“Oh my god, look at this, Minzy!” Haru screamed in excitement, showing the mail to her friend.

Minzy widen her eyes, gaping wide. “Holly ! Congratulations,” she said, then grabbing Haru’s phone to read the full mail. “The college offer you a full scholarship, with living allowances.” Minzy said, as she read the contents of the mail. “It says, they might even offer you a job after your studies. Oh my god, this is huge!”

“I didn’t apply for any,” Haru answered, grinning.

“You don’t have to work part time anymore, if you receive that much of allowance.” Minzy pointed out, still gaping,  “But why do they offer this to you now when there is only a few more months to graduate?” she asked curiously.

Haru shrugged her shoulders and chuckled, “I really don’t know.”

“Never mind, you deserved this,” Minzy said, rubbing Haru’s shoulder. “You can now spend all your days doing things you like instead or working.”

Haru nodded, agreeing with Minzy. There were a lot of times, she wanted to stay at home, doing her homework or her household chores. There were also times, she wanted to nothang out with her friends, but she couldn’t because of the job. She grinned, her heart feeling full at this moment.

“Do you have something else to say to me?” Minzy asked, squinting her eyes at Haru. “Something important?”

“Like what?” Haru answered, still delighted from the news.

”I don’t know, maybe something about our basketball captain. What was his name again?” Minzy joked.

Haru lunged forward to cover Minzy’s mouth with her hands, “Don’t be so loud,” she said, looking around to see if anyone was close enough to hear the conversation. Minzy laughed under them, “So something did happen.”

Haru groaned, pulling a face, “Nothing,” She whispered. “He,” she stammered, closing her eyes momentarily, “Said he likes me.”

“He confessed?” Minzy yelped, “Oh Sehun confessed to you?” Minzy chortled, her smile widening.

“Unbelievable right?” Haru said, looking at Minzy insecurely.

“No wonder he asked me about you,” Minzy mumbled, ignoring Haru’s look. “Chanyeol, the tall guy, came to see you yesterday. We ended up talking somehow.” She paused, “He was worried about you two.”

“I should have seen this coming,” she finally said, haltingly, feeling a twinge of guilt. “I didn’t thought-”

“I did,” Minzy chuckled, “I am surprised that you just noticed. You’re kinda slow, he was quite clear and obvious about it,”

Haru struggled, not knowing what to do next. She felt like she is caught into a love triangle relationship, like the ones in movies. She felt bad being in a twisted situation like this, when the man she likes knows nothing about her infatuation towards him, and the man she have no feelings for doing all the right things.

///

Sehun was at the helipad of his building, at the center of Seoul. Every other places looked like ants from his view. The buildings, the houses, the lights all looked small and tiny. The sight looked amazing even at night.

His phone vibrated and he looked at Chanyeol message, asking where he is. He simply typed, “Top,” and pressed send.

The wind was strong and chilly, and he feels like it was piercing through his skin. His thin black knitted shirt wasn’t helping to keep him warm.

“You’re here,” Chanyeol greeted him. He walked towards Sehun, his arms hugging his own body, “It’s freezing.” He mumbled.

Sehun said nothing and continued staring at the view. Chanyeol spared him a glance, a little hesitant to speak, “You don’t come here unless you have a problem.”

“Do you know why?” Sehun asked, “Whenever I have a problem, or when I don’t feel good, coming here, on top of this building and I look down, everything seem very small. The people who made me feel bad, looks microscopic from here. It makes me feel like my problems isn’t that huge.”

“What is it this time?” Chanyeol asked, not taking his eyes from the view.

“It’s different this time,” He answered, “I used to come here to vent out my frustrations, and my anger. I was never here to enjoy the view.” He breathes, “I think I was in the darkness for a long time, I almost forgot how beautiful Seoul looks.”

Chanyeol thought for a moment and nodded slowly, “Sometimes, the smallest things that you take for granted, are the ones that truly makes you happy.” After a few minutes, finally he said, “You knew,” Chanyeol chuckled darkly. “It wasn’t you in the first place. It was Lay.”

“I knew,” Sehun answered, keeping his hands in his pocket, “She smiles whenever she sees him, laughs at anything Lay says, her eyes shine brightly.” He laughed a little, but his laugh didn’t reach his eyes, “She looks like she’s losing her soul when she’s talking to him.”

“So why her?” Chanyeol argued, “You knew all along, so why did you tell her you like her?”

“Feelings are not known unless you voice them.”

“I said that because I didn’t know she was in love with Lay! I thought she was available, emotionally.” Chanyeol sighed internally. He didn’t know that his advice could go terribly wrong.

“Lay doesn’t know. It doesn’t matter anyways,”
 

”It does. You cannot discard her feelings.” Chanyeol runs his hand through his hair, “I thought Baekhyun was exaggerating, but he was right. I can’t believe you’re serious about her that you’re willing to cut Lay out of the narrative. How could you have fallen so far?”

