Haechan watched Akina stroll into the public library. They agreed to meet up there to hang out since the weather was too cold to be able to go on any more walks to the creek. It had completely frozen over.

The two met each other halfway, standing in a deserted historical section, hidden from the three other people who were in the library.

Haechan slipped his hands into the pockets of his sweatshirt. He felt an awkward tension in the air. He's noticed this a lot lately and had a feeling of what it meant. Haechan didn't want to admit what it was. He didn't want it to be real.

He glanced at Akina. Her jacket hood was up, and it was almost like she was trying to avoid any eye contact.

"I'm glad we could figure something out," Haechan told her, a smile on his face.

Akina let a small one surface on her face. "Me too. Can..." She stopped herself, scanning all the books that lined the tall shelves.

Haechan cocked his head, but Akina never finished. "There's something that I really want to tell you, but I'm almost too scared to."

Akina's finally directed her gaze towards him. She gave him a small nod to prompt him on.

"Akina," Haechan started, a feeling of nervousness bubbling up inside him. "I love you."

There was no response.

"Do... do you love me, too?" Haechan swallowed hard, letting his smile dissolve into his expression of a question. He hated that he felt surprised since it's been so obvious all this time.

"I..." she started, but never finished.

He found his answer in her hesitation.

A broke smile resurfaced on Haechan. He gently entwined his fingers with hers, just wanting to hold her hand one more time. "I can tell your feelings don't meet mine."

Her eyes deepened with a soft glaze of sympathy, and her eyebrows lowered. A look of guilt. "I'm sorry, Donghyuck," she whispered softly. Her lips pinched together as if she was feeling regret.

"There's no need to be sorry." His eyes drifted down to their hands as he gave her's a small squeeze.

"I really do like you, but all I want is for us to be friends."

"And that... we'll do." Haechan dropped her hand, taking a step back. "Can I ask you one thing?"

"Hm?"

"Is it because there's someone else on your mind?" Haechan gave off a warm expression, telling Akina that it's okay if this is true.

There was a silence before Akina looked at her feet, mumbling her answer. "Yes."

"He's a lucky guy," Haechan let a weak smile play on his face. "Anyone would be lucky to have such a rare person like you."

"Thank you, Donghyuck, for everything." Akina gave him a goodbye smile and nod, before walking out of the library.

~ ~ ~

"She doesn't love me, Ji." Haechan fiddled with his phone, spinning it in his hands. The ghost of an image seemed to play in his head and it looked like he was remembering what it was like to see Akina's name pop up on his screen.

"I'm sorry, Haechan," Jisung replied, speaking lightly because he feared anything could push his friend to his breaking point.

"Don't be." Haechan's head rose to meet Jisung's gaze. "Everyone is always sorry about everything. As much as I hate to see her leave, I know that she'll be better off." Haechan's expression was like a clouded sky. His small smile was the sun, shining through the big puffs of dark clouds that tried to hide it. "You can't be selfish when it comes to love. You have to realize that they aren't yours until you're theirs... and I was never hers."

Jisung shifted his sitting position, leaning his head to the side. "Why didn't she love you back?"

Haechan huffed a laugh, but it was pitiful, and Jisung could feel the sadness in it. "She likes someone else."

"Who?"

"If only I knew." Haechan gently rubbed his forehead, looking at the wall. "I really wish I could know. If I did, I would make sure he gave her everything I wanted to. To treat her right, like how I wanted to. Akina is a shooting star. Her smile is so bright and rare, that by the time you blinked, there was no sign it had ever been there.

"When she let me down," Haechan sighed, "I got a sinking feeling in my stomach and my heart shattered. Even if she let me go so carefully and as sweet as possible, it wouldn't stop. I knew it was happening, and I shouldn't have been so shocked. I've liked her for a while before, and then I finally could be with Akina." A ghost of a smile played on the corners of Haechan's lips. "I now realize she deserves whoever it is that makes her happy."

Jisung leaned forward, intrigued by Haechan's words. "You're being a real man of words. She's influenced you, hasn't she?"

A breathy laugh erupted from Haechan. "I guess she did. I just felt too much, you know? She didn't. I really want us to still be friends, and she does, too. It's gonna hurt. It'll feel like my chest is burning, but I'll be okay. Maybe not at first, but I will be. And to whoever the lucky guy is, I hope she gets the person she deserves."