TWENTY-EIGHT

They had returned back to the dorms and once more Abby had to get adjusted to being called by a different name and not only her but Joel as well. Since they weren't practicing but had the day off, all of the members were at the dorms. Normally on their days off they would go see their families but since half of them were sick, they couldn't. And since both Abby and Joel weren't sick, they were expected to take care of the members that were. The sick members would call out to them but instead of Abby responding to Joel's name, she responded to Cain's. And instead of Joel responding to Cain's name, he responded to his own name. It had the members confused as to what was going on with the two but they would both just laugh it off and say they had just heard wrong.

"It would be so much easier if all the members just knew."

Joel heaved a sigh as he sat down next to Abby. He had just finished helping Seth hang up lights he had bought for their room. And since he was supposed to be Cain, the tallest member in their group, doing such things was a given.

"Here. You're sweating."

Abby handed Joel a napkin to wipe off the sweat and a cold water bottle from the fridge which she had opened with the use of another napkin. There was no longer a need for her to hide her germaphobic antics, at least not around the leader.

"Thanks."

"So did he really just have you hang those lights up all around the room's ceiling?"

She had seen the long strips of lights Seth had taken out of a box and they were probably around 50 feet worth of lights. Had she still been in Cain's body, it would have been her that would have needed to do such a thing and because of that she felt bad for Joel.

"Yup. At least they look cool. Want to go check them out?"

"Sure."

Somehow she felt even more comfortable with him now that he knew who she really was.

"Seth, can you turn on the lights? Ca—Ab—I mean Joel wants to see them."

"Sure. Let me just connect them."

Seth being the shortest member of the group, was able to crawl under the small space of the bed and plugged in the lights.

"Caab, seriously? Way to be smooth."

Abby couldn't help but poke fun at his mistake.

"Hey you called me Jocain earlier."

"Yea but at least it wasn't as bad as Caab."

"Ugh. Whatever. Just look at the lights."

As far as Abby knew they were just simple lights but then Joel took out his phone and started playing the new song they were going to release. The lights started to flicker along with the beat of the song. They were Bluetooth lights.

"Cool, huh?"

"Way cool. You know what else is cool though? Glow in the dark stars. I know they're sort of old school and they're not fancy like some Bluetooth lights but they are most definitely neat to look at while you're trying to fall asleep."

"I had an aunt back in Australia that used to have those. I used to love going for sleepovers at her place just because of those glow in the dark stars."

"Really? I had an aunt that had them too! She was actually the one that bought me my own to put in my room."

It was like their smaller age gap allowed for them to have more things in common.

"How about lava lamps, ever had one?"

"Of course! A pink one! I was obsessed with it. But then my parents bought me a plasma lamp and it became my new obsession."

"You had a plasma lamp?! I always wanted one but somehow they freaked my mom out so she never got me one when I asked. Instead she got me the lava lamp."

"I think I actually still have that plasma lamp. I remember seeing it in my stuff when I moved here—"

It seemed like she had gotten too excited with their conversation that she almost ended up saying something about herself while Seth was still in the room. He was laying down on his bed with his arms crossed under his head, observing them.

"Since when do you two get along so well?"

If Abby remembered correctly, there were three out of the seven members that Cain told her he didn't get along too well with. Those members were the composers of the group. Joel, Seth, and Simon. They didn't exactly hate each other but since Cain was the "leader" of the choreographers of the group and Joel was the "leader" of the composers, they would end up butting heads a lot of times. It was really just differences of opinions. Joel would envision different choreography for the songs he composed and Cain would want him to make songs to match with his style of dancing.

"Uh…Well we're having our comeback soon so isn't it better if we tried to get along? Besides, we both ended up agreeing on the choreography this time. Joel was happy with it, right Joel?"

Abby didn't really know much about Cain's past with Joel other than what he told her but it seemed to her like agreeing with Joel was the best she could do at that moment. She decided to just nod and smile. Things were just going to be more riskier with a third person being involved, it gave them more chances to mess up.

