I took a long breath and closed my eyes, not able to take the burning pain in them anymore. I had stayed up the whole night. Waiting for anything-- a call, a message, a...reassurance-- from Soobin's side. Though neither him nor Yeonjun had contacted me.

It was the early morning of the next day and my class was about to start in fifteen minutes. Although I had little to no interest in joining in after an exhausting night, I still sat up and went to my desk, opening my laptop. I stretched and yawned as the morning light seeped in through the gaps of the curtains. I left the laptop until it fully switched on, going to the bathroom and throwing a splash of cold water over my face. It did help with the lingering sleepiness but I was still pretty much tired. I picked up my brush and was about to add the paste when, as if on cue, my phone started ringing. I lazily reached out for it in my pocket and took a glance at the screen.

'Ah, it's just Soobin..'

'Wait-'

I sat up at the speed of lightning, feeling as if hit with a football on my face. It took me a bit to let the reality seep in and with an even faster speed, I received the call. "Oh my god, Binnie-" I stopped midway when I heard sobs from the other side of the line. My heart dropped, worry painting my face. "Soobin-ah?"

[Taeeee!] The voice of Soobin slurred and one thing was very clear. He was drunk again. "Binnie....what happened?"

[Do t-they-] a hiccup interrupted him, [treat y-you good?]

I scrunched my nose, not really understanding. "Who? Beomgyu and Kai?"

[The person you l-like...] And he sniffs, his voice as soft as that of a child. He sounded adorable but it wasn't the time.

"I do not like anyone. I was joking around, that's all!"

[N-not even Kai?]

I barely dodged the urge to laugh as I stared incredulously at my snake who carelessly slithered through its tank. Such nice life it had. No hard conversations whatsoever.

Hueningkai. The person I had clearly refused to commit any romantic relations with. Even Soobin knows that! "Soobin. Listen to me. You know I don't like him, and if I do, it's in the sense of a brother and a close friend. It was never meant to be in that way, and never would. You can calm down."

[But- but how can I? Y-you like someone. I s-shold be a g-good fwiend and be happy f-for you instead of s-sulking! I a-am so b-bad!] It was taking all my strength to hold in the urge to coo at the boy. I wanted to see him so bad but I knew he was crying in this was a matter of concern. I had never seen anything other than that small smile on his face this far.

"Why are you sulking then?"

[T-Taehyunnie, I l-like the long t-talks we have. I like h-how you a-always find me after anything t-that happens t-to you. I like your s-soft voice and your c-cute giggles. I like y-your hair that l-looks so soft and fluffy. It b-brightens my day when the f-first person I h-hear in t-the morning is you. This is a pwoblem Taeeeeeee!]

"What...do you mean?"

[I l-love you! I am sorryyyy.]

My smile dropped. Love. He...

"Binnie-"

Beep Beep Beep.

...loved me?

The call was disconnected. I was left stuck like a statue at my place, helpless.

Love.

What is love? Was it that thing they talk about in books? Was it the thing the songs talk about? I was aware of the word, but what it really meant? I had no idea at all.

Are you online?

☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