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Kevin showed up at Seunghee's residence that night.

“Oppa! What are you doing here?” she exclaimed.

“Well, can you go out? I'm having dinner at the center tonight. Can you come with me?” Kevin asked.

“Wow, this is a first. Why didn't you just text me? We could have just met at the center Oppa.”

“Well, I really wanted to see you soon so I came instead.”

Seunghee knew this kind of feeling. It was the same with Seungcheol before. He was acting the same kind of way he did.

“Oh... Okay, I’ll just change. Would you like to come in while waiting?”

“No, I’ll stay here.”

“Okay. Just a minute!”

As soon as she changed, they went to the center. Kevin was really acting strange that night. Seunghee could clearly notice how different he was. Even his usual bright aura was gone. He was peculiarly obvious.

“Are you having diarrhea? You don't look relaxed,” she queried.

“Ah... Am I? I'm not you must be imagining things. Come on, let's eat.”

They spent dinner quietly. Seunghee didn't push the matter further. She was waiting for him to open up to her. He was never this serious before. Maybe he really just wanted to spend time with her.

They took a stroll after eating. At the sky park they were.

“Will it be okay if you went home late?” he asked.

“They know I’m with you... So I guess it's okay,” she replied.

“I want to bring you somewhere, will it be okay too?”

“Somewhere? You've been silent all night then you want to bring me somewhere? Where is this somewhere place?”

“(smiling) Just somewhere. It's a nice place. You'll like it there, I guess...”

“You guess... Hm... What if I don't want to?”

“I guess I’ll have to drag you there.”

They laughed together. They somehow filled the gap again.

“What's wrong with you tonight? Usually you don't have to ask these things. We just go! Wherever we wanna go. So come on? Kevin oppa?”

“Let's go!”

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Kevin drove her somewhere. Really, just somewhere. At an elevated part of the city where you can see the whole business center with glimmering lights at the Bay Shore. It was a great scenery.

“How did you exactly find this place?” Seunghee asked.

They went down and stood by the car front beside each other.

“Well I’ve known this a few years ago. That day before I went to California,” he said.

“You did have time then I guess.”

“I had all the time since you were busy and couldn't be with me.”

“But you're here now again. How fast can two years be? Oppa, I missed you when you were gone. I missed my best friend.”

“I did too. But now that I’m back, I see you with another guy who’s not even your boyfriend. Is he my replacement?”

“Of course not! He's... A friend. A... special friend.”

“A special friend? Is he courting you?”

“Well... I don't know.”

“You don't know? How convenient is that for him?”

“No, it's not like that. Something happened and he has helped me in every way. So I’m really indebted to him.”

“And he's using that to get to you? Just tell me, I’ll beat the hell out of him.”

“No, of course not. My debt, it's just me, it isn't obligatory. I swear. He's a really good guy. And I like him.”

“And... He likes you too?”

“Yes, it's that kind of relationship. But we're friends. We're just friends now.”

“So you're not on reserved terms are you?”

“No, I don't think we are. We don't talk about it at all.”

“That's a relief. I thought I was too late.”

“For what?”

“When I found this place, I thought of the girl I really liked for the longest time. And I promised to bring her here once I came back.”

“Oppa... What are you saying?...”

“I like you Seunghee. I really, really like you. I've liked you since middle school.”

“Since middle school? Are you kidding me? You are right?”

“Please be serious Seunghee...”

He held her hand and looked into her eyes.

“Oppa... Don't do this... You're my best friend…”

“Seunghee, I waited for so long just to tell you this. So please, don't tell me to stop. I love you. Depending on your decision, I will or will not be going back to California.”

“What? Don't do this oppa... You can't base something so important on me.”

“But you're important to me. You've become someone I need in my life. When I was in California, I’ve realized that there is no one I need more than you in my life. I missed you so much Seunghee. And now, I don't want to have another mistake of letting you out of my life. Will you let me stay Seunghee?”

Seunghee didn't know what to say. This guy was so important to her. This guy was so important that she didn't want to lose him. But could she keep him if she said yes? What was she supposed to do?

“I don't know oppa...”

“Can you let me know before my flight back? That's less than two months from now.”

“Oppa... I…”

“In less than two months Seunghee, alright?”

“Okay.”

“Thank you.”

“Hm...”

Seunghee felt really burdened. Her most precious friend also fell for her. She hadn't seen him that way. But then it all came down to this. She didn't know what to do. And what about Jeonghan? What would he say about this? She was so lost...

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Seunghee kept quiet about the Kevin issue. She couldn't bring herself to tell Jeonghan. Even if she didn't have any obligation towards him, she felt like she was cheating on him. She was being unfair, she knew. She knew she was.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

She was with Kevin that afternoon. They were having snacks at a fast-food chain.

“I thought I was gonna get fired that moment,” Kevin said.