"There's actually something different about you two…"

Seth had gotten up from his bed and walked towards where they were both standing. He looked them both up and down while circling around them.

"Joel...have you been working out more? You know our trainer told us not to overdo it. He'll scold you if he finds out you've been exercising more than he's told you to. And Cain, you…dress and smell much nicer. You're just much neater than before. Could this change perhaps be because of your girlfriend?"

Joel who had been just as nervous as Abby, started laughing. It was one of his habits, to laugh right after feeling nervous about something but then finding out there was nothing to be nervous about to begin with.

"Oh. So you were referring to our outer appearance. I thought you…never mind. But yea, I like to dress and smell nicer for my girlfriend. I wouldn't want to end up losing a girl as pretty as her after all. And as for Joel, I just think it's his protein powder that's helping him out."

Usually it was always Abby that had to do the lying but it seemed like that had changed because even Joel had started to lie. She hated lying to the members but even more when others had to lie because of her. But she figured that if there were no members around, there was no need to lie. It was one of the reasons why she always looked forward to going to her apartment every Friday. And the day had finally come yet she had a new dilemma to deal with.

"I'm going to check up on Abel."

It was an excuse just so she could get out from having to lie again. She also needed to figure out what she was going to do.

Calling her mom was the most obvious option. An excuse was however needed. The excuse Abby had used was that she had more work to do that day. And because of this, she suggested to her mom to see her the following day instead. But for some reason her mom was more adamant than usual and insisted she was going that evening no matter what. And that meant she had no other choice but to go as Joel.

"You look troubled. What's up?"

Having been awake, Abel had seen when Abby walked into their room. He heard her sigh as soon as she sat down on her bed. And saw the look of worry on her face, a look he had become so familiar with.

"I have to see my mom this evening. If this whole body switch with Joel had to happen, it should have just been on some other day. Today is just the worst possible day it could have happened."

And yet another sigh. It made Abel wish he could do something for her but there was nothing he could do. There was no way to get her back in either her body or Cain's. He only knew of one way but he also knew that she was not yet ready for it. And even though he couldn't help her out with her situation, Abel thought he could try to lighten up the mood for her.

"O if only some pretty lady were to just like me back just like I like her, all of her problems would be solved."

He had tried to say it as overdramatic as he possibly could, similar to how an actor in a Shakespeare tragedy would. Having gotten Abby's attention, he decided to continue on. Something no one knew about him was that he had been in plays while living in Australia. It had been only high school plays but had he not become an idol, pursuing a career in acting was his second choice.

"O Abby, Abby, wherefore art thou Abby? Deny thy past and refuse thy stubbornness; or if thou will not, be but sworn my love and you'll no longer be a dude. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? 'Tis but thy body that is your enemy: thou art thyself, though not a dude."

He had positioned himself just like Juliet in the movie, with his hand on his cheek and looking as if he were gazing up at the sky. All while Abby was laughing.

"See how he leans his cheek upon his hand. Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand. That I might touch that cheek!"

Abby decided to play along since one of her favorite plays was Romeo and Juliet. She was surprised that Abel even knew such lines by memory. And the way he had changed up the lines to apply them to her situation had only made it funnier.

"You can if you want to, I just washed my face."

Abel knew that what she had said were just lines in the play but he couldn't help but use the opportunity to try and get her to fall for him. Despite having decided that he wasn't going to try to pressure her into anything, he feared that if he did nothing to win her over then someone else would.

Getting off his bed, Abel knelt down on the floor in front of her. He then put his face closer to her, waiting to see if she would touch it. He would have liked to grab her hand and placed it on his face but he knew that would only make her feel uncomfortable. So instead of forcing her, he was giving her the choice. It didn't take long for Abby to place her hand on his cheek but just when Abel thought it had been an act of endearment, she pinched him.

"That's what you get for being cocky."

"You're violent, you know that. First you poked my butt with your foot, then you hit me with a broom and now you've pinched my cheek."

"Well you'll have to get used to it if you're going to keep being like that."

