✎Lesson 29: When the Truth Hurts.
✎♥The Dating Subject♥✎
"Thanks for coming with me." Mika huffed, out of breath because of running.
"Look at that. You're all out of breath." I rolled my eyes and we skidded to a stop.
"Who are you running away from? And why is it so important for me to come with you today?" I crossed my arms and stared at her suspiciously.
"Uhm...it's nothing." She said guiltily.
I narrowed my eyes.
"It's so not noth--"
"There you are!"
I turned around to the sound of the voice and Mika's hand suddenly tightened around my arm.
It was Jonghyun.
"What is he doing here?" I murmured to my bestfriend, confused.
She gave a shaky laugh. "Well, you see...err...it's like this..."
"Excuse me, Ms. Hard To Get. Why are you always running off to who knows where?!"
Mika didn't answer and I watched in confusion to the situation happening in front of me.
"And..." He turned to me, looking puzzled.
"Err...don't take this the wrong way Maki, but...what are you doing here?" Jonghyun asked.
I shrugged. "Mika just suddenly grabbed me after class begging me to go with her somewhere."
He looked at Mika with a disappointed expression.
"Seriously? Are you that uncomfortable around me?" He seemed hurt.
"What's...going on?" I asked feebly and still, Mika didn't utter a word.
It's a miracle she can stay quiet for this long.
"Why did you even say yes then?" He continued to ask, looking more hurt by the minute.
"I thought we both wanted this date."
My eyes widened.
"DATE?!" I blurted out.
"Maki...Let me explain--" Mika quickly spoke.
"Yes, Maki. Your bestfriend agreed to go out on a date with me today." He cut her off, crossing his arms.
"But right now, I am very confused. You actually seemed happy when I asked you." He told Mika.
"I am...I'm happy." Mika mumbled.
He sighed. "Would it take so long for me to prove myself to you? You're turning into a real challenge." He ran his hands through his hair and I saw Mika blushing.
Pfft. Even simple moves like that makes Mika blush. It's obvious she likes him.
"Here." He suddenly ed his other hand forward.
It was a bouquet of roses.
"Oh." Mika sighed dreamily.
"Thanks." She smiled slightly, accepting the roses.
"Well at least you accepted them." Jonghyun muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Suddenly, I felt very uncomfortable.
Stupid Mika. Making me go with her to this date with Jonghyun!
What am I?! A chaperone?!
The third wheel?!
No way will I let that happen.
"Uhm...I need to go." I announced and Mika looked at me in surprise.
"Already?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Mika. I shouldn't even be here in the first place." I frowned.
Jonghyun looked relieved.
"Tell Onew hyung to get well soon!"
"Huh?" I blinked.
"He's sick. He's in bed all day."
I felt my heart drop.
"He's sick?"
"Yes." Jonghyun, I noticed, was trying to get closer to Mika's side in an oblivious way.
"I thought he has a meeting all day?"
"He does. He didn't show up though."
"Oh." I was panicking inside.
Now I really have a reason to leave these two alone.
"I really need to go now." I said hurriedly.
"See you~" Jonghyun smiled widely and successfully placed his arms around Mika's shoulders.
"Let's go? I've been looking forward to this all day!" He smiled at her.
I smiled a little too, it seems like Jonghyun really does like Mika.
Well, as long as my friend is happy, then I'm happy.
And as much as I'd love to chaperone them...
I have someone else to take care of.
--
I knocked on his door nervously.
Who would have known I'd be back here for the third time?
Even Junsu-sshi was surprised:
"Hey! You're that girl from last time! Are you sure you're not my cousin's girlfriend?" He stared at me.
"N-no! I'm just Onew's friend." I quickly explained.
"Yeah, right. That kid always seems so happy when you're here. I mean, he let you in that one time so quickly." He shrugged and walked off.
What was that all about?
So now, here I am, knocking.
"Come in." A weak voice said.
I frowned in concern and let myself in.
"Onew?" Onew was lying on his bed, the covers were up to his chin and his eyes looked smaller than usual.
His nose was red and he was shivering.
"Onew?" I walked to him hurriedly, concerned.
"I knew it." I murmured.
"I told you to wear that sweater!" I scolded him.
"Maki?" He called out weakly, trying to sit up straight.
