TWENTY-TWO

                                    

                                          
-Soomi-
                          
I had never been so distant to anyone in my life before. 
                          
Even with Jaehyun. He was bullying me so we still had our own way of communication. 
                          
But this— this was different. 
                          
I had almost completely shut myself from the boys. I had finally talked to some classmates and befriended them. And if I wasn't with them, I had my earphones in.
                          
I had major trust issues, if that wasn't obvious by now. 
                          
It started when I was younger. Yuna and I, believe it or not, used to be friends. But then she started to be more popular and she became full of herself. When it became clear to her that I wouldn't reach her level, she discarded me, treated me differently, as if I was never her friend. 
                          
"Hey, you okay? You seem to be thinking deeply."
                          
The voice startled me. Last time I checked, I had two earphones in.
                          
I looked at him and saw him putting my earphone on. He bobbed his head along to the music before looking at me and giving me a small smile. 
                          
"What's up, Soomi? I've never seen you this way. Especially with the guys."
                          
I sighed as I gently took the earphone away from him.
                          
"I don't want to talk about it, Minho. Go play with Jisung or Hyunjin." I teased. 
                          
He made a face and I put my earphone back in.
                          
He didn't leave, but he didn't bother me either. 
                          
We were on the rooftop since it was lunch time. I didn't want to be around the guys so I just had lunch here. I don't know if they know that something's up. When Sangyeon asked me what was wrong yesterday, I just said that it was that time of the month for me; same thing I sent to Younghoon and Jaehyun.
                          
I sighed deeply before leaning onto Minho. He wrapped his arm around me and rubbed my shoulder comfortingly. 
                          
I finally took my earphones off and put them in my jacket pocket along with my phone. 
                          
"Whatever you're going through," he said softly, "I know you'll get through it. You and the guys are a tight family— except Jaehyun hyung maybe." We laughed. "But the others are like brothers to you, I can see it. And siblings fight, whatever you're going through, you'll get over it, and you'll be able to be comfortable with them again."
                          
"I don't know," I mumbled, "do siblings lie to one another?"
                          
He hesitated. "Well, it depends on the reason or the occasion." He turned me so that I was facing him. "What happened? Who lied to you?"
                          
I looked away from him and focused on my shoes. 
                          
"Younghoon."
                          
-Jaehyun-
                          
Something didn't feel right.
                          
Ever since yesterday, something was off with Soomi.
                          
She was fine during lunch time, when she had asked me where we would meet, she was fine. Then all of a sudden, she messages me, telling me she can't make it because of a personal reason.
                          
I know how she is when it's that time of the month for her. She's more moody, yeah, but she isn't distant. 
                          
So what's up, Soomi? Why are you pushing us away?
                          
"Jaehyun. Hey." 
                          
"What? Oh," I chuckled, "sorry, Hoon, what is it?"
                          
"I asked if you knew what was up with Soomi."
                          
I shrugged. "I don't know, either."
                          
I looked away from him as Haknyeon called our attention. But there was something telling me that Younghoon had an idea of what was going on with Soomi.
                          
-Soomi-
                          
I sat down on my chair, Minho sat on my table, continuing our conversation about a topic I don't even remember getting to.
                          
He made a joke and I laughed and that's when I noticed Changmin and the rest come in. I cleared my throat and looked down.
                          
I felt fingers on my chin and before I knew it, I was looking at Minho again.
                          
"Look," he said softly, "they didn't do anything wrong. They just wanted to protect you."
                          
"I know," I responded, "but they didn't tell me and it... it hurts."
                          
He nodded slightly before taking his fingers off of my chin. The teacher came in and we said a quick goodbye. I looked to my side and saw Minhyuk giving me a teasing smile. 
                          
"Oh, stop it." I rolled my eyes at him playfully and we both softly laughed. 
                          
I leaned back in my chair and I heard the chair behind me slightly creak.
                          
"Getting comfortable with Minho, huh?" Hyungseo teased in a playful tone. 
                          
I didn't mind him, even though he was joking around, I couldn't bring myself to do so with them just yet. Not when I knew that they were keeping it from me.