"Well, it's nothing." Chin-hwa laughed it off. "Now, concerning what you asked. Kang-woo and I..." He gulped and forced out a 'genuine' smile. "We don't have that kind of relationship."
"Really?" Yun-Tae asked, a little not convinced.
"Like he said, we grew up together, so we were attached by the hips but it was nothing more than that. After all," he slowly lowered his head but made sure it did not show on his face that he was sad about the fact. "He said it himself, we were just like brothers."
Yeah, he had been brother-zoned even before he had the chance to confess, and that broke his resolve to confess when he wanted to.
They had just gotten into high school, and Chin-hwa felt he couldn't keep his feelings to himself. Yet, he kept them chained for a little while longer. He so desperately wanted to confess but...
In the second year of high school, they had a little get-together in their house, and of course, Kang-woo and his family were invited. It wouldn't be a get-together without Lee Ga-ram's family, would it?
And it was that day that he heard Kang-woo spit out these words when told he took so good care of Chin-hwa and asked if he liked him,
"Little Hwa is like my own brother, so of course I like him. So, I would do anything for him." He said that with a hearty laugh, having no idea that Chin-hwa was by the door, listening to his voice and having his heart slowly break.
That broke his resolve to confess. He would never confess, because he felt he would definitely get rejected. Yet, he did not stop loving him and wished that Kang-woo would hear his heart more than anyone, even if it was through his singing voice.
"So, he takes you as his brother?" Yun-Tae asked and Chin-hwa nodded, as if it didn't bother him. "Then, do you have feelings for him?"
Chin-hwa paused. Ah, there was that question.
"No, I don't." He said. "Why would I have feelings for him when I know I'll end up getting rejected?" He laughed. "I already know he sees me as nothing more than his brother so I won't take chances."
And yet his feelings were ever so fonder.
"Ah, is that so?" Yun-Tae tapped the tip of his fingers together and pouted his lips. He was acting shy again. "Then, would you mind doing me a favor?"
"Favor?"
That word was not foreign to Chin-hwa yet no one had ever asked him of it. He was always the one asking favors, always the one who had things being done for him and the like.
So, hearing Yun-Tae ask for a favor, his heart suddenly became elated and excited. Ah, he wanted to help someone for the first time in his life. He was so happy.
But... There was a feeling that he would regret taking this favor request.
He did not know what it was yet but since they were on that topic, he felt it would be something related.
He gulped.
"What is it, Yun-Tae?" Chin-hwa asked and Yun-Tae got up from the bed.
He knelt in front of Chin-hwa and held his hand,
"You see, I think I..." He blushed. "I've fallen for you, so, will you go out with me?"
(I bet you didn't see that coming. But don't worry, those weren't his real words. I just fooled you, lol. The real words are...)
"You see, I think I..." He blushed. "I've fallen hard for Lee Kang-woo." He said. "I can't stop thinking about him and I want to try my chances with him."
'Well, that's no surprise.' Chin-hwa thought, 'But I shouldn't make it known that I had a hunch.' He feigned surprise. "Really? Then, do you plan to confess?"
"I do, but..." He started touching his hair, showing how nervous he was. "I don't know much about him. I know we can get along and I can get him to fall for me too, but I..."
"You don't know how to contact him and get him to meet up, is that right?" Chin-hwa asked and Yun-Tae nodded. "So, you need a favor from me. And that's to be you... Wingman, is that correct?"
"I know it's not a good thing for me to ask from you since he's your childhood friend, but I couldn't think of any other way. If I'm going to get rejected anyway, I might as well speed the process and get hurt early, right?"
"What are you saying?" Chin-hwa asked, moving his hand to swipe Yun-Tae's hair back. "You're such a pretty Omega, I don't think there's anyone who can resist your charms."
What are you saying? Shut up!
"Kang-woo should be no different."
Shut your mouth.
"Once he gets to know you better,"
I said shut up, you can't do this to yourself. You can't.
"I'm sure he'll fall head over heels for you." He smiled at Yun-Tae who held hope in his eyes. "Don't worry, I'll help you to the best of my abilities."
Why are you hurting yourself? Why?
Yun-Tae stood up and bowed his head.
"I'll be very grateful if you help me, Hwa." He raised his head, smiling gratefully and his smile gleamed. "Thank you so much."
He hugged Chin-hwa and at that time, Chin-hwa's fake smile slowly started fading. He held Yun-Tae's back, biting his lips and wondering why he was doing this to himself.
After seeing Yun-Tae out, Chin-hwa sat on the floor, leaning his back on the door while folding his arm on top of his knees.
"Will I be able to get over Kang-woo if I finally see him dating someone else?" He asked himself.
If he saw his Byul smiling and laughing with someone else other than him, acting thoughtful and even making jokes like he did with him... He grabbed his chest... His heart would shatter. But then again, it would finally make him see reality and understand that he had no future with Kang-woo.
Maybe pain was the best way for him to heal.
"Yeah, that's how it should be." He said and rested his head on his folded arm, tears slowly falling from his eyes. "Yet, I can't help but cry."