❦ ♪

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT : obsessed

"why are we going back in the past now..?"

❦ ♪

— youngjae pov.

hao's dad

Mirae got 2nd.

wait what

Tell your mother we'll have a meeting.

why are you texting me?

My email isn't working.

LMFAOOO
sorry i mean okay i will sorry

Good.
How is Hao in school? Is he talking
to that girl?

they only talk in lessons but they both
are much quieter than before

Maybe because I scolded him again.

why?

Yunji told me they were flirting at
a restaurant last week.

oh really?

Yeah they shared food. Not exactly
happy about that but he's 1st by
himself now so that's fine.

righttt okay

Also, did you ever date Mirae before?

yeah why?

I'm starting to worry Hao is going to
like her because of what Yunji told me.

don't you want him liking someone though

No. He has to focus on his studies and
he knows that.

but not even after?? a lot of people think
they look cute together

No. She may be from a good family
but Hao needs to wait until after he
finishes university.

right okay but don't you think it's good

No I don't like her.

Oh how come😹

Stop asking me questions that aren't
important Youngjae. I can't keep using
my translator to explain in korean for you.

sorry sorry mb

❦ ♪

yunji

heyy did you get told that mirae
got second?

yeah i don't think she'll be okay

hm lol
did you know hao and hanbin aren't
friends anymore?

wdym?

i think something happened because
they are never together anymore

you can't just assume that though

youngjae i literally see hao all of the
time and this is the first time i've seen
him look somewhat sad and without hanbin

oh
do you still follow him or something wtf

no but i saw him then ended up observing
him because he's cute

fucking hell😭😭
rae definitely likes one of them

if she likes hao i swear to god

didn't you drunk fight her once

maybe
but i've liked him for so long

🤡🤡🤡
don't be one of those crazy people

I'M NOT i just think he's cute

uh huh you literally assumed he's
not friends with hanbin anymore

shut up i know i'm right

oh and
hao and mirae were at a restaurant?

yeah it was where hyunjae works

who's that

one of my friends, i was going to get
some free lunch and they were there
flirting and hanbin looked pissed

oh shittt you think there's something
going on??

no fucking shit
i didn't really like what i saw and
neither would you

mate i do not like mirae

i thought you dated

i told you it was only for the bag
bcs my parents were broke

oh fair enough
but do you think she's likeable?

well yeah
i mean i didn't like her but i can see
her and hanbin together

aww true they are cute
as long as it's not hao idc😹

girl you are crazy

mirae pisses me off she thinks she's
the best at everything

she used to be like that
she's wayy quieter now

shocking
she argued with me every second of
the god damn day back then

yeah i hated her until she just learned
how to stfu so i left her alone

shame she deserves it more

well i still don't like zhanghao so

you weirdo he's amazing

you're weird i don't see why everyone
likes him so much he's just nerdy

god you're blind
didn't you break his violin

yeah
that's why he despises me

shamee!!

shut up

this is why we broke up

LOL

❦ ♪

— mei pov.
- 3rd person.

mei hated the fact she's been forced into tutoring after losing ONE whole mark. she thought it was useless and wouldn't benefit her at all.

however, she loved the fact she's going to be hanging out with hao more often; she was shocked at the fact them two were finally beginning to somewhat spend a long period of time together without being at each other's throats.

and even if they were arguing, it was more of a joke rather than them hating each other for the pettiest reasons, which is a big development from three months ago.

now the two agreed to go to a library and 'study' with renjun for two hours together for the first time after the results were revealed. but, mei was in a really bad mood and exhausted. it wasn't the best for hao or renjun.

"mei can you fucking focus?" hao looks over at the girl who's eyes were closing every second. "what time did you sleep?"

"i don't know." the girl shrugs, her eyes closed. "can we have a five minute break please?"

he scoffs. "do you want to get back at first or what?"

"i have a month. i'll be fine." she mumbles. "please just give me a bit." she begs, putting her pen down.

hao sighs and watches her lean onto the table. "yeah okay fine, but we're starting in five minutes."

she hums, closing her eyes to rest, and she surprisingly actually does fall asleep straight away, leaving hao awkwardly sitting next to her and opposite renjun on his phone.

"i don't think i've ever seen her so miserable." renjun chuckles, placing his phone down. "maybe just because she's not a fan of studying."

"well if she still got 99/100 then she really doesn't need it." hao shrugs.

renjun raises a brow and smiles. "ooh, look at you being nice to her and agreeing she's smart."

hao scoffs. "renjun you know i can't be mean all of the time. and she's actually not a pain in the fucking head."

