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June 25th, 8 p.m.
Everyone was excited. Although it's just a normal day, it's as if they're celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer of how plentiful the foods are, entirely covering the table at the kitchen.
They know for a fact that a new song will be released later on, but one reason for the sudden burst of feast is that Hyunjin will finally be coming home, and they can all be together again. Another reason for happiness, much more happiness because they'll be complete again.
Without Hyunjin, they're a puzzle with a missing piece. The picture can't be completed when someone is missing, and Hyunjin is that lost one. But now that he's coming back, it'll finally give light to the overshadowed image, dimmed with clouds of longing and sadness.
"Put that over there," Chan instructed, Felix quickly following as he was told, hanging the banner messily along the wall and getting frustrated when it fell on top of the floor. The leader went on his way to watch over the others, spotting Minho coming out from a room. His brows furrowed at the sight.
"Minho, what the fuck is that?" He asked, staring at the gigantic box that Minho dropped at the floor, breathing in to catch for some air.
"Uh, some blanket," Minho said, taking the cover off and taking a piece of fabric from inside the box.
"Are you really serious about catching him with that?" Chan asked, leaning against the wall, internally chuckling to himself. His kids are really mad.
"Of course," Minho said as he spread the blanket out on the floor. Chan stifled a soft chuckle, shaking his head as he went on his way to check the others.
When they finished preparing for the surprise, they all settled in the living room to wait for Hyunjin's arrival. Not long after, they overheard a noise coming from the door, Chan went to check at the peephole if it was whom they're waiting for, and after checking that it's indeed their love Stay boy, Chan went back and announced it to the other members. Just that and they became a shuffling mess, finding their own spot to hide to surprise Hyunjin.
After unlocking it, Hyunjin swung the door open, just a little so he could take a peek inside. His heart was racing in his chest, and it probably found its way up to his throat, swallowing the lump forming in there.
When he saw no one was inside, his heart sank to the floor, lips pursed as he strode his way inside while gripping at his bag tightly.
Maybe they were already asleep. Or inside their rooms, Hyunjin thought while he was struggling to get inside because of his heavy bag.
Truthfully, Hyunjin felt disappointed that no one was there to welcome him home but maybe they're just busy, or maybe they're tired.
He was in the middle of his own thoughts when a piece of white cloth went up to the air, suddenly covering him up. Hyunjin struggled against the sheets, dropping his bag on the floor. It earned him a yell when he suddenly toppled on the floor, the cloth messily wrapped around him as though he was a spring roll. Recovering from his shock, he brushed the fabric away from his sight and when he succeeded, Minho's grinning face welcomed him.
"Welcome home!" Minho yelled happily, followed by the sound of a bursting party popper. Hyunjin was just about to get up when Minho went diving down onto Hyunjin and dropping himself on top of the younger.
"Ack– Hyung-!" Hyunjin said, keeping his hands on Minho's chest, seeing from behind him that the others joined the pile, getting on top of the other. He didn't have a hard time though, because, with all due his strength, Minho pressed the palms of his hands on either side of Hyunjin's head to keep the other from getting squished by the weight of the other members piling behind him.
Albeit having a hard time balancing the others off, Minho stared down at Hyunjin with a genuine smile laced on his lips.
"Welcome home, Hyunjin-ah," Minho whispered and it broke Hyunjin out to tears, making him panic. The others noticed it too, that's why they scrambled off to give way to Hyunjin, worrying that he cried because of what they did.
However, Minho just stayed there and cupped Hyunjin's cheeks in worry. "Hey, what's wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?" He asked, eyes travelling all over Hyunjin's body to check him out.
Nothing's wrong, Hyunjin was just.. happy that everyone was actually there and they waited for his return. He's just too emotional because he thought everyone got tired of waiting for him and they would just be like "Oh, okay. Hyunjin got back" then would immediately return to their own business. Hyunjin just thought that they got used to him not being around and it wouldn't be such a big deal if he comes back into the picture once more. He just thought that.. he's already forgotten.
But his assumptions were all wrong when they all became a crying mess in the living room, telling how much they've missed him and hoping to have him back as soon as possible, formed into a cluster in one space, arms wrapped on one another, Hyunjin being the center of them.
Jisung was beside him, Hyunjin shrinking while he leaned his head on Jisung's shoulder. Minho on his other side, arm linked on Hyunjin's own with their fingers intertwined. Chan was lying on the couch behind the three, his hand resting on top of Hyunjin's head. Felix found a way to squeeze himself on the couch, face snuggling close to Hyunjin's nape. Jeongin, although not used to skinship, settled himself at Minho's lap. Changbin made himself comfortable as he squished into the little space between Jisung and Hyunjin, using Jisung's thigh as a pillow and hugging Hyunjin's leg. Lastly, Seungmin sat beside Jisung while his arm draped on Jisung's broad shoulders and his hand placed atop Chan's hand.
After the weeping and sniffling melted down, almost everyone felt their eyes becoming drowsy, might be tired from crying buckets of tears. They cuddled closer together, and Chan who remained awake carefully made his way out of Lix' side, walking in front of them with a smile gracing his lips.
Chan felt his heart had gone full again, fuller than ever as he was staring at his kids finally complete once more. The more he stared at them, the more he felt joyous, his mind went on thinking that he would trade anything in this world from his own possessions just to see them being with one another. He would do anything to protect his beloved kids because they're all his treasure, and they complete him.
After all, eight is fate and it would always be.