Just Like Then

It was fifteen minutes after their lunch break and Jinyoung is already back to working his off. He is in one of the laboratories monitoring on the progress of the sample they have subjected in one of their studies just yesterday. They're developing a new brand of pain reliever and he's one of the team members who initiated the experiment. He's ninety percent sure that this experiment is going as how they planned, he's just here to continue on making sure about the remaining ten percent.

Just then, Chungha, his co-worker and co-member in the team also walked inside the lab. She's wearing her lab coat and is carying her clipboard with her. He watched her wear her cap before following his steps and checked on the samples as well. They exchanged minimal talks, just about their observations until they both decided to head out.

When they were walking back to their respective cubicles, Chungha oddly followed him until they reached his space. He arched his brow when Chungha just remained standing, elbows resting on the cubicle's frame. 

"So..." she trailed off, eyes sizing up a bit while pursing her lips. And Jinyoung knows that look, plus that tone of hers. It's her usual look and tone when she's about to ask something. And that something isn't necessarily important. Sometimes, it's even about something which doesn't and shouldn't concern her. She's just that nosy. But Chungha is a good co-worker and friend. For the whole month that he's been working with her, he can say that Chungha is a nice person... just sometimes.. she's really a bit nosy.

Jinyoung kept his brow arched. "Yes, Chungha?"

The addressed gave a cheeky grin before getting on with what she initially has to say. "I have something to ask you." 

He can't help but roll his eyes as he sighed. "Of course you have. When did you ever run out of questions to ask?" He heard her giggling and when he checked to look, Chungha still has her cheeky grin. Jinyoung just sighed again.

"Did you and Jaebum used to date before?"

Jinyoung swears he must have choked if he was eating or drinking something and thank God he's not! He wasn't able to say or ask anything but the look in his eyes must have conveyed what he wants to ask and that is why are you asking? Chungha probably caught on his message which is why she's back to talking elaborating further on what she was asking.

"You see, yesterday I went to the HR department to get some files. Of course I didn't miss my chance on getting a glimpse of my crush." The slight change in Chungha's tone ddin't go unnoticed to Jinyoung. The latter stopped abruptly after saying the word crush. And now, her eyes were shifting from left to right like she just got embarrassed which is odd for Jinyoung since, Chungha has been blatantly gushing over her crush on Jaebum ever since he has known her. 

The arch on his brow heightens as he stared at her. Chungha then bit her lips and a seemingly innocent smile drew on her lips. "I guess I should stop addressing him that in front of you- his ex."

"Uh-huh. And why are you so sure of this?" he managed to ask which Chungha answered immediately with a shrug.

"Because I heard of it yesterday. I did say I went to their floor, right? And there I saw him talking to some guy, and from what I heard, they're friends from college." Jinyoung's mind suddenly made a quick recall as to who that friend could possibly be but there were a lot. He can't narrow the list down since he hasn't seen the guy himself. "And that's when you came in the picture."

"Me?"

"Yes. You." Chungha affirmed. "You passed by the office and the guy saw you and recognized you. He was surprised, it seemed, and he said he didn't know you and Jaebum were working in the same place. And then he asked Jaebum if you two got back together." From being arched, now his brows are creased at the center. "Jaebum dismissed the idea all too quickly and was able to shut his friend up from asking more about it."

By the time Chungha finished her narration, Jinyoung was already giving her a judging look. "Just how long were you eavesdropping that you got this amount of information already?"

He saw how the latter rolled her eyes as she fanned herself. "I did tell you I really take my time whenever I drop by their floor. I only get to see Jaebum every break time, you know. So I make the most out of the extra time I get to see him." Jinyoung could only shake his head but then Chungha was asking again. "So... you and Jaebum..."

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Nothing." She answered in a beat, trying to sound nonchalant and unaffected but Jinyoung knew she has more to say. "Knowing that you dated the guy I'd like to date so much... okay let me rephrase that to the guy I'd kill to date." Chungha frowns as Jinyoung fights the urge to chuckle. "Guess I have to let it sink in my brain that the guy I like is not interested in me or in any of my kind since he wants guys as handsome and hot as him."

"Are you saying I'm handsome and hot?" He asked in a playful manner but it seems Chungha is not in the mood to joke around with him and just rolled her eyes at him for the second time.

"It's not even a question. I know you have a mirror in your place. You must have seen yourself so no need to fish some compliments from me. You, having dated someone as hot and handsome as Jaebum, and having a boyfriend as god-like as Mark, oughts to say how equally good-looking and hot you are, so shut up Park Jinyoung."

Now Jinyoung can't prevent himself from laughing. Seeing how frustrated Chungha is, is so damn cute. "Why are you so frustrated because of this?"

"Because you keep on getting all the best guys." Her response was immediate.

"You're saying it as if it is my fault." Jinyoung says while still laughing. 

Chungha huffs a bit before pouting and crossing her arms. After a few seconds, her brows creased and Jinyoung anticipated another question coming. "But now after learning about it- you and Jaebum being together before... I just can't help but wonder why you guys broke up? I mean, the way things I see it, Jaebum is a pretty good type of man and I can say he'll make a pretty decent boyfriend as well. He's really thoughtful and caring and sincere. Plus, I can see you guys get along well since he has been helping you from day one up to now whenever you're having problems at work. Is my mind just clouded because of my crush on him? Is he really a terrible person?"

Jinyoung didn't get to answer right away after the question has been asked. He took a few seconds to think before he opened his mouth. A sigh is the first thing came out from his lips. 

"Not really." He started. "I don't think I should call him terrible. You see, Jaebum was my first boyfriend since I stepped in college but we go a long way since high school. We wer