Their tension was definitely strained the next few days but hopefully, things would get better. So, as promised, Yoojin was ready to tell Sooho about her relationship when they went to a café for lunch with Sieun and Youngyi. She felt that they were good enough friends that Sooho wouldn't hate her.

"Can I talk to you, alone?" Yoojin asked the boy.

Sooho nodded and they stayed outside when the others headed in first. He had his relaxed smile on his face, curious about what she wanted to say. Though, he was desperately wishing that she was confessing to him.

"What is it?" Sooho asked.

Yoojin took a deep breath.

"I have a boyfriend," she suddenly announced.

"What?" the boy was surprised and his heart sank. "I mean – of course, you would. You're pretty, you're funny and kind. I just hoped you wouldn't."

"I'm dating Kang Wooyoung."

That was the final blow. Yoojin finally released her breath, glad to have it off her chest. Sooho's eyes widened when he recognised the name. His fists clenched as if squeezing a lemon. He couldn't fathom how such a kind girl was dating a bad guy who fights; they were like polar opposites.

"Kang Wooyoung?" he repeated. "The boxer who beats people up for money on YouTube?"

Yoojin nodded slowly. "He wanted me to tell you. And I know he seems like a rude guy, but he's actually really caring once you get to know him."

Sooho didn't how to respond. He knew that Wooyoung despised him. This situation was such a crazy coincidence that seemed unreal and he felt like he had no luck with girls. 

"Please don't hate me," Yoojin whispered cautiously.

The boy couldn't get mad at her when he looked at her like that. He simply said that he understood, and he told her to be careful. Then they went inside, though he regretted not ever being able to tell her about his feeling for her. Youngyi and Sieun had already ordered so the latecomers quickly did so too. The tiny café was quiet and had beige walls with flower decorations.

"So, what did you guys talk about?" Youngyi asked nosily.

"I guess it was time that I told him. I have a boyfriend," Yoojin told Sieun, since Youngyi already knew.

Sieun nodded, looking unfazed as normal. "I guess it would've been awkward if you two went out since you're Youngbin's sister."

It took a while for Sooho to process those words, while Yoojin missed the hint at Sooho's feelings.

"What? You're Youngbin's sister?" Sooho's jaw dropped.

Oops. Yoojin knew there was something she forgot. She meant to tell him, but she was already so focused on the other secret. Yoojin winced. Now, Sieun looked uncomfortable and Sooho felt betrayed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise you hadn't told him yet," Sieun apologised.

Sooho thought that he was close to Yoojin, but it hurt that his best friend knew her better than he did. He didn't know that that was how Yoojin met Sieun. The food happened to come out at that moment, but Sooho shot up and marched out. Yoojin ran after him, leaving the other two to handle the food.

"Sooho, wait," Yoojin pleaded.

He turned to look at her, his face full of disappointment. "I get that your boyfriend hates me, but I thought we were close friends."

"We are. I'm truly sorry. I was going to tell you before, but I forgot. You know how forgetful I am. And I didn't want to tell you when I met you in case you wouldn't want to talk to me," Yoojin explained.

"You know I'm not that kind of person, don't you?" Sooho stared at her intensely. "You should've told me earlier. I don't care if you're his sister or not. I know that you're a good person."

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me; you're one of my best friends."

"Best friends don't keep these kinds of secrets."

"I'll make it up to you," Yoojin begged. "Please."

"I'm too upset that you didn't trust me enough." Sooho said. "Just give me some time."

With that, he walked away and Yoojin listened to his request. She sighed, knowing that she messed up. Things really weren't going well for her.

However, Sooho's time out of three days was faster than expected. They resolved their fight quicker than Yoojin and Wooyoung's one – probably because her boyfriend was struck deeper. To make up for spoiling their outing, Yoojin was treating the three to coin karaoke. They were already having a blast and Beomseok was also joining them for the first time. When the skinny boy with glasses entered the small, brightly coloured room, he was surprised to see the two girls.

"Hi, I'm Yoojin," said Yoojin excitedly, shaking Beomseok's hand.

The boy gave a small nod. "I'm Beomseok."

"I'm Youngyi," the other girl saluted.

They continued singing straight away with Sooho and Youngyi belting a duo. The two danced around each other wildly. Sieun watched with a tiny smile on his face. Beomseok, on the other hand, looked incredibly uncomfortable. No one noticed except Yoojin, who tapped him on the shoulder. He abruptly stopped scratching his hand and looked at her. Those three were sitting side by side on the black cushioned bench opposite the screen.

She gave him a friendly smile. "Not your scene, huh? They're quite rowdy for me too sometimes."

"I don't mind it," he commented quietly.

"You didn't come last time. Stressed from studying?"

"You could say that. My dad is stricter than most; you probably wouldn't understand. I can't make any mistakes."

Yoojin observed the tiny broken look in his eyes, feeling sorry for the boy. She pursed her lips. Then, her chest ached as she opened her heart slowly too.

"I understand – of course, everyone's different so I wouldn't fully know. But my parents are like that too. They put so much pressure on me and my brother to be successful. Since my brother's the firstborn, he has it worse and I hate the way our dad punishes us. In the end, they don't even care about us and what we like. When we end up in hospital," Yoojin sucked in a breath. "My dad's barely there for a second – just making sure our image is good."

