08:00
The One I Love“tension between us just like picket fences
you got issues that I won't mention for now
'cause we're fallin' apart.” / passionfruit
“What are you looking at?” Hanbin asks through a mouthful of noodles.
“Nothing.” Jennie laughs, but does not look away. Her chin rests on her palm as she observes him. He's really nothing like anything she's ever seen before.
He reminds her simultaneously of an old man and a young child. He’s gruff and graceless, but has innocent eyes. His glasses sit on the top of his head from when he’d push them up in annoyance after they kept fogging up from the ramen. The cuff of his right sleeve is stained with ink from grazing across his notes.
He absently his lips, turning his head in embarrassment under her gaze.
They spent more time together with meetings for their group project. And after each meeting Jennie would insist they go out for a drink.
After that day they first drank together, Hanbin had stopped asking questions about Hayi.
Instead, he would ask more and more questions about Jaewon. At first it was only one or two questions. Other times it would feel like an interview.
“How long have you been dating?” Hanbin asks through swigs of beer.
Jennie looks thoughtful.
“A long time.”
“How long is a long time?”
“Four months.”
“That’s not a long time.”
“It isn’t?” Jennie muses with a small smile. Hanbin scoffs.
“What do you like about him?”
“His car.”
Hanbin looks scandalized, but Jennie doubts he’s ever been in a relationship. She’s never asked, but she increasingly suspects that Hanbin has been relentlessly pining for Hayi.
In a way, this makes Hanbin her ally. Two idiots.
“My class reunion is this weekend.” Jennie changes the subject. She pours another drink. “Should I go?”
“You should take me.” Hanbin suggests, half-jokingly. His cheeks are pink. She’s slowly turned him into a drinker.
“I will.” She promises casually. “What if Hayi shows up? I’ll take you.”
Hanbin stills, but doesn’t protest.
…
To Jennie’s surprise, even as the days pass, Hanbin doesn’t change his mind. When they get to the reunion, Nayeon and Jungyeon are already there.
Nayeon gives her a small hug and Jungyeon starts to excitedly introduce Hanbin to the rest of their classmates. Jennie glances at him from time to time to see if he regrets following her here after all.
“He’s popular in our department.” The short haired girl brags, most likely feeling as if she were the reason he came to the reunion.
“Jungyeon told us your boyfriend was a gangster.” Nayeon smiled patiently. “But he’s a clean cut pre-med student?”
“Ah, I’m not her boyfriend.” Hanbin answers sheepishly. Jennie sips at her drink. “But he
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