Eight
Somewhere Only We Know
"What's up with you, Top?" Jiyong asked, nudging him in the arm as we all sat down for breakfast. Seunghyun shook his head, not looking up from his food.
Seunghyun...
My eyes widened at that sight...something I use to see so often. I could clearly hear the sound of my heartbeat, as if every single sound in the world had dimmed. It was the first time since I've returned, that I saw Seunghyun without those flirty eyes and that mischievous smirk. His confidence wasn't glowing and the air around him was different. I was sure that was my Seunghyun...
I must have crushed him a second time with my words.
"I've got some important things to do, so I'll be heading out after this." I informed the guys.
"Where are you going?" Jiyong asked.
"Just around town to settle some matters, since I'll be staying in Korea permanently."
"But you've been away for so long, you must not be familiar with the place. Top, go with her." Jiyong suggested. I opened my mouth to interrupt, but before a word could escape,
"Ok." Seunghyun gladly accepted.
He gave me a small smile. And I quickly looked down at my food again, unable to take the sight of how forced that smile seemed.
After breakfast, we both got changed and headed out. Seunghyun drove. The atmosphere was awkward, while the both of us chose to ignore it. He focused on the road, while I looked out the window, mentally identifying each street and linking them up with my memories. I occasionally had the urge to turn around and punch Seunghyun in the shoulder like I used to, excitedly asking him if he remembered a particular incident on any particular street. But I held that urge in, knowing he couldn't possibly remember these childish things. I struggled to remind myself that the only person I could reminisce with, was myself.
When we arrived at the mall, Seunghyun parked the car and accompanied me up. I needed to get a phone so I was contactable.
"You can go walk around if you want. It may take some time." I casually pointed out.
"It's ok, I wanna stay with you."
My stomach churned.
"I can get things done by myself." I replied coldly.
"I know." Seunghyun simply said.
As soon as the procedures were done, the man behind the counter handed me my new cellphone.
"So, Haerin Cutie..." he sweetly spoke, "Can I be the first to get your number?"
I couldn't help but smile to that. Even though the Top before my eyes was flirty, and has probably used these sweet nothings on countless of girls before, I couldn't help but think of the old Seunghyun, who too, would have said something so cute...only that his would have been nothing but an innocent question.
I extended my hand, signaling for him to hand me his phone. He proudly placed his phone in my palm, as if feeling accomplished. I saved my name in his phone as 'Hae Rin', which led me to something that made my heart stop.
As I keyed in the 'R' to my name, many other existing contact names starting with 'R' showed up in a row. And there it was, still there after 7 years...
'Rin <3'
I quickly exited the page and was about to hand him back his phone when it suddenly started vibrating.
'Incoming call...
Hwayoung Princess'
I froze.
"Seunghyun ah...someone's calling." I mumbled. I looked up to find him staring at me intensely, as if completely shocked. His playful and relaxed self vanished the second those words escaped my lips.
"What did you call me?"
It was only then that I realized the slip of my tongue. I called him Seunghyun. I didn't know what to say as his piercing eyes bore into mine, as if absorbing all the remaining courage I had inside of me.
"You have a call." I repeated myself, hoping he'd brush it off. And he did, as soon as he saw that name on the screen calling out to him. He took a few steps
away from me as he spoke with his princess. And within two minutes, he hung up.
"I have to go. Do you know your way back?" He asked, waiting for my response impatiently. I wished I could say yes, so I didn't have to be such a burden...especially after I just saw him speak to his new found treasure on the phone. But I didn't know the way back. As if he could read my mind, he quickly said,
"It's ok, I'll pick you up after I'm done."
And for the first time in my life, he left me behind.
After settling everything I had to, it was already way passed lunch time. And I didn't have anymore money left on me after getting a few necessities I needed in the house. I fished my bag for my phone, checking if Seunghyun had called yet. Nothing. And he hadn't even given me his number. Great. Not that I would have called though.
I sat at the bus stop like a fool, waiting for his call. It was already 6pm. I had been waiting for approximately four whole hours, not counting the time I spent window shopping to pass time. I felt stupid, like my pride had been trampled on somehow. I stood up and walked out towards the main road. I spent 15 minutes trying to hail a cab and when I finally got one, I gave him the address to the place I used to live. It's been seven years, but I couldn't possibly forget the address to the house I lived in for more than half my life. From there, I could recognize the way to Jiyong's place. So I directed him around the narrow alleys.
