“Minseok-ssi, do you hate me?”

“NO!” Minseok exclaimed as he quickly shook his head. And he sounded a little too harsh and Eunsol was a bit surprised with his response. But really, there’s no way he’d hate her. That’s the last thing he’d ever feel for Eunsol. He doesn’t hate her and he will never hate her. Never. “I mean, I don’t hate you.” he explained. “I really don’t.”

Eunsol slightly frowned at him, not believing what he just said. “Then why do you treat me differently?” The fact that someone wouldn’t want to look at you, to shake your hand and to even talk to you, doesn’t that mean that, that person hates you?

“I.. I’m just shy. That’s all.” he mumbled as he coyly scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.” he apologized. “But I don’t really hate you. Really. Eunsol-ah. I don’t hate you.” he mumbled on and on.

Finally, he heard her chuckling. Eunsol smiled at him. It was the same smile that he fell for. “It’s okay.” she says.

“Us... Friends… Uh.. can we be friends?” he stuttered, his cheeks turning a little pink. And he was cursing inside his mind about why did he have to stutter in front of her. Good thing it seemed like she didn’t mind.

“Sure.” Eunsol said as she held out her hand to him. “Friends?”

Minseok gladly took her hand with a shy smile. “Friends.”

“Have you seen Eunsol?” Jongdae asked Junhong who was busy arranging his books inside his locker. Junhong turned to him and innocently shook his head with a sorry look. “I didn’t. Why?”

“I can’t find her anywhere.” Jongdae mumbled as he was about to leave.

He has to see her today. He doesn’t have a valid reason why but he just wants to see her. She doesn’t have work today. Did she go home already? He couldn’t think of where she could be right now. “Just where did that girl go?” He mumbled to himself.

“I think I saw her.” Jinhee suddenly said. “Try looking for her at the benches near the gate.” Jinhee told him with a small smile.

The corners of his lips turned up at the information she gave him. “Thanks.” And with that he left the two.

Truthfully, Jongdae had overheard his friends talking and he felt bad about it. The person whom he thought who would support him wouldn’t. Kris wants Eunsol to be with Minseok.

No. They all want her to be with him.

And he couldn’t help but feel betrayed. Well, they didn’t really betray him in any way possible since they don’t know how he actually feels, but he couldn’t help but feel that way. Why are they all rooting for Minseok? Why? Couldn’t he move on too? Is he the only guy in the world allowed to like Eunsol?

Honestly, when he heard their conversation, he couldn’t help but doubt himself too. Does he really love Eunsol? or is he just using her to forget his someone who hurt him in the past?

What if he gets hurt again?

What if he hurt her without him noticing it?

He doesn’t know anymore. He just wants to talk to her. To hold her. A simple hug from her might clear out complicated things in his mind right now.

It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t have anything funny or good to tell her. He just wants to talk to her. Because right now, he feels like Eunsol is all he has.

 Thankfully, he saw her. With Minseok.

She was talking with Minseok.

Jongdae suddenly stopped walking and he hesitated for a moment. He was thinking if he should intervene or not. His mind tells him not to. But his heart tells him the other way around. For some reasons, he couldn’t just watch them talk happily like that.

And so, he took a few steps and that’s when he felt a hand grab his arm. He turned to his side and saw Luhan. “What are you going to do?” Luhan asked him.

Jongdae stared at him. Why is this deer here? he thought. “I’m going to talk to Eunsol.” he told Luhan.

“She’s with Minseok. Can’t you talk to her later or tomorrow? This is one of the rarest moment that Minseok’s with her. Let’s not disturb them.” Luhan explained as he stared at Minseok and Eunsol who are talking from not so far away.

Jongdae couldn’t just stay still, watching her talk to him. He’s dying to know what they’re talking about. Why’s she’s smiling and now she even shook his hand. Just what is going on?

“They shook hands! Did you see? Minseok held her hand!” Luhan pointed out cheerfully. “He must be so happy right now.”

“I saw. I have eyes Lu.”

Luhan smiled sheepishly at him. “You must be annoyed because I’m too noisy.” he mumbled as he gave Jongdae his bag. “Eunsol wants to give this to you.” he added.

“Minseok really likes Eunsol.” Luhan told him. Jongdae took his bag without saying another word. He was waiting for Eunsol and Minseok to finish talking so that they could finally talk.

“Jongdae, can you please stay away from Eunsol?”

His eyes widened as he turned to his friend. “What? Why are you—“

“If you’re with her, then Minseok can’t talk to her.” Luhan told him. But Jongdae doesn’t seem to be buying it.

“Is it my fault that he can’t talk to her when I’m around?” he blurted out without thinking twice.

“Come on. You know Minseok. He’s so shy and all. Besides, she’s your classmate. You see her almost everyday. And Minseok doesn’t. And he loves her. He really does.” Luhan tried to persuade him.

Jongdae was at loss for words. He couldn’t think of anything to say right now. This deer is telling him to stay away from Eunsol so that Minseok can approach her and all. And he’s even emphasizing the fact that Minseok like—loves her.

“Look at them. Don’t they look good together?” Luhan pointed to the two.

What a way to put salt to the wound. No. They don’t look good together. He thought as he slung his bag on his shoulder and walked away. He couldn’t stand watching those two interact. And he couldn’t also stand to listen to Luhan’s pointless blabberings.

“Where are you going?” Luhan asked him.

“Home.” he mumbled, not even caring to look back at him.

Where are you?

Jongdae, where are you?

Did Luhan give you your bag?

Did you get home safely?

Have you eaten dinner?

Are you asleep now?

Goodnight then.

See you tomorrow.

Jongdae stared at his phone. As much as he wanted to type replies to Eunsol, he couldn’t. He wanted to tell her that today was one of the worst days in his life. But he was scared that she’d say that she doesn’t care.

If his friends didn’t care for him, would she?

Maybe, maybe not.

Minseok really likes Eunsol. Minseok really likes Eunsol. Minseok really likes Eunsol.

Luhan’s words kept running inside his head. He’s been telling him how much that bun likes Eunsol. That they met on the first day of school. And he’s crushing on her for almost two years now. And he’s even telling him to stay away from her so that Minseok can approach her.

Jongdae sat up from his bed and sighed exasperatedly. “So what if Minseok likes her for two years now? I also---“

He suddenly stopped tried to think about it. “Do I really like Eunsol?” he asked himself in silence.

<3