"On top of that you avoided our calls we had to find out from Mae-rin you were hospitalised!" He said his voice cracking taking Ha-ru by surprise. He looked up in question as he was pulled into a hug.
His eyes widened as he looked around. Si-wan and Suri were looking at them from the other side as they sipped their drinks.
Just then the door opened and a guy wearing a black mask and a black hoodie walked in. He closed the door and looked around in confusion as he took off his hoodie revealing his pink hair. He took off his mask to reveal a cute boy around Ha-ru's age.
"Hey guys." He greeted them as he looked around.
His eyes finally landed on Ha-ru he scanned him with his eyes making sure he was fine before looking away.
He had thought minyoung was going to hit him earlier but the events turned to abruptly he was still in a state of shock.
"Are you okay? Does your body hurt anywhere?" minyoung asked before turning him around inspecting him.
"Where were you sick?" He asked in concern.
"I am fine. I just went through something and had to be hospitalised for a while."
"What was the problem?" He asked in concern. His eyebrows were crunched together.
"Just dehydration and stomach flu." He said adding the last part on his own. He didn't want to explain more than he had to.
"So the doctor cleared you?"
"Yes. I am perfectly fine now." Minyoung whole demeanor changed in an instant as soon as he heard those words.
He straightened his clothes and stood up which left Ha-ru dumbfounded by his actions. He watched him in question just then Joowan walked past them towards the chair. He took suri's cola from her just as she was about to drink it and gulped it down. She formed a fist gesturing at hitting him but backed off the last minute while mumbling as she took another can.
Ha-ru looked at minyoung who was looking away while rubbing his head before sitting down. Ha-ru watched him as he sat down still avoiding eyecontact.
He felt like he had missed a whole chapter in that instant. He had just been acting concerned about him a minute ago but now he was acting like he was mad at him.
"Joowan?" He asked but joowan looked away taking another can.
Judging from everyone's reaction Ha-ru judged that he had a closer relationship to joowan but he didn't know what
exactly were. Were they best friends or even lovers? He had seen quite a few in his past life but he didn't hold prejudice against it because it was after all not his life. He had once contemplated about taking on a queer role but he didn't get the chance to.
But at that moment he didn't know exactly how to react if they were lovers. He didn't know him neither did he harbour any feelings for him. So he secretly hoped it was the former.
"I am sorry I didn't tell you guys. It was a bit hard to...."
Just then Joowans phone rung interrupting him. Ha-ru stopped mid-sentence as joowan picked up the phone.
"Where.....fine....okay I will be right there." He said before cutting the call and shoving the phone back in his pocket.
He gulped down his drink and stood up.
"I have to go now guys." He said as he stood up. The others looked at him in sadness.
"Already!" Ha-ru asked in shock as joowan started walking past him. He watched him as he stood beside the chairs and faced them.
"I have a schedule early tomorrow my manager only gave me a few minutes." He said as he took another gulp of his drink" I will see you guys later." He waved them goodbye without letting them get a word in because he knew they would start pestering him.
"If I was you I would start going after him." Suri stated as she gulped down more cola.
Ha-ru quickly stood up and followed after Joowan he was just at the exit when Ha-ru caught up to him holding his arm forcing him to turn around.
"What is it?" Joowan asked his mood completely changed from earlier in the room. He looked angrier and looked like he wanted to hit him.
"Look um....."
"If you don't have anything to say I have to go." Before Ha-ru could add anything joowan walked out the door.
"You guys still haven't made up?" The receptionist from earlier asked as she typed on the computer. "You must have done something really awful this time."
"Why do you assume it's because of me?" He asked defensively.
"Because it's always you." She stated looking him directly in the eyes which caught him off guard. He cleared his throat as he straightened his hood and started walking towards the room.
The receptionist had her eyes trained on him as he entered the room. He entered the room to see everyone just minding their business at least trying to. He had already seen them poking their heads out the door earlier. He let out a sigh as he sat back down.
Suri and si-wan suddenly stood up. She picked up her bag and phone.
"We have to go we have school early tomorrow."
"You are still in high-school?" He blurted out unknowingly. They looked at him in question.
He cleared his throat.
"You have to work hard. You know."
"Why are you talking like an old man?" Suri asked as she pulled si-wan towards the door despite his protests.
"Anyway I will text when we get home." She stated and pushed him out the door before he could get a word in.
Now it was just the two of them.
The air was awkward.
"How about I treat you to pork." He asked.
"Sure." minyoung said taking his bag as he stood up.
Ha-ru followed behind him.
"Jihyu we are leaving. " minyoung stated with a smile as he waved her goodbye.
Ha-ru bent slightly in respect before stepping out. Jihyu looked at him in confusion as he watched them dissappear in the corner.
"Something is definitely going on with him." She mumbled as she popped a lollipop into her mouth.
"I know this place that just opened. It's so good. Plus there is this girl there that is so pretty. "
"I thought you were mad at me?"
"I was until you said you would treat me. You never do." He added just as they stopped outside a red door. He pushed it open. He led him towards a seat in the corner.
The room was so packed they were lucky to find it.
"How can I help you?" A girl asked standing over them with a notepad.
"Two servings of pork, kimchi and four bottles of soju." He stated.
The girl nodded before leaving to prepare their order.
"Soju?" Ha-ru asked.
"To celebrate you taking me out for the first time."
Ha-ru nodded slowly feigning understanding.
Ha-ru sat in silence for a while minyoung taking up most of the conversation. Contrary to his first impression he was actually quite chatty as soon as he opened his mouth he knew he was Lantern.
Ha-ru had treated him in hopes of getting more information on everyone especially joowan.
Ha-ru was still on his first beer while minyoung was on his fourth. He didn't expect him to be such a light weight but now he could answer his questions without much fuss besides, he looked like he liked sharing information.
"So what is the relationship between me and joowan?" He asked as he flipped some pork on the grill.
"You have been friends for like eleven years people always thought you liked him" he slurred.
"Ohh...."
"Do you?? Do you like him?"
Ha-ru almost burnt his hand at his question but he quickly caught himself before he could.
He didn't answer because he didn't know how to. He didn't know if Ha-ru did in fact like him so answering on his behalf would be wrong.
"What did we argue about?"
"You guys aren't necessarily the sharing type." Minyoung added taking a sip of his drink. " i thought it had something to do with joowan becoming an idol. " He added as he drunk the rest of his drink.