"Fine then. Go ahead and beat me up all you want because I'm not giving up on my feelings. I already said you don't have to feel the same way but at least let me keep true to those feelings. I wouldn't want to end up lying to myself like someone else is."

By "someone else", Abby knew he meant her. Because she really was lying to herself about her feelings but she believed those lies were going to protect her in the end.

"Do we always have to somehow talk about this though? You said Cain likes me yet he hasn't even once told me so. Couldn't you just be more like him?"

"We're different, remember? You even told me so. You said I shouldn't try to be like him so that's exactly what I'm doing, not being a dumbass like him that can't even tell the girl he likes that he likes her. But I get it, I'm annoying you so I'll stop."

"I just feel so bad that I can't feel the same way about you…"

Abby saw how hurt he looked and that made her hurt as well. She really did wish it were possible to like him.

"Can't or you won't allow yourself to? Just think about that please."

Those were his last words to her before he walked out of their room. He had left her with a lot to think about just with that one simple question. Abby knew it wasn't impossible for her to feel that way about someone because she already did yet had chosen to keep lying both to herself and to him. It was a lie she thought would prevent them both from hurting. Because she didn't want to hurt him just as much as she didn't want to end up getting hurt.

The only reason why Abel couldn't give up so easily was because he had once done so. It had been when he was still living in Australia. There was a girl he liked, a friend of his. They had been childhood friends but then she moved to the US when they were in their last year of middle school. Two years later she returned back to Australia but at that time Abel wanted to train to become a Kpop idol. And because of that he never told her his feelings. Instead he decided to ignore those feelings. And having done so had caused him regret. But he had made a promise to himself to never again do the same thing and he was fulfilling that promise.

Since things had turned awkward with Abel, Abby decided she was going to leave to her apartment early. She felt too guilty being in the same room as him. It had been only 20 minutes when Abel returned back to their room with a plate of food.

"Are you leaving already?"

"Yup. I might even stay there the rest of the weekend."

She had wanted to take care of Abel since he had been sick but he looked to be doing much better and she thought some distance between the two was for the best.

"Well Cain's body will still be here so you'll still end up waking up here even if you spend the night there…"

It was something that hadn't occurred to her when she had decided on spending the weekend at her apartment. She also didn't know the exact time they had switched bodies. So by staying at her apartment she would really only end up making Joel wake up someplace else that wasn't his own bed. And that would mean he would have to drive back to their dorms. She couldn't do that to him.

"Fine. I'll be back later but I'll probably end up leaving again tomorrow."

"Well I really wish I could have spent your birthday with you but I guess I'll just have to give you your present now. Here."

Abel put in Abby's hand a small rectangular white box he had taken out from his dresser.

"What do you mean my birthday?"

With everything going on, Abby had forgotten all about her 29th birthday.

"Today is April 7th, your birthday. Cain told me last week. He said that there should at least be one person to know about it so that they could celebrate it with you. The big doofus hadn't even realized it was going to be on the day you go over to your apartment. But I'm glad he told me since I was able to get you this, open it. I hope you like it."

Abby did as he said and opened the box. Inside was a necklace with a gold colored sunflower pendant. Sunflowers were her favorite flowers yet she had never told Abel such a thing.

"How did you know?"

"That sunflowers were your favorite flowers? Well to be honest, I went to my grandma for advice. She had caught you looking at a painting of sunflowers she had hanging on her shack and was able to read your mind just then. I actually asked her if she could sell me the painting so I could give it to you but she called me a crazy boy and told me to get you something else. Apparently my grandpa had given that painting to her for their 10 year wedding anniversary, he had painted it himself. So then I asked her why she didn't have it hanging at her house if it was so special but instead of answering me she smacked me."

Just imagining such a thing made Abby giggle.

"I can't believe you would even ask her such a thing. Thank you for the necklace. It's beautiful."

"Really? You like it? Well you might like it even more once you open it."

Abby could see the look of excitement in his eyes. It was as if he were eager to show her something.

