[CONTENTID1]Chapter 26[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]"...so basically, that's what happened," I sigh, leaning against my seat at Crescent Café. Today, I decided to come alone, and just talk to Jeonghan again. Although I was hurt that he had a girlfriend, the pain slowly left, and it no longer leaves my heart aching anymore. "Now, everyone at school knows I'm a girl, and they think that I'm dating Baekhyun." 

"And how are they taking it?" Jeonghan leans in, ears attentive. I shrug, absentmindingly stirring my coffee. 

"Some are supportive, some aren't. Luhan though... he just looked so sad when I told him...that I felt guilty. Should I even be feeling guilty?"  

"I'm not you—I can't tell you how to feel. But if you want to talk to him again, and clear up everything, then you should do it now. Before you back out." Slowly looking up, I think about what Jeonghan said.  

"Do you think I should?" I hesitantly ask. Jeonghan shrugs, and smiles simply. Taking a deep breath, I take out my phone and dialed Luhan's number. Even to this day, I still haven't deleted it. 

"Hello?" Luhan's sweet voice came on the phone.  

"Hey," I mustered up. "This is Phoenix. Come to Crescent Café if you still want to talk. I'll text you the address." Then, I hang up. 

"I'll be behind the counter if you need me," Jeonghan pats my head.  

Five minutes later, Luhan rushes in, hair mussed and eyes wild. His gaze darted around the small café, until it zoomed in on me.  

"Phoenix!" He runs towards me. "You wanted to talk?!" I smile half heartedly, and patted at the seat next to me. Luhan joins me. 

"You go first," I gesture. “You’ve been waiting, right?” He grins widely, extremely relieved.  

“Okay,” Luhan takes a deep breath, “first things first, I’m sorry. I was stupid back then. I wasn’t thinking and—again. We were freshman, and we did horrible things to look cool—I didn’t want to hurt you,” Luhan pleads. “What I did was wrong. There’s no way to justify that. I just want to make everything between us before I leave in two weeks. I’ll do anything for forgiveness, Phoenix. Anything. I have no pride when it comes to you—, I’ll even get on my knees and beg!” 

I think about all the things he did. About all the times he made me cry, and then all the times he made me happy. He was there for me when no one else was, like when my parents divorced. But he was also the one who tore me down.  

“When we first started to date,” I exhale, “Did you do that because you wanted to be with me, or because you thought it was ‘cool’ to go out with the girl who didn’t hang out with anyone?”  

“I wanted to be with you,” he whispers earnestly. Grabbing ahold of my hands, he interlaces our fingers together. “The first time I saw you, I was star struck. You were like no girl I’ve ever met before. Even now, with your short hair and baggy clothes, I still see the smart, beautiful girl I fell in love with. It’s just, after I joined the ‘popular crowd’ they twisted my thoughts. Made me see you as a social ladder and not a human being that I did wrong. After you left me I realized how much of a bad person I was.” 

I close my eyes, trying to stop the tears from coming.  

“It was fate that I transferred to the same school as you,” Luhan insists. “My parents may be moving again soon, but some mystical being out there gave me a chance to apologize to you and make things right again.” 

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