Two day rest in the hospital has passed and Hakyeon has another two day rest in the dorm. Sitting at the corner of the dinning table, Hakyeon had longed awaken the members but they still remained inside their rooms, feeling fortunate, the leader took his time eating his own made breakfast while fidgeting on his phone with the constant smile that never leave his face since two days ago. Breakfast for Hakyeon should only be for 5 minutes or 10-15 if they had ample time, but now, half an hour passed already and his morning food was quarterly eaten where it should have been digested in his stomach by now.

Taekwoon walked through the kitchen eyeing the leader smiling over his phone and his breakfast that has been ignored, maybe, skeptically asking himself if he should greet the man at the table. No need to doubt as the leader greet him first.

“Good morning Leo.” Hakyeon greeted Taekwoon without leaving his eyes from his phone.

Shocked from the greetings, monotone greeting, a greeting he had never seen, a greeting without smiles, Taekwoon tried hard to reply. “Go-good morning...Hakyeon.” Still stuttered and unsure what to address the man.

Taekwoon shook his head from negativity and promised himself to do better to have the old Hakyeon back. A Hakyeon that will always be there for them every morning, shining the brightest smile than the sun itself, making the day light as he could but still working hard, a leader that would always care and took over them. He directed himself from the fridge and take whatever he can take to make for breakfast.

He had set the breakfast at the table but Hakyeon still taps away his phone and barely eat portion of his breakfast. He took the bowl of cereals, the leader didn't notice him doing it as the man was busy doing whatever in his phone, and replaced it with a plate full of his homemade breakfast hoping that somehow if Hakyeon could taste the familiar flavors of the food would bring the man on its old self.

One by one, the members filled the dinner area. Doubtful as to why Hakyeon was so lit, bright, happy for the first time in past how many long weeks, a month already maybe, but that wasn't important anymore, what matters now is that Hakyeon is back, they thought.

They greeted their leader but the person only replied back ‘Good morning with their stage names’ not even lifting his head to look at them. It felt odd especially it was Hakyeon. The leader would always look at them and make sure each of them was great. But he was so busy with his phone smiling like a child playing with his new toy.

Hakyeon put down his phone beside the plate, surprise evident on his face as he look at the food in his front where it should be a bowl of cereals. Hakyeon looked up and directed his gaze at Taekwoon...and smiled. “Thank you Taek-...Leo!” Smiles covered his small mistake of finally, again like before, calling his lifelong friend on his given familiar name.

Taekwoon's eyes widen at the sudden ‘thank you’ and noted that Hakyeon almost...almost called him Taekwoon. Seeing that smile that completes the face that has been all-smiles at them and at the others especially in front of the camera, Taekwoon could not hide his happiness and dipped down his head from shyness. Almost forgotten that yesterday evening, he was no longer Hakyeon's lifelong friend, jusy VIXX Leo.

The morning was filled with smiles and laughters and friendly talks and little updates with each other and appreciation of the usual best breakfast they had. But one person must have isolated himself from the conversation as he only gives ‘I'm good, Great, That's fine’ replies on whatsoever they ask the person even the questions were not answerable by ‘yes or no’.

They looked at Hakyeon who has his own world in his phone. Smile that almost tear his face apart. But continues clicking non-stop on his phone.

They ignored him for a while thinking that he maybe is playing some mobile game. But that was the most lame excuse ever.

In the middle of dead air where no one talks, Hakyeon suddenly burst out laughing.

Once again, they looked at Hakyeon in unison. Hakyeon finally put his phone down and looked up.

“Sorry...I may sounded weird just now.” Hakyeon said smiling, fake smile.

“No no...it's okay to laugh hyung.” Jaehwan commented awkwardly.

“Mmm…” Hongbin agreed noddingly.

“But its kinda weird hyung...you're laughing by yourself.” Hyuk contradicted.

Taekwoon looked at Hyuk giving him hints to take back his words but Wonshik cover it up for Hyuk.

“Let us know why your laughing so we could laugh too...with you.” Wonshik said.

Hakyeon looked at Wonshik doubtfully as he contemplates on whether to say the things he had been busy since the morning starts.

“It’s nothing much actually.”

“But still hyung...” -Wonshik

“Since you're persistent...it's just...Wongeun is picking up lines to me and sending silly faces and it's really funny and corny at the same time.” Hakyeon explained in between of calming himself from laughters as he cannot fully narrate cuz he's eaten by his own smiles and chuckles.

The five froze as they listening to how Hakyeon cheerfully said those words. He has never been that happy from the past weeks.

“Are you all done eating? You can start preparing yourself I'll clean the table.” Hakyeon offered in time to break the silence.

“No need hyung...I'll take care of this. You take a rest.” -Hongbin

“Ok.”

