𝙂𝙊𝙊𝘿 𝙂𝙄𝙍𝙇𝙎! 𝙣𝙘𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢

"you're going to the lee's party?" yuns father asked, a slight tone of shock that the girl was willingly going to the yearly holiday parties she normally avoided.

"yeah," the other confirmed, sitting at the stairs and slipping on her nicer shoes, "you're not?"

the man turned his head to glance at the entrance to the kitchen, where yuns mother stood there cooking dinner, though it was a bit early to be doing so. it was crystal clear she was avoiding her daughter the same way yun was avoiding her mother. her father turned back, waiting a moment before hesitantly shaking his head with pursed lips into a thin line.

as yun picked her head up to look at him, she could tell it killed him to watch the two women in his life treat each other as strangers. growing up he was always cold and distant, more focused on work than his family, and yun still wasn't too used to being shown attention from him. she did hate how it took him a situation where he had to be present for him to do so.

"okay," she muttered quietly, "i'll be home tonight." nothing else was said as she grabbed her things and left the house, shutting the door behind her and strutting down the pavement.

this time jaemin didn't need to park a block away, his car sitting just outside of the gate that stood between their property and the rest of the neighborhood. the girl hugged herself in attempt to give warmth to her body, trying her best not to slip on ice when she approached the vehicle.

opening the door, she didn't immediately get inside, just leaned down and peaked her head in a bit as if she'd never seen jaemin before. he laughed before speaking up. "can you get in? it's freezing."

obeying his words as she herself was beginning to feel her hands numb, yun stepped inside his car and shut the door. "it is fucking freezing." she admitted as a shiver ran down her body.

"yeah, you're not wearing anything to keep you too warm," he pointed out, "do you wanna run inside and grab a sweatshirt?"

"nope. if i need to, i'll wear yours."

his eyes didn't leave her and his mouth didn't move after the confident remark, the girl keeping her eyes straight ahead but could feel his stare burning into her face. he couldn't protest even if she already had a few of his favorite sweatshirts, because he did like how comfortable she'd gotten that she didn't hold back what she wanted.

"yes ma'am," he settled, turning back to the road and beginning to drive.

yun could feel her phone vibrating like crazy in her pocket, not even needing to look at it to know the groupchat was blowing up her phone. she took it out anyways, scrolling through the the spam of messages. it was something about yuanzi have no idea what to wear, jeno complaining how relatives wouldn't leave him alone, and jisung fully considering on just not showing up at all.

with the help of intense convincing of the rest of the group, jisung decided he would go and eventually all of them were in jenos home, greeting his relatives awkwardly and trying desperately not to seem so out of place.

however, all these young adults who had no idea what to do with themselves in a house full of people they've never met before, they stuck out like a sore thumb.

it wasn't until jeno approached the group with another unfamiliar girl when the group felt themselves relax. "guys, this is haeryung, she wanted me to introduce her."

a short, smiley girl had made her presence amongst all of them. her arms wrapped securely around one of jenos, she released one to lift her hand to give a small wave and the group tried to look as friendly as possibly in the uncomfortable setting. it hardly worked but the girl still felt intimidated. she tried to push away the feeling with all eyes on her, excited to meet the rest of jenos friends.

"hi! mark, jaemin, haechan, it's been a while!" she beamed, "and jisung! you've grown!"

her hands brushed over her skirt before they clasped together, big eyes staring up at jisung as he smiled shyly, unsure of how to respond. "i really wanted to meet the rest of you, jeno and i were the only young people here up until you all showed up. i hope you all don't feel too weird being around all these people." she continued.

"it's fine!" danbi chimed in, "i'm danbi, by the way, it's really nice to meet you!"

appreciating danbis naturally friendly personality, the rest of the group still had yet to say anything as the two went back and forth in small talk. they were mostly just in awe at how two people could be so bubbly, as they were a group of too many introverts.

the talk had lasted no longer than 30 seconds, the two girls turning their attention back to the rest of the group before jeno spoke up. "right, so, there's too many of us, you won't remember everyones names immediately. but go ahead. bond."

haeryung instantly found comfort in the group of girls among several men, smiling briefly before turning fully to the five of them. "gosh, it's still crazy how many friends jeno has now. did you all meet in college?"