"i do like the fact mei's not a cunt to you anymore, it makes you two become cuter." renjun snickers. "i still remember when you would argue so loud in the cafeteria."

"oh my days." hao closes his eyes in embarrassment. "she was so fucking annoying."

"i was worried about leaving for china since i thought she'd end up fighting someone in your school." the other snickers.

hao rolls his eyes. "well she missed a full week of uni to do fuck all while i was studying my fucking body off."

fuck all. renjun laughs to himself, remembering what mei had told him about her and hanbin that one sleepover. "i mean she had a sleepover with hanbin."

"yeah." is all hao says.

"so how's you and hanbin?" renjun asks. every single person in the campus could tell the best duo were now apart.

hao's face drops at the boy's name. "um, not good?" he nervously chuckles.

"you know it's painful to see you two not be together? it reminds me of when me and mei got split apart in university." renjun says.

"well now you're together." hao shrugs. "and i don't think hanbin likes me or wants to be my friend."

"exactly. you two will literally make up soon, and we all know he doesn't hate you." renjun tries to reassure.

hao shrugs. "not when he acts like i don't exist."

renjun frowns. "it happens, hao. he'll come to his senses. hanbin would never hate you."

"okay." hao sighs, deciding to change the subject. "so are we actually going to study with mei?"

renjun snorts, looking at the girl sleeping. "no."

❦ ♪

timeskip – later.

hanbin<3

mei can i talk to you?

ofcc what about?

i feel like we didn't finish talking about
it properly last time and i just want to
clear everything up since it's awkward

umm yeah
do you want to talk about it in person?

yeah please it would be easier

when do you want to?

today? i can drive to yours

oh um
i'm at the library with hao for my tutoring

oh okay
that's fine
when are you going to be done?

probably not until later, i'll text you?

yeahh that's fine
seen

❦ ♪

"what's wrong?" hao asks, watching mei place her phone down with closed eyes. "did hanbin text you?"

she nods slowly. "he wants to clear everything up later today."

"isn't that a good thing?"

"yeah but i'm just scared. i feel so bad for everything." she sighs. "i felt like i accidentally lead him on."

hao looks over at her, observing how guilty she actually seems. he knew that hanbin liked her, but he didn't know mei would realise he did so late. "i think you may have done.." hao starts. "but it's hanbin, he's the nicest person ever. he'll forgive you."

"i agree. i said this earlier." renjun butts in. "take your own advice hao."

mei glances up at hao. "but what about you? you two aren't even close anymore."

"don't worry about me and hanbin." hao laughs dryly. "i know we'll sort it out soon anyway, we always do."

renjun smiles, being satisfied with the fact hao came to his senses and knows that hanbin will forgive him anytime soon.

mei nods, exhaling again as she looks at her lockscreen which was a photo of her and renjun. "i hope you do, everyone needs a bestfriend."

"i'm the bestest bestfriend a bestfriend could ever have renjun says. "i look great in that photo."

"yeah i'm sure jeno thinks so too." mei laughs. "but yes you are the bestest best friend." she blows a kiss across the table.

hao doesn't reply; he even felt sad himself at the fact him and hanbin were drifting away from each other, especially over a girl. after thirty seconds, he sighs. "anyway, i do feel like you and hanbin should sort it out."

"we will." she smiles to herself. "but i just can't look at him without feeling fucking awful." her smile drops at the thought of it.

"mei believe me when i say it's fine. hanbin will never not forgive someone, especially you." hao says, patting her head. "stop overthinking it."

mei groans. "i swear life is so stressful. me and hanbin are awkward, and now i'm second for the first time in my life."

"acting like second is the biggest problem anyone had to face ever." renjun scoffs.

hao chuckles. "have you really just lived a perfect life to get stressed over a rank?"

"you got mad when you got first shut the fuck up." she rolls her eyes. "my life was good until february twenty eight."

"ooh remove that from your memory." renjun shakes his head.

hao's expression changes at the moment he heard that date. and as much as he would not want to think about it and start getting mad, he feels himself shiver in discomfort and just nods.

"i can't even fucking focus on this anymore." she sighs, playing with a pen. "how do you study all of the fucking time it's so boring."

he snorts. "you know it's not even that bad, you just spend your free time doing fuck all."

"mei never does fuck all. that girl is always BUSY." renjun complains. "like we rarely hang out because of her nepotism."

