"You, Lee Sungyeol, are an apple."

What? Sungyeol blinked, trying to comprehend what Dongwoo had just said. His eyes darted to Woohyun for some clue, only to find a reflection of his own confusion. Only dumber. Their hyung didn't seem to notice the bewildered looks on both of their faces. And so, he carried on.

"You know how Sungjong is an orange… Kind of sweet, but really is just saucy and acidy. Yes?" He asked, to which they nodded in response. "Well, Sungyeol. That makes you an apple."

"H-how?" Woohyun asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. Dongwoo waved dismissively turning back to Sungyeol.

"An apple is sweet. But obviously not as acidic as an orange… You're like, soft-sweet. You know? Not, Sungjong-sweet… Not, sharp-piercing-sweet." The oldest explained. "Like, if you two were colors, Sungjong would definitely be all bright and blinding. And you would probably have softer hues. Like… pastel colours. You know, matte powdery colors. Softer, friendlier. A lot more considerate."

"…"

"Sungjong is just, blah. Like, he has this whatever-I-don't-care-you're-ing-irrelevant kind of virtue." Dongwoo continued, rolling his eyes in the process.

"You mean, like… He can be all get-out-of-my-pretty-face, talk-to-my-pretty-hand… Yeah?" Woohyun elaborated, looking a bit lost but determined.

"Yes, exactly. See, and that's the problem." Dongwoo replied just as their elevator dinged to a stop. "Sungyeol, you're like… um, has-anyone-taken-this-seat, you-don't-look-so-well-are-you-okay kind of person." The oldest cleared his throat, as the three of them stepped out of the elevator. "That orange… He's obviously taking advantage of an apple like you… Eh, you compromise for others a lot and it can make you look… indecisive… uh, insubstantial…"

"I think Dongwoo hyung meant, pathetic. Like, you're too nice that you seem like a loser?" Woohyun said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Or, you can just put it that way." Dongwoo sighed. "Look, when it comes to Sungjong, you should be a little more decisive. Be stubborn. Don't let him push you around."

"Think like, 'I'm not gonna take this bull'. You know? Toughen up. Show him what you're made of." Woohyun raised his fist, trying to prove his point.

Sungyeol kept silent as he listened to his two hyungs, giving him advice. What was he made of? Was he really being too nice? He probably did seem a little pathetic. Sungyeol had been acting like a loser hadn't he? Was that why Myungsoo… Was it the reason Myungsoo went to Sungjong?

Maybe, Myungsoo was sick of him because he was too much of a loser. Right, being nice can make him look a little bland. Boring, probably. Sungjong was… decisive. Sungjong wasn't bland. That boy was full of colours and flavours. It must be really exciting, hanging out with a person like him. Wow, Sungyeol couldn't even compare. Sungjong was… full of surprises. And Sungyeol was just… expected.

Several minutes later, Woohyun and Dongwoo were comfortably seated with the other members. Sungjong and Myungsoo were missing, however. Sunggyu pointed this out to their manager, who immediately got out of his chair he happened to just sit on three seconds prior, then left to hunt the two youngest down.

Woohyun was in the process of making sure his hair wasn't out of place, while Dongwoo kept glancing at the door every few seconds. Hoya was happily listening to his iPod, feet moving in sync with the music.

Further away from the entrance, Sungyeol was being pepped by his director, who kept asking him whether he needed a read-through. He was told that they were going to go over the scripts, and most likely, some ice breaking.

Sungyeol despised ice breakers. The only thing it did was make him all the more awkward. And with all s here, he sure was going to be made fun of. Gods, he was going to make a fool of himself in front of the two people he dreaded the most.

Sungyeol was screwed, that was for sure.

At a moment like this, Sungyeol didn't actually expect someone to burst through the door, scaring the crap out of him. Everyone's attention went straight towards a lady by the entrance. The lady bowed politely before stepping aside, revealing a girl wearing a cap who was ever so busy with her phone.