"yeah, actually, really funny story but," yun responded, "all of us except yuanzi. i'm yun, that's ren, and—well the other girl is kyong, she was just here."

her eyes briefly scanned the area in hopes of spotting the girl who trailed off, but didn't get a chance to fully see when haeryung spoke again. "that's really cool! besides the guys, he was such a shy boy growing up, i bet he hasn't changed much, huh? we hardly see each other these days, so it's a little sad but i'm glad he's making more friends!"

their eyes didn't leave her as words flowed past her lips like nothing, but she stopped for a second when she realized she'd probably been talking too much. "sorry, i'm just really excited. i was getting tired of talking to old people."

"no, it's cool," yuanzi reassured, eyes peering down at the girl, "are you like, his cousin?"

"no! family friends. my mother and her mother were best friends growing up, and it's been a running joke that we'd get married one day," she laughed, "which would never happen."

heads nodded and rens glanced to yuns with jealousy churning in her stomach, but the other hadn't noticed her stare. the girl was sweet, no doubt, and ren hated how such a simple sentence made her feel the very last thing she wanted to feel.

conversation amongst the group sparked longer as everyone finally made themselves somewhat comfortable. kyong unknowingly distanced herself from everyone, finding a liking in a hallway with as little people as possible, hand grasped on a cup of punch as she watched everyone converse. it was out of character for her, but she feared she'd bring down the energy and started to regret even coming.

the last time she and haechan spoke was days ago, and he sent the message that he was going to give her some space and to talk to him when she was ready. he expected she would be by now, but she never responded. it's not that she didn't want to. she kept trying to put together what she wanted to say, but couldn't help but feel stupid doing so and it resulted in never saying anything at all.

haechans eyes saddened once they landed on her. she hadn't noticed him but he couldn't help but feel guilty upon seeing her stand alone, so he decided he was finally going to approach her when he felt like he'd given her enough time. he couldn't stand the tension between them anymore.

"hey," he greeted, her eyes already finding him once he got close.

"hi." she greeted back, somehow struggling to maintain eye contact.

"you know you could hang out with the girls? you don't have to stand here all alone."

she knew that, obviously. he knew she knew that but just wanted an excuse to talk to her. "i'm aware, haechan, i just—i don't know. i'm not in the mood."

she didn't mean to sound so aggravated, but the tone instantly made haechan assume she wasn't interested in the conversation and he suddenly wished he never approached her. "i'm sorry, i didn't mean to sound like a dick." she seemed to notice because she quickly backtracked.

"you didn't, it's okay," the boy reassured, "can we please talk? i know this is like, the worst place to talk about something serious but i'm starting to think it's... we're over? and i don't even know why or what i did?"

kyong was well aware of what he was talking about but she hadn't expected him to confront her about it. she wanted to run and hide but there was no point in trying to avoid it now. "i've been trying to talk to you about it but i just feel stupid."

"about what? just talk to me."

the shorter sighed, the desperate look in his eyes making her own fall to the ground because it all just felt so dumb to her. "do you like yun?"

the question was more than clear and comprehendable, even over the loud chatter among all the people in the room, yet haechan was still left dumbfounded. "what?"

"just be honest with me. i don't want to play any games."

and neither did he, but for some reason he just had no idea how to answer the question. "no, i don't. i like you."

"haechan," kyong sighed, "i know they're all your best friends but... but you treat her differently. you pay her more attention than everyone else, even me, and honestly the last thing i want to do is sit here and tell you that you're in denial—"

"i'm not," a dry chuckle left his throat, not because anything was funny, but because he was in disbelief. "i'm not in denial, kyong, i'm standing here telling you that i like you. i'm sorry if i haven't made that super clear in my actions but you have to talk to me."

"i haven't talked to you about it yet because i feel fucking stupid. you like her, you so obviously like her and i really don't know what it is about her that makes you ignore me for an entire night for her but please just be honest with me, and yourself. you fucking like her, haechan."

"kyong—"

"you literally hesitated when i asked you the first time, and you expect me to believe you're into me?" haechan watched in defeat as she passionately expressed her feelings. "i don't want to look or feel anymore like an idiot than i do now so, i'm sorry but this, whatever we have, it's over."