"you can't be talking. you left me for a fucking week once." she rolls her eyes. "anyways, i spend my free time spending money or going out." she laughs. "you just spend it all studying, how boring."

"my parents don't let me out unless it's my friends, half of the time i don't even go." he shrugs. "you're lucky that i'm getting more freedom recently, i'm soo much nicer."

"i'm glad that you are." renjun chuckles, "mei character development!!"

mei smiles, "i like our little friendship right now, i can't believe you hated me like a few weeks ago." she says to hao.

he nods in agreement. "who knew you'd shut your narcissistic mouth up for once?" he jokes, making renjun laugh.

mei glares at him. "i will go back to being a cunt to you."

"ooh scary!" hao teases, lifting his arms over his head. "please spare me."

mei pulls his arms down. "god forbid please stop, you're embarrassing." she whisper-shouts, looking around the library.

"hao what the fuck." renjun laughs, pointing at the boy.

"sorry anyways," mei coughs, sitting up. "i really don't feel like studying." she sighs.

hao nods. "do you want to stay here? i'll probably go out and get us some food or something."

"ooh i'll come!!" renjun says, picking up his bag.

she nods back. "get me anything." she sighs, laying her head down onto the desk again. "thank you!!"

hao smiles before getting up. "call me if you need anything." he says before patting her head and walking away.

renjun gives her a wink and mouths 'he wants you so bad' before laughing and following hao out of the library. mei rolls her eyes at the boys and picks up her phone with a grin.

❦ ♪

mei's slaves
10+ members

giggling and kicking my feet

donghyuck:
oh girl what now

donghyuck:
did hao notice you again🥺🥺

donghyuck Kys
no guys he's actually soooo cute

jeno:
i cannot believe you two are getting
along for once

renjun:
they are and i love witnessing it

he went to buy me food❤️❤️bf material

yangyang:
oh i am SMELLING something going
on between you two now

SHUT UPPPPPPP HE'S ACTUALLY SO
NICEEE😭😭💔💔💔💔

jaemin:
are you two dating now

renjun:
did you forget about hanbin or

jaemin:
oh RIGHTTT he likes you too

Oh my god speaking of him he's
coming over later to talk

haknyeon:
redemption kiss?

absolutely Not

xiaojun:
RIP HANMEI

jaemin:
YOU WILL BE MISSED

jaemin:
we were rooting for you💔💔

haknyeon:
balls for zhangmei..❤️❤️❤️

yangyang:
TBH

renjun:
truth
GUYS ISTG STOP
IM SCARED TO GO

❦ ♪

mei stops texting from the sound of something being placed onto the table, making her look up from her phone to face someone she had completely forgotten about.

"heyy." yunji smiles, leaning onto the desk. "long time no see mirae!!"

mei gives her a disgusted look. "why are you here?"

"to study, obviously." she chuckles. "alone, are you? that's shocking."

mei scoffs. "why are we going back to the past now..?" she glares at the girl. "just fuck off and you'll have a better day."

yunji feigns a hurt look. "wow, rae you're still the same old bitch." she puts her hand on her chest. "i just wanted to say hi."

"well i don't want to say hi back. fuck off." mei says, clenching her phone. she doesn't know how yunji always manages to make her blood boil.

"what's wrong? does hao not want you?" she chuckles, practically sitting on the table. "did youngjae not hurt you enough?"

"yunji." mei exhales, leaning back in her chair. "with every single cell in my body please fuck off."

yunji pouts. "come on rae, why can't we talk? you know it's been so boring back at uni without you."

"i bet it was." mei laughs mockingly. "i'm fine here, better than how i was a few months ago."

"better than when you broke up with young–"

"um." mei thanks the lords at the sound of renjun's voice interrupting yunji, making the two look at renjun standing in front of them. "why are you here?"

"ohh renjun!" yunji smiles. "are you studying with mirae?"

"yeah." renjun says, his face still slightly confused at why the fuck yunji was there. "why are you here?"

"just saying hi to my old friend." she chuckles, reaching her hand out to pat mei's head, but being stopped by another hand – hao's hand.

"why the fuck are you here?" hao asks, letting go of yunji's arm. this making mei giggle to herself a little.

the girl's eyes widen, meaning it was probably her first time seeing him so close. "uh," yunji says, her eyes focusing on the boy's face. "to... talk... um.... mirae..."

hao scoffs and glances at mei looking laid back. "yeah okay, are you done? we're busy."

yunji gulps. "uh, yeah. bye!" she panics, speedwalking away, the three watching her in amusement.

