"Of course, he is," Kookie says shoving another piece of watermelon into his mouth.

"Did he finally grow some balls and tell you?" I avoid Kookie's eye contact and pick up a piece of pineapple to chew on.

"Do you not love him anymore?" my head snaps up and I stare at him in utter confusion.

"What are you talking about?" he grunts and places his bowl on the coffee table after taking a sip from it.

"Come on, Av. It was clear as day that you were in love with him too. You both were just too chicken shit to make a move."

"I wasn't!" I protest placing my bowl down beside his.

"Oh, really? Then why did you tell everyone who asked you out freshman year that you had someone special?" he raises his brow at me and a goofy smirk is plastered on his face.

I get embarrassed and punch him not gently in his arm, "stop playing around he can't still be into me."

"I dunno, Av. There's not a mountain he wouldn't move for you if it would make you happy, plus he never really gave up on you. He stopped directly asking about you, but somehow his questions always led back to you."

My stomach drops and Tae's words ring in my ear. He has been keeping track of me and what if me letting him back in has given him false hope? I did love him once upon a time, but that was puppy love. We are adults now and he's just a friend, now it seems like I should end even that though.

The feeling of Kookie rubbing the ridge between my brows pulls me out of my thoughts. His bright smile was on full display, "what are you thinking so hard about?"

I swat his hand away and nibble on my lip. "I think I'm going to have to distance myself from him."

"What? Why?"

"Because I'm in love with Tae. And I don't want Jimin to get his hopes up," Kookie's jaw tenses at my answer, and I watch him pick his bowl up and down the remaining rum in it.

"Did he put you up to this?" his voice is low and agitated.

"No," I lie and Kookie's eyes narrow on me.

"Hey...uh, did you ever tell anyone about our trip to Canada?" I try and change the subject. Taehyung isn't the issue at hand and I don't want Kookie to blame him for anything. His face drops and he looks a little hurt at my question.

"What? Of course not, I would never just gossip about that shit show," he gets up taking the two bowls to the kitchen leaving me to stew on the couch alone.

If Kookie didn't tell him, how could he have known? Kookie thinks Jimin is still in love with me but is he dangerous? Maybe it's all a misunderstanding. Jimin has never been mean or malicious.

Kookie takes some time to come back and I know I've upset him. I walk into the kitchen to see him pouting as he washes the dishes in the sink. I quietly walk beside him and lean my shoulder against his, taking the wet dishes to dry them.

"Is that why you have been avoiding me, Av? Because you think I told someone about that trip?" his voice is hoarse and he avoids looking at me just continues to wash dishes.

"No, I've just been busy Kook."

"So busy that you have not seen me and barely have replied to me in weeks?"

"Me and Tae have just been doing a lot and I've been caught up," I hear him scoff at that.

"I get that you are in 'love' with him," he mumbles making finger quotes at the mention of love.

"But just remember you can't burn a bridge and then act like nothing ever happened. You let him gaslight you with thunder and lightning but, for some reason, I feel like we are the bad guys here," he turns off the water and wipes his wet hands on his jeans.

"Kook," I call out after him as I follow him back into the living room.

My phone vibrates on the coffee table and Tae's picture pops up on my screen. "You'd better get that," he motions to my phone and I shake my head letting the call go to voicemail.

Before I can even reply to Kookie it rings again and I watch as he visibly deflates. "I'm not mad, Av, just a little hurt at how you have been lately. I've gotta go get ready for work. So we can talk later."

"How about we meet up for dinner? We can go to Ardivinos and I'll get you that Meatzza you like so much?" I offer, ignoring my phone going off for the fourth time.

"Sure, Av. I'll meet you there at 6," he nods solemnly and goes to walk up the stairs, but I stop him and wrap my arms around him.

"You're my best friend in the whole wide world, Kookie. Nothing will ever change that. I'm sorry I've neglected you, it won't continue to happen," I say squeezing with all my might.

I feel his arms hug me back tightly, "that's not an issue Av. I want you to be happy."

"I am. Tae makes me happy and he's been better. He's always at home, no more staying at the studio, and his work has started to sell. Things are good," Kookie holds me a distance and looks into my eyes for any hint of a lie.

"I promise," I say holding up my pointer and middle finger.

"Scouts Honor," he chuckles and ruffles my hair and I whine trying to fix my hair.

"I'll take a Meatzza and an order of buffalo wings," he crosses his arms over his chest trying to hold back his smile.

"But you know I can't do spicy," I groan and mirror his stance glaring at him.

"It's the price you have to pay for ditching me for weeks and making me catch a buzz before my shift."

Fuck he's right I guess buffalo wings it is.

He must see that he's won because his bright smile is on full display again showing off his bunny-like teeth.

"Fine, Jeon. I'll see you at 6."

"Perfect, see you later, squirt" he ruffles my hair one more time before racing up the stairs to avoid me.

I collect my belongings and head to my car, only for my phone to go off again. I go to pick it up seeing it's Tae again.

"Why haven't you been answering your phone? Did you talk to Kook?"

"Hi, how are you? I'm good and you?"

He groans on the other line and then silence engulfs us. I check to see the call is still active but he's not talking.

"Are you going to answer my questions?"

I sigh and buckle my seatbelt while the call connects to the car.

"Kinda, but I'll talk to him more this afternoon he had to go to work."

"Wow, so you're just gonna be gone all day then? On my day off?"

"Don't be dramatic, some space is good for us. We have been together every day for weeks."

The line clicks and he's hung up. I try to call back but it only goes straight to voicemail.

Great, today just isn't my day. All the drama with Jimin, then hurting Kookie, and now Tae's upset.

I beat my head against the steering wheel trying to make sense of where I've gone wrong. The only thing I can do is handle one problem at a time and the next one on my list is Jimin. I shoot him a quick text letting him know I'm on my way and he replies instantly saying he'll be there soon.

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