Kevin was taking his time talking about his experiences in California. He was so enthusiastic in letting Seunghee know how it was like to be there. He wanted her to like it to be there, with him.

“But the manager called me and said, congratulations! You've been awarded as the employee of the year! I was really surprised. I never thought I could have that award,” he continued.

“Wow... That was great! You must've really worked hard there,” she exclaimed.

“Yeah. And all those times, I was thinking about you.”

Kevin was looking intently at her. But Seunghee could still not fully contain the fact that Kevin is in love with her. She was still enclosed in their friendship. He was still a friend for her.

“Of course you are, oppa.”

Seunghee turned away to evade his eyes only to find another pair of eyes looking at her just outside the area. Passing by, Jeonghan saw them. Seunghee jerked away from her seat.

“Hey, what's wrong?”

“I'll be right back oppa.”

Kevin followed where Seunghee was headed and he found Jeonghan on the other side of the place. He felt hurt. It was him alright. He didn't want to entertain that fact.

Seunghee reached Jeonghan by then.

“Jeonghan! Hey, I’m sorry. I didn't have time to text or call you. Oppa just dragged me here. And we already...”

“It's okay. You don't have to explain yourself to me. You can do whatever you want Seunghee. As long as he doesn't do anything bad to you,” he replied.

“Of course he won't. He's my best friend! He's different.”

“You can't tell that. Every guy's a wolf inside Seunghee. Just be careful. I'm just here okay? Call me if you need me.”

“Hm... Okay. Are you going somewhere? Can't you join us?”

“I'll be fine. And besides I don't think Sunbae wants me hanging around you.”

Jeonghan saw Kevin looking at him. With eyes so sharp it could kill. But Seunghee never saw any of that when she turned to look at him.

“He doesn't mind! Come on Jeonghan.”

“He does. I'll go ahead now Seunghee. Just call me if something comes up.”

“Jeonghan!”

He left and Seunghee went back to Kevin.

“Isn't he joining us?”

“I asked him but he won't.”

“He knows how to read between the lines.”

“What? How to read what?”

“Nothing. Let's just eat. The food's gonna spoil.”

“I'll tell him to come next time alright. I don't want him to have any other ideas about us.”

Kevin kept silent. He was hurt. It felt like Seunghee was sure he'd be dumped. He couldn't have that. It should the other way around.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Jeonghan respected the friendship between Seunghee and Kevin. He did not interfere everytime Kevin would appear and ask Seunghee out. He was just on the sidelines for her. He accepted that. But it was getting more difficult, if not for that day she said she likes him too. Was that just a lie? But he couldn't confront her about it. He loves her, he won't question anything about her. But he won't lose her. No matter what.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Jeonghan dropped by Seunghee's residence that day. He knew Kevin wasn't around and was attending to something personal. Seunghee opened the door for him.

“Hey! What brought you?”

“Ah, nothing. I was just passing by. So I thought of ringing your doorbell. In short I just wanted to see you.”

Seunghee smiled at his words.

“Why don't you come in for a bit?”

“No, I really just wanted to see you. It's okay.”

“Come on Jeonghan...”

Seunghee grabbed his hand and tugged at him.

“You won't say no to me right?”

With a smile on her face, his heart skipped a bit and obliged. How can he say no to the girl he loves? He thought.

“Of course I can't.”

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She left him at the living room and went back with some tea for him to drink. She sat beside him too. The house was simple. Jeonghan could see traces of Seunghee at every corner of the house.

“This house is full of you.”

“What do you mean? Of course, it's our house. By the way, I’m alone now. They all went out.”

“So that's why you invited me in. No one's gonna meet me.”

“(laughing) It's okay. Don't worry. You'll meet them soon. And by the way Dad's really picky. Kevin oppa's the only guy he ever acknowledged. He wouldn't even face Seungcheol. I don't know if he'll like you.”

“I'll make him like me then.”

“Well it's up to you. Oh by the way, we're going to the theme park this weekend. Me and Kevin oppa. Come with us Jeonghan.”

“No, I bet Sunbae won't be pleased to see me there.”

“I invited you so he can't say no. Come on Jeonghan. We haven't been able to go out since oppa came back. He'll be leaving in two weeks so I want the three of us to have some time together.”

“Seunghee... He only wants to be with you. And the fact that he's leaving, that's the more reason he has to be with you. And only you.”

“Even if I want you to be there, you won't come? In fact, I originally wanted US to go there.”

Jeonghan doesn't understand what Seunghee was implying. He was never good at dealing with her. The only thing he knew was that he loves her. And after contemplating whether to turn her down or not, in the midst of it, he just said these words upon looking at her beautiful face.

“All right, I’ll come. I'll be with you.”

“Yey! Thank you!”

Seunghee hugged him. It was the first time. It was brief and he couldn't even react. But she was really happy. Seeing her happy was the only thing he wanted in his life. He would make her happy, no matter what.

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To be continued...