“I wouldn’t do it if I could help it.” Sehun said lowly as if he was feeling guilty about himself, “If I could help it, I’d never done it.” He turns around, resting his arms on the metal rail, “I know I’m being horrible, but I let her in, and I don’t let people in. I can’t give her up,"

Chanyeol fell silent, unsure on what to say, “Don’t. Don’t do this,” He responded in a low murmur, “She’s not the only one, look around. There are plenty of other girls. Doing this, doesn’t make you the hero. It makes you the . Don’t be the .” He said, before walking away from Sehun.

“You think I can’t?” Sehun asked, his tone a note higher. Chanyeol turned around to look at him, his lean figure looks leaner than usual, his dark hair spreading across everywhere in his face.

“I don’t mind being the .”

//

Haru was in the computer lab, applying for jobs. Her graduation is in 5 months, and she wanted to secure a good placement first. She applied to some mediocre companies as well as the high end ones.

She clicked the Zeus homepage, her breathing hitched for a second. She wondered if she could get to work with the national technology company that made headlines several times for their incredible turnover. She didn’t like the dog eat dog ethics practiced there, although the appearance of the company’s name in her resume would bag her endless opportunities in the working world.

She closed her eyes, and decided to give it a shot anyway. She filled the form up online carefully, rechecking every details twice before pressing submit.

**

She was walking out of the lab when she saw Sehun down the pathway. She felt nervous suddenly, her heart beating fast, not knowing on how to respond. She even thought about getting back to the lab to avoid talking to him.

But her legs gave away, turning wobbly and refusing to move even an inch.

He saw her too, his face brightening up. He whispered something to his friend, Kyungsoo, before running towards her.

“Hi,” He greeted her. Haru smiled back at him.

“Where are you going?” he asked, hoping to bait a new conversation. “Library?”

She nodded, “Yes, there are some new arrivals. And they could use some help,” She looked down briefly to see her shoes, then lifting her head up, “You?” she asked him.

“I’m heading to the library too,” he said, walking to stand beside her.

”But you were walking on the opposite direction,” she pointed out when he was walking earlier with Kyungsoo.

The tiniest little flicker at the corners of his lips betrayed the slightest smile, “I just wanted to see you actually,” he said honestly. “Two days seems like an awfully long time.”

She didn’t try to respond, instead she started walking without saying anything, “You shouldn’t say things like that out loud,” she spoke softly.

“Why? You feel awkward with me?” He asked walking beside her. She nodded and answered truthfully, “A little,”

“Because I told you I like you?” he asked again. She jolted in surprise, looking around her, “Quiet.” She hissed.

“It’s fine, no one is here,” he laughed. “You look pretty today,” he said, putting both his hands in his jeans pocket.

“Oh, this dress is from the thrift store,” She said, looking at her dress, “I got it at the best price.”

“I didn’t mean the dress,” He shakes his head, looking at her.

She stood frozen, understanding that he said she looked pretty, and her eyes darted between her two shoes. In the silence, she cleared his throat awkwardly, and began to speak, “I don’t think,” she stopped not wanting to sound rude or to give him the impression that she is rejecting him, “ Do you want my answer now?,” she asked instead, her tone flat and icy.

“No if you’re not ready. Take all the time you need,” Sehun then went silent for a long beat, for a second she could only hear him breathing, “If I'm a girl and a guy like me came to me and say he likes me, I probably say yes the next second.” He said calmly. 

She stared at him, amazed with his self esteem, and laughed out loud, then letting out a small giggle that sound extremely out of place.

“I like you,” he said suddenly and her laugh evaporated, “And I don’t like people recklessly. I’m confident that these feelings won’t sway. So I want you to feel at ease and open up to me, you can say anything. I’d like you anyway,  I’m on your side,” he assured her.

//

Lay was in his room finishing the last details of the report. He closed his laptop, and grabbed himself a bottle of water, and stood near the window. Watching the night sky, he remembered the conversation that took place in the bar the other day. He remembered the way Sehun said he likes the girl. He remembered the serious look in his eyes, as if he really meant it.

Lay admired Sehun. He always did.

Unlike him, Sehun was always clear and upfront on what he wants. He always goes for it, without thinking about the consequences. He doesn’t care about the likes of his father. He doesn’t care if what he wants doesn’t fit the norm.

Sehun always have fought back.

Lay on the other hand, had to rethink about everything twice before deciding. He felt burdened and pressured by his family, wanting him to be the perfect son, the perfect student, the perfect successor. Sometimes, Lay find it hard to breathe in his father’s presence.

He sipped on his water, when a particular thought struck his mind. 

Lay never thought Sehun would like her. He never thought she was fit to be someone he likes. He remembered Sehun complaining about working with the girl for a week. But something was quite strange about Haru.

It wasn’t hard to notice. He knew she likes him. She always looks eager when she talks to him. The way she blush and smiles, and how hard she tries to maintain her poise when talking to him amuses him. He remembered the past encounter with her, where she looked extremely awkward.

If she were to habor feelings towards Lay, he thought it would be appropriate for him to set the road straight. Not because he wanted to help Sehun, but because that is the kind of man he is expected to be.