Ok, A/N's at the top for this chapter to avoid any confusion. As you know, AFF underwent a server change again and in the process, this chapter went missing and so did all the comments that were posted with it. If you've read my blogpost, I wrote that I was going to wait for the database to be restored before posting anything new, to avoid any problems, but unfortunately, it is taking much longer that I expected it to. So I've decided that I would just go ahead and repost this chapter. Hopefully, nothing too weird will happen when everything is recovered. 

Anyway, for those who didn't get to read this chapter the first time round, enjoy!

The following morning was a rather quiet one as compared to usual days. The SHINee members were still overseas so they weren’t in your kitchen trying to steal the food as you made it and your mom had chosen to sleep in a little later because she had waited up for you the previous night and didn’t have to look after Minhyuk today.

You were too caught up in your own thoughts while doing the dishes that you didn’t hear your mom greet Minhyuk or even when she entered the kitchen until she gently cleared .

“What are you thinking about? You seem very distracted and out of sorts ever since you got back from yesterday’s dinner with Junhyung.” She asked. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Hmm?” You hummed, your attention still not quite back to reality yet. “Oh, let’s not talk about it this early in the morning. You must be hungry.” You quickly said and went to get your mom’s breakfast from under the food cover to reheat.

Your mom shrugged, knowing that she couldn’t force you to reveal what you weren’t ready to share and went to sit the dining table, leaving you to your thoughts again…

You were settled on the couch in the living room watching Minhyuk stacking the blocks that he got as a gift from Jinki. Or at least you looked like you were watching him. Your eyes were fixed in the direction of where Minhyuk was playing but you weren’t actually looking. Your eyes weren’t focused on anything in particular as you just stared into the air while your fingers were busy fiddling with your necklace.

Despite your calm exterior, you were actually a horrible wreck on the inside. Your mind was a constant whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions and it didn’t help that your chest was still feeling as tight as it had been during the dinner the night before. You took in a laboured breath in as you began to realize that deep down, there was a small part of you that craved and yearned for Junhyung’s friendship despite everything that happened. Even though you knew that things would never go back to the way it used to be, that part of you still chose to selfishly cling onto that tiny thread of foolish hope. Hope that things might work out so well that it would seem like nothing had changed. Hope that all the years of friendship weren’t over. Hope that things could be different. It was sad and really quite pathetic, if you actually thought about it, but you still couldn’t help but hope.

You bit your lip and frowned when it finally dawned upon you that you had already made a decision regarding whether or not to give Junhyung a second chance. It was strangely simple and rather obvious once you faced the fact that you wouldn’t let go of the hope that you still had. But the heavy feeling in your heart still did not let up for you knew that you still had another decision to make.

You ruffled the back of your hair, whether in frustration or agony, you weren’t too sure. All you knew was that you had to talk to someone about it or you’d go crazy just thinking about everything, someone who wasn’t somehow personally involved in everything.

Your eyes suddenly lit up when the perfect person popped into your mind and you quickly snatched up your phone from the coffee table in front of you. Your sudden movement attracting Minhyuk’s attention for just a moment before his blocks became more interesting once again. Not that you noticed his slight distraction though, your mind was only focused on one thing at the moment.

“Hello.” A distinct male voice rang through the speakers after a few rings.

“Hello, oppa. Are you busy?” You asked hesitantly, you had been so excited that you hadn’t considered that he might be in the middle of a schedule until it was too late because he had already answered the call.

“Umm..” You could hear the hesitancy in his voice as well as he couldn’t decide what best to answer. “I’m recording right now, but why? What’s the matter?” He asked, sensing that you wouldn’t call him unless there was something important.

“I just wanted someone to talk to but it’s ok-“

“You don’t have to say anymore.” He cut you off rather unexpectedly. “I’ll have to go now but I’ll meet you later, ok? I’ll go over to your place and then we can talk. Text me your address and I promise I’ll be there, maybe in about 2 hours?” He estimated. You could hear the urgency in his voice even though he was trying his best to mask it.

“Ok, oppa! I’ll cook you something yummy to eat!” You informed, your mood already lifting significantly. “Oh, and thank you!” You added quickly, afraid that he might have ended the call already but you heard him chuckle softly in response.

“I’ll see you later, -------ah. Bye bye.”

“Ok, have a good recording oppa! Bye!” You found yourself smiling as you ended the call. Somehow, just those few seconds spent on the phone made you feel so much better. Even though you weren’t any closer to reaching a decision than you were before the call, you were almost positive that talking to him would help.