https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oMgxa32A7g

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“All right. Let’s call it a day,” Joohyuk said as he shut the book.

Dajung did the same, and Yoonjung started to panic. “Already? We should study some more! Finals are coming up! Don’t you wanna pass? Open your books!”

Joohyuk and Dajung exchanged looks.

“What’s up with you? Why are you so diligent all of a sudden?” Joohyuk raised an eyebrow.

“Is everything okay, Yoonjung?” Dajung looked concerned.

“Yes. No. Maybe. Probably. It will be. Won’t it?” Yoonjung’s expression grew darker with each answer.

“Overwhelmed?” Joohyuk guessed.

“You have no idea,” Yoonjung groaned as she buried her face in her arms.

“What happened?” Dajung asked.

“I know.”

“What is it?”

“She’s dying.”

“What?”

“She was so thrilled when I called her for a study session at the library. She picked up her phone in one ring and came here in less than half an hour. They say people who change out of nowhere are about to die. Therefore, Yoonjung is dying,” Joohyuk concluded with a cross of his arms and a satisfied smirk on his face.

Dajung frowned. “You’re an idiot.”

“So I’ve been told. Doesn’t faze me anymore,” he quipped, making her roll her eyes.

Yoonjung sighed as she sat up. It was true. She had enthusiastically accepted Joohyuk’s request for a study session. It gave her an excuse to get away from Mark, but now, she had to face him at tonight’s party that was taking place at JR’s house.

“Spill it,” Joohyuk demanded as he slammed his fist down on the desk. “I wanna know the drama!”

“Quit it, Joohyuk. You’re making a scene,” Dajung said in a hushed voice as she looked around them. The library was no place for spilling drama. “Let’s go outside,” she said, and they gathered their things. Joohyuk bought canned coffee for them, and they sat at a wooden table underneath the shady trees.

“Now… SPILL IT!” Joohyuk banged his fists on the table.

“Pipe down, will you?” Dajung frowned.

Joohyuk made a face but eagerly blinked at Yoonjung.

She finally told them what happened this morning with Mark and his father. Their jaws dropped with each new information, and she paused to let them know before they could choke on some of the gnats in the area. “And that’s when Joohyuk saved me and I came here.”

“Talk about ‘saved by the bell,’” Joohyuk commented.

“So you have to face your boyfriend in about three hours?” Dajung checked her watch.

“Yes, and I’m dreading it!” Yoonjung squealed with alarmed eyes.

“Poor thing,” Dajung sympathized as she patted her distressed friend’s hand.

“I have a solution.”

“What?”

“Break up with him. OUCH!”

Dajung shot him a glare. “Can you be any more of a moron? You’re saying the most idiotic things today.”

“Excuse me!” Joohyuk looked offended. “It was a legit solution, no? If you break up with him, you don’t have to see him! Am I not right, Yoonjung?”

By the way she stared at him, he knew he wasn’t.

“So what are you going to do?” Dajung asked.

Yoonjung thought about it and held out her phone. “Call Mark and say I’m dead in the hospital-”

“Will do!” Joohyuk gleefully took it, but Dajung snatched it away. His shoulders deflated as he pouted. “You’re no fun, missy.”

Dajung ignored him. “Don’t be silly, Yoonjung. This is your chance to make things not awkward with Mark anymore. Besides, you said it’s the last party before all your friends go back. Be brave. You can do this.”

“Instead, look hot and gorgeous doing it,” Joohyuk advised. “Be practically !”

Dajung slapped a hand over his mouth. “You’re really laying it on thick today…”

Yoonjung’s lips quirked upwards in amusement. She looked at her phone that still had the wallpaper of her and Mark on it. Did she want everything to go back to the way things used to be? Absolutely. Did she still love Mark? The answer was obvious.

“I’ll see you guys later,” Yoonjung said as she stood up. “I have a party to go to.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEhZAHZQyf4

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Yoonjung took a deep breath and looked at the gate to JR’s house. Mark had offered to pick her up, but she had made up some lie about having to drop by somewhere last minute. So much for being brave, she thought. She took another deep breath before forcing her index finger to press the doorbell.

The gate buzzed open, and she went inside. She took her time crossing the yard and paused in front of the house. It had been a while since she had come to JR’s house. The last time had been for his sister Joy’s birthday. She had wished out loud for Mark to kiss her, causing her brother to slam cake into her face and her crush to go home early. That wasn’t why she was so hesitant to go inside though. She just couldn’t stand the awkwardness between her and Mark.

The door swung open, and she reeled her hand back in surprise.

JR grinned at her. “Hi, Snow White. Welcome to my lair.”

Yoonjung couldn’t help but chuckle, and she found her shoulders starting to loosen up. “So this is where my prince lives.”

“Home sweet home,” JR cooed. “Now, come hither.”

“You sound like my evil stepmother. I better leave before you poison me with an apple.” Yoonjung took a step back.

JR caught her hand and gave her a soft look. “Everything is going to be fine, Yoonjung. In fact, all is back to normal. You just have to face your own happily ever after.”

She softened as her shoulders slumped. “Was my urge to run away that obvious?”

“Very. Now get inside. There’s no point avoiding the inevitable.” JR pulled her inside.

"Where's Joy?" 

"Out with her boyfriend." 

"Boyfriend?! What happened to her undying love for Mark?"

"She completely forgot about him when she met this guy. I forgot his name, but I met him once. He's an exchange student from China, and he's pretty stoic. You can see her type hasn't changed."

Yoonjung chuckled with a shake of her head.

“There’s our woman of the hour!” BamBam cheered. He raised his glass in the air with a slightly tipsy smile.

“Already?” Yoonjung asked, amused.

BamBam planted a wet kiss on her cheek. “Don’t worry, Jungie Jungie. I can hold my liquor.”

From behind, JR sliced the air in front of his neck and shook his head with a serious look.

Yoonjung laughed, and BamBam looked back with a suspicious expression.

JR feigned innocence as he peered into the ice bucket.

Youngjae and Mindy were raiding the buffet table, and they waved at her with big grins. Yoonjung smiled warmly in response and couldn’t help but think about how cute they looked together.

“You made it.” Yugyeom appeared out of the blue.

“I did.”

“I figured you’d chicken out.”

“Almost did.” Yoonjung nodded at JR. “My stepmother stopped me.”

Yugyeom smirked.

Jackson clapped a hand on his shoulder and smiled at Yoonjung. He looked visibly brighter tha