Summer break had ended and today would be our first day back in school. The last few days of my break were spent with Sehun because the guy volunteered to help me with my holiday assignments. Jeez, since when did Oh Sehun bother about holiday assignments?

Other than that, nothing much had changed. I was still helplessly drowned in my bundle of feelings but thankfully I had Sehun and Yoora with me whom I could share my frustrating moments with. Sometimes I would stop Sehun in the middle of his serious mode to rant about Jongin or Krystal or myself. Sehun would always complain about how untimely my rants were but would hear me anyways.

“If only I fell in love with you, Sehun.” I sighed and faced my tall and extremely good-looking best friend in front of me.

Sehun stopped whatever he was doing and returned my gaze. There we were sitting at the bench at the school’s backyard, staring deep into each other’s eyes.

“But that would be too easy, Haneul. And love isn’t mean to be easy. It’s meant to be worthwhile.” He said softly.

Under the morning light, Sehun’s penetrating gaze and soothing voice made me see him in a different way. This would be my first time seeing him in his full-gentleman mode and it was very heartwarming. But I knew then that he wasn’t the guy for me. No matter how much time I had spent with him, no matter how happy he made me feel, my heart didn’t skip a beat for him–like it did for Jongin. If I knew better, I’d say that love was cruel because here I was, spending a lovely morning with such a great guy but all my mind could think about was Jongin, Jongin and Jongin.

— ✿ —

“Oh shoot!” Sehun exclaimed.

It was lunch break and Sehun was back with his friends. Most of them were already seated at their usual spot but Sehun and Chanyeol were still at the drink stall, buying drinks.

“What? What?” Chanyeol asked in panic. He raised both of his arms to examine if he was bleeding or something.

“I think I lost my wallet.” Sehun replied as his hands went to search every pocket.

“Are you serious? Maybe it’s in your bag.” Chanyeol suggested, trying to help his friend.

“No, I’ve never put my wallet in my bag. You know that.” Sehun said and rolled his eyes.

Chanyeol continued to wreck his brain for another suggestion but was interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Yah! Oh Sehun!” Haneul shouted and jogged toward the two towering males.

“Here.” Haneul said and tossed Sehun his wallet.

“Wait. How? Where?” Sehun caught his wallet in no time, flashing Haneul his biggest smile.

“You left it on the bench this morning. You should have been more careful. What if I wasn’t there?” Haneul scolded him.

“My apology, Ma’am. Won’t happen again.” Sehun feigned a bow and grinned.

“That better be. Later.” Haneul faked a glare and patted Sehun’s back before disappearing into the crowd to search for a meal.

“What was that?” Chanyeol butted in and pushed Sehun toward their table.

“What was what? Hey, I haven’t paid for my drink.”

“I’ve paid for you while you were busy with your girlfriend.” Chanyeol teased Sehun as they got closer to their table.

“What girlfriend?” Sehun asked and couldn’t help but to let out a chuckle.

“She kept your wallet, Oh Sehun. If that doesn’t say something, I think something is definitely wrong.” Chanyeol reasoned out as he plopped his but down on his seat.

“No, it’s not like that.” Sehun tried to explain to Chanyeol, clearly missing out the fact that the whole table was listening to him.

“So are you two dating?” Chanyeol blurted out, not giving Sehun a chance to explain himself.

Sehun could only choke on his drink and coughed vigorously.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be shy, Sehun.” Baekhyun joined in the teasing.

If most of Sehun’s friends were curious and excited about this whole Sehun and Haneul ordeal, there was one guy who didn’t. Kim Jongin was seated quietly between Kyungsoo and Minseok who were thankfully not as rowdy as the other guys.

Jongin didn’t look angry but his expressions gave off a feeling of pain and regret. Was he finally realising his feelings?

— ✿ —

“So how did you know Haneul?” Yoora asked.

Yoora and Sehun were walking along the streets of Myeongdong with bubble teas on their hands.

“Early this year, I guess. I’ve never paid attention to my schoolmates. I have my own group of friends and I’ve never bothered to look for other friends.” Sehun replied in all honesty.

Their steps were in sync and they looked great together.

Yoora gave him a sign to continue his story and that was when Sehun explained everything.

“Tell me about it.” Yoora scoffed and Sehun could only laugh.

“Haneul has always been like that. Don’t tell her that I told you this but she has only dated twice. Her first relationship happened because she was scared to say no to the guy but, believe it or not, they lasted for two years.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me?” Sehun raised his eyebrows.

“Nope. She really did. She didn’t want to hurt the guy’s feelings so she waited for the guy to lose interest in her and would then break up with her. But, of course, he didn’t. And her second relationship happened all too fast. She only knew the guy for a few months and they got so close and that was the first time Haneul felt being in love. Ugh, she was so cheesy then.” Yoora gagged and sipped on her bubble tea.

“What happened then?”

“The guy broke up with her, saying the most ridiculous reason ever. But if you asked me, I’d say that he didn’t love her in the first place. He was just having those fleeting moments, you see. And Haneul was so heartbroken. She even lost lots of weight because of that guy. She said that probably it was her karma for not actually loving her first boyfriend.” Yoora explained and paused to catch her breath.

“That girl is silly. I mean, she has lots to learn in the field of love but she is too scared and she always dreams of the perfect way to fall in love. But she didn’t realise that there wouldn’t be a perfect way to fall in love. Because when we fall in love, we just do. The reason why I let everything went on between you, her, Jongin and this Krystal girl was because I want her to learn that love isn’t perfect and it sometimes isn’t easy. But it’s definitely worthwhile.” Yoora continued and smiled at herself. She felt proud of her best friend whom she had known for the past few years and whom had grown into the most precious girl in her life.

Sehun didn’t reply. He could only stare into the distance.

“Sorry, I was rambling.” Yoora apologised when she realised that she had voiced her mind out without permission.

“No, it’s alright.” Sehun flashed her a sincere smile.

Everything was looking great that evening until a guy with red baseball jacket punched Sehun right in his face.

“How could you!?” Jongin pinned Sehun to the ground and held on to his best friend’s collar.

“Hey! What is wrong with you!?” Yoora screamed and attempted to push Jongin off Sehun’s body.

“How could you cheat on Haneul!?” Jongin asked in rage on last time before hitting Sehun’s right cheek.

Sehun received the blow gladly and as a result, the end of his lips was a little busted and it bled.

“So you’ve realised it now?” Sehun asked as he lay on the ground while Jongin was still on top of him.

They were making a scene right now but none of them could be bothered.

Jongin didn’t understand what Sehun was saying but he had ceased his violent antics.

“You’ve realised that you like Haneul now?” Sehun continued, flashing his best friend a half-smile which said “I told you so”.