"are you okay?" renjun asks with a laugh, then lifting up a plastic bag. "oh and we got food but we can't eat inside."

mei nods. "yeah i'm so glad you came like straight away cause i was so close to screaming at her." she complains.

"she scares me." hao says, piling mei's books for her. "i think that was the first time i've properly encountered her you know."

"well be glad you didn't used to see her everyday of your university life." mei scoffs, placing the books hao gave her into her bag. "fucking bitch, she's so obsessed with you."

"and you're not?" renjun jokes.

mei sticks her middle finger up at the boy. "and what if i am obsessed with him too???"

"then that's fan behaviour." hao laughs. "you never seem to stop talking about me."

"go kill yourself. please." mei rolls her eyes, putting her bag over her shoulder. "can we sit outside now i am fucking starving."

renjun nods, leading the two out. "i'm still shocked that you saw yunji here. she was probably stalking or something."

"right??" hao laughs, opening the door and leaving it open for mei. "what if we see her?"

"i'll slap her." mei rolls her eyes. "what did you get me?" mei asks, trying to peak into the bag renjun was holding.

"um no!" renjun lifts it up. "let's find somewhere to sit first." he smiles cheekily.

mei scoffs. "you're so fucking weird."

"leave poor renjun alone." hao laughs before spotting a bench. "we can sit there." he says, pointing at a wooden bench.

"okay well let's go i'm fucking hungry." mei says, walking without thinking across the road. being the top student she is, walks onto the road when a car was coming past.

hao quickly pulls mei back, making her panic. "fucking hell are you stupid? i know you're hungry but damn." he laughs, holding her arm.

mei's heart was beating rapidly fast. and she doesn't know if it was the adrenaline she got from walking into the road with no shame or at the fact hao was holding her, which was the bare minimum.

"mei that's so second rank of you." renjun jokes, patting her back. "good one!"

mei stays quiet and rolls her eyes. "hao you should hold me hand when i cross next time." she chuckles.

hao side eyes her. "you fucking wish."

"hold my hand right now or else i'm eating your food." she tries to threaten.

"eat it then." hao jokes, pressing the button for the crossing. "i'd rather starve."

mei rolls her eyes. "you're so boring." she complains, crossing her arms as she stares at the lights, waiting for the green man to show.

"tough one that is, mei." renjun laughs, making her curse at him.

thankfully, the green man shows meaning she could actually cross this time. but surprisingly to her, she felt her hand being no longer empty.

hao was holding her hand.

❦ ♪

flashback — the day at the restaurant.

"okay well first of all be very honest. did you even like me at all?" he asks, reaching for one of her hands.

mei gulps, taking a few seconds to brace herself. "yeah." she says quietly, but loud enough for hanbin to understand what she said.

"when?" he asks with a sigh. "because right after i.. kissed you, you ghosted me."

mei starts to play with her hands. "i think i started liking you a week before you kissed me, but i stopped straight after."

"why?" he asks in confusion.

before mei could answer, notification sounds from hanbin's phone go off. he takes his phone out of his pocket to read them and sighs. "we'll talk more about this later" he says a bit coldly.

mek frowns at how fast he changed his tone, but nods. "um, are you leaving?"

he nods. "thanks for the food." he says before walking straight away towards the car park, probably to get picked up.

mei sighs and looks up in frustration. "fuck i think i really messed it up now."

❦ ♪

present time.

"i'm stressing out." mei complains to her mother. "i'm so scared i can't even." she paces back and forth in panic.

her mother stops her from moving. "mei calm down, it won't even be bad. hanbin is so sweet!"

"yeah but i'm scared." she says. "he is sweet but i feel like i'm going to cry like.."

mei's mother laughs. "god please, you're a crybaby. of course you're going to cry."

"mother!" mei shouts from the violation. "don't joke i'm actually so fucking scared."

"well just don't mess it up, you know i'm rooting for him." the woman says, patting her daughter's shoulder.

"i'm still mad you never told me i actually was with hanbin that night. you knew the whole time and left me being DELUSIONAL" mei rants.

she chuckles at her daughter. "mei i thought you already knew." the woman shrugs. "he was so sweet when he brought you home!"

"don't even. that can't be the only reason you want me with him." she complains.

her mother laughs. "hanbin has many good qualities to him, but that started it off." she shrugs, remembering every single interaction that night.

then, a knock was heard at the huang's door. they knew it was hanbin's as despite the doorbell, only hanbin knocks at their door.

mei looks at her mother in panic, running to the kitchen. "let him in, i'm getting water!!" she says, making her mother chuckle.

the woman opens the door and meets eyes with hanbin who grins at her. "oh hi!" he says, not hesitating to hug her.

she chuckles. "hanbin it's so good to see you again!" she greets, kissing the boy's cheek. "mei is in the kitchen."

