Just like that Summer was released from the battle that was Junhoe.  There were no more encounters with him, no circumstantial run ins, no smudges on mirrors, and no notes.  If it wasn’t for the band being splashed across media and Mei’s constant updates she would have thought Koo Junhoe no longer existed.  It was peaceful.

And it was boring.

It was odd to share exchanges with the other boys in comings and goings, but even that had been absent the last weekend while they were all off touring Japan.  The only positive that came out of it were three shifts where she didn’t even have to step foot in their room and she felt slightly better rested for it.  But even when iKON returned and Summer resumed her regular schedule Junhoe was still very much absent.  Clearly he had come up with some reason to not to return to the practice room at the same time as the other boys.

Even though Summer didn’t work during the middle of the week anyway, with every day that passed by she couldn’t help but feel a little more guilty.  She had tried to tell herself the words that had spilled from shouldn’t have meant much anyway, but then she recalled the way his face had instantly closed off with them.  And then she had to admit that the simplicity of them was a facade; she had ripped the rug out from under his feet by refusing to acknowledge his previous apology.  Over the past couple of months she felt she had come to know Junhoe well enough to perceive that apologies didn’t come from him easily.

Which was why on Friday she chose to clean the group’s room last, working at a pace that ensured she would still be in the room when their break was over.  As the time drew close Summer wanted to fold, to push out the trolley she was packing up right then and just continue ignoring everything.  But the curiosity of seeing Junhoe for the first time in a couple of weeks was stronger.  Eventually she no longer had a choice as the door swung open and the boys filtered in.  The blonde tried to be subtle as she hooked a broom onto the trolley, glancing over in the boy’s direction.  Junhoe kept himself focused in the other direction, the scowl plastered on his face the only sign he was even aware she was in the room.

“Summer noona!” The sound of Donghyuk’s voice refocused her attention and she gave him a smile despite the way her stomach was in knots.  “It’s not very often we catch you in here, who left the mess?”

The blonde couldn’t help but laugh lightly at his accusation, his bright expression relaxing her a little bit.  It was also ironic that despite her hanging behind on purpose, Donghyuk wasn’t incorrect.  “That would be Winner, someone spilt a drink all over one corner.”

“Oh man, they were probably mucking around as usual.  You should tell them off for it.”

“It’s okay, they left an apology note for me including about twenty sad faces, so I forgive them,” she replied.  Her eyes flickered over to Junhoe with the mention of a note, but if he heard what she said he showed no signs of it.  What she did catch however, was Bobby extracting a cap from where she had neatly piled everything and she narrowed her eyes at him.  “Kim Jiwon, you better not mess up my pile.”  

“And to think I was about to ask how your work placement went and give you moral support,” he joked, flashing her a grin that showed off the bunny teeth he was well known for.  Summer shook her head softly at him as he made his way over to join her and Donghyuk at the trolley.

“I think it went okay, to be honest I’m just glad it’s done with and I hope I never have to work for a company like that.”

“Aren’t we supposed to be practicing right now?” Junhoe cut across the conversation from where he was standing with his back leant against the opposite wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

“I think we’ve worked hard enough lately to be able to spare a few minutes for our favourite cleaner,” Bobby responded and Summer pulled a face at him.

“I’m pretty sure I’m your only cleaner.”

“I’m also pretty sure I’m the leader around here, or have I missed a memo?” Hanbin spoke up from where he had been stretching his limbs out, but it was easy to see him trying to hide a smile.  “But I happen to agree, so I’m not going to pull you over here by the ear.”

“Someone call me when you’re ready to do some real work then,” Junhoe snapped with a roll of his eyes and everybody watched as he stalked towards the studio door and disappeared out of it.  Biting down on her lip Summer felt the immediate change of atmosphere in the room.  Nor did she miss the looks exchanged between the other six - a mixture of embarrassment, awkwardness, and annoyance.    

“I should probably get back to my own work too.  Bathrooms don’t clean themselves.”  Summer forced herself to speak, trying to break the mood and the boys around her nodded.  Gripping the trolley tightly she pushed it forward, Donghyuk quickly scrambling to open the door for her.  She paused by it to thank him, yet another distraction coming in the form of a high pitched screech.  Swinging her head she found Bobby standing there with his hands on his head.

“The pile fell.  You’re not allowed to kill me, Asia won’t let you!” he cried and just like that everything fell back into place once more.  Summer shot him a warning to pick it up, before she finally left the room.  As soon as she was in the hallway however, her mood plummeted back down.  Junhoe was clearly very angry with her, refusing to even acknowledge her and as she idly pushed the trolley towards the bathrooms she wondered where he had disappeared to.  Was he still on this floor somewhere?  Entering the women’s bathroom first she pulled out her phone as she assessed the area, quickly typing out a message to Mei.

So Junhoe still hates me.

He doesn’t hate you, he’s just sulking.  Apologise?

He won’t be in the same room as me, and when he is he ignores me.

Hunt him down and pin him to the ground so he has to listen.  And then feel him up.

Mei that is gross and is the last thing in the world I want to do.

He’d enjoy it.  I bet he’d forgive you in an instant.

Summer couldn’t help but let out a snort with Mei’s insistence.  It really wasn’t something she wanted to think about, but she also knew it was her best friend’s way of trying to cheer her up when she was feeling glum.  It helped a little, but as she picked up a fresh roll of toilet paper Summer had to admit one thing.

She actually missed Koo Junhoe.