Seung picks up the vessel that has colourful streamers compressed on the inside. Wonpil smiles at his choice.

“Listen carefully, okay?” says the pianist. “I’ll show you how to do it.”

While Wonpil is occupied, they look around and fix up the loose ends. So involved, they couldn't help but jump when Brian gets a phone call.

"Have you all eaten?" asks the leader by phone. "I dropped a message earlier but no one replied. I'll be reaching in a few minutes."

Brian makes nonchalant responses, only displaying his true feelings once the call ended. The members hurriedly gathered in their hidden positions.

"Is it too suspicious if we open the door for him?" asks Dowoon.

"Rather," laughs Jae. "So let's not."

As the leader's sense of timing is quite impeccable, they meet him in a few minutes. Door flung open, and Seung activates the streamers.

"Surprise, leader Sungjin!" they yell in delight.

"Guys..." he says slowly, removing the streamers from his head.

They crowd him, all of them, as though they are little children. Excited, asking him if he liked it, all rowdy and maybe a little messy, until he pushes them away.

"Thank you, but I can't," he says softly, with a dangerous glint in the eyes.

"Leader...?" asks Dowoon, wide-eyed.

"Please, just... clean this up," he almost yelled, and ends up walking briskly into his own room.

The members look at each other sadly, wondering what went wrong and Seung emits a lonely howl.

[click here to continue]