LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES...CHAPTER 20.1/???
Title: Love Knows No Boundaries
Author: tikibuddy91
Characters: EXO (all but Minseok), BAP (all but Junhong and Jongup), SECRET (Jieun and Hyosung), SISTAR (mention of Hyojung), SNSD (mentions of Miyoung/Tiffany and Taeyeon), SHINee (mention of Kibum)
Word Count: 5350
Genre: AU, Humor, Drama
Rating: PG-13 (language)
Summary: College Students. Blind, Deaf, and Mute. Their lives deal with the ups and downs, like a roller coaster. They find relationships and companionships. Life does not always have a happy ending, but they can try to get their own.
Author Note: JoonSooIn Trio. :) Zitao meets Wufan again after the cafe incident, and things aren't looking too favorable. Himchan and Yongguk have tense encounters since the kiss, and Jieun and Hyosung are trying to figure out what is up with their boyfriends' behaviors.
Sign Language Guide
Families
Chapter 17 Part 1 | Chapter 17 Part 2 | Chapter 17 Part 3 | Chapter 18 Part 1 | Chapter 18 Part 2 | Chapter 19 |
From: Jeon Hyosung
To: Song Jieun
Jieunnie-yah, what do you say we do the plan this week, the one we discussed a while back at our third meeting? Himchan’s not been himself lately and I think something’s going on with him and Yongguk, he’s been distracted and acting weird whenever I mention Yongguk’s name.
From: Song Jieun
To: Jeon Hyosung
Unnie, I hope Himchan’s alright. Yongguk’s not himself either, he’s been kind of spaced out sometimes. Himchan, I haven’t seen him during lunch nowadays; you’re right, it’s like something’s happened between them.
- A little while -
From: Jeon Hyosung
To: Song Jieun
Jongup told me about what happened when he came back from his morning run a few days ago. Saw Yongguk leave before he came into the house to see Himchan tear-stricken and moody.
From: Song Jieun
To: Jeon Hyosung
Did he? Aw, Jongup, I miss that precious boy. He joins us for lunch now and then, but…he prefers to eat with his hyung. You’re right, unnie. I think we need to figure out what is going on between Yongguk and Himchan, because they’ve been in denial and so moody with each other, and they’re affecting us.
- - -
It has been several days since Kyungsoo, Joonmyeon and Jongin have admitted their confession for each other, though they have not made it official to everyone just yet. Joonmyeon and Jongin are giving Kyungsoo the time to adjust to having two lovers at the same time, so the three of them are taking it slow. Once they have settled into their pace, they informed their families and friends, starting with Baekhyun and Chanyeol, then the rest of their siblings.
When Hyojung heard the news, she giggled and teased Joonmyeon and his two lovers. “You guys make it look like a family of men, hahahaha, with Jooniemyeon as the father, Kyunggiesoo as the mother, and Jonginnie as the tall baby, aigoo.”
Surprisingly, Miyoung, Taeyeon, and Kibum said almost similar lines of Hyojung’s observation. Kyungsoo is a little embarrassed, though he knows and feels that it is kind of true. He is the best cook out of the three, is very concerned for his family and friends, and associates “cleanliness” as his middle name; Jongin has taken an addiction to his semihomemade creation of kimchi spaghetti. Joonmyeon seems to fit the father role as he is assertive and decisive, treating his family and friends with a deep sense of kindness and altruism, and able to take on tasks head-on.
Jongin, even though he is the youngest, sometimes enjoys getting attention from his two favorite hyungs. It does not mean that he only likes to be on the receiving end, he likes to give as well; he gets bold with his blatant displays of affection to them as well. With Kyungsoo, he feels a natural urge to smile whenever Kyungsoo looks his way, and to wrap his arms around him. He likes to be close to Kyungsoo, and Kyungsoo feels the same way. With Joonmyeon, Jongin has a tendency to lean on him a lot and he relishes on the love that Joonmyeon has for him. The signature display of affection that the three of them share is Kyungsoo hooking his pinkies with Jongin’s and Joonmyeon’s, whether they are walking or not.
