Chapter 6

It was getting more frequent. The laughing, the talking to himself. Sitting and smiling at the air, eating, playing games with a non-existent Soohyun.

A month had passed.

Everyone had moved on. Eli, Kevin, Alexander, Kibum, even Kiseop.

But Dongho was still trapped in the past. Still trapped in memories of events long gone, still fabricating new ones each day.  How he managed to do that, Kevin didn't know. He was worried, but each time he plucked up enough courage to tap Dongho on the shoulder and interrupt him from his fantasies... He just couldn't bring himself to do it. Couldn't bring himself to look into those innocent, brown eyes and tell him the truth.

He didn't want to see the disappointment in them, didn't want to be the one watching as the maknae cries yet again.

Kibum was right, he WAS too soft-hearted. A sigh escaped his lips as he watched, for the nth time, as Dongho played the piano, still talking to someone only he could see.

"Why can't you just tell him?" Eli demanded, a harsh frown marring his features. "Why can't we just tell him?"

"He'll find out sooner or later, Kevin. Manager hyung's been complaining about his behaviour. He's getting suspiscious..." Xander added as he sat down next to them at the kitchen table.

Kevin didn't reply, his stare never faltering as Dongho's long fingers tapped out the familiar melody that had been the soundtrack of their life since a month ago. A soundtrack with only one song, a soundtrack put on permanent replay at the same time each day.

He stood up, the chair creaking as he did so. He walked over to Dongho, placing a gentle hand around his shoulder. "Dongho ah."

The said boy stopped playing, looking up at his hyung. "Yeah, Kevin hyung?"

"Why do you always play this song? Can't you play another one?"

A firm shake of his head. "Soohyun hyung likes this song. He likes me to play it. Besides, he hasn't learnt how to play it yet, he wants me to teach him, don't you, hyung?" The last question was directed to the empty seat on Dongho's other side. A few seconds passed, and Dongho turned back. "See? Hyung agrees with me!"

"Soohyun hyung's not here, Dongho." Kevin finally said, as gently as he could. He reached over, waving his hand through the empty space. "He's not here..."

Dongho frowned. "Yes he-- Oh. Where is he?" He looked around the room, his eyes lighting up as they fell on a figure lounging on the sofa. "Hyung! There you are!" He got up, pushing Kevin aside and flopping down onto the sofa, leaving a space between him and the armrest, a space for someone the other members couldn't see. "When did you get here? I was talking to Kevin hyung and you just ran off like that...!"

"I got tired of the piano. Let's watch a movie, Dongho! We never did get to go to the cinema that day..." 

"What movie?" Dongho's expression brightened up at the suggestion.

"I don't know. You pick," Soohyun answered, stretching out on the sofa. "Go get some popcorn too, I'm hungry."

"Let's watch 71 Into the Fire! TOP hyung is so cool in that show!" Dongho exclaimed, happily getting up to take the DVD from the cupboard.

At that moment, Xander came into the living room, his motherly instincts taking over. "That show's rated! No watching, you're underaged!"

"But Soohyun hyung says I can watch it..." Dongho pouted.

Xander paused before answering. "I'm older than Soohyun, so I get the final say. Now, go to sleep, you have school tomorrow!"

Another pout, before Dongho pulled an invisible hand after him as he went to his bedroom. "Let's go, hyung. We can watch it another day..."

Xander cast a helpless glance at Kevin. The younger boy didn't meet his gaze, sitting down on the sofa at the place where Dongho had been. Even though the door had been closed after Dongho, there was no mistaking the words drifting out from the room, a one-sided conversation that everyone had heard before.

He's already gone to the point where he can't be convinced Soohyun is gone. Maybe, if I had told him earlier, this wouldn't have happened... I feel guilty, really guilty. I don't know what to do anymore...

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hey everyone!this is a (longer) chapter that (i hope) will satisfy you guys for the week til my next update... thanks for all the comments, don't forget to leave somemore:)