*Sunjung's POV*

You yawned as you tried to pay attention to the lecture. 

"Ah, there will be a new student today, please treat him well. Please come in," the teacher said. 

You perked your ears. 

You've always loved seeing who the new kids were. 

Although you kept your distance with them like everyone else, you were always curious. 

A tall, muscular, but slender guy walked in. 

His eyes were small black pools and his brown hair was slightly long and in a fringe. 

As soon as you saw him, you recognized who he was. 

He was your childhood friend, Kim Jaehwa. 

You wanted to shout out his name and hug him, but it wasn't appropriate. 

"Annyeonghaseyo, my name is Kim Jaehwa, please take care of me," he bowed politely, and got seated across the from you. 

You kept on eyeing him nervously, also watching the clock. 

You wondered when the lesson would end so that you could talk to him. 

"Sunjung-ah," Nayoung whispered to you so that the teacher wouldn't see. "Is that him?" 

Nayoung, you, and Jaehwa were the best of friends. 

You've known each other since you guys could talk, and you were all so close. 

Yet Jaehwa had to move away because his father got a new job in Incheon. That was so far away from Seoul. 

Well, if Jaehwa wasn't near you, anywhere was far. 

You admit, you've had a crush on him quite a few times. 

He was never really interested in being more than friends, though, or at least that's what you think. 

He had other girlfriends, so much prettier than you, much more patient and even tempered.

You never told him you liked him.

He doesn't even know. 

Only Nayoung found out. 

She supported you like the good friend she is, but Jaehwa just thought she was against his girlfriends.

Yeah, they're still friends. 

You all were still friends. 

Yet, he and you had not contacted each other in a few years. 

You wondered if he changed and became a . 

You just wanted to talk to him again. 

After class, you approached him, or he approached you, either way you guys still started talking. Nayoung followed along. 

"Jaehwa-ah, do you remember me?" you smiled.

"How could I forget you, Jungie~," He pinched your cheek playfully. 

"How about me, Jae?" Nayoung grinned. 

"Mmhmm. I remember you too, Young-ah." he replied, pinching her cheek as well. 

You guys were so close you often spoke to each other with nicknames. 

It only happened when you guys were around though. 

It didn't feel the same with others. 

"Hey, Jae, you've gotten pretty handsome these few years," you said, scanning him.

He looked more toned and muscular than you remembered. 

Before, he was slender, but wasn't all the muscular and had braces. 

"And your teeth are straight. Those braces paid off pretty well," Nayoung remarked. 

Jaehwa rolled his eyes. 

"Of course I got hotter! I'm irresistable." He batted his eyelashes. 

"Jae-ah!" you laughed. "Anyways, when did you move back?" 

"Hm, about last week? It took a while to unpack." he shrugged. 

"Then does that mean we can visit samchon and eemo?" Nayoung asked. 

"Mhmm, appa and umma would love to see you guys," Jaehwa nodded, smiling.

"Oi," You felt someone put their hand on your head and ruffle your hair. "Who's this?" 
You looked up. 

It was Ren. 

"Oh, ah, this is our childhood friend, Jaehwa," you casually smiled. "Jaehwa, this is Ren," 

Jaehwa inspected him closely. 

"I see. You're the Nu'est guy?" 

"Ne, I am." Ren replied. 

"Aigo, I can't wait to see samchon and eemo~" you said in a singsongy voice. 

"Ah, umma's making hot pot tonight. I know how much you like it," Jaehwa grinned. 

Your eyes widened. 

"Really? Eemo must've sensed me coming!" you cheered. 

Ren watched awkwardly. 

Jaehwa noticed him and asked, "Would you like to come too? To my house, that is."

Ren shook his head. 

"A-ani, I'm really busy tonight. Mianae," he said, his mouth suddenly dry. 

He walked off, and Jaehwa stared at him. 

"What's his problem?" he muttered. 

"Ah, Ren-sshi is just shy," you said absentmindedly, playing with Jaehwa's hand. 

"Ne, ne, he's really shy," Nayoung agreed. 

Jaehwa raised an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything. 

"Aigo, don't think too much of him, he's actually a nice person," you said, not looking at him. 

Jaehwa stared at you, who was playing with his hand and actually entertaining yourself. 

He rolled his eyes. 

"You're really having fun, ne?" he teased. 

"Ani~ There's nothing to doooo," you whined. 

Okay, yeah, you spoke to him in aegyo. 

It was practically impossible for you not to. 

Even Nayoung talked to him in aegyo. 

"Ah, well here's the directions to my house," Jaehwa scribbled his address on a scrap piece of paper lying around, and handed one to each of us. 

"Ah, I'll be there at 6, ne?" you said. 

"Ne, ne," he waved his hand, and you went home with Nayoung to get ready. 

*Ren's POV*

Ren was uneasy that day. 

What is she doing with that Jae guy? Childhood friend, my ! He looked at her with so much lust... No, I'm probably just imagining it, ugh, stop overthinking it, Choi Minki! He thought to himself with worry.

He didn't even know why he was worried for you. 

You were just his friend. 

Barely. 

Maybe. 

He didn't even know. 

Yet, he wanted to protect you from all harm's way. 

He even felt possessive over you. 

What was wrong with him? 

It's not like him to act this way. 

Shaking these thoughts from his head, he walked to the bathroom. 

What was wrong with him these days?

He thought of you only as a friend, yet he often admired you from afar. 

He often wanted to squeeze you in a hug. 

He often wanted to just be with you. 

Did he really think of you as a friend?

Naw, no way, he probably is just paranoid or something. 

Splashing water in his face, he looked at himself in the mirror. 

What was really wrong with him...?

*Sunjung's POV*

That night, you were super conscious about your outfit. 

You couldn't decide what to wear, so you had Nayoung pick for you. 

"Gosh, you're just meeting aunty and uncle, why are you so indecisive," she rolled her eyes, as she searched your closet. 

"Because..." you pouted. "I haven't seen them in a while. What if they think I dress like a hooch?" 

"Ani, they won't think that. They like you just as much as they like Jaehwa." Nayoung replied. 

"What if they do?" you hesitated. 

"Ani, I said they won't, and they won't!" Nayoung threw a casual T-shirt at you and a pair of skinny jeans. 

"Aish, what are you doing?" You caught them flawlessly, and flashed her a pout. 

"Your clothes for tonight," Nayoung flopped onto your bed. 

You examined it closely. 

"Hey, Nayoung," you said slowly. 

"Hm?" Nayoung turned, closing her eyes. 

"Kamsahamnida," you smiled. 

"Aish, no problem," she said, her voice muffled. You quickly changed, and said, "How does it look?" 

Nayoung opened one eye and replied, "Fine, as always,"

You walked towards her, and punched her arm playfully. 

"Get up, we have to leave nooow," you shook her. 

"Aigo, I'm getting up, I'm getting up!" Nayoung groaned as she pushed herself up. 

"Appa, umma, I'm leaving!" you yelled loudly.

"Aish, give them the kimchi on the table," your umma yelled back. 

You sighed, and came down the stairs, Nayoung following you. 

You took the plastic bag that held the kimchi, and stuck it in the car. 

Nayoung got in the back, and started napping. 

You the radio on low, just so that she wouldn't wake up. 

Sighing, you pulled at the gear shift and started driving to Jae's house.