During lunch at campus one day, everyone congratulates the “JoonSooIn” trio for their official relationship upon hearing Joonmyeon’s announcement.
[H-a! Tell you will have two R-o-m-e-o-s! Now look happen, still two R-o-m-e-o-s! L-O-L Tell finish you] (Ha! I told you you were gonna have two Romeos. Now look at what you got in the end, still two Romeos! Hahaha! I told you~) Daehyun jokes to Kyungsoo, earning an amused roll of eyes from Kyungsoo. Chanyeol then suddenly pops a question to no one in particular.
“So, wait, who’s on top?”
Yongguk chokes on his food, before he gives into fits of snickering. Joonmyeon, Jieun, Luhan, Yixing, Youngjae, and JB stare at Chanyeol, feeling very disturbed that he has asked such a blunt question. Sehun, Zitao, and Daehyun look at the group members with blank looks, unsure if Chanyeol was joking or being serious. Jongdae has an expression of puzzlement when he hears the question. Jongin and Kyungsoo look at the culprit with confused looks.
“CHANYEOL!” Baekhyun lightly hits his boyfriend’s chest with the back of his hand, looking scandalized and about to crack up.
“Chanyeol-ah, please keep your thoughts to yourself,” Joonmyeon says with a voice so intimidating that everyone exchanges looks of hushed awe, for he has an angelic smile.
“But, hyung, this is the first time we’ve heard something like this! This sounds so complicated to my brain…”
“But it’s not, Chanyeol-ah,” Kyungsoo says, not forgetting to sign for Daehyun. “It’s not really complicated, at least that’s what Joonmyeon-hyung says. The way I, or we, see it, it’s really a win-win…-win situation for the three of us. Nothing to lose, nothing to risk for. The three of us like each other a lot, so there’re no complications with that.”
“Really?” Kyungsoo nods. “Wow…”
After the discussion of the trio’s relationship has passed, the members separate into different smaller groups to talk about different topics. Joonmyeon watches and listens as his boyfriends and Daehyun talk briefly about their history project and how everything is coming together very well, before Jongin is asked to talk with Sehun, Luhan, Yixing and Jongup about their dance auditions. Jongdae, on the other hand, is thinking hard about the kiss that happened in his apartment. He wonders if it was Yixing or not - he hopes it was Yixing - because the scent was undetectable. He blushes when he remembers that since he was kissed in the middle of changing, someone could have seen his naturally toned body.
“Yixing-ge?” He feels for his friend on his left side as he calls for his friend among the loud chatters and laughter from the group, supposedly sitting next to him.
The seat is empty. Yixing must have left when I was lost in my thoughts, Jongdae thinks to himself.
“Zitao-yah?”
The familiar, calloused hand touches Jongdae’s right palm, and Jongdae sighs in relief.
“Where’s Yixing-ge?”
Zitao fingerspells on Jongdae’s palm, He’s at another table, chatting with Luhan, Jongin, Sehun and Jongup about the dance audition.
“Oh, okay…I thought he must have stepped out or something…”
Zitao replies with only a gentle pat on Jongdae’s hand.
- - -
Daehyun looks around the food court for Jongup and Himchan. It is one of those days when both Himchan and Jongup are not present. Jongup has joined lunch with them a lot more than Himchan did, if three times were counted as a lot for the past two weeks.
[Hyung, know where H-Ch-hyung and J-U? We not see them join-us often lately. Know why?] Daehyun asks Yongguk. (Hyung, do you know where Himchan-hyung and Jongup are? They haven’t been eating with us lately…Do you know why?)
Yongguk stares at Daehyun with an unreadable expression.
[What-wrong?] Daehyun asks. (What’s wrong?) For a brief second, he notices how Yongguk has his lips pursed, a slight crease on his forehead, and his steely eyes gleaming hard before they are all washed away and an uncertain frown is placed on Yongguk’s face.
[Nothing, think H-Ch need time self alone, J-U maybe join him too. Know H-Ch, before little friends have. Many us make him uncomfortable maybe.] Yongguk frowns. (Nothing’s wrong, I think it’s just that Himchan needs some time alone, Jongup probably is with him. You know how Himchan was before, didn’t have much friends. The amount of us might have intimidated him).