"Open it?"

"Yea, didn't you notice the line running down the middle of the sunflower pendant? You're supposed to open it by sliding each half to the side, sort of like the wings on a ladybug. You'll see a special message once you do."

Abby opened the pendant just like he said and read the words aloud.

"You are my sunshine."

"I know it's corny and I know I said I would stop bothering you with this but if you could just read the note that's inside the box once you leave."

"There's a note?"

"Yes but it's taped onto the bottom of the box so I could see why you wouldn't have noticed it considering how the note is white just like the box."

Since Abel hadn't wanted her to read the note while she was still there, she read it as soon as she got on the taxi.

***By now you've seen what the necklace says inside. Well even though they were other necklaces with sunflowers on them, I got you this one for a reason. That reason being that I would like you to someday tell me those words BUT only say them to me if the day ever comes where you like me just like I like you. So instead of telling me you like me, just tell me "you are my sunshine" and then I'll know that it's okay for me to fall in love with you. P.S. You do know the word "sunshine" has a special meaning, right? I am your bias wrecker after all. And if you don't know then that just means you are not a true Ebenezer and have failed as a fan.***

Of course she knew. It was the nickname fans had given him and she too used to call him that even before she met him, "my sunshine". Always brightening up her days, always making them happier. He had been the reason behind many of her smiles because his own smile was just contagious like that. And even though she didn't consider herself happy, there was no way for her face to lie. Just reading the note had made her smile unconsciously, she was happy at that moment.

"Joel? What are you doing here? Did something happen to Cain?"

Cain was surprised to see the leader of his group inside Abby's apartment. As far as he knew no one in the group knew where Abby lived, not even Abel.

"Wow. I can't believe I forgot to tell you. Joel and I actually switched bodies, it's only a 24 hour thing though. Sorry if I freaked you out by being here without telling you that."

Abby had let herself in with her spare key but due to having been too busy trying to sort out her feelings, she had forgotten all about letting Cain know what had happened that morning. Just weeks ago it was always Cain who she texted about everything but as time went by her texts to him became fewer. And instead of reaching out to him, it was Abel who she would turn to.

"How did it happen? And how do you know it's only for 24 hours? Did you perhaps go see Mrs. Kang?"

Unlike Abel, it seemed like Cain believed her right away without any doubt and this astonished Abby. It hadn't been the reaction she had expected, quite the opposite actually. She had expected him to react more like Abel but it turned out that the two really were different.

"So you believe me? Just like that? You don't think I'm actually Joel just trying to trick you?"

"Well to be honest, at first I did think you were really Joel. But once I got to observe you I realized that it was you. Not only that but I also had this feeling. Perhaps it's some kind of telepathy since we've been in each other's bodies. Anyways, now that I know it's you let me go fetch you your birthday present."

Abby felt embarrassed once again at having forgotten all about her own birthday and yet both Cain and Joel had remembered it. She also felt bad because she realized it had been Cain's birthday less than three weeks prior. His birthday was on the 20th of March but that had been when Abby was still trying to adjust to her new life and schedule as an idol. She had forgotten to even send him a text to wish him a happy birthday.

"Sorry I forgot all about your birthday."

Abby apologized as soon as he saw him walk out from her bedroom. She noticed that he had a medium sized lime green gift bag with him.

"It's okay. No big deal. At the time it was your second week at the dorms and I knew it was a busy time for you."

"I'll make it up to you somehow."

After all Cain had been sweet in having told Abel about her birthday because he hadn't wanted her to spend her day alone with no one else to celebrate with and yet that had been exactly what had happened on his own birthday.

"I'm not sure if it'll be to your liking but I could always exchange it."

Abby opened the bag that Cain had given her and was surprised to see something totally unexpected, a UV sterilizer box. She had heard of them not too long ago and had been meaning to get one. They were used to sterilize all kinds of things so long as they fit in the box. Mostly she had wanted one for her phone.

