Chapter 60

Letting go was what Sehun initially had in mind. But he wasn't so sure anymore. At least not now. Not after Kris told him that Yeojin had been so down after the last time they talked.

"You can't just leave without knowing her true feelings. To some people, they're not something that can just be carelessly spilled" was what Kris said to him.

Sehun wondered if it meant Yeojin had feelings for him.

"Don't get too happy though," Kris warned. "I'm asking you to do this as a favor to cheer her up, not as a free ticket to do whatever you want with her. I'm not in any way giving her up to you. I just don't want to see her sad every time she's reminded of you. You both need to talk. Really talk."

Sehun clenched his hands. "What for?" He brusquely asked through gritted teeth. "Just to see her choose you and run into your arms?" Sehun scoffed to the side but the older guy dryly chuckled.

"I hope you're right about that."

Sehun's eyebrow twitched. It was almost as if Kris didn't believe Yeojin would choose him. What the hell is going on here?

"It's your choice whether you want to talk to her or not," Kris continued. "I just want to give her a chance."

"A chance to do what?"

There was a pause from Kris. A corner of his lips tugged up, but he looked solemn. When he opened his mouth to reply, he didn't give Sehun a direct answer. "Sometimes it's hard to know what the heart really wants." Sehun didn't know what went through the guy's mind, but there was that I've-been-there look across his feature when he said it. Kris' gaze fleeted back to him. "Would you rather dwell in the 'what if' then?"

No, he would not.  But he still thought that it was better to walk away from everything. She was- after all- someone else's wife. That thought ceased the moment he saw her froze a distance away from the table Kris had told him to wait at.

He would not dwell in the what if's!

If he was inferring correctly from his conversation with Kris, Yeojin did- one way or another- grow feelings for him too. Yet, he didn't really know what to do with that information. Kris was right, though. For once, he agreed with the guy. He and Yeojin needed to talk. 

"I was too harsh on you the last time we talked," Sehun broke the awkward silence while they were eating. Scratching his nape and then adjusting his cap, he willed himself to look at Yeojin; except, she had her head down letting the brim of her cap cover her eyes. "Sorry for that." Yeojin briefly glanced up and nodded. "I shouldn't have asked you that question. I was too selfish."

A sigh escaped her lips and she took a moment to collect herself before finally looking up from her food and at him. "I was being selfish too. I didn't consider how you might feel when I asked us to stay friends." She lowered her gaze and slightly pouted. Sehun wasn't sure if she realized she was doing that, but it somehow made a corner of his lips curl up.

"I do want to be your friend now." I actually wanted to be more than that, but...

"W-what?" Yeojin's eyes rounded and rapidly blinked; Sehun thought it was cute.

"You don't want to?"

"No. I mean I want to, but"—Yeojin cleared —"I don't want to hurt your feelings."

Sehun softly chuckled. "We're graduating soon. We might not see each other again after that." Yeojin looked a little taken aback at that for some reason; she even looked away. "Right now"—he reached to playfully yanked down the brim of her cap—"I want to annoy you a little longer." He snorted when Yeojin swatted his hand away. "If I can't stay beside you as your boyfriend, I want to stay as your friend." His lips smiled to hide the pain clenching his heart.

And I want to know how you really feel about me. Propping his elbow on the table, he extended a hand in front of her and cocked his head to the side. "So? Friends?"

It took her a beat before she sighed with a smile and took his hand. "Friends!" She grinned causing both butterflies in his stomach and a prick of pain in his heart.

When they went back to eating their food, he asked, "You know you just lost big time, right?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"First, I found out your real status. I won." Then he held up two fingers. "Second, you lost the greatest boyfriend you could ever have," he joked while pointing at himself. Although, that was not really a joke to Sehun.

Yeojin snorted while rolling her eyes. "Conceited till the end, aren't you?" She laughed and Sehun smiled.

She was smiling again. And he was relieved. But at the same time, his chest felt tight seeing her laugh with another guy. Not to mention they actually looked good together. Just like a normal high school couple.

