02 ∞ where it (almost) felt like how it used to be

CHANGMIN - - -

“You’re a jerk, Shim Changmin. A tall abandoning jerk who left for Japan without contacting any of his friends.”

“Are you honestly going to sound like a girl, Kibum? Because you’re beginning to get on my nerves with your tone.” I replied, snark laced in my voice.

Kibum stuck out his tongue at me, and I rolled my eyes at his immature response. He had always done these things back in University to infuriate me, and I had always prayed that he would outgrow them. I guess those prayers haven’t been answered yet because after five years, he was still the same immature creep I shared a dorm with.

But to be honest, the thought that he hadn’t changed since then comforted me a little. Not that I would ever admit to that, but it felt reassuring.

“It’s been awhile, Min. I’m surprised you even remembered me after all these years,” he said, looking at me knowingly and grinning. I managed a half-smile, half-smirk back and shrugged.

“Who could forget someone as gay as you?” I replied, earning a swift punch on my shoulder. I rubbed the sore spot and laughed at him (or at least, I attempted to). “I’m kidding, Kim. I was busy, you know how it is.”

He gave me a look but nodded anyway. He shifted in his seat, pulling out his cellular phone and checked for messages. A smile blew out on his face and I knew at an instant that it was a message from Yeonhee. I clicked my tongue, raising my eyebrow and he looked at me curiously, placing his phone back into his pocket.

“Was that Yeonhee?” I asked. He nodded in reply, almost cheekily. “You’re still together? Really?”

“Yeah, is that so hard to believe? How about you? Any girls I should know about?”

I shrugged. “You should ask my parents about that.”

Kibum sat up straighter, surprised. He peered oddly at me, studying my expression. Then he clapped his hands once and gave a shout that might have meant, “Oh I get it!”

“So they went through with it?”

“Yes.”

“How old is she?”

“Twenty. She still acts likes a kid.”

“That’s because twenty is a child, Shim! You’re robbing a baby its’ youth!”

“As if I’d touch her.”

Kibum thought about that for a second and nodded. “You have a point there.”

“Geez, man, your parents petrify me.”

“They tend to do that.”

He shook his head. “And you’re okay with all of this?” He made gestures with his hands to emphasize a point. I had to bite back a sarcastic remark.

“Of course not.”

“But you won’t go against them.”

He got me there, and I threw him an annoyed look. He shrugged, and then looked at the time on his watch.

“It’s not like Yoona to be late for dinner. Usually, she’d be the first one here if there’s food.”

At the mention of her name, my chest tightened. I threw Kibum’s oblivious figure another filthy look and breathed deeply. Pull yourself together, Shim. It’s just a name. Her name never bothered you like this before.

I cleared my throat. “How is Yoona, by the way? I always thought that if you and Yeonhee broke up, the two of you would become an item.”

Kibum made a face and shook his head. “That’s scary, Changmin. Yoona’s like a little sister to me. I would never take advantage of her like that.” He shrugged. “Besides, she’s not interested in relationships.”

I raised my eyebrow. “That’s not like her.”

“I know. She was always the girl in love during University. Doe-eyed about romance and Shakespeare.”

“What happened?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Nothing happened. After you left and graduation, she’d started to come down to earth and reality. She went out on dates sometimes, but those relationships never lasted long enough for her to introduce them to me or her parents.”

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