Later that night, Ara sat quietly at the table holding her untouched tea as Hoseok twirled a knife in between his fingers, his signature bored expression on his face.  The cafeteria was empty and most of the lights were off. It was weird to feel that lonely and exposed for once. She looked away and sighed, gaining a weird look from her companion.

“You’ve been sighing ever since we got back,” Hoseok observed, an eyebrow raised.  “Why the long face, love?”

She met his eyes and scoffed.  “Nothing. Just thinking.”

“About home?” he asked.

She nodded and looked away.  “I feel like I took everything for granted.  Never got to say goodbye.”

He chuckled lowly and stuck the knife in the table.  “We never do. That’s the way life works.” He studied the blade.  “Did you have someone?”

“Someone…?”

“Like a boyfriend?  Lover?” He made a face.  “God forbid, husband?”

She rolled her eyes.  “I’m not that old, .”

He shrugged.  “You never know nowadays.”

She gave him a skeptical look, and he laughed.  She cracked a smile and sipped her tea.

She furrowed her eyes, the awfully sweet taste sitting heavily on her tongue.  She blinked, trying to get rid of the fogginess in her vision. The whole world spun as she leaned back in her seat and stared blankly at the ceiling.  

“Ara?” came Hoseok’s faint voice.

He got up and shook her shoulders.  “Ara?”

She tried to speak before she saw no more.

“Never let your guard down.”

--

Monotonou