♪ Chapter 4 ♪

                                    

                                          
Seungmin walked through the crowded school halls, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the upcoming trip and the dorm situation. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he felt. He knew he had to make a decision by the end of the week, but it was already Thursday, and he was no closer to figuring out what to do. The email from Mrs. Lee the previous night had only added to his stress. It contained more details about the project, and after reading it, Seungmin had forwarded it to his grandma, hoping she'd tell him what to do. But her response was as frustrating as it was unhelpful: "Do what you think is best, Seungmin."
He hadn't slept much since. His dark circles were evidence of the hours he'd spent tossing and turning, trying to decide whether he should go on the trip or not. As he walked to his science class, he made a sudden decision: he'd sit with Felix and his friends for the rest of the week. Maybe that would help him figure out what he wanted.
Entering the science lab, Seungmin chose a seat at the back, pulling out his books. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, but soon enough, Felix came in and plopped down beside him with his usual energy.
"Heyyy," Felix greeted him, leaning in a little closer. "I wanted to ask if you want to sit with us again today. You were kind of quiet yesterday."
Seungmin considered it for a moment. Did he really want to? The truth was, he wasn't sure. But he nodded anyway, slipping his headphones on as a way to avoid further conversation. He noticed Felix doing the same.
Seungmin could feel the eyes of their classmates on them. Felix was the school's sunshine, always surrounded by friends, always the center of attention. And here he was, sitting with Seungmin, the quiet, mysterious guy no one really knew. He could practically hear the questions buzzing in the air: Who is this guy? Why is Felix sitting with him?
After about ten minutes, a teacher finally entered the lab, informing them that their science teacher was sick and that they were free to leave. Seungmin wasted no time. He packed up his things and headed straight for the library, his usual sanctuary. He didn't even bother to see if Felix was following him—he just assumed he was.
When Seungmin entered the library, he immediately noticed Minho standing by one of the bookshelves, his expression as unreadable as ever. Felix, catching up to him, greeted his brother with a forced cheerfulness. "Hey, Minho!"
Minho's response was blunt, his voice flat. "He knows about our... family situation."
Seungmin sighed, not in the mood for any drama. He walked past the brothers to a bookshelf and pulled out a random book, glancing over his shoulder to see the two of them staring at each other. Felix looked like he was trying to hide something—maybe the tension between them. Minho, on the other hand, was unreadable as usual.
Without another word, Seungmin slipped into the secret room at the back of the library, the one where he knew he wouldn't be disturbed. It was his refuge, a place where he could read in peace and escape from the pressures of the outside world. He settled into a chair, flipping through the book he'd grabbed, though he wasn't really reading it. His mind was still racing with thoughts about the trip, the project, and the strange, complicated relationships around him.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the next class—English. Reluctantly, Seungmin left the comfort of the secret room and made his way to Mrs. Lee's classroom. As he entered, he noticed that the room was abuzz with energy, more than usual. It seemed that everyone was talking about the upcoming trip, excited about the new details Mrs. Lee had sent out.
Seungmin slid into his usual seat in Mrs. Lee's English class, his mind still preoccupied with the dorm project announced yesterday. The idea of living with Felix, Minho, and the others from the 11th grade for a whole month was overwhelming. His thoughts kept circling back to how this would affect his sister, Soojin, and whether he could really go through with it.