Kris heaved a breath and leaned his forehead against the steering wheel. "What am I doing here? Why am I stalking them?" His phone rang at that moment and he picked up the call from Suho. 

["Where are you? I thought you said you were already on your way here."]

"I got caught in traffic," he gave an excuse. "I'll be there soon. You and Luhan can start first."

Again, he watched the pair eating inside the street vendor tent. Despite the undeniable jealousy, he smiled seeing her smile. /You're happy. That's good./ He thought before driving away.

["You didn't tell him did you?"]

"I didn't because you told me not to," Kris told Areum over the phone as he alighted his car.

["Good."] He heard her sigh.

"But you gotta tell Luhan as soon as possible. I don't want to jeopardize my project with him because of this matter." He locked the car's door as he continued, "It made me uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable earlier, you know?"

["I know. I'm trying to set a time to meet him in person. He's been so busy, I only talk to him through phone calls. I can't tell him that through the phone."]

"Alright." Kris sighed and stopped in front of the door to his house. "Just talk to him ASAP. If you don't, I will because it's actually all my fault."

["I will."]

Ending the call, Kris entered the house and found it empty though he saw Yeojin's shoes in the doorway. He figured she was probably in the bedroom and made his way there. The moment he opened the door, something soft- which he lat to realized was a pillow- smacked his face.

"You're sleeping outside tonight!" was his wife's greeting.

"Well hello to you too!" He sarcastically replied with a smirk while holding the pillow.

"You planned this! You set me up with Sehun!" Yeojin pointed an accusing finger at him; her visage contorted into a scowl.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh for heaven's sake! Don't try to deny it! I knew it was your doing!" Yeojin rolled her eyes then crossed her arm. "You just ditched me today! I thought you said you want us to try start over! What, you don't believe in me when I said I love you? Or do you just want to give me up to someone else?"

Kris sighed and approached the angry girl. "Ok, fine! I'm sorry. But it's not that I don't believe in you." Now turning serious, he looked at her in the eyes. "But I know that you still have feelings for him too. I don't like seeing you sad these past few days just because of him. I figured what you both need is to talk. That's the only way to resolve all this!" His free hand moved to cup her cheek. "You think I like doing that? No, I don't. I don't like the thought of you being with him for even one second! But if that's what it takes to see you at ease, then I don't mind."

Her countenance turned tender and her eyes dropped closed. "Fine! I'll accept that excuse! But"—she opened her eyes and lifted a finger—"you'll have to pay for the lost date! I don't care if you have a meeting tomorrow or whatever, I want to spend the day with you!"

"Okay!" He gave her a lopsided smile
and ruffled her hair. "I'm all yours! Tomorrow's Saturday anyway." Yeojin just clicked her tongue at that.

"How was it though?" asked Kris pretending he didn't stalk them. "You and Sehun- did you guys get to talk?" Yeojin's lips turned into a line as she nodded. "Was it good talk or bad talk?"

"Good." Yeojin smiled and Kris patted her head.

"You should thank me then!"

"Yeah, thanks!" She swatted his hand away and grabbed a blanket giving it to him. "But you're still sleeping on the couch tonight!" She poked out her tongue.

"How mean!" He hugged the pillow and blanket in one arm.

"That's what you get when you lie to your wife!"

Kris scoffed to the side. "Fine! Fine!" 

Yeojin smirked at his reply and Kris enjoyed the look of surprise on her face when he suddenly pulled her by the waist with his free hand. He didn't give her a chance to say anything as he captured her lips with his. A smile tugged on his lips.

He pulled away and rested his forehead on hers. "I haven't given up on you. I'm not giving you up to anyone," he firmly told her. His gaze momentarily fleeted down to her lips. "Never will! So don't you ever think I will ever do that! I will fight for your heart. Okay?"

Yeojin swallowed, eyes fluttering, before she hummed in reply. Then she pushed him away a bit and smirked. "You're still sleeping on the couch, Mister!"