Chapter 8

Kyung Soo was really kind. Actually, he was probably the nicest one out of all of the other guys since he showed that he cared. He made me feel comfortable around him and even asked me if the breakfast he made for me tasted okay, afraid that it wasn’t to my liking. The guys had yelled at him for treating me better and asked him why he wasn’t asking them the same things, but he ignored them. The one who got the most upset about it was Kai and Chan Yeol, who kept mumbling to their self about how they wanted Kyung Soo to act that way towards them.

I helped cleaned the dishes with Kyung Soo and Lu Han, but every time I looked over at them, it made me realize that I was still at Se Hun’s house. I shouldn’t even be here, but here I was, cleaning dishes as if I was here every day when I wasn’t. I shouldn’t have been this comfortable. It took at least another five minutes before I was done helping the boys out. I quickly grabbed my clothes from the dryer, ran to Se Hun’s room, and changed out of his clothes so I could get home and shower for dinner with Jin Hyuk later.

Just as I pulled my shirt over my head, Se Hun walked in. He quickly turned his head away from me when he noticed that the only thing he saw was my bra. I pulled my shirt down and fixed my hair before I grabbed my phone on the drawer and headed towards the door. He stepped in front of me before I could even reach for the doorknob.

“What are you doing?” I asked looking up at him.

Se Hun held his hand in front of me, as if he was holding onto something.

“What?” I asked again before opening my hand out in front of him, only to watch him drop a ring into my palm. It was my engagement ring that Jung Ah took from me. “Why do you have this?”

“Jung Ah gave it to me when we met…” He his bottom lip and looked down towards the ground. “Can we talk?” He asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know, Se Hun... Maybe another time…”

“Do you take this as a joke?” He scoffed.

I shook my head again. “No, but I really don’t have time to do this. My fiancé is waiting for me and the sooner I get out, the better it’ll be for the both of us.”

Se Hun looked at me with his mouth opening to say something, but I pushed him aside and walked out of his room before he could even say anything. The boys were sprawled around his living room watching TV, so I bid them goodbye and thanked Kyung Soo for his breakfast before running out of the door. As soon as I got out to the street, I took a breath and realized that I haven’t been breathing properly.

**

My mother was in my room fixing my blankets on my bed when I walked in. She looked over at me and stopped pulling at the sheets so she could cross her arm.

“Where have you been, young lady?” She asked me.

“I was at Jung Ah’s…” I felt my face burning from lying.

“Weird, cos’ Jung Ah called me and said she was looking for you.” My mother caught me and I didn’t know whether she was bluffing or not.

“When did she call you?” I asked.

“Last night.”

“Oh. We found each other and I slept her place.” I shrugged and walked to my closet to take my jacket off.

“And you two didn’t think of telling me that the two of you found each other?” She raised her eyebrow at me.

“We were drunk, mom. I don’t think that’s the first thing on our minds when we find each other.” I tried to stay calm, but I knew I was going to get caught soon. “Anyway, can you get out? I’m going to shower and get ready for dinner with Jin Hyuk later.”

“Oh? We’re not invited?” She asked referring to herself and my father.

I shook my head. “Nope. This is our alone time from everyone.”

“Fine. Fine.” She shook her head with a small smile. “I’m going to go to the grocery store.”

“Okay.” I said as she closed the door behind her.

Once I knew she was actually downstairs, I jumped on top of my perfectly made bed and buried my face into my pillows. I was still tired, but my hang over at least went away.

**

Jin Hyuk had wanted to meet me around seven in the evening downtown. He didn’t give me the specific name for the restaurant other than the address, so I wasn’t sure what would be appropriate to wear. I dug through my closet until I found a nice pair of dark skinny jeans, a light tan colored blouse, and a pair of black and white flats. I quickly straightened my hair and pulled my bangs away from my face. It didn’t seem much, but I guess this will do.

I grabbed my purse and was just about to head out the door, but my father trailed right in and eyed me.

“Oh? Soo Jin, where are you heading out to at this time?” My father asked as he took his coat off and threw it over his arm.

“I’m meeting up with Jin Hyuk for dinner.” I replied.

“Without us?”

“I said the same thing.” My mother pouted as she walked through the door with bags of groceries in her arms. “Honey, please help me.”

“Ah, since you’re already here.” My father ignored my mother who was bringing in more bags from outside. “I just wanted to let you know that this upcoming weekend, Mr. Choi and I are having another banquet party!”

“Jae Hyun’s dad?” I asked feeling a little happy since I kind of missed Jae Hyun, honestly. “What’s the banquet for?”

“His father got promoted so he’ll be quitting as the principal of your school and will be heading out to a university.” My father smiled.

“That’s exciting!” I exclaimed. “It’s too bad Jae Hyun and I can’t go invite our friends like we did before.”

“Soo Jin?”

“Yeah?” I asked as I was just about to head out towards the door.

“Maybe you can invite Se Hun and his friends…” He seemed really hesitant to say this at first because he knew how I felt.

I lowered my head. “You know that I haven’t talked to Se Hun in years…”

“He called me last night…”

My eyes quickly darted over to my father’s. “W-what? What did you just say?”

“He notified me that you were with him at his house.” He set his coat down onto the dining table and loosened his tie before looking back at me. “Se Hun said he didn’t want us to worry about you not being home…”

It was no wonder why my parents didn’t worry. Did my mother know? Is that why she knew I was lying when I was telling her that I was Jung Ah’s? But why didn’t they say anything? And why were they keeping so calm in front of Jin Hyuk when they knew he was so worried about me? My parents were always fond of Se Hun and my father loved him. If anything, my father probably loved Se Hun more than he loved me and I was his child, but seeing how my father knew all along, I felt taken aback.

“Soo Jin –“

“I have to go…” I said cutting off my father as I gripped onto the strap of my purse and walked out the door.

