He glanced up at the others at the mention of Jae's absence, though he didn't look particularly worried. Chan-ho, a little further ahead, gave a disinterested shrug, though his eyes narrowed slightly at Young-soo's comment. With a slightly impish grin, he nudged his shoulder against Young-soo's. "Why, did you want the job?"
"He's probably just practicing," Hyun-jin said--- Jae had always been a bit of a workaholic--- but by the time he spoke, Ji-sung was already off. Hyun-jin watched him go with a sigh.
"Dibs on the shower," said Chan-ho.
~*~
Jae closed his eyes and waited for his heartbeat to slow. His lungs felt like they were burning, sending up a pale cloudy plume with each exhale; his limbs felt heavy and light all at once. He thought, with grim satisfaction, that he would sleep well tonight. He was too tired not to.
Fumblingly, he drew out his phone from a pocket and turned it on, squinting at the time. It was late. He ought to get up. He was about to muster up the will to do so when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and his eyes snapped to the door. Before he could right himself, the door was thrown open. Ji-sung stood there, eyes wide, and Jae let out a sigh. "You again," he said, his voice soft and slow with fatigue. "Are you in love with me or something?" They'd known each other for all of a day and a half, but already... Ji-sung was somehow always showing up at the worst times.
Still, it could be worse. That was what he told himself as he rolled over, pushing himself into a sitting position. "I'm fine," he said--- he'd been saying that a lot lately. "I just wanted to practice by myself for a bit."