[Oh-I-see, o-k.] Daehyun nods slowly. (Oh, ok.) He looks around again. He has missed Jongup since that night when they were in the park. He thinks to himself, Jongup said he was afraid of losing me, so why is he not here with us? But, he also said he wanted to figure something out. However, Daehyun has said that he will respect Jongup’s space and privacy so he decides to let Jongup have some time away from them.
Meanwhile, Yongguk is reflecting on the memory of what happened at Himchan’s house. What was that kiss about? Yongguk thinks. Did I do that or did he? I think he did; all I did at that moment was comfort him. I don’t know…does this mean he has feelings for me?
- - -
Later that afternoon, Zitao is leading Jongdae to the entrance gate. Jongdae tells him that Wufan is on his way to pick him up. Zitao, thankful that Jongdae cannot see him reacting with such worry when Wufan’s name comes up, broods over the memory of what happened in the café.
A car is heard from nearby…its engine running loud…
Zitao looks to his left, as the car interrupted his thoughts, and sees the familiar convertible coming up the road. There, seated in the driver’s seat wearing a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, is Wufan wearing sunglasses and a different hairstyle, his hair patted down and swept to the side. At first, Zitao almost does not recognize him but the closer the car and the driver get to Zitao and Jongdae, the more Zitao realizes it is Wufan himself.
Fate is playing such a cruel joke on me today… Zitao thinks to himself.
In no position to run away, hooked to Jongdae’s arm, Zitao feels trapped as he faces the car’s side when the car parks in front of them.
“Is that Wufan-ge, Zitao-yah?”
Snapping out of his worries, Zitao hesitantly flicks Jongdae’s wrist, as a nod to confirm Jongdae’s question. He hears the car door open and close before his eyes track Wufan getting out of the car to stand outside on the other side of his car. Zitao notices that Wufan has an unreadable expression on his face.
“Hi,” Wufan says briefly to Zitao before calling out to his brother with a gentle smile, “Hey, Chenchen, it’s me.”
It has been a while since I last saw Wufan-ge… Zitao muses. What is it that I did to make him treat me like a stranger?
“Hi gege,” Jongdae chirps happily. He lets go of Zitao’s arm, causing Zitao to let his arm fall limply to his side.
Zitao tracks Wufan with his eyes as Wufan makes his way around the car toward Jongdae’s side. Once Wufan reaches Jongdae, he ensures to avoid any physical contact and to maintain minimal visual contact with Zitao. He keeps a safe distance to Zitao, as if Zitao was infected with some virus.
Zitao is astonished at how quick Wufan’s face changes with personalities, as Wufan gives him another stony look before curtly saying, “Thank you”. When Wufan wraps one of his arms around Jongdae’s shoulders, he has a gentle smile back on his face. Wufan then opens the passenger door with his free hand.
Zitao can only watch as Jongdae frowns slightly upon hearing his brother’s tone, and Jongdae gets in the car to buckle on his seatbelt before Wufan closes the door. Wufan does not turn around to face Zitao but hastily makes his way to the driver’s side before getting in.
Jongdae opens his window and waves at Zitao, and as soon as he says, “See you tomorrow, Zitao-yah” with a smile, Wufan has already stepped on the gas pedal and they drive off to go back home. Zitao barely gets a chance to say good-bye to Jongdae.
Okay, seriously…what is up with him? Zitao stares at the retreating car, appalled.
- - -
A few days later, the morning has Yongguk studying Himchan’s back a few seats in front of him during their morning music lecture. Ever since the kiss, Himchan has been ignoring him and his attempted calls, and Yongguk has to admit that he himself has also been feeling awkward with Himchan. It is late November and they only have a month left to work on their project. They have not even started on experimenting their music creation in the studios. Yongguk does not know how to bring it up to Himchan that they need to continue working with their project, because it would take a while for them to perfect the music.
When the professor dismisses the class, Himchan gets up quickly to gather his stuff and in the middle of turning around to walk up the steps, he accidently makes eye contact with Yongguk.
Yongguk holds his breath.
