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"You like Jun?"

Sorn has just blurted out the most unexpected thing. Seunghee cannot believe her words. But she nods and turns all shy about. Seunghee is just bewildered.

"Since when?"

"Since we first met in the university."

"Sorn! I never noticed. And I'm sorry."

"It's okay unnie. It's not your fault. Jun's just not good at accepting defeats. He's too spoiled."

"Yeah. And I don't know what to do with him anymore. Sorn I think you're the one who can help him."

"Actually, I'm trying Unnie. But he only still got eyes for you. I don't think he'll ever really look at me. I don't think he ever has eyes for other girls than you."

Sorn looks really sad and hurt saying these things. Seunghee feels even more burdened now that she knows it's not just Jun she's hurting but Sorn too.

"Sorn, if I can only help you," she pitifully utters.

"It's okay unnie. I shouldn't really have told you about this. Considering you're the girl he likes. But you're the only one I can talk about this with. And I really wanted to know if you really don't have feelings for him. It's really bugging me all this time. I'm sorry for doubting you unnie," Sorn apologizes.

"It's okay," Seunghee goes to her side and pats her head. "When it's about feelings and love and the person we hold it for, we can't really avoid these things. It proves how we really feel about the person. It ascertains what's true and deletes all doubts we have in our hearts. That's why I understand you, because I love another person that much too."

Sorn starts tearing up, "Thank you unnie. I'm sorry."

Seunghee gives her an embrace while tapping her back, "Ah, don't cry now. It's okay. I understand."

Sorn feels guilty after doing it. But she has no other choice. She's been keeping her feelings for a while and it makes her wanna explode at times. It becomes so painful that it's so unbearable for her. But now she's thinking, what more for Seunghee, she asks herself. She's been keeping her feelings for Jeonghan for more than nine years now, it must have been really tough. She must have had the hardest times in all those nine years. In a way, she feels so little. She's so ashamed.

Seunghee can understand where she's coming from. She needed to tell her these to ease her pain, the pain she can't handle. But with what she's been through with Jeonghan in her more than nine-year wait with unrequited love, she can easily comprehend her. She's just being herself. She's just being her friend.

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Jeonghan cannot get it off his mind. Seunghee cannot be in a mutual agreement with Jun. The thought keeps him in bad mood all night that he needs some fresh air. By the time Sorn and Jun got into Seunghee's apartment, he was already strolling down the nearby park to clear his mind. He missed them by a minute.

He gets into a convenience store to buy some drink. Then he stays at the park for a place to deliberate. He sits at a swing drinking the energy drink he just bought. It's already 6PM and the sun is about to set. Part of him starts blaming himself. If only he's not too spineless to walk up to her all those times. He wasted so much time waiting for the right time, planning everything. He was so full of himself. It was never really a good decision for him. Seunghee is an extremely beautiful girl, it's luck that she only has one suitor now. And it's stressing the hell out of him. What more if she has more? Jeonghan grits his teeth at the thought.

His mind is so far away that he doesn't notice someone sits at the swing beside him. He just hears the person heave a loud sigh. That's the time he turns to check who it is. And what he's feeling doubles at the sight of him.

"What are you doing here?" Jeonghan asks obnoxiously. He can't hide his annoyance towards him.

Jun turns and his expression shifted from depressed to bad mood. "This is a public place. I can be here whenever I want."

Just when they both never want to see other, fate forces them to. Staring at each other with sharp eyes, they both know words are useless from them at a time like this. They both know they are aiming for the same thing. Even if Seunghee is still oblivious of Jeonghan's feelings, Jun can see through him. It's like staring at his own shadow with the sun directly above his head. It's making him angry. Jeonghan can hardly accept the fact that this guy made his way up to Seunghee's comfort zone. He has never seen her with a guy other than Sehun before. It's really also because of him that he's decided to put his plans into action. If he never showed up three months ago, maybe it will take him another year to walk up to her. He's actually the one who got him worked up, all these times.

"Just what are you playing for Jeonghan-shi?"

"You better not pry onto my business."

"If it involves Seunghee noona, it's my business."

"What the... Forget it. I won't waste my time with you. Seunghee's not your business. And I tell you, she will never be."

Jeonghan stands and walks away from him. He doesn't want to meddle on his play. It's between him and Seunghee. But he won't let him meddle with his. He's betting everything on this one chance. He won't let anyone interfere with his plans. And he will make sure Seunghee will only be his business and not anyone else.

Jun is distressed. Why can't he be civil with him? He's in no position to meddle into his affairs with Seunghee. He's just her friend. He's nothing more but a friend. But he wants to make sure she's not being deceived. She likes him and apparently, he likes her too. It's clear to him. But he's still trying to cling onto any hope there is left that she will turn to him one day. He's definitely hopeless. He's so in love with her. It's becoming his destruction.

