#310314

210314 | WayV on SBS Inkigayo

That was a plaintive suggestion given by the sixteen year old girl with thoughtful blinks. The smile on his face felt stiff then, inspiring curiousity to dominate his best friend’s expression. With the hemline of his shirt preoccupied by deft fingers, the silent male knew that the other’s growing inquisitiveness couldn't really be blamed. Being neighbours, potentially dangerous excursions to each other’s rooftop to understand the simplicity of the resplendent stars across the skyline were not uncommon at all. Such traditions have existed since the moment they caught sight of each other.

The pair knew the immeasurable depths of their appreciated camaraderie. They were constant hunters of knowledge, dabblers of adrenaline, quiet observers, and a complementing pact in other differing aspects. A pair labelled as indispensable. Matters like misunderstandings and dissension were elements that rarely attained the chance to poison their ties. Yet now, it appeared as though something ultimatum in nature was craving to unleash itself.

"I know," was the gentle answer that escaped the adolescent’s throat. "But even I like using the ladder sometimes." To that, the girl grinned brightly, in spite of the seemingly insufficient articulation. Displaying a perfunctory nod, he removed himself from her side in the way a shadow would be able to, venturing to the side of the rooftop when it was revealed that the aforementioned object was missing. A pause lingered temporarily before suspecting glances were thrown back and forth. A game of silence that developed until the subtle sigh of resignation was heard by both parties. And it was his. "What nerve," exclaimed the male teenager with a fabricated frown that eased into a partial smile. "I've not known you to be the kind of person to mess with carefully positioned ladders."

Feeling appalled was a role that the brunette opted for. “Me?” said Junhee disbelievingly with a twinkle in her eyes. “I don’t think so either.” The temptation to roll eyes at her was excessive, but he believed that executing that act wasn’t beneficial at all. Plus, it seemed cheap. So he would rather make his way back to her side with a dejected countenance. “I must say though, I did hear someone removing it because of the assumption that a certain boy already left,” commented the brunette after a knowing smile crossed her complexion. “My mother, maybe.” Her words denoted the late hour at hand and the happening of an innocent removal. He sighed once again, murmuring something about how the abrupt grating sound from earlier felt suspicious. He should have known, but he had his eyes closed back then.

A prick of dissatisfaction gnawed at her. “I don’t know why you’re so against it, but if you want to go home, you could,” remarked Junhee bluntly. “I’ll bring the ladder back for you.” Since the tendency for impulsion transpired, the girl returned to the balcony instantaneously in a rash and careless manner. As her hand grasped the bedroom’s doorknob, the sixteen year old girl sensed the looming presence of another. Soundless in his precise footwork, only the shadow on the door had given him away. “Best friend,” was all she acknowledged him with. During ordinary circumstances, that was acceptable. But not now, was something he was clearly aware of. Something about the way she left so swiftly, the slight quiver in her steps, the haunting emptiness in her voice at midnight’s hour— “Looks like I was wrong after all,” chuckled the male with an indecipherable emotion as he took a few steps back to distance themselves.

Perplexed enough, the girl turned around to face him squarely. A lifted brow was all she permitted in deference. Hands slid into dull pockets much too effortlessly, an elucidation vocalized in the windless night. “I got too distracted when I saw how badly the news about being chosen affected you earlier,” explained her best friend seriously. “I considered distancing, but you definitely noticed every move so…” A helpless grin adorned his features. One of his hands raised to mess up his own hair before he chose to continue. “Forgive me?” he requested kindly with a notable bow. And it was quite clear that until a reaction was made, he would not return to his original stance. Taking in a deep and contemplative breath, she flicked his forehead, earning an uncommon indignant expression.

But the dissimilar eyes that interlocked with hers recognized that he had been unmistakably pardoned. So he grinned good-naturedly. “… Just for once I actually wanted to do that,” echoed Junhee with peculiar awe. “That was, nice.” Inwardly acknowledging that comment, he merely slipped a soft greeting of farewell as he journeyed through her bedroom’s doorway. Since it was such an unscrupulous hour, he really intended to go home and sneak into his own room but it was her reply that caught his attention. Paired with a mild wave, she whispered, “Goodnight,” to him. Awkward wasn’t enough to describe his mental state. “I don’t see how we can’t start saying goodnight to each other instead of goodbye now, you see,” asserted the girl. A wise look only captured the best friend’s outward appearance.