A/N: Sorry, but this week i can only managed four chapters. Thank you to you all who keep coming back to read my story.
As the girls abruptly left the table, Min-Seok let out a heavy sigh, dropping his chopsticks and leaning back in his chair. "Man, this sucks. Your assholeness has rubbed off on me."
Ji-Hoon didn't bother responding, his expression as impassive as ever. Still, there was an unsettled air about him. He wasn't particularly concerned about In-a leaving, but the fact that Sana had walked away without finishing her meal weighed on him. He hated the idea of their first argument being tided to someone like In-a.
"I can hear your thoughts from here," Min-Seok said, his tone teasing yet pointed. "You're probably brooding over how bad it would be if Sana got mad at you for ignoring her friend, right?"
When Ji-Hoon didn't answer, Min-Seok shook his head, wearing the exaggerated disappointment of a parent. "You can't keep doing that, Ji-Hoon. You can't make the same mistakes you made with Eun-ji. Sana seems like the type to struggle with people." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table to make sure Ji-Hoon was paying attention. "Did you notice how she hesitated to call In-a a friend? If you want this relationship to work – and I mean really work – you've got to make Sana's world your world too. Sure, you don't have to befriend all her acquaintances, but that girl? She's important to her, even if Sana's seems to have just grasped it."
Min-Seok shivered theatrically. "Man, you're bad influence. I'll apologize to Sana and her friend. You should too."
Ji-Hoon finally spoke in a flat voice. "You should really consider switching your major."
"That's all you have to say after my magnificent speech?" Min-Seok scoffed, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation. "You're hopeless. You should just die a monk, you ungrateful bastard."
Ji-Hoon didn't reply this time, but Min-Seok's words lingered. Ji-Hoon understood what Min-Seok was saying; he wasn't oblivious. Making Sana's world his world meant sharing his own with her too – a thought that unsettled him.
He was battling his own demons, and the last thing he wanted was to burden Sana with them too. He could see how fragile she was behind her carefully composed exterior. The way she shrank under the weight of whispers and stares, the way her grip on his hand tightened as they walked – it all betrayed a vulnerability she is trying too hard to hide.
He didn't want being with him to become something she had to steel herself for, a trial she had to endure. She was his peace, his refuge. He needed to be the same for her.
And In-a? well, if making peace with her made his Sana happy, he'd do it. Definitely.
Still, it wasn't easy. Ji-Hoon had been avoiding his issues for so long that tackling them now felt overwhelming, like standing at the base of a mountain with no clear path to the top.
Min-Seok watched Ji-Hoon brood silently, his own sigh slipping out. He wanted things to work between Ji-Hoon and Sana, but he couldn't coddle them. They'd have to figure out some of their issues on their own. And when they couldn't? well, that's when Min-Seok, him, would step in to set them straight.
"Come on," Min-Seok said, standing up. "Let's go find them. Ugh, my head hurts just imagining how dramatic this is about to get."
Ji-Hoon rose up, picking up Sana's bag. He really hoped she wasn't crying. If she was, it would be a long time before he made peace with that friend of hers.
…
Sana had rushed after In-a, but within seconds of stepping outside, she couldn't find her anywhere. Her steps slowed, uncertainty weighing her down. What would she even say if she found her? What would happen after they talked? Would they become real friends?
The thought brought her to a sudden halt.
What does being 'real friends' even mean?
Sana had always kept people at a distance, never allowing anyone to get too close. Her feelings for Ji-Hoon had swept her off her feet, leaving her no choice but to confront them. But friendship? Did she even know what that looked like? Thinking back – from the orphanage to now – had she ever truly had a friend?
Her mind spiraled. She'd had her reasons for being so withdrawn, for protecting herself. But had she really let that person – the one who'd hurt her so deeply – take even more than they already did? Had they stolen her chance to experience connection, to live a fuller life?
She'd thought she had clawed her way out of that hellhole, survived against all odds. But now she wasn't so sure. How had she lived since then?
She realised, with startling clarity, that her relationship with In-a would never be the same. She'd always kept In-a at arm's length, seeking her out only when necessary. But now…what?
Her vision blurred, and she realised she was crying. She quickly wiped at her face, unsure why the tears were falling. She'd endured far worse without shedding a tear. But lately, it seemed as though she was crying at every turn. The vulnerability unsettled her, and she dropped her head, desperate to avoid being caught on camera. The thought of her crying face circulating on the forums was unbearable.
…
Ji-Hoon was searching for her. She hadn't taken her phone, so calling her wasn't an option. He roamed the area, scanning for any sign of her. She couldn't have gone far.
His steps faltered when he finally saw her. She was hunched over, her head bowed, her shoulders trembling slightly. For a moment, Ji-Hoon didn't know what he felt. Anger? Yes, but whether it was directed at himself or at In-a, he wasn't sure. There was also a sharp, gut-wrenching pain twisting inside him. Knowing he'd contributed to her distress made it all the worse.
Behind him, Min-Seok murmured a quiet, "Oh, shit," careful to keep his voice low. Ji-Hoon wasn't known for losing his temper often – he could tolerate annoyance without much reaction. But since meeting his Park Girl, Min-Seok had witnessed sides of him he never knew existed. And out of all Ji-Hoon's moods, angry Ji-Hoon was his least favourite.
Min-Seok sighed, nudging him lightly. "Don't just stand there. Go. I'll take care of her friend."
Ji-Hoon let out a shaky breath he hadn't realised he'd had been holding and slowly approached Sana. He was relieved to see they were in a relatively secluded alley. If anyone dared to take a picture of her like this, he swore he wouldn't hold back from breaking something – or someone.
He stopped in front of her, unsure of what to say. She didn't lift her head at first, and the thought that she might be too angry to even look at him gnawed at his insides. It drove him to the brink of madness.
But then she looked up. Her face was tear-streaked, her expression utterly broken. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "What should I do?"
Ji-Hoon swore he felt something inside him break too.