"no i'm not." mei says, walking in with a glass of water. "oh hi." she smiles, acting like she didn't spend ten seconds telling herself she would be fine.

"are you two going to your room?" her mother asks, making the two nod. "okay, i'll be in my studio if you need me."

"wait why?" mei asks, stopping her mother from walking away. "for the future brand??"

her mother nods. "well after you fucked up the opening event we're just working on new clothes." she laughs.

mei rolls her eyes, remembering the accidental argument she had with hao that night. she couldn't lie she regretted that so much, and she still does.

mei then nods. "okay, we'll go now. bye!" she says, walking up the stairs. hanbin later following after waving at mei's mother.

mei sped up the stairs and avoids any talk or interaction with hanbin until they reach her room.

she lowkey got trauma when she lets hanbin into her room, remembering the silly moments that occured a week ago on that very bed.

anyway, mei say on her bed. "you can sit here too, let me just put something on." she says, getting her remote.

hanbin nods, quietly watching her put netflix on and admiring her as she did. one thing he knew is that it would take him ages to get over her.

hanbin still likes mei a lot – but just a little less than he did before last week. he still felt hurt by the consequences of him making a move, but he doesn't care.

once mei finishes, she sighs and gets comfy in her bed. "okay, we can talk it out now." she says.

"mei i–" hanbin starts straight away.

"hanbin." mei sighs. "i really want to apologise first. you deserve an apology more than i do." she looks up at him.

he nods and moves his body to the side so he could face her properly. "okay, go on."

"hanbin i'm really fucking sorry that i kind of lead you on." she starts, failing to look at him. "i promise i never meant to at all i just saw everything as being a good friend."

hanbin smiles, lifting her head up with his finger. "i never thought you meant it like that, don't worry." he says softly. "however you are really fucking oblivious."

"shut the fuck up i'm not finished." mei laughs, hitting his arm. "anyways, i didn't realise how bad it seemed like i liked you until that day at the restaurant."

he nods, remembering how genuinely confused mei was that day. "i understand that you didn't mean to lead me on, but why did you stop liking me so quickly?"

this is what mei wished to avoid earlier, but she knew she couldn't escape it anymore. "um, well you know how you told me you were the one from that night.."

hanbin nods, "what's wrong? did i make you uncomfortable that day?"

mei shakes her head. "no but, you know that i basically used you to get over youngjae right?" she says, looking down.

hanbin frowns. "yeah, i knew that. why?"

"i just feel horrible you know? i can't look at you knowing i used you like that, and now that i um.. liked you then i just felt guilty." she explains.

"mei," he says in concern. "i get that it may have seemed like that to you but you didn't have to ignore me.. i thought you were genuinely thinking about giving me a chance."

"yeah i'm sorry." she sighs. "i just feel so awful i don't want to hurt you, you're like the least person i ever wanted to hurt."

"well you kind of did." hanbin chuckles. "but you're mei so it's fine." he pats her head.

mei looks up at him. "so, can you like, accept my apology? well– if you want to of course, i'm not forcing you. sorry i–"

"yeah i forgive you." he smiles, holding her hand. "i couldn't hate you, even though you did make me really worried."

"wait but, did you like me?" she asks.

"i literally kissed you, mei." he laughs. "why are you even asking me that?" he pulls her closer.

"well i can't tell when someone likes me okay??" she complains, crossing her arms as hanbin places his arm around her. "but um, yeah thank you for accepting my apology."

"of course, mei." he smiles, pulling her into a hug.

mei felt all of the weight on her shoulders disappear as she comfortably hugs the boy she saw as comfort back. "i'll only forgive you if you do one thing for me first." she says.

hanbin lets go and looks at her. "what is that?"

"make up with zhanghao." she requests. "please, i can't suffer seeing you two so apart."

hanbin chuckles, kissing the top of her head. "okay fine, i feel awful about that too."

❦ ♪

— hao pov.

hanbin

hao
can i talk to you tomorrow before
you and mei do your task thing?

uhhh
yeah sure, why?

i feel like a long talk between us is
needed and i really want to apologise

oh
okay sure

thank you
i'll text you when i can

okayy
seen

❦ ♪

ummm short boring chapter x sorry