October 14th

Jonghyun sighed.

He threw his phone on his bed.

Kibum was seriously starting to irritate him. This was almost the fifth time these past few weeks Kibum had declined to see him. And it was causing arguments between the two.

Kibum wasn’t good at confrontation so this caused him to avoid Jonghyun even more than he already was. Jonghyun knew this but he couldn’t help but to push the situation further. He was frustrated. 

He was currently at school walking down the hallway while classes were transitioning. He was walking with Minho as he knew he was about to meet up with Kibum for his class.

“Ya, Minho. I’m going talk to Kibum for a few when we see him, do you mind giving us a few minutes?” He asked as he knew Kibum and Minho liked to chit-chat as soon as they saw each other.

“Sure, Hyung. What’s going on with you two? Kibum won’t tell me.” Minho said with a look of concern in his eyes.

“Well I don’t know either...he’s been avoiding me. And I don’t know why...” Jonghyun said. Minho gave him a soft pat on the back at seeing how dejected he looked.

“Well there he is.” Minho said making Jonghyun’ ears perk up. He practically ran over to him leaving Minho behind.

“Kibum! Hey!” He said nervously. 

Kibum was looking down at his phone but looked up when he heard his voice. He had a look of fear as he looked around his surrounding area.

“Look, I’m sorry about last night and this morning...I just really need to talk to you.” Jonghyun said. He was referring to one of their arguments they had via text.

He reached a hand out to grab Kibum's forearm, but he snatched it away. Jonghyun wore a hurt expression and flinched back.

“I just miss you...” He whispered. Kibum blushed and looked down at his feet.

“I...I miss you to Jonghyun.” Kibum said in an even lower than he did. He held his books tight against his chest.

The bell rang.

Kibum was ready to turn around to follow Minho into class when Jonghyun grabbed his arm, and he didn’t pull away this time.

“Kibum. Baby, can we please talk...” He whispered again sounding desperate.

The sad look Jonghyun wore on his face was to much for Kibum to handle. He wore a faint smile as he watched him slowly nod his head yes.

“Just give me a few days. Please? I just need to think.” Kibum said.

“Are you-are you thinking about breaking up with me?” He said panicking.

“No! I didn’t say that-look, I’ll text you in a few days, okay?” He said giving him a reassuring smile.

It was Jonghyun’s turn to nod his head. He watched Kibum go as he watched him walk along side Minho. He pouted as Minho casted him a sympathetic glance and waved goodbye to him.

Jonghyun sat through the rest of the his classes in a terrible mood, barely bothering to do any work. What made things worse was that his last class of the day was with his sister Junghee. 

He glared at her with his fist balled up as he watched her and her friends look back at him while pointing and giggleing.

“What the is your problem Junghee?!” He whispered yelled dropping the honorific. He wasn’t in the mood right now. She sat only a few feet infront of him.

She gave him a sadistic smile and gave him the middle finger as her friends laughed. The teacher didn’t catch her, but caught him when he waved it right back

“Kim Jonghyun!” She yelled.

He already knew the moment he would get home the two of them would start arguing. As usual.

He didn’t want to go home yet.

Instead he took a moment when the teacher wasn’t looking to text his friend.

Minho? Arcade after school???

Jonghyun remembered him saying his practice was canceled today.

Sure, but I’ll have to bring Minseok!

Jonghyun didn’t mind, he liked his little brother. He wish he had Minseok  as a sibling instead of Junghee anyway.

He knew he would probably have to pay for the both of them. He didn’t mind. When Minho tagged along sometimes, but Minho opted not to play because he didn’t want to spend money but didn’t mind spending time with him. But he wanted Minho to play with him, not watch him.

Okay, I’ll meet you outside of the front gate!

The arcade is where Jonghyun went to let off some stress or clear his mind. He didn’t have many video games at home, so he loved going there. It was his safe place. He only ever invited Minho to go there with him sometimes as Minho liked playing games too. Sometime they both went there to clear their minds of stress.

