CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

                                    

                                          
Hoseok.
                          
I look at the plate of untouched salad he had ordered earlier before stepping out, and sigh out in worry. Something is up, he is not okay, he hasn't been since he came back to the office from retrieving his sketch book, an hour later than he was supposed to return. He didn't even look to care as the boss questioned him about it, only bowed, and muttered a low apology, his thoughts clearly somewhere else.
                          
Solar and I had shared a knowing look before asking him what was going on, to which he waved us off, saying he was fine, but we knew better. We are his best friends, and we could tell instantly something was wrong. The problem is, Seokjin gets quiet when he has an issue, he chews on his lips, and gets all in his head because he fears sharing his worries with people. It's just how he is. 
                          
Solar and I have gotten accustomed to it, to waiting for him to open up whenever he wants to. Up to now we still don't a lot about his family, or why he does this, or just the basic things about a person, only able to put together a few pieces of him, and pick a few things from what he tells us. We are not bitter about it, and don't try to push him to tell us either. We only know he is a good person, and for that we are his unconditional friends. We try to remind him that he could absolutely come to us for anything, for any sort of help, including financial issues. We are always there for him, ready to help him.
                          
Although I doubt this one is within a range of our hands. I have a feeling it's something way personal, one my, and Solar's brainstorming wouldn't be able to solve. "He'll come around."
                          
"Will he?" I ask to Solar's question, my eyes glued outside the window, where Seokjin is pacing around slowly, one foot after the other, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. He is talking to himself again, probably leaving a message, like he has been trying for the past twenty minutes. It's not difficult to tell who it might be to, seeing as Namjoon is missing from his usual spot, and so is Jackson. 
                          
It's not unusual for them to arrive early or late within minutes of us, something Seokjin has never made a fuss about, especially when the latter occurs. He seems to know the two might be full on absent today, something that worries me a lot because the other construction works are right here in the lunchroom.
                          
"I've seen a lot of things from him, but never devastation. He looks like he is about cry." Solar comments, seeing exactly what I see when I look at Seokjin right now. He is distressed, not the kind that needs a way out, but the type that is confused, seeking answers, scared. I've never seen him this troubled either, so...so anxious, and careworn. "Maybe Namjoon and him had a fight." I say, sighing out once again as he goes around the corner to enter into the lunchroom once more. 
                          
It's possible they fought, but also highly unlikely since they were ok in the morning, I know because we teased him about the slight limp in his step when he came to work. He wouldn't say it, but I could see it in his face, how happy he was, how happy he's been since Namjoon and him got together, it's strange to see him like this all over sudden. 
                          
"Sorry, I had to make that call." He apologizes as soon as he sits, shaky fingers putting away his phone. "It's alright, don't apologise." I assure him with a smile, one he has a hard time returning. "Is everything alright?" Solar inquires from beside me, her youthful beauty creasing into concern as she stares over to Seokjin. 
                          
The afro mentioned doesn't meet either of our eyes for a few seconds, attempted to nod in a lie, but he knows we know him too well, and when we wouldn't push him to tell anything he doesn't want to, he's gonna have to sooner or later. "It's Namjoon." He breathes out, confirming my earlier suspicions, his voice sounding a bit on edge, clogged up. "What's wrong, you two fought?" I ask him, afraid they might be trouble in paradise for them, but skeptical about that theory at the same time.