"Ah that's just part of the present, the actual present is inside. I just got the UV box since I figured you might want to use it with the other present."

Cain had always been awkward when it came to picking presents for girls he liked. Because of that it had always been his mom that would pick out the presents for him. For this occasion however it had been him that picked it out. It was the first time he ever picked a present.

Inside the UV box turned out to be a rose gold colored bracelet with various charms. Hanging from it was a four leaf clover, a wishbone, a star, a moon, a rainbow, a unicorn, a heart, and a key. It was so beautiful that Abby wished to try it on at that moment but since she wasn't in her own body, she couldn't.

She had also wanted to try on the necklace when Abel gave it to her but because she was in a guy's body, wearing such jewelry wasn't possible. Even once the 24 hours were over and Joel returned back to his body, she still wouldn't return to her own but to Cain's. However, looking up at Cain gave her an idea that made her smile.

"It's totally my style. Thanks. But...would it perhaps be okay if you were to wear this charm bracelet and a necklace for me while you're in my body? Basically just keep them safe for me until I'm actually able to wear them myself."

"Well it'll be a bit awkward for me to wear the present I got you but I totally understand what you mean so sure. What necklace are you talking about though?"

"Abel's gift to me. I hope he won't mind that I'll be giving it to you to wear but it's not like I could wear it while I'm in your body. Here let me put it on for you."

Abby walked over to Cain and swept her hair to the side before putting the necklace on. She then went to stand in front of him to admire the necklace that was hanging from her own neck. It looked even more beautiful being worned. It looked like it belonged there, as if it had been made just for her. Reaching out for the sunflower pendant, she opened it so that the words would show.

"You are my sunshine."

 She had read it aloud all the while thinking of Abel, imagining what it would be like if she were to actually tell him those four words.

"Huh?"

Having not seen the necklace himself, Cain was confused as to what Abby had just said. But he noticed the look on her face as she said the words. He wasn't an expert on such things but to him it almost looked as if she were in love, not with him though. He had noticed that she had said those words while looking at the necklace Abel had given her.

'You like him."

The words came out of him before he realized it. And it wasn't a question but more of a statement, an observation and a feeling. He didn't know why or how but it had recently seemed to him that he was somehow able to feel and sense Abby's emotions. It was something he hadn't yet told her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. Go ahead and put the bracelet on me."

He thought it was better not to tell her. Figuring out her feelings was something she needed to do on her own. But since he was able to feel her feelings, he knew it was already too late for him. Abby's heart belonged to another, Abel.

"So...do you already have a plan? Or do you need my help to try to come up with one?"

Cain asked the question as Abby was putting the charm bracelet on him. He knew they were going to have to come up with something since she was in Joel's body. And despite him not having expected such a situation, he was willing to help.

"No plan yet. I guess I'll be needing your help again this time."

If they weren't able to come up with one then she was just going to have to wing it.

"Would it be too weird if we say that Joel is also an Agoraphobic Germaphobe?"

"Too weird. There can't be that many coincidences."

She had already thought of the idea but had quickly dismissed it. They had been lucky that her mom had even believed it the first time around. There was no way she would believe it a second time, not unless that second "friend" were from some kind of group therapy but her mom knew she had always hated the idea of going to such things.

"How about if we just say he's a Germaphobe?"

"And that I met him online? Cuz remember, I'm not someone that usually goes out."

"Yea. There shouldn't be anything odd about that."

"What if we say that he's also your friend and that it was you that introduced me to Joel?"

At least that was somehow true. In a way she had gotten to know Joel through Cain. And at least that way it wouldn't feel to her like she was completely lying. Because she had already started to feel a friendship forming between her and Joel.

"Wouldn't it be odd though for this new friend to be here on your birthday but not the friend that introduced you to him? Were you not able to get Joel to come?"

"I actually did ask him but he got the wrong idea. Besides, he has no obligation to me. I felt bad even just thinking about asking him for such a favor. And I don't think it'll be too odd. It's not like friends hang out together all the time."

"Well if you think it'll work then let's do it."