The guys hold their stare until Himchan moves, breaking off the eye contact with no other reaction. He walks up the stairs without another glance in Yongguk’s direction, fluidly merging with the crowd of students.
Yongguk sighs. Amidst the hustle and bustle of his classmates, his cell phone starts ringing and he checks it to see a text from Jieun.
From: Song Jieun
To: Bang Yongguk
Yonggukkie, we need to talk. You’ve been distancing yourself from your friends and me. Hana-unnie told me that you’ve been acting oddly since you came back from Himchan’s house. Did something happen?
Yongguk flinches when he reads the text. It is true that he has been spending some time alone, avoiding the others except during lunch and coming to school alone. He does not think anyone close to him would notice his behavior, until recently, when Youngjae had told him directly that he was being moody around everyone and looking stressed lately. Yongguk hated to admit that Youngjae was not too far off from being right. Yongguk was moody not only because of the lack of progress in their project but also because he had not seen Himchan often during lunch. Even when Himchan did join the group for lunch once or twice since the kiss, he just sulked, talking with the group half-heartedly, and Yongguk still could not bring himself to talk to him. Yongguk looks at his cell phone and replies back.
From: Bang Yongguk
To: Song Jieun
Let’s meet at the entrance gate. I’m leaving campus early today.
- - -
Himchan breathes out a sigh of relief as he gets out of class. It has been hard for him in the past few weeks to stay in class, because he does not want to see Yongguk yet, not since the kiss. His feelings have been mixed up since then, and he has not been himself, fretting over the kiss, which is a big deal for him. Did he kiss Yongguk out of self-pity, he asks himself, or did he kiss Yongguk for no reason at all...or did Yongguk start the kiss? Ugh, I’m just so annoyed, why am I even thinking about this at all?…
Suddenly, Hyosung’s name brushes through his mind, and he realizes that he has not taken his girlfriend on a date to celebrate her job. By some wondrous miracle, he gets a text from her.
From: Jeon Hyosung
To: Moon Himchan
Himchannie~ let’s meet up at the entrance gate of your campus ‘cause I got out of work already today. Lunch or dinner, you still owe me a date. Hahaha.
Feeling better, Himchan nods to himself and gets his mind straight. He puts the memory of the kiss away deep inside his mind, hoping it does not float back up to remind him.
From: Moon Himchan
To: Jeon Hyosung
Haha, okay. I just got out of class; I’ll see you there.
Looking up, Himchan happens to see Jieun heading towards the entrance gate. He freezes in his tracks.
Crap, there’s Jieun. Oh my god, what if she knows about the kiss? Himchan facepalms when the memory of the kiss comes back up again. Ugh, why today of all these days? Why do I have to see someone linked to the guy who I had KISSED? Why did that kiss have to happen? Wait, if she knows about the kiss… Himchan pales. I don’t want her to see me, crap. I’m out here in the open, dammit. He hurries to the entrance gate, hoping that Jieun does not catch him. For a moment, he hesitates in his walk. What if Yongguk is waiting for her there? Sh-
“Himchan? Is that you, Himchan-ah?! Wait!” Shouts from Jieun are heard behind Himchan. He winces, grimacing in despair.
“What are you doing, walking so fast? Are you in a hurry? I’m meeting Yongguk at the entrance gate. Are you heading there as well? Oh oops, sorry, I’m being quite talkative at this time of the day.” Jieun giggles as she catches up to Himchan, her arm brushing against his.
Himchan looks down at Jieun and feels guilty about how it seems that he stole the guy’s time and attention from her, and he even accidentally brushed lips with him, when Yongguk was clearly meant for Jieun. Himchan gives her a small smile.
“I’m going on a lunch date with my girlfriend. I’m meeting her at the entrance gate, too.”
“Oh really? Then let’s walk together!” Jieun says happily. “Anyway, how have you been? We haven’t seen you around nowadays, especially during lunch. Yongguk’s been acting a bit different lately…so have you. Are you two alright?”
Himchan’s heart has never thumped so fast before.
- - -
Yongguk is waiting for Jieun at the entrance gate when he sees her walking with Himchan. He immediately frowns at the sight, noticing how Jieun and Himchan look carefree and casual as they talk.
