“You sure you’re alright?” Jooyoung, your research partner, asked you in a soft, concerned voice as both of you were walking along the concrete sidewalks of Seoul.

It was already the dusk and the two of you just got out of the university’s library as you were busy exhausting every reference in there that can be used for your research paper. In your case, however, you had an additional reason. You wanted to be distracted. You wanted to ignore this growing unreasonable feeling deep inside of you and you thought that by doing school work can help you forget the issue for awhile.   But the truth is…it didn’t really help much.   You robotically nodded your head at Jooyoung and you heard him chuckling in respond. You turned your head to look up at him and raised an eyebrow.   “What’s so funny?”   “You. You’re being in denial.” He said as he pressed his lips tightly, preventing himself from grinning widely.   You paused at your tracks as you hit his arm lightly. “Oh I’m not being in denial! I told you I’m okay. I meant it.”   The pit of your stomach started to feel some kind of discomfort again. You knew you were lying but you thought that this would help in making you feel better. It’s just a matter of reverse psychology. Reverse psychology works, you thought.   Jooyoung turned around to face you with a look that was trying to make you give in as he sighed wearily. “Minji-ah, it’s okay to admit that you’re jealous. You’re the girlfriend after all. It’s a natural thing in relationships.”   You felt the beating of your heart quickening its pace as the clips of the show you’ve seen with Jooyoung earlier started to resurface in your memory. It was giving you another hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride.   “I am not jealous, okay? I—   You were cut short when you suddenly felt your mobile phone vibrating. You took it out of your pocket and looked at its screen to check on who the caller was. It was him—your boyfriend. You were having a mental debate whether to pick it up or just let the call end on its own but before you could even come to a decision, the call ended already. You shoved your mobile phone back inside your body bag this time.   “If you’re really not jealous, why didn’t you pick it up? I’ve been hearing your phone vibrate since earlier at the library,” JooYoung told you with his arms crossed. “And honestly, I’ve already lost count of the number of times he’s been calling you.”   “Did I ask you to count it?” You snapped at him, your voice seething with annoyance before walking ahead of him.   And that’s because JooYoung caught you red-handed. Jealousy was eating you inside. You hated to admit it because you promised to yourself and your man that you wouldn’t feel this way. You also thought that you wouldn’t be affected because you’re not really the jealous type.   But boy you were wrong.   Despite of your cold display of attitude earlier, Jooyoung still accompanied you back to your apartment. What a gentleman, you thought to yourself.   “Jooyoung-ah, mianhaeyo.” You told him as you turned around to face him. “Anyway, you were right about everything earlier.”   He gave you a warm smile, his eyes crinkling as he does so reminding you of your first celebrity crush who was Bi Rain.   “Of course, I knew I was. I’m a guy and I have a girlfriend too which is why I can tell whether a girl’s being jealous or not.”     You chuckled at what he said as a sudden memory occurred to you. Jooyoung’s girlfriend had her fair share of jealousy when the professor announced that you and Jooyoung were paired together for the research paper. It was only until that she got to hang out with you and found out that you were in a relationship as well that she managed to eradicate the feeling… especially when she found out who you were dating.   “Like what I said earlier, it’s okay to be jealous. Well, at least once in awhile but don’t let it eat you up completely.” He told you reassuringly as he patted you on your shoulder.   “I’m trying.” You told him with a smile then he came closer and enclosed you in a comforting hug.   You didn’t mind at all since you and Jooyoung are just really good friends. He was like a brother to you and you were like a sister to him.   “I’ll have to get going now. Sooyeon’s waiting for me.” Jooyoung said as he glanced at his wrist watch.   “And I’ll take it from here. Thank you so much, Jooyoung-ah. Say hi to Sooyeon for me.”   “Will do. And by the way, don’t forget to e-mail our revisions to our professor, okay?”   You nodded at him and with that he went on his way to meet with his girlfriend.   You heaved a sigh as you dragged yourself inside your two-storey townhouse. As soon as you got inside, you placed all your stuff on the coffee table and slumped yourself on the couch nearby, wanting to take some time to relax and breathe.   “Where have you been?” A deep, dry voice welcomed you.   You turned around behind you and there stood the figure of Cho Kyuhyun—your boyfriend, looking at you intently with his arms crossed as he leaned on the wall opposite to where you were sitting.   He was wearing your favourite look of him: a plain black fitted t-shirt, which was good enough in emphasizing his well-toned arms, and black pants.   You weren’t really surprised how he managed to get in since he’s the only one who had a duplicate key to your place. His sudden presence at that moment kind of surprised you though.   “School. Where else would you expect me to be?” You told him as you rose up from the couch and gave him a light peck on the cheek, just like how you would always do whenever you would see each other.   You were about to go back to your seat when he suddenly tugged your arm so you would face him again.   “Is he the reason why you weren’t answering my calls?” He said quite bitterly as he crossed his arms again.   You looked at him with a puzzled expression and then you chuckled as it suddenly dawned upon you that he probably saw you and Jooyoung hugging earlier.   “Kyu, don’t be ridiculous. That’s just Jooyoung. He’s my research paper partner.” You told him as you went back to your couch and removed your sneakers.   “Why is he your partner then?” You felt him follow you as you heard his steps behind you. “Can’t it just be Saemi?”   Saemi is your girl best friend. Your head made a sharp turn towards Kyuhyun as you stood up.   “Don’t act like I didn’t tell you about that. You knew that was our professor’s decision.” You crossed your arms at him as soon as you came face to face with him.   “Can’t you change partners then?” He asked, crossing his arms again too.   “What part of ‘it was the professor’s decision’ can’t you understand, Kyu? And if ever I was given the chance to change partners, I still won’t. I’m already comfortable with Jooyoung.”   “Oh yea, I saw that very well with my own eyes.” Kyuhyun’s tone became sulky once again as he narrowed down his gaze on you, a mere indication of expressing his jealousy.You usually found it cute when he was being like this.   “So, okay. You saw us hugging. What’s the big deal?” You asked nonchalantly and he seemed annoyed.   “Was it really necessary?” He told you his voice seething with sulkiness.   You knew Jooyoung hugged you because he was just comforting you but you couldn’t exactly tell Kyuhyun the reason why.   “Why not? He’s a good friend of mine anyway. Besides, it was only a hug. It’s not like I engaged myself to some kind of marriage like you did!” You spat out quite bitterly than you originally intended to.   And that was where the jealousy you were feeling was rooting from. Kyuhyun became a part of a special episode of We Got Married—a reality show wherein pairings live