Jonghyun slipped out of class a little earlier while his teacher wasn’t looking, he knew she would probably call his mom about him cursing and for leaving early. That’s why he didn’t bother to ask her for permission to go to the arcade because he knew she would say no. But he just needed to be away from his family right now. 

He waited outside for Minho patiently catching a glimpse of Kibum walking out the building talking to a few people. 

He sighed again.

Jinki came up to him and talked for a few told him bye and that he would see him later. Kibum usually rode home with Jinki since they lived in the same neighborhood. He wasn’t far behind him as he followed him to his car. 

He stopped for a second to wave at him.

“Bye Jjong.” Kibum said shyly. 

Usually they would hug or sometimes Jonghyun would offer to ride the subway home with him halfway to his place. He gave a half hearted smile as he watched him get into the car with Jinki and drove off.

He stood looking pitiful until Minho showed up.

“Hey look.” Minho said pointing off to the distance as he made his way to Jonghyun. “It’s Taemin!” Minho cheered.

The two looked at each other and gave a sneaky grin.

“Let’s get him!” They said as they made their way over to Taemin to sneak up on him to scare him.

They jumped on Taemin’s back startling him greatly. 

“Hey! What is wrong with you guys!” Taemin said stumbling trying to catch his balance. He glared at them as the two laughed in his face. Taemin couldn’t help but to roll his eyes at his immature Hyungs. 

“Sorry, IU these are my Hyung’s. Jonghyun and Minho.” 

Jonghyun’s eyes widen. They hadn’t noticed the small gurl that stood next to him. He grinned and crosses his arms.

“Oh! Taeminnie! Don’t tell me you found a girlfriend?!” He faked gasped.

“No wonder he’s been avoiding us!” Minho joined.

The two watched as Taemin’s cheeks turned pink and eh stomped his foot.

“Ya! Stop! This is my friend! Her name is IU...”

She gave a small bow and smiled.

“I...U...?” Jonghyun questioned not meaning to sound rude.

“It’s my nickname.” She beamed. She seemed nice enough. Jonghyun nodded his head and smiled.

“Nice to meet you. Taem, do you want to hang out with us?” Even though the arcade was he and Minho’s spot, they hardly had the time to hang out with Taemin since the funeral.

“Sorry guess, I would. But I told IU I would walk her home.” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Awww.” The older two said in unison.

Taemin yelled at them one more time before scurrying off to wherever he was walking her too.

The two made their journey to pick Minseok up from primary school.

“It looks like he’s finally made a friend. I’m glad.” Minho said.

“I was beginning to worry too. Highschool was supposed to be a speacial time for him.” Jonghyun said.

He had known Taemin almost all their lives. Their fathers both worked at the same company and were very aquinated. They would often have play dates with each other when they were kids as their fathers were the only two in the company to have small children around the same age. Jonghyun liked to baby him and said he was the brother he wished he had...instead of Junghee. It pained him to see him go through what he went through when his mother past. She was a sweet women and loved Taemin very much.

Minho and Jonghyun talked as they made their  way into the subway cart to pick up the young boy.

“So...how’s everything? How’s your parents? And Junghee?”

Jonghyun shrugged.

“It could be better. But I’m glad we moved away from my dad. I just hated being around him. And honestly my mom's doing great, I know the divorce still hurts her, but I know she’s happier.” He smiled. It felt good to talk about his situation. He had talked about it to Kibum as he was the first to know eveything, but he wasn’t providing the emotional support he needed from him right. It wasn’t making things better either. Jinki and Taemin of course knew of his situation but he toughed it out infront of them. He felt Jinki wouldn’t understand his pain as much as his parents were still married. And he didn’t want to talk about his parents drama to Taemin as he was still dealing with the loss of his mother. Minho could relate to him the best because his parents divorced when he was youngand his father left his family. They both came from broken homes.