It is only when Himchan looks up that his mood goes down, and he hastily apologizes to a confused Jieun before leaving her. Himchan brushes past Yongguk without a glance. Not wanting the chance to slip away, Yongguk immediately grabs Himchan’s wrist - “Himch-“ Yongguk makes to say - but Himchan wrestles his wrist out of Yongguk’s grip so fluidly, that the physical contact lasts for only a second.
Yongguk stares at Himchan’s retreating back in wonderment as Himchan makes his way to a purple car with a woman at the driver’s seat. He feels Jieun coming up to his side and turns to see Jieun frowning at him before she looks at the driver. Recognizing the driver, she waves excitedly and the woman in the driver’s seat smiles, waving back. Himchan does not even make any move to wave back or look their way; after giving the woman a peck on her cheek, he looks to the radio to adjust the dial.
“Jieun-ah, you know the woman?”
“Hm? Yeah, she’s an old friend! You don’t recognize her? She’s Jeon Hyosung! Remember when your sister and I were in a small group of friends and we called ourselves SECRET? She’s one of us, the oldest of the four.”
“Ohh, she’s the girl that Himchan was talking about that day…”
“Hmm? What day?” Yongguk winces slightly at the obliviousness of the question.
“Jieun-ah, I need to talk to you about that. That day has been the reason for my behavior in the past week. Let’s sit down there on the bench.”
Yongguk explains to Jieun what happened that day, leaving out the details of Himchan’s tragic story. Jieun randomly remembers Hyosung talking about Himchan’s parents’ death, and she blurts out that she knows of his parents’ death. Yongguk gapes at her in surprise.
Jieun explains about that the day when Hana and Jieun left his place suddenly, they went to meet up with Hyosung and Sunhwa, and Hyosung narrated what had happened to Himchan and her before they got together. Keeping her promise to her girls, Jieun leaves out the details about Hyosung and herself planning to get their boyfriends together.
Yongguk nods in understanding and, leaving out the altar room from his story as he had promised Himchan, he continues on from where he left off. He does tell Jieun about the kiss and how Himchan had been distancing himself from Yongguk.
“Huh, that’s interesting…Himchan and I were talking about you earlier…He was actually curious to know more about you and I. He feels sorry for taking you away from me since we’re a couple and al- I’m just saying what Himchan told me, don’t look at me like that!” Jieun giggles when Yongguk gives her a judging stare. “And he doesn’t know why you’ve been doing that though, spending a little more time with him than with me. He told me that he has never had this kind of ‘bromance?’ - I think that’s what he was trying to say - before and it just feels funny yet comfortable to him. I was just about to tell him that you were bisexual…when he saw you and ran out without me telling him…Yongguk, did you even tell Himchan about your sexuality?”
“Erm…” Yongguk scratches the back of his neck, “I was about to get around on that later…”
“What?!” Jieun is dismayed.
“Look, I’m sorry! I…just…we…wanted to work on the music project and I just felt like it was not the right timing for me to tell him and go, ‘Oh, by the way, Himchan, I’m bi. I’m interested in you, you interested in me? Let’s go on a date.’ I didn’t think Himchan would have kissed me like that; I mean, we were getting close but we didn’t make anything official between us.”
“Well when then? Because right now, it looks like Himchan is having mixed feelings about you; especially since he has a girlfriend, who happens to be my best friend, may I remind you. And if you don’t tell him, he’s either gonna be left confused or probably gonna break it off with you and not talk to you for the rest of your life. You’re gonna end up regretting it, Yonggukkie…if you don’t tell him soon.”
- - -
Hyosung drives to a quaint café with the guidance of Himchan. It turns out to be the same café that Joonmyeon and Jongin had been to a few weeks ago. Himchan leads his girlfriend to the café and, even though he puts up a smiling façade, he cannot deny the turmoil of his feelings when he saw Yongguk after talking with Jieun. He does not realize how distracted he is until Hyosung gently shakes his arm.
“Himchannie-yah? Come on, there’s an empty table for us.”
