Hanahaki Strings • seventeen jihancheol

Chapter 60: Of Awkwardness and Misunderstanding

Seungcheol

Two weeks.

Two weeks had passed since that night happened.

Two weeks had passed since we were locked inside the gymnasium.

Two weeks had passed since I finally confessed to Joshua.

And two weeks had passed since he claimed that he likes me too.

For the past two weeks that had passed, everything had been awkward and unbearable.

The next day after that night, we were all at the same table along with our friends. Unlike before, the obvious awkwardness between us three was evident that none of our friends managed to lift up the mood. Not even Soonyoung, Seungkwan and Seokmin who were usually the loudest and bubbliest among all of us.

Eventually, I left because I couldn't stand it anymore.

And that happened for two weeks.

Fortunately, this week has no classes since it's Interhigh week. All our friends had already planned on what they're going to do. While some wanted to hang outside the campus, some wanted to watch the games. 

I couldn't hang out with them that much because we have our practice for the football game tomorrow. It's our first match for the Interhigh and we're already going against one of the best football teams in Seoul.

I was thankful for the practice. I wouldn't be able to see either Jeonghan or Joshua. 

I don't know what exactly to feel after hearing Joshua say that he likes me too. I don't know if I'm mad, surprised or what. But one thing I'm sure of, is that I couldn't feel joy out of it.

I've been avoiding him for weeks because I actually believed he likes Seokmin. I was in pain for weeks, for a month because of what he said. Then I'll just find out he likes me too? It's ridiculous. I don't believe it at all.

In Jeonghan's case, I'm just... embarrassed. I was embarrassed. I confessed my feelings to Joshua that time when he's there, and he saw my outburst. 

After that night, I have been wondering whether I should've told Jeonghan that I like him too so that I can breathe even just a bit after months of hiding it from them.

Would confessing to Jeonghan help me a little? Or would it give me another heartbreak?

I was pulled out of my trance when I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I raised my head to look at who it was, shame and embarrassment immediately filled my system as Jeonghan's beautiful eyes met mine.

"H-hey," I greeted him, albeit stuttering.

He sat beside me on the field. I quickly averted my gaze, opting to just look at my teammates who were gathered a bit far from where I was seated. Our coach had given us a thirty minutes break after practicing for almost an hour and a half. 

As I looked at my teammates in order to avoid Jeonghan's gaze, I was met by a cold pair of eyes that came from none other than the bastard ex-captain of our team.

My brows immediately furrowed. Lately, I keep on seeing him glaring at my direction whenever I'm with my friends. Before, he'd just occasionally send me those death stares of him but lately his glare seemed to be glued at me.

"Cheol."

I snapped my head towards Jeonghan's direction, almost forgetting he's here beside me. Without looking at his eyes, I hummed in reply as I focused my attention on what he was about to say, the bastard ex-captain completely forgotten.