Chapter 25

"Wait, so you're telling me that you'll be watching the basketball game instead of the soccer game?" Yejin asked, and Yiyeon nodded. "That's the reason why you suddenly treated us takoyaki?"

Yiyeon angrily munched the remaining bits of takoyaki that were on her plate and nodded, "Why is our school paper adviser like this?! He knows that Jeno and I are over, so what's his deal?!" She rolled her eyes.

"Wait, if the soccer team has a practice match tomorrow as well..." Jeongmin started and looked at her friends' faces. "Then that means... Sungchan won't be with us?" She asked and frowned.

Sungchan nodded, "I guess that's how it would go?" He shrugged. "But I'll be okay. You guys should watch Daewon-hyung and Yangyang-hyung."

Yiyeon and Yejin looked at each other. "I have no choice but to go to the basketball match. I don't know with Yiyeon and Jeongmin, though..." Yiyeon shrugged.

"Before you guys decide, our game tomorrow would be at Busan," Yangyang said as he drank from his milkshake. "You guys won't be allowed to go out of school premises until dismissal. Unless you guys have an official business, like Yiyeon..."

"Wait, so are you saying that I'm not allowed to watch tomorrow's match?!" Yejin exclaimed. "What kind of a stupid rule is that?!" She frowned and crossed her arms.

Yiyeon patted her shoulder, "You can watch the soccer match tomorrow, though. It will start after class, am I right?" She asked Sungchan, who was seated in front of her. The younger boy nodded. "I'll just tell you what happens."

Her friend sighed, "Fine."

Yiyeon stood up and picked her bag up, "Let's go?"

The rest of them stood up and carried their bags as they parted ways. Yiyeon and Yangyang headed to the bus stop since they were heading in the same direction.

"It's been a while, huh?" Yangyang said, breaking the silence.

Yiyeon nodded, "Yeah, it has been quite a while..."

The walk was comforting. It wasn't like when they last talked when Yangyang confessed. Yiyeon sighed as she looked at the street lights that were starting to open one by one. They were quiet. But they both loved it.

"Hey, Yangyang," she called, getting Yangyang's attention. "Can I ask something?"

The boy shrugged, "Sure, I guess?"

Yiyeon took a deep breath. "On that day... when we were supposed to meet, but I didn't show up... was this how you felt?" She asked.

Yangyang stopped walking as he looked at her.

"I still haven't apologized for that day," she bitterly chuckled. "I'm sorry... for ditching you that night... I'm sorry..." she looked down. "I want to explain myself, but I guess these explanations on my mind would just come out as excuses, so I won't tell them."

Yiyeon looked at the sky and smiled sadly, "You know, I want to hate myself."

"Why?" He asked.

"Why can't it be you instead?" Yiyeon said, looking at Yangyang. "I've been such a horrible friend to you. I kept on looking at someone else, and I didn't even realize that you were hurting by yourself..." she looked at her shoes and sighed. "I'm a horrible person. I've hurt you. Maybe that's why the universe has decided to punish me, too." Yiyeon chuckled bitterly.

Yangyang faced her and held her hands. "Don't hate yourself because of me," he sighed. "Don't hate yourself just because you can't reciprocate my feelings. It's okay. I decided to love you in the first place anyway." He smiled and patted her head.

Yiyeon looked up at him and nodded slowly.

"Besides, I have already told myself in the beginning that when this day comes, it would be okay. I would be okay. You know why?" He asked, and she shook her head. "Because I already know that this would happen."

They continued walking until they reached the bus stop.

"Don't ever hate yourself because of my feelings for you," Yangyang said, flicking her forehead lightly. "I'm happy to be with you. I'm more than satisfied being with you right now, to be very honest. I'm happy to be your friend, and I'll always be happy because at least I could say that I'm a part of your life." He smiled.

At least I have something that Jeno doesn't.

"It's true that I suffered alone. Yejin was over the moon when she knew that you and Jeno started dating. Daewon was supportive no matter who you date. Jeongmin and Sungchan, too. While me? Who could I turn to?" Yangyang chuckled bitterly. "I suffered enough, and I thought it was evident."

"But it was stupid," he sighed. "You're my best friend, and Jeno's a precious comrade and a teammate. I've had that in mind since then, and up until now, if I feel emotions that I shouldn't be feeling, I keep on knocking myself into reality."

Yangyang looked at Yiyeon, who looked like she was about to cry. He sighed as he scooted closer. He lifted her chin and noticed the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

He smiled, "It's okay. I'm okay. We're both okay." Yangyang wiped her tears away.

She sniffed, "I'm forgiven?"

"I never hated you in the first place," he said and ruffled her hair. "No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you."

"I'm sorry that you have to apologize because of me, too..." He sighed. "I tried to stop my feelings for you, but they got the best of me in the end. On that day, when I said that, I kept this all to myself because if you knew I thought I would lose you, I meant it. I was scared that you would look at me differently... but here we are," he smiled.

Yiyeon smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Even if you want to date an assassin or a stock trader or live in the mountains or underwater, I'll be here for you." He said as he placed an arm around her shoulder. "I'll be okay no matter which path you choose, okay?" He asked, and she nodded.

The girl chuckled and smiled, "Now we're sappy."

"Oh please, you love it anyway." Yangyang scoffed.

"Hey, Yangyang?"

"Hmm?" He hummed and looked at her.

Yiyeon sat up and smiled at him, "I'll be here for you, too." She said. "I pray that you would find the person who would make you happy forever."

"And I wish that you'll be happy, too."

***

Yiyeon entered the house and noticed that Hyunjin wasn't in the living room, unlike when she arrives late. She raised a brow and removed her shoes, only to see another pair of shoes scattered on the shoe rack.

Does he have a visitor? And he didn't even bother to tell me? I mean, hello, I also live in this house?

"Hyunjin-ah, I'm home," she said tiredly as she plopped herself on the couch. "I sure wish you have eaten dinner earlier because I don't have anything, and I'm too tired to cook." Yiyeon sighed as she covered her face using the pillow on the couch.

It was such a long day for Yiyeon.

They were able to finish the newspaper layout that they have been rushing. They would only need to polish it tomorrow.

Aside from that, she was assigned to cover the basketball match instead of Sungchan's game. She hasn't watched any of the soccer matches, and it makes her feel bad. It was as if she had neglected Sungchan and focused on something else instead.

"Oh my god, I'm such a horrible friend," she groaned. "First, Yangyang, now Sungchan? What the fuck, Yiyeon?" She muttered under her breath as she sat back up.

She noticed that Hyunjin hasn't even yelled back.

"Whatever, I'm sleeping," she said as she laid on the couch and closed her eyes.

"Why the hell are you sleeping on the couch without changing your clothes? Do you want to get sick?"

She immediately sat back up in surprise when she realized who spoke.

"Oh my gosh, Hwang Yikyung!"

- tbc.

meet hwang yikyung, the eldest among the hwang siblings. 1/3 :>

this chapter made me tear up. especially with yangyang and yiyeon's closure :c what about you guys? let me know your thoughts!

stay safe♡