"we'll have more time for small talk in the car."

seonghwa slightly bowed his head as an apology and sat beside yeseul. the sophomore opened the door opposing the driver's.

once they settled down, the lawyer asked if they were set to go and only received a faint hum from jihae.

three minutes into the drive and yeseul was already laying her head on the junior's lap, telling them all sorts off stories. she was used to being quiet when alone with her brother so having new people excited her.

however, it wasn't long until she started yawning and fell asleep. with the help of seonghwa patting her sides, it wasn't that much of a surprise.

since yeseul was the only one doing all the talking which somewhat kept the atmosphere lively, a suffocating silence surrounded them when she fell into dreamland.

the working man adjust his rear view mirror and spared the junior a glanced. "that doesn't look like you slipped and fell to me."

the sudden statement made both seonghwa and jihae tense and clam up.

noticing this, yeonggi remained unbothered and continued, "you might not be comfortable sharing what happened with me, but i really despise unnecessary violence."

another deafening silence took over the vehicle. now, it wasn't normal for yeonggi to pry into others businesses, but his lawyer instincts were telling him something was definitely not okay.

for starters, jihae has been fidgeting all throughout the ride. both the college students seemed like they've seen or been through something horrible that just so happened recently, judging on the boy's wounds.

"was he bullied?" the question was directed at jihae since he figured it would be rude to push the junior.

"no." the sophomore quickly answers, hoping that yeonggi wouldn't ask more, but, of course, he did.

"did you do that him?"

she was about to repeat her answer, but a small voice in her head was telling her that she was partly at fault.

i completely forgot about the threat.

i disregarded chan's words.

i didn't come quick enough.

she did not regret standing up for her sister, not one bit. she was feeling guilty because she could have prevented seonghwa from getting hurt if she had been more alert.

the quietness was unbearable as the junior watched jihae contemplate herself, so he spoke up.

"of course she didn't. some guys threw a few punches at me because we were getting too close and told me that i should know my limits." explained the boy, trying his best to make it sound like it's not a big deal.

yeonggi tuts his lips, nodding. "ah, jealousy. our jihae's quite a catch, no?"

"i really hate you sometimes." jihae sneers, but didn't affect the elder.

"i'll respect your decision to let it slide, but do feel free contact me if it happens again." the lawyer offered. "i'd hate it if my sister's favorite oppa showed up with a bruised face."

"i'll be fine, sir." seonghwa reassuringly said.

"right." sarcastically replied the man. "we're here."

after having a bit of struggle getting yeseul off the junior's lap and telling her they'll see each other soon, they thanked and waved good bye to the siblings.

the pair stood together, watching the car moved away until it was out of sight.

"so, uh, let's go?" the junior awkwardly said to which jihae just nodded to.

they scurried to the boy's apartment, still not sharing proper words to each other.

once they were inside, the sophomore quickly asked if she could take the first aid kit she saw in his room the last time she was here.

"i'll do it myself." replied seonghwa, but the girl insisted.

she held his wrist and pulled him to his room, urging him to sit down. she scanned his desk before taking out the box with medical supplies.

"um, tell me if it hurts." she proceeded to dab the cotton ball she was holding to the cut on his lip.

she pressed ever so lightly then began adding more pressure to each pat. after working on the small wound, she ran to the kitchen where the fridge was located, hoping that there was something frozen.

to her luck, she spotted a small plastic bag filled with crushed ice.

with the bag in hand, the girl she turned to the room. she saw seonghwa looking like he was thinking, making him frown.

she carefully compressed the junior's bruised cheek with the ice pack.

both of them never made eye contact since stepping foot in the room. they either looked down or around. no one also bothered speaking up, feeling the tension too thick.

well, not until seonghwa decided so. "jihae. i don't think it's good for you to be here."

jihae stopped her motions, and finally looked him in the eyes. "i'm sorry."

"you have nothing to apologise for. i just-"

the sophomore took a deep breath before uttering out the words she's been meaning to say.

"hwa, i like you."

the sentence made their worlds stop. it wasn't unexpected, but something about the timing felt so wrong. it was as if the universe was telling him it was a bad idea.

seonghwa inhaled sharply. "i like you, too."

the girl's eyes lit up, but the shine immediately went out when she saw the older's expression. doubt and sadness was written all over him. "but?"

"but we can't." he finished depressingly. "you're jeon jihae and i'm-"

"park seonghwa. the kindest, sweetest, most amazing guy i've ever met." she whispered, disheartened.

the boy's face softened. "ji, come on."

"what? it's true! our feelings our mutual, so why can't we be together? i won't let jaehyun-"

"we can't because next time, i'm not the only one who'll be hurt." seonghwa cut her off intently.

jihae swallowed thickly. "but-"

"jihae, please." the junior's sparkling eyes were practically begging her.

she stared at the her lap as she mumbled, "can i bother you one more time?"

seonghwa looks at her questionably, however confusion soon vanished when he felt a pair of soft plump lips on his.

it took him by surprise, no doubt about that, but it didn't take him more than a second to respond.

the kiss they share was deep, filled with emotions. you could tell there was happiness, guilt, regret, and many more.

jihae stopped their lip lock, afraid she might have made him uncomfortable with her eagerness, though it didn't really look or feel like it.

the two opened their eyes, hurt more prominent than before.

the boy gulped. "you.."

the sophomore anticipated what the other would say, thinking that maybe he changed his mind, maybe she had a chance– only to be disappointed and broken by the words spilled.

"you should go." seonghwa muttered as he felt a wave of hatred for himself for letting the girl he adore so much, too much, leave.

jihae bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her tears. despite the pain in her chest, she managed to give him a nod.

she stood up and took her belongings, before getting out of the apartment. she didn't even wait to be escorted out.

hearing the door shut from the living room made the junior lay himself on the mattress he was sitting on.

he placed an arm on his forehead, sighing repeatedly. "i can't believe i just rejected her."

a/n: hi! i'm so sorry for the wait. i had to finish 20+ assignments in a span of 2 weeks and me being my dumb myself can't catch up quickly so i couldn't find time to updateee i'm really sorry!

but but have you seen their new photos from e.l.e magazine?👀