"Don't move anymore. Just lay down. I brought you soup and--"
"What are you doing here?!" He sniffed and focused his eyes on me, blinking.
"I heard you were sick..." I mumbled.
"Get out."
I was surprised. "What?"
Did I heard him right??
"Get out." He repeated in a weak voice.
"B-but..." I was hurt.
"Why? I cooked you soup and--"
"Get out." He repeated, frowning a little.
"You can't get sick. I don't want you to get sick. Get out. Please." He sneezed.
"No." I said stubbornly.
"I won't get sick." I sat on the space beside him.
"Maki..." He sighed weakly.
"Now is not the time to be stubborn. I'll be okay by tomorrow. I just need rest." His weak voice was causing me to worry more.
"Didn't you tell me that if you ever get sick..." I put my hand on his forehead to feel his temperature.
"That I would be your nurse?"
He smiled a little.
"So you were agreeing with what I said the whole time?"
I cleared my throat.
"I think you have a slight fever. Did you drink medicine already?"
He nodded.
"Okay, drink this." I unpacked the tea I made for him back at home.
It always worked for me whenever I have colds.
I helped him sit up straight and he drank it all in one go.
"Thanks."
"Wait, eat the soup, okay?" I stirred the soup and offered a spoonful to him.
He smiled.
"I think I should always get sick."
"Doofus." I muttered.
"I think you'd make a great wife." His eyes, even though they were puffy because of his colds, sparkled.
"I'll be the lucky guy, right?"
I blushed. "Don't talk so much anymore."
I fed him all the soup and scolded him when he asked for chicken.
"Chicken is not food for the sick."
"It's our love food." He pouted.
"What the heck are you talking about?"
"Fine. Chicken and ramyeon are our love food." He corrected.
"Or is it supposed to be chicken and chocolate?" He asked wonderingly.
I shook my head. "Stop blabbering and conserve your energy." I grabbed the warm towel and placed it on his forehead.
"Anything else you need?" I asked softly since he looked like he was falling asleep.
"I think I need more heat. It's so cold here." He shivered.
I started to stand up to go to his closet.
"Do you have anymore blankets?"
He stopped me though, by placing his hand on my arm.
"Wait. No. I don't need blankets." He mumbled.
"But you're shivering."
"I'm not so cold anymore." He closed his eyes sleepily.
"Don't be silly. I'll go get blankets." I started to stand up again.
His grip on me tightened.
"No. Stay here. With me." He continued to mumble with his eyes closed.
"I have your sweater. I'm returning it, so wear it, okay?"
I started to stand up again but he held my arm and pulled me closer to him.
"What are you doing?" I whispered in confusion.
"Nothing." He mumbled. He started to lean his head on my shoulder and proceeded to hug tightly my right arm.
"Onew?"
"I want to hug you right now but I don't want you to get sick so maybe my germs will be nice enough to let me just hug your arm, right?" He mumbled.
I laughed a little. "You're crazy even if you're sick."
"Mmm..." He mumbled again.
After some time, I felt his breathing got steady.
He's asleep.
I turned to my side carefully so that I can watch him.
He's sleeping with a smile on his face!
How weird. Is he really sick?
He's probably dreaming about chicken or something.
I sighed and leaned on the headboard and placed my hand on his forehead every now and then to test his temperature.
Watching him sleeping like this...
It almost makes me want to tell him everything.
"Onew..." I murmured, my heart beating fast.
He didn't move. He's still deeply asleep.
"Onew...I..." I stopped. What if he's just pretending to be asleep??
I looked to my side and saw another way.
I grabbed the pen and the notepad and started to write what I wanted to tell him.
But I stopped for awhile because it's difficult since I'm right handed and he's hugging my right arm.
I tested his temperature again.
Oh, good. His fever is almost gone.
So I went back to writing again.
Why am I nervous?! He can't even hear me! It's all in paper.
Lee Jinki, I'm in--
The door suddenly opened.
Junsu-shii poke his head in and looked at us.
"Knew it." He smirked.
"I'm just Onew's classmate." He imitated what I said earlier in a teasing way.
I blushed and quickly shoved the pad back in its place. "This isn't what it looks like--"
"Of course not. I believe you." He shrugged and opened the door more widely.
"Because here's the girl who claims to be the real girlfriend."
