The next day, the 5 boys had gotten into school the next day. As they headed inside, Mrs. Jung had walked up to them.
"I heard all of you got jobs," Mrs. Jung stated, "I guess you brats won't get expelled."
She walked away and Baekhyun seemed offended by what she had called them.
"Brats?" Baekhyun repeated.
"Ah don't worry," Sehun assured smiling, "She's only calling you that because of me."
"Yah!" Chanyeol shouted, smacking the younger boy upside the head, "You're not a brat. She just hates kids."
"Ow!" Sehun whined, rubbing the back of his head, "Then why does she work here?"
"Like most people do," Chen implied, "For the money."
"You need to help me study!" Sehun exclaimed.
"Of course," Chen replied chuckling, "Meet me at the café after 9pm."
All 5 of them went inside heading to their classes. Chen and Kai went to dance class. Baekhyun went to art class. Sehun and Chanyeol went to music class.
——
After class, all 5 boys went to the café. As they got inside Chen went to the back to start his shift along with Jonghyun.
The other 4 smiled and ordered their drinks and food for lunch. Once Chen made and handed their drinks and food, the boys sat down.
"So how are you guys?" Chanyeol asked.
"We're good," Baekhyun implied.
"I see Chen got a job here," Kai pointed out, "I didn't know Jonghyun was his best friend. That's so cool."
"I'm jealous you're friends with Taemin," Sehun retorted, "You're lucky because he's friends with Jonghyun too."
As Jonghyun was serving costumers, he noticed Kai talking to his friends. Taemin talked about him all the time.
Jonghyun got Chen to catch up on their order, deciding to make Kai their most popular choice. As he finished, he smiled in accomplishment.
He placed the special order in the fridge in the back, getting back to his original orders, letting Chen make their drinks and food.
"So what are your jobs?" Baekhyun questioned, "I work at a face product stop."
"Really Baek?" Chanyeol questioned, "Mostly girls work there."
"Some boys like to look pretty," Baekhyun sassed, "Deal with it."
"I agree with Baekhyun," Sehun implied, "Especially because I wear eyeliner."
"You all are weird," Chanyeol implied, "I work at a toy store."
Chen listened in on the boy's conversation, smiling to himself. Jonghyun went to him and told him he could take a break.
The observant boy went over to them, sitting with them.
"I heard the entire conversation," Chen implied, "And that's a bit childish Chanyeol. To be honest, you're like a child."
"Yah, let him be who he wants," Sehun defended
"Yeah I know," Chen retorted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Jonghyun watched them have a conversation. He smiled to himself. He wish he had friends like Chen's. He smiled, closing the shop, and heading back to his dorm.
Chen changed in the back, grabbing his bag, heading to the dorms with the others. Chen goes into his dorm, quietly opening the door.
"Jonghyun?" He questioned.
He kept worrying as all he heard was silence. He saw an envelope on the desk. It was from Jonghyun. The cover of the envelope said to look in the bathroom first.
Chen gulped, walking towards the bathroom. He shakily put his hand around the doorknob.
"J-Jonghyun?" He called out again.
Something was wrong. Jonghyun always responded to Chen right away! He shakily opened the door, dropping the note horrified at what he saw. He covered his mouth, tears streaming down his face.
He dashed to grab his phone, dialing 911.
"Hello, what's your emergency?" The recipient on the line questioned.
"M-My roommate i-is dead," Chen choked out
"Where are you?" They asked.
"Acadia College," Chen implied.
As soon as he got instructions, he hung up, placing his phone down on his side table. He shut the bathroom door in horror, grabbing Jonghyun's blue crystal pendent off his dresser, placing it in his school bag.
He sat on the bed, shakily opening the envelope. It revealed a folded piece of paper.
He put the envelope down, unfolding the paper. A Skeleton Flower pedal falls onto Chen's lap. Chen picked it up, looking at it. A tear slipped down his cheek and onto the petal. It suddenly turned transparent. He smiled a tiny bit, placing it inside the blue crystal.
He heard a knock on the door, placing the letter on his desk. Chen opened the door and a guy at the door walked in.
"I'm officer Ryan," He greeted, "What happened tonight?"
A team of nurses brought out Jonghyun's body. Chen looked back at his body, and felt more tears stream down his face.
The officer gave him a reassuring pat on the back.
"Take your time," Officer Ryan assured.
"I came back and had found an envelope on the desk," Chen explained, "It told me to open the door and I did... T-The letter was from Jonghyun.. He's my roommate.."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Officer Ryan implied, feeling bad for the young guy.
"He must've been close to you," Officer Ryan added.
"Yeah he was," Chen muttered, "My first friend and he helped me adjust her and to my job."
Officer Ryan nodded and hugged him reassuringly and left after saying goodbye. Chen grabbed the letter off his desk, sitting on his bed. He opened up the letter and started to read it.
(Chen,
I am sorry. I lost the battle. I lost to my depression. I am glad you made new friends. I think it was good you had other friends who looked after you.
I am sorry I was such a burden to you. I apologize for bringing you down. I just want you to know, do not be upset when I am gone.
You have a future ahead of you. I never had a future like that. Once again, I am truly sorry.
Jonghyun)
첸,
미안해. 나는 전투에서 패배했다. 나는 우울증에 잃었다. 나는 당신이 새로운 친구를 만든 기쁘다. 나는 당신이 당신을 돌보는 다른 친구가 좋았다고 생각합니다.
그런 짐이 되어 서 미안해요. 당신을 실망시키는 것에 대해 사과드립니다. 난 그냥 당신이 알고 싶어요, 내가 사라졌을 때 화가하지 않습니다.
여러분 앞에는 미래가 있습니다. 나는 그런 미래를 가진 적이 없다. 다시 한번 진심으로 죄송합니다.
종현
Chen started to tear up again. He turned on the news, seeing the news about his roommate. He turned it off, tossing the remote on the ground. He layed down, covering his head with the blanket, crying himself to sleep.