[minwoo/chanyong] missing
There’s a familiar tune playing from Chanyong’s earphones as Minwoo passes by the couch. It’s a tune all of them can probably recognize, at any given moment, even though no one would admit to watching the music video at all, let alone being able to recognize the song.
Minwoo settles next to Chanyong, who startles and immediately turns off his phone’s screen. The sound from his earphones cuts off.
“Hyung! I didn’t...” Chanyong trails off as Minwoo gently pries the phone out of his hands, lighting it up and entering the passcode. “How do you know my password?”
Minwoo smiles. “You haven’t changed it for the past year, I’m pretty sure everyone knows it by now.” Chanyong grumbles something but as the phone starts up again, the video resumes. Minwoo plucks one earphone out of Chanyong’s ear and puts it in his own. On the screen, Changbum is made of pink and aesthetics and looks more of a dream than whatever hypothetical girl they’re singing about.
They watch in silence until the video ends. Minwoo clicks replay. “He’s really pretty,” Chanyong says, just above a whisper.
Minwoo hums in agreement. “And just as talented as ever. His poor bandmates.”
“That’s very rude, not to mention we were his bandmates too.” Chanyong laughs. “But I think he’d enjoy hearing you say that.”
“He would, wouldn’t he?” They watch in silence again and this time Minwoo doesn’t click replay. “Can you believe,” he says, handing Chanyong his phone back, “that our precious maknae would go to become a leader.”
Chanyong doesn’t answer immediately. “I wish I couldn’t, honestly.”
Minwoo sighs. Then his mouth quirks in a half smile. “If we keep losing our youngest members, soon it’ll be just me and Rockhyun singing about retirement homes.”
That has Chanyong laughing. “I want to see that happen.” Then, a second later, “Except I really, really don’t. You know,” he goes on, a thread of guilt lacing his words, “I kinda ordered their single.”
“Minwoo smiles at him. “Me too. And I’m pretty sure Rockhyun actually streams the song.”
Chanyong stares at him for a few soundless moments, then laughs. It fades rather quickly. “Sometimes I wonder if I could’ve done something to make him stay, if I could’ve given him my lines or-”
“Hey, hey,” Minwoo turns to him, makes Chanyong look him in the eyes. “Plenty of bands do great with multiple rappers. It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault.”
“Do you think...” Chanyong trails off. When he looks at Minwoo again, there’s tentative hope in his eyes. “Do you think we’d be able to be successful back in Korea someday? I mean, I’m grateful for Japan and its ability to keep us afloat but - I just really miss home.”
“I don’t know, kiddo,” Minwoo says, and wraps his hand around Chanyong’s waist when he moves to lean his head on Minwoo shoulder. “I hope so.”