When the couple is seated at a table in the middle of the cafe, a waiter comes around and distributes the menu before leaving them to decide. Himchan clears his mind and focuses on picking an order. He hears what Hyosung wants to order, and decides to order the same thing. After the waiter has taken their orders, the couple is left in awkward silence as Himchan finds himself still thinking about Yongguk. He looks to the empty stage placed against one of the walls of the café, taking up a quarter of the café’s space.
Hyosung would be stupid if she had not noticed how her boyfriend is acting, so she approaches Himchan with a direct observation. “Sweetie, you’ve not been yourself lately. You’re getting moody and distant, Jonguppie even tells me that you’re not taking care of yourself, he’s getting worried about you. What’s on your mind? Is it the project that you have to do?”
Himchan subconsciously shakes his head, unaware that he is about to spill out what he was afraid to tell Hyosung.
“It’s Yongguk… I kind of kissed him.”
Hyosung freezes in her seat, blinking at her boyfriend and best friend. “You what? Did you say, ‘you kissed Yongguk’?” She stares at him in shock. Himchan widens his eyes and immediately tries to take it back.
“Wait no, I didn’t kiss him! I swe-…well we…I don’t know!” Himchan scratches the back of his head, frustrated. “There was some…brushing of the lips…”
“...I see. And how did this come about?” Hyosung has a patient tone in her voice, understanding that Himchan is just as confused as she is.
“W-well, that day. When Yongguk and I had to work on our project together at my house,” - Hyosung nods, signaling Himchan to go on - “at some point, I told him about my parents’ altar…Oh, and thank you for the flowers…” - Hyosung gently nods again - “…and I told him about my parents’ death. He was curious to know about it. We had spent that morning talking about music and whatnot, and even joking around. I don’t know how it all turned to me crying my eyes out and pouring out to him what had happened that night of my parents’ death…and then he held me in his arms, and Hyosung, I have never been hugged like that before, not for a long time.
“And Yongguk,” Himchan shakes his head, “he’s such a…I don’t know. We started talking about other things…and when we got to the topic of how he came into my life…it…just…slipped. I was looking at him and he was so close to me, I wasn’t even thinking…” Himchan falls silent when he realizes something.
“You know what’s worse?” Himchan stares at Hyosung in the eyes, looking guilty. Hyosung shakes her head. “Not for one second, did your name come into my mind. It was like, in that moment, all I could think about was Yongguk, Yongguk, Yongguk. When I realized my mistake, your name didn’t come back. I felt so ashamed because I kissed a guy who’s in love with his girlfriend. Me, a straight guy, brushing lips with Yongguk, another straight guy, out of the blue. Does this make any sense?!” Himchan hisses. “When he left, all I could think about was why I had let my guard down and everything…” He ends his speech lamely.
Hyosung looks at her boyfriend in sympathy. She is about to say something when the waiter comes by with their dishes and drinks, and she thanks the waiter. Himchan mumbles his thanks as the waiter takes his leave.
“Himchan…I…I don’t know what to say,” Hyosung sympathizes. Himchan shakes his head solemnly.
“You don’t have to. It was my mistake for kissing him, it was my mistake for even falling for him when I really shouldn’t have. I mean, I had you, wasn’t that enough for me? But everytime I’m with him, it’s like…I can’t help but want to spend more time with him, even if it means I have to deal with all the stupid flirty things he says to me. I mean, people would think we were a couple, heh. It would’ve been much better if I had him in my lif- uh I mean, you…I mean…if I didn’t have him. I mean…crap.” Himchan scratches his nose, glancing back at Hyosung. Hyosung looks back with a knitted brow of confusion.
“Anyway…erm…shall we eat?” Himchan indicates to their dishes.
The couple begins to eat in silence, neither wanting to say anything that would ruin their appetites. When they have finished their meals, the waiter comes by to give them their receipt and collect their plates.
Hyosung excuses herself to use the restroom as Himchan gives the waiter his credit card to pay. When she reaches the bathroom, she goes to the toilet stall before locking the door, and whips out her cell phone to dial a friend.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Jieun-ah, it’s me.”
“Oh, shoot, okay, Yongguk-ah. Hold on, it’s my mom. I’ll be right back, don’t go anywhere.”
“Huh?”
