all this time

Junmyeon was sobbing.

Minho brought them to Junmyeon’s place where Jongin and Tao already were, and gently sat Junmyeon down to tell him everything they found out thus far. None of the boys received it well, and for various reasons.

“All this time…” Junmyeon tremblingly said before tears started to flow.

Tao was immediately on his side, tightly embracing the older as he allowed the information to sink in for himself. Just like Jongdae, he was in a daze. Jongin, on the other hand, took to a corner and stood with heavy sighs.

It was of varying degrees of anger, betrayal, but also sadness and confusion all rolled into one ball chaotically hitting their chests.

They came from a painful event that happened not too long ago – far too fresh still in their minds that the fact Baekhyun lied was difficult to digest. For their suspicions that Baekhyun had been lying all this time to finally be confirmed hit them, awfully hard. They were made a fool of, again.

But then, for Jongin especially, he was angry. Angry to find out that Baekhyun needed help, and because they didn’t know, they weren’t able to offer any. Angry that now they are filled with worry not knowing where Baekhyun is. Angry that Baekhyun left Junmyeon so distressed like this. Angry that he felt helpless.

For Junmyeon, there was no hint of bitterness. All that hit him was constricting disappointment and guilt. The signs were all there, dating back to the first time they bumped into each other. It was there right in their faces but they decided to brush it off. They never asked. They never pried. He never tried. Why? Junmyeon isn’t really sure. Perhaps it was Baekhyun’s personality – the simple boy who came barging in unannounced casting the sun’s rays when they needed it the most - that made Junmyeon fearful of the possible truth all was fake and he was just like everybody else.

Minho decides to leave the rest in the living room. It was starting to get suffocating. He was conflicted himself. As the oldest amongst them and prided in the parental role he took in the group, to allow them to be hurt again… it was hard to accept. It ached the most to see Junmyeon and Chanyeol’s pain. But most of all, to have failed Baekhyun as a friend.

Minho's worry toppled over everything, especially now with the truth out. All that is in his mind is how the younger is doing exactly and if he’s even fine. He needed to find Baekhyun, and he needed to act fast.

Looking towards the rest of the boys, he sees Junmyeon still crying on Tao’s shoulder while most of them have decided to keep to themselves, still trying to take in the situation they were suddenly ed into. Taking a deep breath, Minho brings out his phone to make an important call.