Author's Pov:

The practice started and everyone was shocked seeing Haeun so quite. "Stop", Seungcheol said, "Joshua, what's wrong with you?".

"Uhh, sorry. Actually I didn't have proper sleep last night. But I'll not make mistake again", Joshua said.

The tension between Joshua and Haeun was palpable. "Try not to make mistake again. We need to take this seriously", Seungcheol warned him.

Joshua sighed his again meeting Haeun but she avoided his gaze. "Let's start again", Jihoon said. Everyone agreed.

The music slowly started, Haeun looked at Joshua who already had his eyes on her.

Secretly laughing, secretly crying
While hiding my state [of mind]
The day that seems too much for me passes by...

His gaze never wavered from hers. Haeun felt the weight of his unspoken confession, the melody wrapping around her like a fragile thread. But she couldn't meet his eyes. Not after what had happened.

It was now almost the end of the song, Jihoon's voice was joined by Seungkwan and Joshua whose eyes still bored Haeun's.

To me you are very precious
You can tell me today was tough
I am here, you suffered a lot
I love you
I will hug you.

Haeun's vision blurred with tears. She couldn't bear it- the guilt, the longing. She stood abruptly, knocking her chair backward. The others stared, shocked, but she didn't care. She ran out of the auditorium, her heart shattering with each step.

"Haeun", Yerin called her but she had left. She turned to everyone, "What happened to her?". Without wasting a second, Joshua kept his guitar aside running behind her.

"Haeun", he shouted trying find her. He ran around trying to find her. "Aish, where is this girl?", He whispered.

He ran around the campus until he saw her sitting on bench. Before he could approach her, Seungcheol already did. "What's wrong, hmm? Why are you crying?", he asked.

Joshua stopped. Haeun shook her head, "Nothing's wrong. I-I just-", she turned away just to see Joshua who was standing at a distance.

Seungcheol looked at Joshua, "Oh you are here". Joshua nodded, "You can go. I will be here".

"Oh, fine. I'll go", Seungcheol said getting up. Joshua who felt a spark of jealousy said, "I just ran around the campus to find you. Just to see you along with Seungcheol".

Haeun looked at him, her eyes red because of tears. "What do you mean?", she frowned. Joshua scoffed, "What's the important thing you want to tell me? Your love for Seungcheol?".

"It's nothing like that, Joshua. Don't make your own stories", Haeun snapped. Joshua chuckled, "Why are angry on this? I thought that you rejected me because of your mother but now I realised you still like Seungcheol".

"What has my mother to with it?", Haeun asked. "There's a lot you don't know, Haeun", Joshua answered leaning in. Haeun glared at him, "First of all why are you bringing my mother into it? And no, I don't like Seungcheol anymore".

"Who do you like then? That 14 year old boy?", Joshua asked. Haeun stared at him, "What's wrong with you Joshua? You are behaving so weird right now".

"Haeun", Soonyoung came running. He saw her red face, "Oh my, did you cry again?", he cupped her face. Haeun tightly hugged him, "I'm going home, Soonyoung. I had enough".

Soonyoung glanced at Joshua who realised the way he spoke to her. "Please, stay Haeun. Eomma is not home. No one will be, I can't let you go alone. Not in this situation".

Haeun looked at him and pouted, "Please". Soonyoung shook his head, "Maybe go and sit in library if you want to". Haeun hugged him, "I'll be in auditorium".

"Come then, let's go", Soonyoung said. Haeun slowly walked beside him as Joshua followed them. Soonyoung glanced at Joshua and then looked at Haeun who was trying to search something.

"What are you searching for?", Soonyoung asked. "Stones, I can't find them", Haeun answered.

"Whose head is it this time?", Soonyoung asked. Joshua stopped walking as Haeun looked into his eyes. "No ones, for now. I want to kick them", Haeun said. Joshua sighed in relief.

