There were a number of reactions after the stages in Jeju, mixture of responses to suddenly being a trainee, to the expanse of the stage, to what it meant for them on return. Jeongguk had seemed happy while they were there, which might have been why it took Seokwoo so long to notice that they were around less. A lack of cuddles that he would inflict upon the maknae of the Sphere boys had slowly begun to edge up on him over time, until he started to notice that when the younger was around, he seemed off.
Jeongguk was secluding himself more. Seokwoo finding the younger training alone more than with anyone else, and not around whenever they were doing group work. It had caused him concern more than once when he wanted someone to cling onto, or he wanted to ask Jeongguk something about dancing. Even the small ones of wanting to know if he wanted to join him to eat out during lunch or dinner, or to help drive him home. At first, he thought that Jeongguk would come back around; maybe he was upset about something and needed some time to get over it. He could have been in a mood, teenagers got into moods sometimes. His sister did, often.
But when it didnât seem to be changing, Seokwoo kept his eye out for a chance to bother Jeongguk and see if he could tell him what was going on.
Two lollipops twisting in his fingers as he made his way back to the practice room after securing his mid-practice snack. Every so often peeking into the rooms he passed, seeing what everyone else was doing, and coming to a stop when he saw Jeongguk alone, sitting on the floor. The energy radiating off the shoulders of the youngest, tugged at Seokwooâs heart and he was easily moving towards the door, tugging it open quietly. âJeongguk-ah,â he called out softly, closing the door behind him.
It doesnât take him long to come up behind Jeongguk, wrapping his arm around the younger and resting his chin on his shoulder. The two lollipops held up in front of them, and glancing over the boys reflection in the mirror, then at the boy. âWhich flavour do you want? Strawberries and cream, or watermelon?â
as if jeonggukâs thoughts had called him, seokwoo shows up, entering the quiet practice room. his shoulders had tensed at the door opening until he hears the click of it closing, and the familiar voice calling his name. jeongguk lifts his head tiredly, genuinely happy to see him before seokwoo disappears from view. his hair falls over his eyes as he shakes his head, trying to shake the thoughts out as well. a hand sweeps through his bangs as seokwoo sits behind him, wrapping an arm around him as well. jeongguk sighs, like some of his stress just leaves him with the other boy pressed against him. jeongguk leans his head back to rest on seokwooâs shoulder, peering out of the corners of his eyes to see the older male.
âhey, hyung,â he finally responds, moving his legs to stretch out in front of him as he gets a little more comfortable, giving in to his desire to just relax against seokwoo. jeongguk doesnât have the energy to playfully push at him and make seokwoo work for his cuddles right now. his eyes shift to look at the lollipops instead, lifting his head slightly off of seokwooâs shoulder to get a better look. âstrawberries and cream.â a small smile pulls gently at his lips, reaching up to take the lollipop he wanted. he doesnât open it just yet, though, hand falling back to his lap.
he meets seokwooâs eyes for a moment before looking down at his lap, face pensive. âiâm sorry,â jeongguk says honestly, thumbnail scratching at the lollipop stick. the corner of his mouth tugs in a small frown. âi didnât mean to disappear on you.â
jeongguk picks at the wrapper around the lollipop, crinkling it nervously without opening it. even being pressed up against his friend doesnât seem to calm his thoughts enough. he glances at the door through the mirror anxiously, before forcing himself to look at seokwoo instead. âthis is embarrassing, huh,â he mutters, but doesnât elaborate.