The days after the showcase were hell. Sunoo honored Niki's wish to keep his distance, though it tore him apart. 

Their once-close friendship had been reduced to distant glances and painful silences. Sunoo's heart ached with the loss, and he struggled to understand how to cope.

One afternoon, the weather was unusually nice, and Sunoo found himself sitting on the roof of the school, seeking solitude. The clear sky contrasted sharply with the turmoil inside him. As he sat there, his tears flowed freely, each sob shaking his body.

"Sunoo hyung?" a familiar voice called out, breaking the silence.

Sunoo looked up to see Jungwon climbing up to join him. Concern etched across his friend's face.

"I knew something was wrong," Jungwon said, sitting down beside Sunoo. "What's going on?"Sunoo wiped at his eyes, trying to compose himself. "It's... it's Niki," he finally managed to say, his voice thick with emotion.

Jungwon's expression softened. "I figured. You two haven't been the same since the showcase. What happened?"

Sunoo took a deep breath, then began to explain. "Niki's dad found out about us hanging out. He threatened him, said awful things. Niki told me to stay away because he's scared of what his dad might do."

Jungwon listened quietly, his brow furrowing in sympathy. "That sounds terrible, Sunoo. I'm so sorry you're both going through this."

"I just don't know what to do," Sunoo continued, his voice breaking again. "I want to be there for him, but he made me promise to stay away. I feel so helpless."

Jungwon placed a comforting hand on Sunoo's shoulder. "Sometimes, the best thing you can do is respect someone's wishes, even if it's painful. But that doesn't mean you can't support him in other ways. Maybe there's something we can do to help him feel safer, to let him know he's not alone."

Sunoo sniffled, considering Jungwon's words. "I just miss him so much. And I hate that he's going through this alone."

"You're not alone in this, Sunoo," Jungwon said firmly. "We're all friends, and we'll figure this out together. Niki might need some space, but he also needs to know we're here for him when he's ready."

Sunoo nodded, feeling a small glimmer of hope. "Thanks, Jungwon. It means a lot to know you're here."

"Anytime," Jungwon replied with a reassuring smile. "We'll get through this. And one day, things will get better for Niki. We'll make sure of it."

They sat together in silence for a while, the warmth of the sun and the shared comfort helping to ease Sunoo's pain.

Although it was incredibly hard for Sunoo, he knew he had to respect Niki's wishes. He understood that Niki wasn't being selfish; he was just a kid who was scared and vulnerable. Sunoo couldn't fathom how a parent could utter such hurtful things to their own child, and the thought of it filled him with deep sorrow.

In the days that followed, Sunoo threw himself into his schoolwork and other activities to keep his mind occupied. He kept his distance from Niki, even though every moment felt like a painful reminder of their lost closeness. Despite his internal struggle, he tried to remain supportive in quiet ways, like keeping an eye out for Niki at school and offering silent encouragement.Sunoo often found himself reflecting on the situation, struggling to reconcile the warm memories of their friendship with the harsh reality of Niki's home life. He found solace in his conversations with Jungwon, who provided much-needed support and perspective.

"How's Niki doing?" Jungwon asked one day as they walked home from school together.

"I don't know," Sunoo admitted, looking down. "I haven't talked to him since he asked me to stay away. I just... I hope he's okay."

"I'm sure he is," Jungwon reassured him. "It's clear that he's been through a lot, but he's strong. And he knows you're there for him, even if it's from a distance."

Sunoo sighed. "I just wish I could do more."

Jungwon patted Sunoo on the back. "Sometimes the best thing we can do is to be patient and wait. Niki will reach out when he's ready. Until then, keep being the friend that you are, even if it means staying out of sight for now."

Sunoo nodded, taking comfort in Jungwon's words. He tried to focus on the positive, cherishing the moments he had with his friends and staying hopeful that things would eventually improve for Niki.

As the weeks went by, Sunoo held onto the hope that one day Niki would feel safe enough to reconnect, and that things could go back to the way they used to be. For now, he continued to respect Niki's wishes, offering silent support and cherishing the memories of their friendship.

NEW DM

@sheepywonnie

hyung

I'm worried about niki and sunoo

Sunoos absolutely broken

and I feel so helpless not knowing how to help

@jayseong

me two love

nikis been at my house for the past few weeks

he's destroyed 

doesn't even come down to eat half the time

I just hope they can work it out

@sheepywonnie 

I hope so too

+++

very super duper sad