Chapter 8

"Hyunjin, have you tried calling her?" Yejin asked worriedly.

Hyunjin sighed and nodded, "I did, and she's not picking up..." he sat on the couch beside Sungchan. "I know it doesn't look like it but I'm really panicking."

"I tried calling Yangyang-oppa earlier and he isn't picking up," Jeongmin said. "Could it be?"

They all looked at each other before Yejin shook her head, "I don't believe it..." she said, standing up. "Daewon-ah, try calling Jeno."

"Why would you call her ex?" Hyunjin asked.

"She talked to him earlier before shit went down," she said. "And I believe that it has something to do with Jeno. I could be mistaken, but I think they're together right now."

"But Yiyeon-noona was doing a good job in moving on?" Sungchan said. "And she doesn't look like the type who would date her ex again."

"I mean, we all think that way," Daewon said. "But it doesn't mean that they won't be talking to each other. Especially when I'm hearing rumors that they're seeing each other again."

"What? Where did you hear that?" Hyunjin asked.

"Mark-hyung and Renjun," Daewon shrugged. "Those are just rumors, though. Besides, if they do date again, so what? Not like we can control them or anything..."

"Okay, enough about Jeno and Yiyeon. We haven't even found out where my cousin is yet here we are, opening another topic," Hyunjin sighed. "Daewon, try calling Jeno and I'll be asking Renjun."

The other guy nodded and dialed a familiar number on his phone.

***

"Don't you think it's time for us to go home? I've been receiving calls from Jeongmin and Hyunjin since earlier. Your brother must be worried..."

Yiyeon took a deep breath before shaking her head.

"I don't want to go home just yet," Yiyeon said while munching on her ramen. "You know, I was doing a good job in forgetting his existence yet the parking lot incident happened and everything went down," she chuckled.

Yangyang just listened to the girl who was eating in front of him. He would probably hear another earful from his mom, but he couldn't care less.

"He was with another girl that time but I didn't give a shit about who she was until yesterday," she said and looked down. "I didn't know how much it bothered me until yesterday when he drove all of us home."

"And I don't know, Yangyang. This feeling sucks, but I can't even do anything about it," she sighed and covered her face using her handkerchief. "It's been almost a month since we broke up, and I shouldn't be crying over the same shit, right?"

"I can't blame you, though," Yangyang crossed his arms as he leaned his back on the chair. "All you did was love someone, and we all saw how you loved—or maybe love Jeno."

Yiyeon just stared at nothingness while letting all of her tears flow, "I don't even know why I'm crying, damn." She laughed, which also made her friend laugh. "Maybe it's just the pent-up frustration? I don't even know..."

"How are you feeling now?" Yangyang asked. "Feeling better?"

"Feeling bad, but better," she smiled lightly.

Silence enveloped the two as they finished the ramen they were eating.

"Hey, Yangyang," Yiyeon started. "Thank you for listening to my useless rants. Not just my rants, but yeah... thank you... for staying with me." She smiled.

Yangyang nodded, "I'm always here to listen if you need someone to talk to," he chuckled. "Now, shall we go home?"

The girl nodded, "You can go home first. Your mom is probably worried about you," she said and picked her things up.

"You're the one to say that?" He raised a brow. He fished his phone out of his pocket and showed the number of missed calls he received, courtesy of their friends. "These people would bombard you with questions once you see them."

She scoffed, "Not like I have to answer them."

Yangyang laughed, "Don't worry, I'll do the same."

"Go home already! I'll just take the bus since the bus stop isn't that far from here," Yiyeon said.

"Idiot, I have a car, and I could just drive you home," he rolled his eyes and took her back that was on her shoulder.

"Yangyang!"

***

"This feeling sucks, but I can't even do anything about it..."

"It's been almost a month since we broke up, and I shouldn't be crying over the same shit, right?"

Jeno heard everything.

From how Yangyang convinced Yiyeon to go home, on to how they finished their second cup of ramen.

And it stings.

Because he has been yearning for a moment as serene and sincere as the moment she had with Yangyang earlier.

"I got to take this call. Be right back, hyung," Jeno stood up and went outside to answer Daewon's call. "Daewon-ah, is there a problem?"

"Jeno-yah! Is Yiyeon with you, by chance?" Jeno raised a brow upon hearing his teammate's question.

"No... why would she be with me?" He scoffed. "Why, did something happen?"

"Uh... nothing much!" Daewon chuckled nervously. "Thanks anyway, Jeno!"

"Lee Daewon. What's going on?" Jeno asked with a serious tone.

From a loud, outgoing tone, Daewon's voice became much quieter. It was as if he doesn't want anyone to hear his ongoing conversation with Jeno. "Yiyeon isn't home yet, and Hyunjin is lowkey worried."

"What?!"

"The reason why I called is that we thought that maybe she was with you, but I guess we're wrong..." Daewon said. "I really have to go now, Jeno! Thanks for the info!"

The moment the call ended, Jeno immediately wore his hoodie and went outside to go back to their school. He saw the security guard reading a magazine and he asked if he had seen Yiyeon leave the building, to which the guard answered, yes, adding that the girl was with someone.

His heart pounded like crazy, and he didn't know where to start looking for her.

Until he reached a convenience store that was three blocks away from their school.

And there, he sees Yiyeon eating with Yangyang.

At that moment, he felt peace, because she was safe.

But now, he regrets that he even listened to Yiyeon and Yangyang's conversation

"Woah, I thought you were just going to answer a call? You were gone for an hour, where did you go?" His cousin, Doyoung, immediately bombarded him with questions. "Yah, are you just going to ignore what I just asked?"

"I'm not in the mood, hyung. I just want to sleep."

His cousin scoffed, "Idiot. I know something happened," he rolled his eyes even if Jeno couldn't see it. "Don't even try to deny it, Jeno-yah, you're a book which is easy to read."

Doyoung said other things, but Jeno couldn't care less.

He just wishes that he'd stop caring for this certain someone.

- tbc.