*Sungyeol POV*

“I think he likes you, Yeol.”

I blinked.

Did… did I just hear correctly?

I blinked again.

“… Seriously?”

He just nodded as I gaped at him.

“W-why do you say so?” I asked, my cheeks heating up.

He just shrugged carelessly. “I can see it in his eyes, Yeol. The way that guy used to look at you, it’s the same as how L looks at you. In fact, it’s so similar that it scares me.”

I frowned. “That guy? Which guy?”

“That… Myung…bin? Myung something.” He scratched his head.

My eyelids drooped at the mention of Myungsoo.

Yonghwa seemed to notice this. “You’re still not over him?”

I sighed deeply. “He was the one, Hwa. How can I just forget him so easily?”

“Well, take your time. But I’m telling you, give this L guy a chance.”

“But… you don’t even know him, why would you urge me to give him a chance?”

He chuckled. “The way he’s so protective of you, it’s creepy. He was so mad at me when he caught me, I thought he was going to murder me. Nobody would react this way if it was merely a friend getting hurt.”

I let all this information process through my brain. Could he be telling the truth?

But then yet again, what reason does he have to lie to me?

“But then, Yeol, don’t you find it weird how L seems exactly like-“

Just then, the door burst open, revealing an impatient L.

“Yah, Sungyeol, are you guys done?”

We both looked at him with our eyebrows raised in question. He coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem… y’know… just worried for you.” He slumped towards the table.

I rolled my eyes at him and turned back to Yonghwa. “As you were saying…?”

He nervously glanced at L, who was glaring at him. “Erm… Nothing. I… gotta go and erm… finish up my homework. See you around Yeol.”

Without giving me a chance to say anything, he dashed out of the classroom and down the barely crowded corridor.

L moved to the seat next to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, you okay?”

I snapped out of my daze. “Huh? Uh, yeah.”

He cast me a worried glance. “Are you sure? What did you guys talk about?”

I bit my lip, thinking back on our conversation.

I can’t possibly tell him that we were discussing if he likes me or not…

“Uh, nothing much. Just… stuff.”

“Hmm… sure, sure.” He looked and sounded really unconvinced.

I chewed on my bottom lip, feeling guilty for lying to him.

“Anyway, I’m gonna take a nap, so wake me up when the teacher’s here.” I nodded immediately.

He lay his head on the table facing my direction and shut his eyes.

I gazed at him, my eyes tracing his every perfect feature, my gaze finally lingering on his lips. I unconsciously my lips at the thought of how they would taste like. But I stopped myself, Myungsoo’s face floating into my mind, reminding me that I still had a fiancée, even though he wasn’t with me anymore.

I my ring, which was still on my finger, trying to erase all the thoughts of L from my mind. I kept thinking about Myungsoo, and soon enough, all that was occupying my mind was Myungsoo.

I opened my eyes again, only to be faced with L’s angelic and peaceful sleeping face. I was prepared to close my eyes again to block out everything, but something stopped me.

I’m telling you, give this L guy a chance.

Give him a chance.

I clutched my hair in my fingers and tugged on them roughly in frustration. I was torn. What should I do?

I’m sure Myungsoo would want the best for me. I’m sure he would want me to move on.

I’m sorry, Myungie. Please forgive me. I promise that I’ll always have a special place in my heart for you.

And that’s when I decided, I’m not going to stop myself anymore.

I’m going to allow myself to love L.