No One’s POV:

Ever since Joo Eun heard that Sooyoon was enlisting soon, she couldn’t help but wonder about all the possibilities around his rejection. Though she didn’t want to, she still held onto some hope and she was prepared to accept the truth however it is, even if it was unfavorable to her.

A few nights after she found out the news, she decided to just show up at his door, even though it was quite past midnight. She just put on her sneakers and rushed out of her house, and stood in front of Sooyoon’s apartment but started having second thoughts.

She sat down near the door for a few minutes before fixing her thoughts again. She stood up a moment later and rang the bell, suddenly feeling super nervous. The door opened a moment later and there stood a very surprised Sooyoon.

She immediately chickened out and turned around to run away from there when he called out her name and she stood frozen for a moment. “Is everything alright?” he asked her, worried at seeing her at his door at this time.

She slowly turned around and looked up at him. “Yeah, it is.” Then the two of them remained quiet, just staring at each other.

“Do you want to come in?” he asked a moment later.

“Can I?” she asked back, surprised.

He simply moved to the side and gave way for her to get in and a second of hesitation later, she walked in. In the living room, just in front of the TV, she saw a few cans of beer on the floor and sat down beside it.

“Joo Eun-ah, why are you sitting on the floor?” he sounded surprised.

“You were sitting down here before I came over, didn’t you?” he nodded, “I’m okay with sitting on the floor too. Come and sit down.”

He sat down on the floor, opposite her, with the cans of beer in between them. He grabbed one and offered it to her, before grabbing one for himself and the two continued to sit in silence once again, simply taking sips from their cans.

“Kim Sooyoon, would you give me some honest, straight-forward answers to my questions?” she suddenly asked.

Sooyoon who was about to pull open the tab of the second beer can, stopped midway, “Hmm, I’ll do my best.”

“Best my foot,” she mumbled under her breath while he let out a soft chuckle, “Anyway, let me get started.” She said and took a deep breath, “So Sooyoon-ah, do you happen to have feelings for some other girl?” he just looked at her with wide-eyes.

She let out a sigh, “did I come off too strong in the beginning itself? Then let me start again with a slightly simple one. Do you like Hye Jin again?” she asked him, silently hoping for a negative reply.

“What?” he chuckled, “No, I don’t. Hye Jin is just a friend.”

She sighed in relief, “then do you like anyone else?” he remained quiet while she quickly emptied the remaining content in her first can and once again silence engulfed them.

“Sooyoon-ah!” she finally broke the silence after what felt like an eternity to them. Sooyoon looked up at her, “Am I bothering you with my presence?”

“No, of course not.” He rejected immediately.

“I heard you’re enlisting soon?”

“How did you know?” he looked at her, surprised.

“I have my ways.” She shrugged. “Sooyoon-ah, can I ask you another serious question?” he nodded, “but please be honest with me.” She begged him with her eyes while he nodded again, “Is that why you rejected me?” he remained silent, “Or maybe you really like someone else?”

He avoided eye contact with her and simply stared at the beer can in his hand instead. “I get it and I think I overstayed my welcome. Thanks for entertaining my stupid questions. I’ll get going then,” she stood up to leave but he grabbed her by her wrist instead.

“Stay,” he whispered that she almost didn’t hear. “I said stay,” he said again a little more loudly this time while she hesitatingly sat down.

“But I don’t want to trouble you anymore,” she said. “I wish we could at least remain as a good friend.”

“Eunnie-ah, you know you’re always welcome here, don’t you? And also, you aren’t troubling me. I’m actually glad that you came over.” He was still holding onto her hand.

“Then tell me Sooyoon, do you still like me?” she asked while he once again looked like he was holding back something. “Kim Sooyoon! Do you? It’s okay even if you don’t. Please just be honest. That’s all I ask of you.”

“I do,” he whispered, still not looking at her.

“What?” she asked.

“I said I still like you.” He finally looked up at her, only to see her flashing him a soft smile.

“Then why did you reject me?” he opened his mouth but she stopped him, “now don’t tell me it’s because of your enlistment.” She gave him a look.

“Eunnie-ah, I’m enlisting.” He said it like it’s a new piece of information.

“So?” she raised her eyebrows.

“I’ll be gone for 2 years. How can I ask you to wait for me?”

“Why not?” she was starting to lose patience.

“How can I? Almost as soon as we get into a relationship, I’d be gone for 2 years and it will not be fair for you.”

“You’ll also be waiting for me in those 2 years, won’t you? Then how is it unfair?”

“Yeah, but still,” he mumbled.

Instead of listening to anymore of his excuses, she leaned in and kissed him. “Do you still want to talk about being upright and what not?” she asked him with a smirk while he sat still taken aback by the sudden kiss. “Can you?” she leaned closer once again but as slow as she could to and stopped just mere inches away from kissing him.

Both of them could feel each other’s breath on their faces. Sooyoon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. But soon he muttered, “Screw this!” and then inched closer and locked lips with her.