Did Se Hun still keep in touch with my parents after all this time?

**

On my way downtown, it started sprinkling. I was sitting in the back of a taxi texting and calling Jin Hyuk, but he wasn’t replying and it was starting to irritate me. There was only about half an hour left before we’d actually have to meet up and yet, he wasn’t answering me. I put my phone away, paid the taxi driver, and got out of the car. This restaurant seemed really new because I’ve never seen it around, but it looked more than welcoming.

I looked at the time on my phone and decided that I could probably go get us a table. The moment I stepped into the restaurant, I felt like I was underdressed since every female inside was wearing a nice dress, as if they all just got off from work. The waiter sat me over in the corner of the room, adjacent from the bar. Once he waiter poured water into my glass, I couldn’t help but chug it due to being so impatient with Jin Hyuk.

“Where is he…?” I asked myself as I tried calling him again, but it went straight to voicemail this time. “He’s going to get it…” I hissed.

I looked out the window and watched as the rain droplets slid down the glass. The rain was starting to pick up and soon, it was raining like cats and dogs. I watched below as people ran like ants for shelter and taxis that drove by. I couldn’t help but chuckle seeing how some people were struggling to hold their bags over their heads or trying to squeeze under the bus stop even though it was getting packed.

“This is for you.” The waiter said before setting a glass of liquor in front of me. “It’s Apple Pucker with Sprite.”

I quickly looked up at the waiter. “W-who’s giving this to me?”

The waiter nodded over towards the bar and before I could even say anything, I saw Kai and Baek Hyun waving at me with smiles on their faces. I couldn’t help but laugh to see that they just happened to work at this restaurant. I got up from my seat, making sure to grab my drink, and walked over to the bar where they were busily cleaning glass.

“On you guys again?” I asked as I took a sip of the well-made drink. “Waaaaahhh, who made it? It tastes great!”

“I made it this time.” Baek Hyun smirked as he nudged Kai’s side. “This guy’s still a noobie so he won’t be able to make it as great as me.”

“Oh shut up, Baek.” Kai rolled his eyes but laughed. “He really did make it this time.”

I nodded my head. “Don’t worry, Kai. I actually liked yours too!” I took a sip again and sat on the stool. “So this is where you two work if not the clubs?”

Baek Hyun nodded. “We get paid more at the clubs even though we work fewer hours than here, but working here at the restaurant is probably a lot better because we don’t have to deal with so many people screaming at our faces.”

“Yeah. It feels nice knowing that we can take our time on making drinks and also, we get free food!” Kai shrugged with a happy smile. “I think I’d take that over the clubs any day.”

“But why are you here? Are you supposed to meet up with Jung Ah?” Baek Hyun asked as he leaned forward on the counter.

I shook my head. “I’m actually supposed to meet my f-fiancé here…” I bit my lip because I knew how stupid I sounded from stuttering. It was only because I couldn’t really tell them that so casually.

“Oh right. I forgot that you’re getting married.” Kai scoffed.

“Not that it matters…” Baek Hyun sighed as if he was trying to make up from Kai speaking with such an ill tone.

I frowned. “We’re all friends… Right…?”

“Why? Do you not suddenly consider us friends because you’re not getting married to Se Hun?” Kai asked straightforwardly causing Baek Hyun to hit him. “Damn you, Baek Hyun! That freaking hurt!”

“Kai, watch your mouth.” Baek Hyun turned away from Kai and looked back at me and I thanked him silently. “Look, Soo Jin, we don’t care that you’re getting married, but we don’t know how we can so casually be friends with you or act like it if Se Hun doesn’t want us to.”

“Se Hun doesn’t want you guys to be friends with me?” I didn’t know if I was hurt by what Baek Hyun said or not, but I knew better than to think that they could still be my friend when I was pretty much the ex-girlfriend of their best friend. “Never mind… I don’t know why I would even expect that from you guys…”

“We all still like you.” Kai spoke this time. “And Se Hun never said for us to keep away from you. He’s the one who said he wanted to keep himself away from you.”

“Kai, will you shut your freaking mouth?” Baek Hyun hissed shaking his head in frustration.

“What?! Am I saying something wrong?!” Kai retorted as he crossed his arms like a little child who didn’t get his bag of candy.

“Don’t listen to him, Soo Jin.” Baek Hyun shook his head and smiled at me. “Maybe we should continue this talk another time.”

“Why?” I asked a little upset since I was still curious.

“Looks like there’s someone who’s been waiting for you for awhile now...” Baek Hyun nodded in the direction behind me, so I turned around and thought I was going to get greeted by someone I’ve been waiting for, but I nearly broke into a smile upon seeing his face.

“You know, Soo Jin, I never really got to kiss you even after all these years, but now that you’re back and you’re not dating Se Hun… Don’t you think it’ll be the perfect time?” He raised his eye brows at me and I couldn’t help but laugh at his comment.

“No, no. We still haven’t shaved your head since high school for when you lost the bet. I think we should continue with that.” I tapped my chin and pretended to think about something. “Oh, and don’t forget, you still owed me bubble tea for a year, which you didn’t do.”

“It’s been awhile, Ahn Soo Jin.” He smirked.

“It has, hasn’t it, Choi Jae Hyun?” 

Author's Note: Oh my gawd. Did you guys see EXO's "LOVE ME RIGHT" MV? Go check it out! It loos like a fun concept and our Sehun finally has more than just one line <3 I love it!!! Plus, in the Chinese version, Lay starts the song and raps ;) Who doesn't want that? I mean, I really miss Tao :P I would've loved to hear him rap :( But it's okay! He's recovering and so we'll all wait, right? Keke~ Anyway, here's an update for you all! Welcome back our Choi Jae Hyun. Enjoy.