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Jeonghan goes back to his apartment. As he paces the steps of the stairs, he's in deep thought about what to do next until the object of his thoughts appears before him. Seunghee is just closing her door, dressed up ready to go out. All his worries end at the sight of her. She's his guiding light. She's his eternal flame. She's everything he needs in his life.

Seunghee glances at who just steps into the corridor and sees him. She projects a smile at him.

"Jeonghan-shi, it's you. I'm just about to go out, I suddenly ran out of detergent and definitely, the laundry is piling up," she grins at him shyly.

"I have some in my room, would you like to borrow some for the mean time? The store's a little far from here and it's getting dark," he suggests.

Seunghee ponders at it for a moment, "Ah, no, I should really just go to the store and buy some."

"Then I'll go with you."

Jeonghan doesn't need to hold back. She's supposed to know about how he feels herself. He's determined now. He won't distance himself from her anymore. There's no space for further delay in his plans.

Seunghee is surprised. He's coming with her? She's caught between walking at night alone with him or the probable instance that she might be able to peek inside his apartment if she borrows the detergent from him. It takes her some time to reply him.

"I think I'll go alone."

"No, I insist."

"Then I think I'll just borrow for tonight, to spare you of the bother."

She smiles at him cutely and he smiles back content.

"Okay."

He goes to his door and opens it and walks in but stops halfway looking at her as if waiting for something.

"What?" she asks clueless.

"Come in."

"Come in-side? No, you can just give it to me here. I'll wait for you."

"No, it's not that. There's some sweets in the fridge. Mom sent me some today. I want you to have it too."

"Really? Well, okay. What kind of sweets?"

He just smiles at her. She's really cute when it comes to sweets. "You'll find out if you come in."

"Alright, I surely won't say no to that."

It's more than what Seunghee expects. She's finally gonna see what's inside of his room. She's somewhat excited as she follows him inside.

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And so she enters the bachelor's room. It's clean enough and it's definitely a boy's room. His play station is fixed at the living room with the couch and table. Maybe he plays here a lot with Seungcheol-shi and Jisoo-shi. His wall is clear, there is nothing but just a mirror and a wall clock. Her eyes wander around so much. She might never have the chance again. So she has to make it last. She follows him through his kitchen. And wow, it's neat. Well, the kitchen wares aren't stained and are properly tucked at its places. Maybe he doesn't cook often.

"Please take a seat."

"Yah."

Seunghee sits at one of the chairs at the dining table. She watches him as he opens the fridge and gets the pastry out. It's a pie, a mango pie.

"Mango pie? You don't have this often!" she exclaims.

"Yah, that's why I wanted you to have some," he replies.

"Thank you Jeonghan-shi!"

He serves her a slice and she instantly forks a portion directly into her mouth. He can't help but smirk. She's really a digger for sweets.

"Wow! It's good!"

"Mom's fond of cooking pastry when she has time. I'll give you some when she makes some again."

"I'd definitely love that."

Jeonghan gives her some tea after. He sits with her then, beside her, at the corner of the table.

"I've always wanted to be a pastry chef if I wasn't into music. But my hands just aren't blessed with cooking. It's a pity."

"It's definitely for music, those hands of yours."

He looks at them too as she lays them before the both of them.

"Well, I think so. The only thing these hands knows about is to press on piano keys. They're big enough, see? I have really big hands."

She laughs at herself, lifting her hands in the air. Her hands are really big. It's not normal for a pretty girl like her. When suddenly Jeonghan presses his palm against the hand she's displaying. She's speechless at the touch, she doesn't know how to react.

"But my hands are bigger, see?"

He wants to hold her hand. He wants to intertwine his with hers but it will surely take her aback. So this is what he did. And it looks just like a hi-five. Seunghee feels embarrassed at the feel of his hands. Its roughness and size is so manly. It tempts her to hold his hand in her head, but of course, she can never do that.

"Yeah."

She puts her hand down that instant and cannot look at him. She's blushing she knows. She only wishes he can't notice it. But he stares at her gently. That timid face of hers is just luring him even more. It takes all of his self-control not to jump at her and hold her in his arms. But he suddenly recalls what Jun did earlier, making him lose the moment.

"I don't mean to pry, but can I ask something? What kind of relationship do you have with Jun?"

It makes her click. This is what she's avoiding to happen. To make Jeonghan think that she's going out with Jun. She looks at him as he stares at her. His eyes show some feelings she can't fathom. But there is only one thing she has to do. She has to make it sure that everything is clear to him. That Jun is nothing but a friend.

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To be continued...

(16.01.01)