"Exactly. That's exactly what it's like," Beomseok swallowed.

He felt a connection with her and found her very likeable. They sat in a comfortable silence. However, he was still irritated by the sight of Youngyi and Sooho dancing. He didn't like the way they were already close and seemed to forget about him. The loud duo was confident and carefree, doing whatever they wanted in life. Beomseok needed some fresh air.

"I'm getting some drinks," he said, standing up.

Sooho and Youngyi shouted their requests. 'What am I? Their butler?' Beomseok thought angrily. He hated how they ordered him around.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Sieun asked.

Beomseok shook his head, believing that some alone time would make him feel better.

"Are you sure?" Yoojin frowned.

The boy with glasses nodded. At the same time, Youngyi grabbed Yoojin and dragged her up, pushing the next song on her. So, Beomseok scurried out like a mouse, letting out a breath.

He got the drinks with a smile and a lighter heart. Then, the cans dropped to the ground with a metallic bang. Beomseok was completely frozen. His bullies from his previous school stood there with their familiar smirks.

Back at the karaoke room, a song by Twice vibrated the room, echoing as Youngyi and Yoojin sang into the microphones. Sieun was still occupying the small couch opposite the screen. When the song finished, Yoojin wondered what was taking Beomseok so long. And then speaking of the devil, he barged into the room, shivering like he saw a ghost. Yoojin immediately asked what was wrong. What she wasn't prepared for though, was the fight that occurred.

Shouts fired across the room as Beomseok and Sooho released their anger. Beomseok had enough of the other boy's arrogance but in his heart, he felt replaced by Youngyi. Sieun tried to calm them down and Youngyi took Sooho's side. It was a mess that Yoojin seemed like she was watching through a window. She tried to help like Sieun, but it didn't work. Sooho left the room, slamming the door.

Soft K-pop music shrouded the room, the lights still flashing like a disco. Sieun asked Beomseok what was wrong, but he didn't get a good answer. Though, the answer probably arrived when the door opened, and three high school boys strutted in. They acted like Beomseok's friends but later, he revealed that they were his old bullies. The comfort and words of encouragement might've looked like it helped that day, but the following days showed that it didn't help.

---

"Stop it; get your hand off my leg," Yoojin hissed at her boyfriend as she stifled a laugh. "Youngbin might come."

Yoojin was spending the late night in their usual club and chair together. From their last argument, she was trying to show him how much she loved him, so she agreed to visit the club with him. Even though she didn't like how he yelled at her, he still let her be friends with Sooho, and putting herself in his shoes, she'd hate it if he was friends with her imaginary, touchy archnemesis.

Wooyoung's hand crawled up her thigh, tickling her with circular patterns. He leaned closer, draping his arm around her shoulders while kissing the corner of her mouth deeply.

"Then maybe it's time we tell him," he whispered.

"I don't know," Yoojin trailed off.

She was still worried about what her brother might say. On top of that, she didn't like too much public displays of affection – her face always becoming a tomato when he kissed her out in the open. When Yoojin slightly shrugged him off, Wooyoung was hurt.

"Do you not want to be with me? I want to show other guys that you're mine," Wooyoung said.

"I'm not a thing. Do you want me to give you the silent treatment again?" Yoojin threatened.

The boy shook his head frantically, traumatised by two weeks ago after their fight when she wouldn't speak to him for a few days.

"Then let's try and keep it PG when we're outside, okay?" Yoojin asked.

Wooyoung nodded. Seeing her wear the flower necklace he got her, he smiled to himself.

Suddenly, Beomseok appeared and sat down in the adjacent couch with Youngbin. Yoojin's eyes widened. She had heard from Sieun that Beomseok abandoned their friendship group for the bullies in their class, but this was her first time seeing him again since the karaoke. It surprised her that he was here with her twin.

"Guys, this is Beomseok. Beomseok, this is my sister Yoojin, and my friend Wooyoung," Youngbin introduced him.

Nevertheless, Yoojin, smiled at the boy who no longer wore glasses. "Hey, nice to see you again."

"Yeah, same here," Beomseok said, happy that they could still be friends.

Then he nodded at Wooyoung, who just shook his hand. Wooyoung didn't really like this boy – he looked wimpy, yet he was somehow friends with Yoojin already. As Wooyoung obviously put his arm around Yoojin's shoulders, Beomseok awkwardly looked away.

Youngbin internally rolled his eyes. He offered a drink to Beomseok, who politely took it. They chatted away and the ice between them melted away. You see, Youngbin threatened Beomseok to put the Narcotics on Sieun and Youngbin was just like his old bullies.

At the end of the day, she remembered to text Sooho that she saw Beomseok at the club. Sooho replied back, telling her about their fight at school and that he was tired of trying. But he shouldn't give up. If he did, Yoojin feared that the innocent boy would fall down the wrong path. 

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I really don't remember the karaoke scene well so I'm sorry. Thank you for reading! Love you all :)  Feel free to leave comments, idk, who's your fav character?

*Pic is Beomseok