my hands.

   I heard someone enter the room, and I looked up to see Taeil sitting down next to me. He put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure he's fine." he tried to comfort me.

   "What if some crazed fan poisoned him? Oh God, I'm the worst girlfriend..." I mumbled through my hands.

   "You are fine, he's the one that's overreacting. He's young and selfish. He wants you to be with him all the time, and be here when he gets home like some housewife."

   I looked up at him. "What would you do if you were in his situation?" I asked.

   We locked eye contact. "I'd be here for you, be happy for your success."

   I scoffed. "Be honest. Don't just tell me something I want to hear."

   He looked down. "Alright, I guess I'd be a little upset."

   "A little?" I raised an eyebrow.

   "Taeil hesitated. "Alright...I'd be very upset. But I wouldn't show it in front of you. I wouldn't stress you out over my selfishness."

   I thought back when I went to the hospital because of my anxiety attack. That's different, it wasn't his fault. Well, he didn't help the situation either...I shook the thought out of my head. "But don't you deserve to tell me how you feel?"

   "You've been through enough, Sam. You don't need a boy doing this to you."

   I rubbed the nape of my neck. I didn't want this sympathy. The only one that ever showed their true feelings around me since my mom's death was Jihoon. That's what I liked. Even when the things he did were heartbreaking. It was true, he was young and selfish, but so was I. And two selfish people didn't belong together.

   Taeil patted my knee and kissed my temple before leaving me to my waiting.

~~~

   As the sun went down, my eyelids got heavier. I drifted off to sleep over time. Until I heard the door creak open and shut. I shot up, rubbing my eyes and squinting to make out the silhouette in the dark room. "Jihoon?"

   P.O. walked toward me, taking off his jacket. "What are you doing in the dark?"

   I hesitated. "I fell asleep. And it was still light out when I was awake."

   "Why didn't you just go to your room and sleep?"

   I rubbed my upper arm. "Because I was waiting for you."

   He sighed, rubbing his face. He stepped toward me and wrapped his arms around my neck, pulling my face into his chest. "I'm sorry."

   I wrapped my arms around his stomach and held onto him tightly. "Don't ever make me worry like that again."

   "I'm sorry," he repeated, mumbling into my hair.

   "You know I have to take this opportunity," I said, referring to my recording.

   He nodded. "I know."

   "Are you okay with it?"

   He hesitated. "I...don't know."

   I nodded. "Okay...that's fine." I took a deep breath in. "But I'm going to do it no matter what."

   "I know."

   We stood like this for awhile in the darkness. The others had gone to bed a long time ago, so we didn't worry about them walking in on us. 

   Finally Jihoon spoke up. "We're not going to be together for as long as we hoped, are we?"

   I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. I shook my head. "No."

   He squeezed me tighter, then turned me loose. Looking down at me with a frown, he said, "So, is this it?"

   I couldn't look him in the eye. I could feel my eyes glistening with tears, my throat tightening. "I guess so." A tear rolled down my cheek. I had to get out of there, away from him. Staying in his presence would only make it harder. I gave him one last sorrowful look and ran straight to my room, locking the door behind me.

   A moment later I heard his footsteps coming closer, and finally stopped at my door. He knocked softly. "Sam," he said, testing the doorknob to see if it would turn. It didn't. He knocked a little louder, twisting to knob over and over again. "Sam, just open up." More twisting and knocking. "Sam, please," he begged.

   I hugged my knees tight to my chest as I leaned against my pillows, listening to P.O. scratch at the door like a desperate puppy. It took all of my strength and self control to resist the urge to throw open the door and hug him and never let go. But that wouldn't do us any good. So I sat there, listening and biting my lip.

   "Sam! Open up!" He was banging on the door now. I'm sure the others could hear, but keeping to themselves for this one. He twisted the knob more and more, banging harder. "We can't do this now! Just give us more time!"

   I bit down on my lip so hard I started to taste metal. Even then I didn't stop. I squeezed my eyelids shut and tried to  drown him out.

   "Sam, we need each other! Don't do this to us," he pleaded to the door.

   I pressed my hands to my ears and started to sing quietly to myself. "It rained and it's over, a shooting star landed directly on our broke down little car, we fold and we had made a wish that we would be missed if one another just did not exist."