"Oh, fine", Soonyoung said. As they went inside Yerin rushed to her side, "Haeun, why did you go like that?". Haeun smiled, "Oh, it felt suffocating inside".

"You mean our music is suffocating?", Jihoon teased her. Haeun shook her head, "When did I say such thing. I just felt suffocating here so I went".

Seungcheol frowned but he kept quiet. "Let's practice shall we? Maybe this will be our last practice until the finals are over", Jeonghan said. They all nodded.

"So when will our next practice be?", Chan asked. "Umm, our finals will be over in four weeks so maybe after that", Wonwoo answered.

"Let's practice for today then our focus will be on exams", Junhui said. Haeun sat at back while Yerin sat at the front. She tried her best not to look at Joshua. After the practice was over, all of them sat in a circle.

Soonyoung laid down, "Ha, it's tiring". Haeun patted his head. "I'll leave. I need to go", Yerin said standing up. "Oh yes, we need to go", Junhui said. Everyone smiled, "Okay, we are leaving too".

After they went Jeonghan said, "Ahh, I want to tease them too". They all laughed. It wasn't a secret anymore, they all knew about the blossoming relationship between Junhui and Yerin.

"You all tease Haeun and Joshua then what's wrong in teasing them?", Seungkwan asked. "No, they are too sweet to be teased", Jeonghan said earning glares from Joshua and Haeun.

"If they are sweet then what are we? Sour? Or spicy?", Joshua and Haeun said in unison. Everyone laughed. "Both even think alike".

"Bye guys", Jeonghan said avoiding further questions. One by one everyone went leaving Soonyoung, Haeun and Joshua.

"Uhh, I'll leave", Joshua said getting up but Soonyoung stopped him. "No, you both are going to talk here. There are a lot of things you have kept hidden from each other. Talk about it", he said.

Haeun groaned, "I'm not doing it. I've tried already-"

"You have to Haeun".

Soonyoung left leaving two of them together. Both of them being stubborn didn't even look at each other neither did they speak.

"Why did you include my mother before?", Haeun finally decided to asked. "Cause she wanted something. It was your good", Joshua answered.

"What did she ask?"

"I can't tell you".

"Why can't you tell me, Joshua? What did she ask you to do?", Haeun asked. Joshua kept quiet. "Answer me, Joshua? Are you ignoring me because of her?", Haeun asked.

Joshua sighed, "This isn't going to workout anyways, Haeun. Let's forget that I proposed you and then got rejected".

"Why can't this workout, Joshua? I want to tell you something. Your father tried to-"

"Not now, Haeun, please. I'm tired", Joshua said. "Even I'm tired too, Joshua. But I'm atleast trying. That day I just panicked and-", he didn't let her speak.

He stood, shoulders tense. "Maybe we're not meant to be", Joshua said, his voice breaking.

Haeun's frustration was visible. "Why can't you let me complete a proper sentence, Joshua? I've been so desperate to tell you something. Why are trying your best to avoid me, Joshua? I agree I rejected you but there was a reason, I-I-".

"You are saying this because you feel pity, Haeun. You never liked me", Joshua said.

Haeun's frustration boiled over. "I've had enough, Joshua", she snapped. "I'm happy that I rejected you".

But before she could turn away, Joshua held her wrist. "Leave me", she whispered, her anger and confusion warring within her but his grip tightened.

"And I'm happy that you rejected me", Joshua said, pulling her closer. His voice was raw, vulnerable. "Maybe we're not meant to be, but damn it, Haeun, I can't stop thinking about you".

Haeun's heart beat faster. "Even I can't, Joshua. Just listen to me once, please".

"Haeun, please. I'm not ready to hear anything", Joshua said. Haeun pulled her wrist free, "I was an idiot trying to explain everything to you".

"Haeun wait", Joshua tried to stop her. "I regretted rejecting you, Joshua. But seeing this behavior of yours, I'm happy I rejected you", Haeun said going out.

Joshua chuckled, "Well, at least she won't talk with me for now".