"Unnie, my battery is running out…" The girl grumbled, unaware of the current circumstance. She kept on walking absent-mindedly, until the lady grabbed her shoulder lightly and managed to pull her back.

"Myungsin-ah." The lady's indicative tone made the girl look up to find quite a few pairs of eyes on her.

"Oh." She exclaimed, looking a little surprised. Bowing really low several times, she greeted, "Good morning director-nim. Good morning unnies. Good morning hyungs. Good morning everyone, how are you today?" Half a second later, a storm of good-mornings and I'm-fines swept around the studio. Then everyone went back to their businesses.

"Myungsin-ah." Dongwoo's voice cried out as he made his way towards the girl, with a giddy Woohyun trailing behind. The older raised his hands readily as she highfived them.

"'Sup, Dongwoo hyung." She greeted happily, before turning to the lady. "Unnie, this is Dongwoo hyung. He was… um, oppa's friend." The lady smiled, receiving Dongwoo's polite bow.

"Hello. I'm Myungsin's manager." She greeted.

A comfortable silence fell upon them, but a few seconds later was disturbed by an indicative cough from behind. Dongwoo sighed and stepped aside.

"And this is Nam Woohyun. He's… the vocal of Infinite."

"And Dongwoo hyung's friend." Woohyun added with a broad grin on his face. Dongwoo tried his best not to roll his eyes.

"Yes… and my friend."

As Myungsin made her way towards Sungyeol and the director, along with Dongwoo and Woohyun, she noticed strange things. It wasn't that she paid any extra attention because she didn't. They just kind of caught her eyes in the way that made her skin turn cold.

At first, Myungsin didn't think too much of it. Heck, she didn't even give it a single thought. It was how Sungyeol's lips strained into a thin line when he smiled. Those smiles, they weren't genuine. Myungsin wasn't stupid. She could see it. And she didn't like it.

It was normal to carry eye bags. Everyone has them and it was the stylists' job to conceal them. Hence, this makeup tool named concealer. Whoever did Sungyeol makeup though, hadn't done a very good job.

Myungsin could see the dark circles evidently. Dongwoo's and Woohyun's couldn't compare to his. And really, it was annoying Myungsin. She was probably insane. But the tiredness illuminating from her co-star was getting on her nerves. It was bringing back terrible memories.

"Who did your makeup?" She asked quietly, out of nowhere. The three boys turned silent and eyed her weirdly. But Myungsin only brushed it off while Sungyeol shrugged in response. So, she looked somewhere else as they started talking again.

Myungsin could feel Dongwoo resting his hands on her shoulders protectively. Or maybe, the older was just making sure she wouldn't wander off anywhere. As if he didn't want to lose her, again. She didn't mind, however. She liked Dongwoo to some extent. He would make a pretty good oppa too, she thought, if not for—

The door to the studio opened and everyone turned to stare. Curiously, a familiar looking man walked into the room, followed by a handsome looking boy with slightly disheveled hair. It looked like he had been running.

And clinging to his arm was another boy. He was skinny and he walked like a girl. He didn't really give Myungsin a good impression. He seemed too cautious and on guard all the time. She could tell, she wasn't going to like him. Heck, he didn't look very friendly.

Myungsin felt the person next to her stiffen, so she eyed him curiously. Sungyeol's lips were pressed into a thin line again. But he wasn't trying to smile this time. He carried a slight frown that she wouldn't have noticed from afar.

Myungsin watched Sungyeol closely as his eyes followed the arrival of the two boys. His frown disappeared but he started blinking rapidly, like he was trying to hold back a sob. It made Myungsin feel uneasy. Worried, even. Was he okay?

Unconsciously, she reached out until her hand touched the elbow of Sungyeol's sweater. He immediately turned to look at her. She frowned and eyed him questioningly. Myungsin reached for Sungyeol's hand which was clenched into a fist, carefully untangling it.

"What's wrong?" Myungsin asked worriedly. To which he blinked, taken aback. She tugged on his hand softly, wanting him to say something. But a few seconds after, she thought that perhaps... she shouldn't have.

"Everything." Sungyeol replied.