Stay With Me | haobin

Thirty

"You look happy these days." Hanbin hears a voice behind him and rolls his eyes, already knowing who it is. He was waiting for Zhang Hao by his car in the parking lot, but he still hadn't come out yet.

"What do you want?" Hanbin turns around to see Daeun. "It's been weeks since we broke up. I told you I didn't want to talk to you anymore."

"Sure... you were able to move on so fast since you have a new toy you'll be throwing away in a few weeks. Was this boy toy really worth it?"

"Don't talk about him like that." Hanbin warns her. "I've been too nice about all of this and you can talk all you want about me, but Zhang Hao hasn't done anything wrong, so leave him out of it."

"He hasn't done anything wrong?" She laughs. "I know he's the reason you broke up with me. He seduced you and made you think you had a chance. All while he's busy doing who knows what with Jiwoong." She smirks.

"Daeun, I'm warning you. Stop talking like that about him or you'll regret it."

"Aww, what will you do?" She takes a step closer to him. "I just feel bad for you, Hanbin. Why can't you see he's just using you? I heard him and Jiwoong making plans to go on a date later. You really think he was serious when he made you think he liked you? No... he probably just wanted to get back at you. He wanted to make you fall in love with him so he could break your heart after. He's probably still mad about those rumors from back then. You know he thinks you spread them."

Hanbin just stays quiet. He knows there's no way Zhang Hao would do that to him. Everything he's done lately has felt very genuine. Plus, it's not like Zhang Hao really led him on and tried to make him think he had feelings for him. Hanbin knows Jiwoong's the one he likes already.

Because Hanbin was so lost in his thoughts, he hadn't realized Daeun was leaning in to kiss him. That is until he hears a voice that interrupts his thoughts.

"Sung Hanbin!"

He turns around and sees Zhang Hao walking over to them. Hanbin immediately moves away from Daeun and she rolls her eyes.

"You have got to be kidding me." She mumbles.

"Oh, Hao..." Hanbin gives him a small smile.

Zhang Hao doesn't smile back though. He looks really serious. "Could your timing be any worse?" Daeun rolls her eyes. "Or did you do this on purpose?"

"Do what on purpose?" Zhang Hao acts clueless. "I have to go to Hanbin's house now. Come on, let's go home." He tells Hanbin and walks towards the passenger side of the car. He smirks at Daeun before getting in the car. Daeun's hands turn to fists, especially when Hanbin doesn't say anything else and gets in the drivers seat.

She moves out of the way and Hanbin drives away. "You two will regret this!" She screams.

-

"Is everything okay?" Hanbin asks Zhang Hao after they've been quiet for a few minutes.

Zhang Hao stays quiet for a few more seconds, not knowing what to say. Should he be honest or just lie? He still feels really angry that Hanbin was even going to let that girl kiss him again after everything she's done.

"Hao?"

"I just don't get it..." Zhang Hao sighs. "After everything she's done. You were really going to let her kiss you? Are you planning on getting back together with her?" He turns to Hanbin once they stop at a red light.

Hanbin turns to look at Zhang Hao. He looks really serious. He hadn't been this serious since they've started being friends again. He looks angry and... hurt?

"No, I'm not planning to get back together with her." Hanbin quickly says. "She just caught me by surprise, so I wasn't able to move away."

"Oh, right... you said you liked someone, right? Is that why?" Zhang Hao looks straight back at the road again as the light turns green and Hanbin continues to drive.

"Yeah, but that doesn't matter." Hanbin nods. "So... I heard you're going on a date with Jiwoong?"

"What? Who told you?" Zhang Hao asks, confused.

"I just heard..."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, though." Zhang Hao tells him. It's better if he's just honest and straightforward instead of beating around the bush. "Is your crush Jiwoong?"

'Oh, my sweet Hao. You're so cute, but also very clueless.' Hanbin thinks to himself. "Of course not." Hanbin chuckles. "Why would I like Jiwoong? He's my best friend."

"Right..." Zhang Hao just nods. That means Hanbin would never feel the same way towards him either since they were best friends at some point, and they're on their way to become best friends again.

"I mean... it's not that I wouldn't start liking a friend." Hanbin says, nervously. "I mean... you have to be someone's friend before you get in a relationship with them, right?" Hanbin mentally facepalms himself. Could he be any more obvious? It doesn't seem like Zhang Hao ever realizes what he means, though.

"I guess so." Zhang Hao shrugs and takes his phone out. Now that he knows Hanbin doesn't like Jiwoong, he won't feel so guilty about accepting to go on a date with him.

Since they had stopped at another red light, Hanbin glances at Zhang Hao, and he accidentally looks at his phone screen. He hadn't done it on purpose, but he sees he's texting Jiwoong.

"Are you really going on a date with Jiwoong?" Hanbin asks him.

"Maybe." Zhang Hao nods as he starts typing a message to Jiwoong.

Zhang Hao
Hey Jiwoong, what time
should we go on the date?

But before Zhang Hao can send it, he turns to face Hanbin, who's already looking at him. "Why do you ask?" Zhang Hao asks him. "Do you not want me to go?"