Junhyung’s POV

“Junhyung, where is your phone?” Doojoon Hyung asked.

“My phone?” I asked, looking around.

He is right, where is my phone?

I searched around and found it at the bottom of my bag.

“Turn it on. Seungho Hyung has been calling and he got worried when your phone is turned off. Gosh, how can you actually leave your phone turned off for weeks and not even remember?” He said.

“Hee~ Sorry, Hyung.” I smiled as I my phone.

As soon as I turned it on, I was bombarded by messages, voice messages and text messages.

“WHAT’S THAT IRRITATING SOUND!?” A sleeping Dongwoon shouted.

“Sorry sorry. Shhh. Sleep.” I coax him back to sleep.

I left my phone in the toilet to ring. When it finally shut up, I went to take it back. My eyes widened at the amount of messages and missed calls I received.

72 Missed Calls, 68 Voice Messages and 183 Text Messages; Almost ¾ of it was from a number I don’t recognize. Which crazy fan?

‘You have 68 unheard voice messages.’ The caller said.

Voice message One; ‘Eh… Junhyung.. It’s me… Haneul.. Don’t hang up yet! Please. Listen to me. Call me, please. If I can say everything here, I would. But this damn thing doesn’t allow me to. So please, call me. Please please please.’

Haneul!? That’s cute.

Voice message Five; ‘YONG JUNHYUNG! IF YOU IGNORE ME ONE MORE TIME! I’M GOING TO STOP TALKING TO YOU! EVEN IF YOU GO ON YOUR KNEES, I’LL JUST KICK YOU!!!!’

Of course, as violent as ever.

Voice message Six; ‘Agh.. I’m just kidding. I wouldn’t ignore you. So please, call me. Just let me know if you’re okay. Please.’

Voice message Twenty-one; ‘Are you kidding with me? How can you change so drastically!? I thought we were friends. Do I have to cry?’

Cry? Hahaha. Really cute.

Voice message Twenty-five; ‘It’s so cold in Seoul. It’s so cold in the bookstore. Is the warmer breaking down again? How do you say please come and fix it in Korean?’

Voice message Thirty-eight; ‘Really, I’m going to stop calling you already. I know it’s my fault.’

Voice message Forty; ‘I cannot seem to just give up like this. Would you at least give me a chance to explain myself? I’m so tired of talking to myself every day. At least I responded to you when you tried, I rather you slap me than ignore me. This . What am I doing? I hate you, Yong Junhyung!’

Slap you? Haneul ah, I wouldn’t ever lay my finger on you unless it is to kiss you or hug you.

Voice message Fifty-five; ‘It’s still me, Haneul. I know I sound weird, but it’s still me. I guess you are just going to keep ignoring me huh? Junhyung ah, I’m sorry about that day. I forgot. It wasn’t deliberate. Please forgive me.’

Voice message Sixty; ‘How could you be so cold-hearted? Where is that always smiling Junhyung? I hate you. I hate you. You . You stupid . You jerk. But please, call me.’

Voice message Sixty-three; ‘THERE’S A FREAKING CAT OUTSIDE THE BOOKSTORE!!! I CAN’T GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’

Voice message Sixty-five; ‘Okay, there’s no cat. I just don’t know what else to say anymore. I’m not going to ask you to call me anymore. I know you wouldn’t. But I want you to know, you aren’t nothing to me. You’re the only Korean I can trust.’

Oh my god, Haneul.

Text massage Eighty-three; Call me already! My mom is going to slap me for the sky-high phone bill this month. Please save me! ><

Text message One Hundred and Twenty-seven; Junhyung ah, it’s me, again. I guess you’ll never call. And even if you did, I doubt I’ll be able to say anything. That day, I don’t know what you saw, but it’s not like what you think. I didn’t deliberately not go to the concert to disappoint you. I really, really, really forgot. I know you put in the effort and I’m just downright mean, I’m sorry. I told you I’m not a good friend, right? Forgive me, please? Almighty Junhyung, please……………………….

