Published: March 4, 2017

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For a few more times, Jeonghan and Seunghee accidentally and intentionally meet each other. They’ve even exchanged numbers and text each other sometimes. It’s become a friendly relationship for a while. They’ve become closer through the following days without their partners’ knowledge.

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“Seunghee-nee!” Sana calls her as Yuta and Seunghee meet her at the campus. They’re near the student lounges, near the school field.

“Sana, why are you here?” she asks. Sana’s not from their university. She’s attending the one Jeonghan goes to.

“She’s here for me,” Yuta goes over his cousin and puts an arm around her shoulders.

“Yuta-nii, let’s not tell nee-san,” Sana playfully drags him to the corner away from her and Yuta tags along mischievously.

“Why, you guys…” she wants to be as jolly as she was before but something is keeping her from doing so. And she knows exactly who it is.

As the cousins talk away from her and in Japanese, she only averts her eyes and stare at the grassy lea. Her mind’s too preoccupied by him. She can’t even attend to Yuta zealously like before. She’s quickly changing, and it’s a bad sign. No one has affected her more than this in her life. But it’s happening and that person is the one to blame. And right now, she misses him more than before. Even though Yuta is just a few feet away from her. She fights with it, but the feeling is getting the better of her.

“Hey… we were just joking,” Yuta says, putting his arm around her shoulders at the same time.

“Yeah, nee-san,” Sana seconds, who is now standing next to her too. “I missed you! Let’s eat lunch together.”

Sana’s all smiles at her and she’s too cute to ignore. She only drops her guard and obliges. “Alright, you cousin’s better behave alright. I’m not paying today.”

Yuta laughs, “You pay Sana.”

They start walking to the cafeteria by then.

Sana only pouts and gets her wallet, “Hm… Bye-bye allowance.”

Seunghee can’t help but giggle, “Don’t worry, you’ll get by Sana.”

Sana only holds a TT positions while following them as she mumbles.

“Should I get a fire truck for you?” Yuta jokes.

“Or a goblin to get you?” Seunghee adds.

“Okay, I’ll cheer up,” Sana utters.

They only laugh together and finally reach the café for a delicious lunch.

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-‘Are you free tonight?’- Jeonghan’s voice resound through the receiver.

Seunghee’s at home and Yuta has just gone. Recently, she has been talking a lot with him on the phone, since they don’t meet often. They only have very few meetings in fact.

“Tonight? No, I can’t. I have lots to finish for tomorrow,” she replies.

-‘Alright, maybe some other time.’-

“Yeah, hope your presentation goes well tomorrow.”

-‘Don’t think about it. It’ll be done in a flash. I’ll keep you posted.’-

“You sound confident enough, maybe I don’t really have to.”

-‘I’ll probably just be nervous if ever you appear at the venue.’-

“Why is that?”

-‘Well…’-

On second thought, she doesn’t want to hear it. She’s not ready for anything he’ll say regarding the two of them. And it’s not the right time, even if they can both feel their undeniable connection.

“I better go Jeonghan-ssi.”

-‘What? It’s still early.’-

“Something came up, I’m sorry.”

-‘Okay. It’s alright. I’ll just talk to you later.’-

“Yeah.”

-‘Good night Seunghee-ssi.’-

“Good night Jeonghan-ssi”

She puts the phone down but holds it close to her chest. It’s starting to hurt now. This feeling of wanting to be with him and listening to his voice everytime. She wanted to erase it before. But that’s impossible now. She can’t possibly do that now even if she dies trying. Cuz she’s starting to fall for him for real.

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In Jeonghan’s room, he’s looking outside the balcony, staring at the darkness of the night. He holds the phone down and takes a deep sigh. Then he walks back in the room and sits on his bed. He glances at the picture on his bedside table and displays a very troubled expression. Soon, he decides to turn the frame down and get ready to wash up for sleep. The picture frame holds a picture of them together, him and Chaeyeon, during their first anniversary, which was only just recently. He doesn’t mean to, but he’s falling madly in love with another girl. It just means one thing. He never really loved Chaeyeon. And he’s gradually proving it to be true.

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“Oppa, how do I look?”

Chaeyeon is displaying her figure before him in this really cute dress. They’re at the mall and she’s doing some shopping. She’s lovely. She’s pleasing to the eyes. But eventually, he’s not interested. It’s slowly showing and she’s starting to notice, though she tries to hide that fact.

“Just get what you want Chaeyeon-ah,” he plainly remarks.

Watching how indifferent he is, she tantrums like a child to catch his attention.

“Aghgh!! You’re unfair oppa!”

Jeonghan just sighs and compels himself to her demands, “You look great. Yeah, so get the pink one.”

She acts all cute again but this time, she’s spirited. “Alright…” Then her phone rings. “Hello? Omma? I’m still at the mall. Alright, alright. I’ll go home now.”

It kinda relieves him, she’s going home again. Lately, her mom’s always demanding her to go home early for some errand and it’s an advantage for him.

“Oppa…” she acts like she doesn’t want to but she has no choice.

He understands what it is and bids, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She doesn’t even buy the clothes anymore. She has to get home as soon as she can. And in a minute, he’s alone as she rushes her way out of the mall. He looks at her receding figure and just sigh as a sign of relief.

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Somewhere in the mall, Seunghee is carrying some groceries as she gets out of the mart. Then her phone rings. It’s Jeonghan calling.

“You called? What’s up?” she’s waiting to hear his voice. And something inside her is getting excited.

-‘I’m at the mall. Chaeyeon just left and I’m alone right now. Are you free? Can I see you?’-

She’s suddenly agitated to see him cuz his voice sounds so lonely. “You’re in the area?” she exclaims. “I’m at the mall too. Where are you?”

-‘I’m near the elevators. Are you here too? I’ll go to you. Where you at?’-

She really wanted to see him but then she remembers she’s supposed to meet someone right now. “I’m sorry. Yuta’s waiting for me by the parking area.”

-‘Oh I see…’-

“Maybe next time Jeonghan-ssi.”

-‘Yeah. Don’t think about it.’-

“Yeah. Bye”

-‘I’ll see you soon.’-

She puts the phone down and sadly stare at it for a moment. She misses him. She really does. But it’s not time yet. And it’s still not right.

Jeonghan has long seen her. In fact, he has long been staring at her from his part of the place. And it took every little bit of patience he has just not to walk over her all this time. He’s afraid her boyfriend’s around and it’ll put her in a bad position. Thinking about her, he just wants to savor every second he has his eyes on her. Cuz any moment again, she’s gonna be gone. And she does. It’s a pity, he can’t freely walk to her yet. But he’ll make sure in the future that he’ll be able to be with her. Without anyone hindering them.

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To be continued…