My blood ran cold.
The real girlfriend?
Jessica suddenly stepped in the room, a haughty smile on her face.
"Thank you, Junsu oppa. I can manage from here." She closed the door with a bang.
I frowned. Onew is sleeping! Must she be so loud?!
"What are you doing here?" She turned to me coldly.
I carefully tried to take my arm out of Onew's grasp,
but he shifted and only hugged it tighter.
"Onew..." I murmured to him.
"Jessica is--"
"Oppa!" Jessica called out loudly to the sleeping Onew.
"I'm hereee~"
I tried to take my arm out again but Onew just wouldn't let go.
"Excuse me, why are you still here?! Can you leave already? I need to take care of Oppa."
My heart tightened. She's the girlfriend, and that was her job, to take care of him.
Where does that leave me?
"Fine. I'm leaving." I pulled out my arm with every force I could manage and Onew groaned.
He stirred, almost waking up and I quickly rushed to him to put him back to sleep.
But Jessica beat me there.
"Sshh..oppa. I'm here already. Don't worry~"
I watched as she leaned over him and planted a small kiss on his forehead.
I quickly turned around to face the door.
I can't bear to watch this.
I gathered my things and went off, walking away quickly before any of them saw my tears.
Anyway, my job is done.
I just had to make sure he's okay.
Now, it's Jessica's turn.
There's only one thing I wish for though:
That Onew will be happy with her.
Even if it breaks me.
"I don't know why you insist so much on going near him. Forcing yourself to him when we all know he doesn't feel the same way." She said as my hands reached the doorknob.
"What?!" I said sharply, turning around to face her.
She crossed her arms and smirked.
"You didn't think someone on oppa's level will be even remotely interested in someone like you, surely? I mean, let's be realistic here. He's class president, a guy who's loved by all, popular...and you? Someone so unimportant. Sure, you're top three, but so what? You don't exactly make an impact in school now, do you?"
I swallowed. I can't believe how harsh her words were.
Nor can I believe how much they hurt.
Especially because it's true.
"I-I'm not pushing myself to him." I blinked fast, hoping I won't cry infront of her. I may cry infront of Mizuki and Mika, even with Onew and his friends, but never...NEVER with Jessica.
"Really? These past few days, you kept on going near him asking to talk to him." She raised her nose in the
air.
"Seriously? Do you really think he'd give you the time of the day? That he'd even see you as more than a friend? Apparently so, huh? Judging on the fact that you're even here, attempting to take care of him."
"He's my friend." I felt weak and I couldn't come up with proper quips to all her accusations.
How come it hurts so much?
I looked at Onew who was still sleeping peacefully, hoping he can't hear one word of our conversation.
Or the sound of my heart breaking.
"That's the farthest you can go." She looked at me coldly.
"Believe me, as a woman, I'm giving you advice already before you make a fool out of yourself: ONEW DOESN'T LIKE YOU THAT WAY AND HE NEVER WILL. Arasseo?"
"I never said that he would like me that way." I tried to say it indignantly but my voice was breaking and lacks conviction.
How am I supposed to feel now with all the things that Jessica's saying?
The way Onew looks into my eyes, the way he smiles at me, the words he says that makes my heart flutter so much, the way he calls me his yobo, and those hugs...
Don't they really mean a thing?
Am I somehow deluding myself that there's even a small chance that Onew will return my feelings?
"Good. Let's keep it that way, huh? He's--"
Onew suddenly stirred in his sleep.
"Speaking of which..." She rushed to Onew again and his hair.
Honestly, her words still stings so much that I couldn't move anymore.
She looked at me while holding Onew close.
"Take a close look Maki. This..."
She smiled sweetly bending down to peck Onew on the forehead.
"is reality."
class notes
BLAH. JESSICA MAKES ME WANT TO SCRATCH HER EYES OUT. BOOO!!!
lol. sorry for taking so long to update! D: I was sick and busy. >< pfft.
haha. thank you for being patient!
By the way, can I plug my fics here? I can? YAYYY ><
feat. Lee Taemin
SHINee oneshots/twoshots
and my latest fic! TA~DAAAAA!
[The Dating Subject] OMG! You guys are still subbing even though it's finished?! CAN I GIVE YOU ALL A HUG? I love you! :)
Comments