"You must have been away for a long time to not remember where you live." the cab driver commented, completely amused. I laughed awkwardly.
"That's the one!!" I pointed out as soon as I spotted Jiyong's house.
"8000 won please." he said, pulling up on the driveway.
"Errr... Wait here please, I'll be right back, I promise!" I pleaded, embarrassed. I practically ran up to the front door, knocking frantically. I could hear the vague voices from inside. After about 5 seconds, the door unlocked.
"Oh! Haerin!" Taeyang greeted, "Where have you been the whole day?"
"Oppa, can you lend me some money?" I desperately requested.
"Yeah sure, but what for?" he said as he went in to get his wallet.
"I took a cab back. It's waiting for me outside." I said, grabbing his arm and leading him out.
I watched as he took a few notes out of his wallet and suavely handed it to the driver.
"Kamsahamida." he thanked, bowing as the cab drove off. I looked up at him in admiration.
"What?" he asked, surprised by my staring.
"Oppa, you look extremely manly all of a sudden!" I exclaimed. He scoffed, amused by my remark.
"So what happened?" Taeyang question, throwing himself on the couch beside Jiyong. My heart dropped right down to my toes just thinking about it. I stood infront of them with a slight frown.
"I was abandoned without any form of contact and no cash on me. I didn't know what bus to take because I don't know the address here and I almost couldn't direct the cab driver. He laughed at me because I looked so lost. I was so pathetic." I rambled all in one breath. I didn't know why, but I started tearing while Taeyang and Jiyong rolled around laughing. As soon as they noticed, they stopped.
"Woah woah, Haerin, don't cry." Jiyong cooed.
"I'm fine. I'm going upstairs." I mumbled and quickly ran to my room leaving the two guys clueless as to what to do to make me feel better.
-
My heart jumped for joy the moment I heard a knock on my front door. I dashed forward and swung the door wide open.
"SEUNGHYUN!" I cried, pouncing on him, hugging him as tightly as I could. When I didn't feel him hug back, I pulled away, slightly disappointed. But as soon as I saw that his entire face was red from blushing, I laughed inwardly.
"Seunghyun, you don't forgive me?" I asked, pretending to be hurt.
"I do! That's why I came..." he muttered, still shied by our close contact. I grinned, hugging him again. This time, he hugged back.
-
I lay in bed with an empty stomach, staring at the clock, watching the time tick away second by second. It was only 8.20pm. Too early to sleep, too late to ask the guys for dinner. I saw them finish their last pizza when I came back. Why was everything going wrong?
Just then, I got a text from an unknown number.
'Are you upset?'
I checked the number again...it wasn't one I recognized. I reached for my old phone. The line was canceled, but the contacts were still in. I scrolled through, checking if it was one of my friends back in the states. But none of the numbers matched.
'Who is this?' I sent.
Almost instantly, I got a reply.
'Haerin Cutie, forgive me!'
I rolled my eyes upon realizing. I threw my phone under my pillow and tried my hardest to go to sleep, ignoring the grumbling of my tummy. But another text came.
'Samgyupsal!'
And another,
'Kimbap!'
And another...
'Ddokboki!!!!!!'
And then there was a knock on the door.
"Screw you, Top." I muttered under my breath as I got up and swung my bedroom door open violently.
"Haerin Cutie..." He smiled, holding up 3 big bags of all the food he mentioned. I just stared.
"Hungry?" He cutely chirped.
-
"Rin, do you like that Minhyuk guy?" Seunghyun quietly asked as I struggled to locate a star with my lousy pair of binoculars.
"I guess so." I simply replied, not putting much thought to his question.
"Why? What does he do that makes you like him?" He asked again.
"Hmmm," I thought hard this time. It was something I never really thought about. All I knew was that Minhyuk was cute, and that he asked me out. That was all that mattered.
"Well, he walked me home that day..." I pointed out in a matter-of-fact tone.
"But I walk you home everyday."
"It's different!" I snapped, "You live right next door!"
Seunghyun didn't seem very pleased with that answer. The truth was, I wasn't either.
So I broke it off with Minhyuk the next day.
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