“What about Junghee? I know you two always fight but I rarely see you two talk to each other in school.”

“She’s still a .” He said without hesitation.

“Hyung.” Minho said sternly not approving of his language.

“What?! She is! She’s the ing devil. I hate her.” He shrugged. He earned a few looks from the adults that heard him cuss.

“She is your sister. Your twin sister at that. How could you refer to her like that?” Minho said with a disappointed look.

“Just because we have the same face doesn’t mean anything. Blood isn't always thicker than water. I could care less about her these days.” He said nonchalantly. 

“You don’t mean that.”

“I do.” He said casting a glare at him.

“You wouldn’t understand. She thinks I’m the main reason our parents divorced. She’s delusional.” He frowned. “She’s mean to our mom and she’s just bitter and angry. I can’t stand to be around her...” He said getting up as they saw they that their stop was here.

The walked out into the platform and exited the building and set their path to the school.

“What does Kibum think about all this?” Minho asked.

“I mean, of course he feels bad for me. But he hasn’t been...there for me. I thought he could be a shoulder for me to lean on, but he’s has something going on that he won’t tell me...I don’t know what to do.” Jonghyun said sounding miserable. “I just hope he’s okay.” He continued.

“I’m sure he’ll come around. Don’t worry. Kibum is head over heels for you Hyung.”

Minho headed to the area where he knew to pick up Minseok at the back of the school.

“Seok!” He waved to him.

Minseok beamed and instantly ran up to Jonghyun to give him a big hug.

“Hyung!” Minseok screamed.

“Wow! Is this his you greet your big brother?” Minho said shook.

“Don’t be jealous Ho-ho. He obviously likes me better!” Jonghyun said teasing him with the nickname Minho hated.

“We’re going to the arcade today! Are you ready to play some games Seok?” Jonghyun cheered.

“YES!!” Minseok screamed even louder than before!

He think this afternoon will help him feel better.

-

When Jonghun made his way back home he noticed all the missed calls and texts he had from his mother. He even saw some from his dad. He groaned.

He still didn't want to go back home yet. But where else was he going to lay his head down tonight?

When he got home hoped his mother and junghee would be locked away in their rooms. Thankfully Junghee was, but not his mother.

She was sitting at the kitchen table looking sad and worriednwhen he opened the door. Her deamenor changed once she saw him walk through the door. She now wore an expression between anger and relief.

"Kim Jonghyun! Where have you been! You had me worried sick! Junghee didnt know where you were and iI called your father!" Jonghyun just shrugged his school bag off and sat down at the kitchen tabel across from his mother knwoing he was about to hear a lecture.

"And why did your teacher call me to tell me that you were exhibiting innaprooriate behavior and left class early! What is going on?" She said exasperated.

Jonghyun shrugged and held his head down,

"I'm sorry Mom." Was he could muster up to say. He hated making his mother worry or upset, she didn't deserve that. His mother's feature softened as she saw her son's sad expression and was shooked at how Jonghyun didn't even fight back as he was usually for vocal.

"Jonghyuun..." She breathed as she reached over to grab his hand and caress it.

"I just needed some time to myself..." He said looking up at her through his bangs. 

"I know this divorce is hard on you two...I'm trying the best I can to make everything feel normal for us. You can talk to me honey, you don't have to act out. I'm here. Please don't scare me like that again." She said calmly. Jonghyun rather not explain the situation that happen between him and his sister in class, because she knew Junghee would throw a fit and the night end in a huge arguement. 

"I know, I'm sorry...I really am. I'll do better." He meant it. But he was drained. He didn't want to talk about the situation for the rest of the night.

His mom got up to walka round the table and give him a hug. He really loved his mom.

"You missed dinner, it's on the stove. And since you want to misbehave, your going on a shopping spree with me this weekend and your holding all my bags." She cheered.

"MOM!"

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What do guys you guys think?? What's wrong with Kibum? hmmmm...