“…”
“Okay.” A few moments of silence pass as Hyosung hears Jieun walking to somewhere private.
“Okay, unnie. What’s up?”
“Himchan just told me about the kiss. That’s why he’s been moody and distancing himself from you guys.”
“Really? Yongguk just told me about it too. It all makes sense now…but, unnie, are you sure you want to break up with him?”
“Should I not? I want to. In fact, let’s do this today. Jieun-ah, I’m tired of seeing him moping around because of Yongguk. Ironically, it was also because of Yongguk that he was looking better before the kiss happened; almost as if he was finally being himself, the one that I used to know before his parents…passed away.” Hyosung bites on her bottom lip.
“It’s time for them to reconcile and move on. I know that they still have a project to do, and they need to work together to pull it off. But Himchan’s not been himself, and I can see the emerging cracks in our relationship. Remember, Himchan’s a model student, too. If this goes down, he will want to go down, and it will not be a happy result.”
“Oh…I see…But the cracks in your relationship…there’s nothing you can do about it?”
“I cannot do anything about it, he has to do something about it, and I think it’s too late for that.” Hyosung sighs as she looks to the general direction where she can imagine Himchan sitting at their table outside the restroom.
“He told me that when he kissed him, my name didn’t come across his mind, not even for one second. That tells me that Himchan’s feelings for me are slowly going away. If my name had come across his mind, he would have stopped the kiss and said something about it. But he told me, ‘It was like at that moment, all I could think about was Yongguk, Yongguk, Yongguk.’ And he said he was sorry that he did not think of me at the time. Well, I think he doesn’t need to be sorry. It was bound to happen, you saw the notebook, right?”
“Yeah, unnie, I did. I’m sorry that you had to hear that.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Hyosung smiles grimly. “He and I are still friends, we’ve been best friends before we got into a relationship. Sometimes best friends should remain as best friends. Sometimes best friends are not meant to be lovers…” Hyosung says a little gravely before she stares off into space.
“…I see, unnie.”
“Yah, you and Yongguk should stay there for the next half hour or so, we’ll be there soon and we’ll leave these two to make up.”
“…Okay. Will do.”
- - -
When Hyosung returns to the table from the bathroom, Himchan is mindlessly staring out the window on his far left. “Himchannie…” Hyosung sits down and reaches out to hold Himchan’s hands on the table. “There’s something about Yongguk that you probably don’t know. And it’s been pretty obvious, I wonder why you didn’t see it clearly.” Himchan turns to look at Hyosung in the eyes, curious.
“What about him?”
“Yongguk’s…bisexual,” Hyosung watches Himchan for any reaction.
Himchan’s eyes widen slightly, and he averts his eyes from Hyosung. “A-are you sure?” His eyes flicker back to Hyosung. “This isn’t a joke, right? You’re not trying to comfort me on this, are you?”
Hyosung feels offended at this but she puts it aside. “Yes, no and maybe.” Himchan flashes a look of confusion at her. She sighs.
“Yes, I’m sure and no, it’s not a joke. Remember that day when I said I was gonna celebrate with old friends? Well some of the old friends happened to be Bang Hana, Song Jieun, whom I’m sure you’ve met already,” - Himchan nods, eyes widening at the recognition of the names - “and Jung Sunhwa. Jieun told me about Yongguk’s sexuality, and believe me, I had a hard time believing it too. Yongguk does not seem the type to fall for guys, but he fell for you. Hard.” Himchan stares at Hyosung, searching for any deceit in her eyes, but finds none.
“Maybe I’m trying to comfort you, I don’t know, because now that you know, what are you gonna do about it? What are you gonna do about us? What are you gonna do about the kiss, and the project you’re supposed to be working with Yongguk? What are you going to do about Yongguk now that I’ve told you Yongguk likes you. He loves Jieun, but he seems to be lovesick with you too. Here’s my first suggestion: you better apologize. I saw you acting cold to him earlier today when I was at the entrance gate. Lord knows how long you’ve been like this to him.” Himchan blushes, feeling ashamed.
“Come on, let’s get you back to school. Hopefully Yongguk and Jieun are still there so you can go and apologize to him.”