Text message One Hundred and Thirty-five; YAH! YONG JUNHYUNG! ARE YOU GOING TO IGNORE YOUR HYUNG NOW AS WELL!? CALL ME BACK! OH MY GOD, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?

Text message One Hundred and Fifty-five; Do you enjoy seeing me plead you like this? Yong Junhyung, you’re really mean >:(

Text message One Hundred and Seventy; asdfghjkl !!!!! @#$%^!&*!!!!! Call me already! How can you let a girl beg you like this!? T.T Please…

Text message One Hundred and Eighty-one; I passed by the bookstore today and saw that girl. She was staring into space. Junhyung, are you still ignoring her? Maybe you should give her a call. It’s dangerous for a girl to just space out like this, what if someone comes into the bookstore and did something bad to her? She’s mean, but maybe she deserves a chance to explain.

“Junhyung, why are you smiling to yourself?” Hyunseung asked.

“Huh? Ah. Nothing. Haha.” I smiled as I covered the blanket over my head.

I never expected Haneul to actually do this. Not that I like her to plead me like this, it hurts me, but it’s just so cute.

I dialed Seungho Hyung’s number and instead of the usual ‘Hello’, he yelled instead.

“DAMN! YONG JUNHYUNG! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS!?” He scolded.

“Sorry Hyung. I’m sorry. I forgot to turn on my phone.” I said.

“Why do you sound so happy?” He asked.

“I sound happy? Ah, no. Hahaha. Hyung, if you’re free, pop by the bookstore to check on her for me, would you?” I said.

“Why should I?” He said, but I could hear happiness in his voice.

“Please. Do me a favour.” I pleaded.

“Why not you do yourself a favour by calling her? I go there on some nights and she’s always in the same position.” He said.

“What position?” I asked curiously.

“Wrapped in a blanket, holding something tightly in her hand and staring at the phone.” He said.

“Ahhh~” I bit my lips. My heart hurt.

“I’ll call you again, Hyung.” I said, hanging up the phone.

Just as I was about to dial another number, a voice message came in.

‘How long are you going to avoid me? I thought we are friends.’

Haneul sounded tired and weak. Did she fall sick? Oh my. She’s alone.

I called her, but her phone was turned off.

“Hello, Seungho Hyung, where are you?” I asked.

“On the street. Why?” He asked.

“Are you near the bookstore? Can you go over?” I asked.

“I’m round the corner. Wait.” He said.

“Please hurry.” I pleaded.

“What is it?” He asked, panting.

“Just before we hung up, Haneul left me another voice message. She didn’t sound too good. When I tried to call back, her phone is turned off.” I explained.

“Ahhh.. Eh.. The bookstore is closed.” He said.

“Close!? Ahh damn. Okay, thanks Hyung.” I hung up the phone.

What happened? I’m worried now.

Haneul’s POV

It’s been awhile since I last heard from Yong Junhyung. Like a fan, I have been getting their updates online. He still refuses to answer my phone calls or reply to my text messages. Usually, I wouldn’t even bother. But for some reason, this time I feel the need to explain myself.

The weather has been getting colder as the days pass. Life has been more boring than usual. School is off for now, so I have been working full-time at the bookstore. In the day, there would be crowd, so life didn’t feel that bad. But when the night seeps in, everything just quiets down and the only sound that accompanies me is the sound of the howling wind outside.

Wrapped in the blanket and holding on tightly to the hand warmer he gave me, I am starting to miss his presence. I miss even the times he irritate me. Where is he? Is he doing fine? Have he been eating well? Did he fall sick?

I want an answer, but I got none. Just like when he wanted an answer from me, I didn’t give him any. Now I know how it feels. It . I wonder how he endured it all.

‘How long are you going to avoid me? I thought we are friends.’ I sent him theNth voice message.

The battery from my phone went dead the moment I ended the call. I didn’t bother to charge it instantly. Not like he would call or reply. My head felt heavy. I think I must have gotten the cold. What medicine should I take? No one is at home. I have no one to turn to.

I popped a few tablets that looked like they were for cold and went to lie down in bed. I felt dizzy almost immediately. How fast these medicines take effect.