Sehun's lips had become dry as he tried his best not to look at the tanned boy that awkwardly walked beside him, his arms crossed over his chest and his lips pursed into a taunted pout. For an abnormal reason, the youngest couldn't help but feel guilt as he knew that Jongin was dreading this just as much as he was, but he kept his thoughts silent as their destination was only growing closer.

"Your drawings are nice," Jongin choked out to break the uncomfortable silence between them.

Sehun nodded thankfully, yet failed once again to make sound with the use of his throat. It was only enough to make the older boy shrug, and he sheepishly hid his left hand in the back pocket of his jeans while he covered the right one with his sleeve, opening the door to allow the two of them inside. The unruly stillness of the hallways that had just been traveled continued once they entered the choir room, and that didn't stop the youngest from focusing on how beautiful the boy standing before him truly was.

"You're staring for the sake of your drawing, correct?" Jongin laughed softly and Sehun instantly ended his gawking, sheepishly directing his vision to the floor.

Smooth, Sehun. Real smooth.

He just nodded in return, retrieving his book and a pencil from the dark blue bag that sat amongst the table. Jongin stood motionlessly and Sehun's hand shakily held the book up to his view as he mapped out all of his physical features, marking all the points at which he will be shading in the face.

"Will I have to stand for very long?" Jongin asked, crossing his arms.

Sehun shook his head and continued to make small marks on the surface of the paper. "No, not unless you want your entire body in the picture."

Jongin then pulled up a chair from the table Sehun was located at, seating himself backwards on the small, metal cushioning while resting his arms on top of the backrest. Sehun's eyes lit up at the older's unintentionally good pose, and Jongin's cheeks were slightly pinched into a smile at the sight of the boy's focused and determined face.

"You look so endearing when you draw," He mumbled, as mumbling seemed to be his default tone in speaking. "Why can't you look like that all the time? Why are you so...quiet?"

Sehun scoffed, lowering the large book from his face. His eyebrows deeply furrowed which had the effect of making him look angry, though he was more than happy to answer the question. "We didn't come here so you could ask me personal questions, and if I remember correctly, your friend forced both of us into this. So I suggest you just don't talk to me and try your best to look pretty, as that shouldn't be a problem."

"Well then, maybe your quietness is beneficial," Jongin pursed his lips into a pout.

The sight of his wholesome expression released a wave of guilt throughout the younger's body, though he kept his face blank and put his vocal chords at rest as he pulled out a blending stump from his bag to begin the shading.

"And about Junmyeon, I know he might be a lot to handle. I don't want you to think of me like you think of him." Jongin spoke, his small voice suddenly sounding more confident.

Sehun perked up at his statement, the sketchy yet genuine tones in his voice hogging the younger's attention. "What? Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm telling you this because I'm a good person," Jongin answered, firming his complexion. "Not that Junmyeon isn't though, and you have to understand that he's gone through a lot this past year which is why he's been like this."

"Good person my . If you think covering for your toxic friend is gonna give your apology an acceptance, you're wrong." The jet black haired boy stated calmly while looking up and down from the composition.

Sehun's words were filled with fury, but his reasonings could go deeper than anything that has even been mentioned while the two boys were stuck in that room together. He knew exactly why Junmyeon chose Jongin of all people to complete such a task, and it almost made him want to forgive Jongin for everything right on the spot regardless of how good or bad his intentions were.

"Please, just hear me out," The older pleaded. "I'm not covering for him, and even if I was, it's because I'm his friend and I care about him. He lost his best friend last year, and that person was basically the one that kept him mentally stable. They've known each other since they were in kindergarten."

"Jesus, what could've happened to end such a relationship?" Sehun asked sarcastically.

Jongin rolled his eyes and released a short puff of air before he answered. "This is serious, Sehun. Can I tell you or are you just gonna shut me out like you've been doing this entire time?"

Sehun thought his response through, delaying his drawing as he decided whether or not to trust the boy he was present with.

"Alright, go ahead then. I'll listen." He answered the question, though he had never felt more distressed in his life.

"You just have to promise me you won't mention this to anyone. I'd practically die if Junmyeon ever found out I was repeating this to people, especially people like you." Jongin spoke dramatically and Sehun heaved a long sigh.

Sentences like those were torture to listen to, especially after all the pain that Junmyeon has caused the youngest himself. He felt as if Jongin couldn't feel empathy, but he ignored that thought has he replied with a tinge of wit. "If you care so much about how Junmyeon feels, then why are you even telling me anything?"

"Because I trust you, as hard as that may be to comprehend."

Sehun's eyes widened and his heart began to at a million miles per hour due to what he had just been told, and he couldn't help but go blank both internally and externally. Why in god's name would anyone like Jongin trust someone like Sehun, enough to freely speak to him without the fears of being taken into a dark alley to be slaughtered.

"There's no way in hell you mean that." The youngest recovered his awkward brainfart with a chuckle. "For as loyal as you are to satan himself, why would you ever expect me to believe that you trust me?"

"Look, it's not like I enjoy watching the things that Junmyeon does to you. I wish I could step in but I've always been scared to talk to him, just as I was scared to talk to you all this time." Jongin answered truthfully. "I can see it in your eyes. I see the pain in them everytime I pass you, and I'm really sorry-"

He stopped himself from rambling, clearing his throat with a small cough before continuing his speaking. Although this time, he was back to a mumble. "I'm sorry, Sehun."

"What were you going to say about Junmyeon-"

"Just forget it." Jongin harshly cut him off and he frowned at the sudden change in mood, his pencil lightly drifting across the paper one last time before he depressingly looked down at his work.

It was beautiful as always, though he had never felt more desperate to get rid of a work of art in his lifetime. He tugged on the corner of the paper before handing it to the tanned boy, his lips quivering as his body was urging to just completely flee from the room he was currently trapped in.

"You have a gorgeous face, hyung." Sehun muttered. "It's a shame that I never want to see it again."