And with that Hakyeon left for the living room. Once Hakyeon had left, their phones lit up simultaneously and opened their group chat seeing Hakyeon had sent the details of their schedule. It was a first that Hakyeon informed them about their sched through message. The leader would usually go to them one by one and discussed their individual schedules alongside giving them encouragement and fighting's and good luck's and take care's and hugs them from separating just for few hours because of the said schedule. But now, they only got a message, so plain, not even one emogi or hearts.

After Hongbin had cleaned the table and washed the dishes and the four members had gone to their schedule, Hongbin walked out to the living room and sat beside Hakyeon who's still on his phone, Hakyeon scooted away from the younger and Hongbin noticed how the leader moved away from him. He ignored it maybe because Hakyeon doesn't want to expose whatever cheesy messages he had with Wongeun.

Hakyeon was all smiles and laughters and happiness while jealousy covered the visual's handsome face.

Hongbin asked Hakyeon questions but the latter would only hum as an answer and or the leader would deny all of Hongbin's request like trying new recipes for dinner  or even teaching the younger how to make candles Hakyeon would only replied sentences that starts with ‘I don't’ which caused a lot of emotional earthquake to the younger.

Hakyeon would always clings himself to the younger if Taekwoon was not there to cuddle with but now, it was Hakyeon who initiatively scoot or move away from him and the most hurting was that the leader didn't even looked at him when answering, not paying attention to him even a bit, so insincere and thus so hurting. Hongbin felt.

Hongbin had lost his last shred of patience that was been teared for almost an hour now, he snatched away the leader's phone and send a reply message on whoever this leader-stealing guy.

‘I hate you! Y'know! You're stupid! Like your silly faces!’ and then click send.

Hakyeon who has been all shocked was only brought back when Hongbin throws back his phone and stormed to his own room.

The leader looked on what Hongbin did and when he had explained to Wongeun, his messagemate, that it was Hongbin’s reply, he sleep off his phone for a while and banged the door of the younger.

“Yah Hongbin open this door now!”

Silence.

“What's your problem?” Hakyeon yelled.

Hongbin opened the door; tears already wetted his both cheeks, and answered. “Exactly what is wrong with me? I don't know Hakyeon! I just don't know!”

“I'm elder than you watch your language.”

“Why? You've never cared if I talk to you informally because that's normal between us.”

“Us?” Hakyeon asked out-of-the blue. “There's no so called ‘us’ Hongbin, you treated me like I’m not your hyung or even your friend.”

“Wh-what?” Hongbin asked stutterring, shocked from Hakyeon's words.

“I thought you know why...remember you told me before.”

“How childish Hakyeon!...you're taking it seriously?”

“Why would I not? You're doing it often, almost everytime...acting you didn't want me beside you, as your partner in any game or whatsoever, you even pursuaded the jacket filming photographer before not you to pair with me...so what now Hongbin?...How would you think I'll perceived it?”

Hongbin remained silent as he can all remember those times. He certainly ignored Hakyeon everytime.

“From now on, talk to me formally on or off cam.”

“Ha-...”

“It's crazy right! To be ignored...and now how are you feeling?”

Hongbin flinched. Only tears continually flows his cheeks.

“Remember...that summer...when you ran away...because of so much pressure you almost broke out and I found you, put you back together...then you suddenly hug me so tight that you said that you do not want to let go because you feel when the very moment I let go you'll shatter...starting from that midsummer night I always give you the hugs of comfort you needed especially when you're asking me to be there physically at your individual drama shooting to give you encouragement and assurance and confidence and pride that you'll always do well on your own...” Hakyeon stopped. Tears started escaping his eyes and suppressed sobs halting him from continuing.

“Hak-...I'm-...”

“Well Hongbin I think you're all ready now. You've developed so much into a versatile celebrity being a singer and an actor at the same time...You can and will always do well on your own now...even with or without me.”

“Plea-”

“So instead of fake hellos, I'd rather be alone Hongbin...at least that way you're not around to make me feel unwanted...I know this shall pass too and like always...I'll act stronger once again...even though I'm hurt and broken...because Hongbin no matter how strong a person is,...there will be a weakness in him...and you know what my weaknesses are?”

Hongbin looked up and locked gazes with the man in front of him physically whole but emotionally shattered into pieces...wishing that please, not into sand pieces already where no matter how hard Hongbin tries on fixing that there will be no hopes making it whole again. “I don't know.” He answered.

“It's you...Taekwoon...Jaehwan...Wonshik...Sanghyuk...leaving me, hurting me, ignoring me, disrespecting me, doing all sorts of mean things to me, too personal jokes that actually hurt because they were half-meant, not listening to me so once and for all I've asked myself why am I the leader if I cannot make them follow?...I'm sure myself I didn't hold all of you by the neck and had an iron hand to all of you to do the exact opposite I'm wanting you guys to do...but then again it's not important anymore...I'm starting to give you guys what you wanted from a long time now...and I hope when you finally realized that you're getting what you wanted...please, I'm begging...give me this one final wish I had from you.”

“No-...no no no hyung!”

“Let me free...let me breathe.”