Chapter 28

Give yourself a makeover, Try new makeup or cut your hair or dye it.   “YAH! Kwon Nam Gyu! Why did you make Kim Jonghyun cry?”   I pull my phone away from me, for his shrills are ear-splitting. Uh-oh. So this is what it’s all about.    “I—I—” I stutter and the big question is why? I gulp. Probably because, even though I experienced Key’s nags before, he never once raised his voice to me and it’s scary.   “Save your breath Gyu. At The Tavern. Now!”   “Y-yes sir.” And the line went dead. Oh god. He’s scarier than Kim Jee In.   ---   I sit at our usual place, scratching the edge of the table as I wait for Ki Bum. Why am I so scared of him anyway? And why is he acting like he’s the one who got heartbroken (I’d pretty much understand if it’s Kim Jonghyun who’s mad at me and not Key.)   The bells at the Tavern’s door jangle as someone push it open. I look up, nonetheless it was Key, wearing an eyeglasses and a fedora hat. He looks around and when he caught my eye, I shudder and look at the ground.   I heard some thumping sounds. I thought it was my heartbeat but then it was Ki Bum. I look up at him and try to smile. “Hi?”   His eyebrows knitted and his eyes squinted. “Don’t look at me like that. You— are— so—dead—right— now.”   “It’s nice to see you too, Ki Bum.” I say acerbically and rolled my eyes at him—feigning arrogance. I look outside the window. I glance back at him as I gnash my teeth. Key just stands there, his hand forming fist—and I don’t know. Waiting? “Aren’t you going to sit down?” I ask him. A part of me knows I’m right. That he’s waiting for me to offer him a sit.   But he didn’t take it. He just stares at me, but in a sort-of-calm way now. He open his mouth to speak and I was completely taken aback on what he says next, coz I was expecting for a death threat.    “Did you eat already?” I didn’t know how to answer, so I just look at him intently. This time, he’s the one who rolls his eyes, annoyed. He stomps his feet away from me—going to the counter.   When he’s out of earshot, I breathed out. Finally. I tap my chest. I thought he’d notice that I’m just pretending to act all cool and whatnot. But I’m glad he didn’t.   He came back with a tray on his hands. I peep at the content, it’s burger and fries. My stomach starts to rumble and the food looks tasty that my mouth starts to water. Ki Bum sits and takes his food and place the other in front of me.   I look away again and I keep on peeking at the foods—they looks so tempting more than ever. Key cleared his throat and say, “I didn’t poison your food, so eat now.”   I shyly get the burger and take small bites. Key is looking at me trying his best not to laugh vociferously. “You look thinner… Didn’t Jonghyun take care of you?” I drop the burger on my plate and sigh exasperatedly. I got infuriated on what he said and I don’t why. I don’t know if it’s because he mentions Jonghyun’s name or for judging him like that. We sit in silence before he speaks again. “Jonghyun went home today with puffy and red eyes. He looked as if he had not slept.”   I feel bad—again.   I feel the urge of saving myself. I tell him, “Jonghyun cries often so…” I stop. I realized I’m worst than Key. How could I think of that way? How can I say Jonghyun cries often so it doesn’t matter anymore? Where the fact is, I am the cause of his suffering? I’m so selfish and worst.   “Sorry.” I mutter under my breath.   Ki Bum exhales though his mouth like a whistle. We didn’t touch our food again and we sit awkwardly and quietly. “May I ask what happened exactly?”   I told him everything—every details. From the time I called him to meet me at The Tavern down to moment where he left. I notice he’s flinching at some words and there are times that he’s glaring at me.   I didn’t leave any details out because I know, I owe them—all of them, an explanation of my side.   “How could you be so cruel?” He asks. “I thought you’re his best friend.” He says accusingly. My shoulders shrug as I let out a throaty cackle.   “Key, how could you say that? Didn’t you think that the one who got hurt the most is Shin Se Kyung?” I paused and breathed out. “It was a tough choice, but it was the right choice.” I told him with a flat tone voice.   When I look up, I saw Key’s expression changed. It became much softer and calmer—like the idea of killing me, evaporates out of his head. “Jonghyun loves you more than you know. I’ve told you this, the first time we met, but you’ve never listen to me.”   It makes sense now, when he said, the other one is hurting.   “I’m sorry, but that won’t change my mind. I made this choice not for myself, but for the both of us. We have to stop while we still can and right before we could end up hurting and hating each other.”   Key gave me a look that surely says he understands me. That