Classmates with iKON

Chapter 19: trust issues

Hanbin POV
All of us were ecstatic upon hearing the announcement that we had won. The past few months of training had paid off!! Mina was the only thing on my mind and I wanted to share my joy with her.

We returned to the waiting room immediately and Eunmi welcomed us warmly. She went forward to hug Donghyuk and they really looked cute together. Sometimes I wonder if Mina and I looked as loving as them.

"Where's Mina?" I asked Eunmi excitedly.

However, Eunmi turned to my direction and stared at me angrily.

"She asked me to send her congratulations." She answered shortly without any emotions.

"Why don't she just congratulate us herself?" Bobby asked.

"I would expect her to stay away from us." Junhoe mumbled to himself at a corner.

"What do you mean?" Chanwoo asked.

"You guys didn't believe in her when someone accused that she was a spy. Of course she would feel hurt." Junhoe rolled his eyes.

"But she looked fine just now." Jinhwan said.

"That's just her putting up a strong front because she didn't want you guys to be affected for the competition." Eunmi answered.

"Where is she now?" I asked agitatedly.

"She didn't say. Hanbin, you cannot blame her for being upset because you really acted like the worst boyfriend ever." Eunmi gave me her vicious stare again.

"I'll go find her now." With that I dashed out of our waiting room. It was not difficult to guess where Mina would be. If she was still around here, she should be together with Mino hyung.

And I was correct. Mina and Mino were having a serious conversation outside Winner's waiting room and I overheard their words.

"I guess only Hanbin believed in you while the rest were angry?" Mino hyung asked. I was ashamed of myself when I heard his statement because that was the complete opposite of the truth, I doubted Mina even when others believed in her.

She remained silent at Mino's question but it was obvious that she could no longer hold back her tears.

"Yah, what's wrong? That idiot did not trust you??" Mino raised his voice. Mina couldn't bring herself to answer him so she cried in Mino's arms.

I felt a pang of guilt to know that I was the reason behind Mina's tears yet again.

"Mina..." I stepped forward to the siblings in front of me.

"You bastard! What did you promise me when I talked to you that day?" Mino growled at me.

Mina quickly released herself from the hug and tried to wipe off her tears but her face was still red and her eyes were slightly swollen.

"I promised you that I wouldn't make Mina cry again..." I remembered that day when Mino hyung dragged me away for a brother talk and he warned me to never break Mina's heart or he would deal with me.

"And look what you have done now!" He shouted again.

"Mina, can I talk to you?" I asked softly as I ignored Mino.

I was expecting her to ignore me but she was a strong girl just like how I liked her to be.

"Sure, just let me finish what I want to say and I'll leave." She asked Mino to wait for her while we stepped away to talk in private.

"Just let me talk." She instructed and I nodded. The last thing I would do now is to annoy her again.

"Hanbin, this relationship is just not working out. Do you remember promising me that you would talk things out nicely when you're upset? You broke the most important thing that I had asked you to promise me before I agreed to be your girlfriend."

"I was the one to confess my feelings first, I was the one to initate a kiss, I was the one who is getting hurt and crying. I am very tired, Hanbin, I really am tired..." I ran my fingers through my hair in exasperation.

Much as I wanted to defend myself, everything she said was true.

"I'm sorry Mina. Please forgive me and give me a second chance." I apologized despite knowing that she was still angry with me. But I didn't know what else to do.

"Let's just take a break Hanbin." Her voice cracked as she said those words and I knew she was about to cry again. With that she left me alone to absorb the impact of the words.

What does this mean? Did she break up with me? I knew I hurt her so badly that it broke her heart. I didn't deserve her after treating her so badly...

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Mina POV
After I returned home, I shut myself in my room and sat on my bed. I had stopped crying, maybe because there were no more tears. But this doesn't mean that my heart was not hurting anymore.

I had received several calls and texts from Hanbin but I just ignored them. There was nothing more to talk to him about at this point of time.

I was about to throw my phone away from me when it lighted up once more. But I stopped as I realized that the text was from a different person- Junhoe.

Junhoe: I'm outside your house now, let's have a talk.

"Hey," I greeted as I sat on the bench together with Junhoe.

"Feeling better?" He probed.

"It still hurts but I guess it's a good sign that I had stopped crying." I smiled weakly.

"Don't pretend to be strong. My shoulder is always here for you to cry on." He tapped on his own shoulders.

"It's alright, I want to be strong and stop crying over spilled milk." I replied and we sat in silence for a few moments.

"Is he worthy of your love?" Junhoe suddenly asked.

"Mwo?"

"Did you regret choosing him?" He asked again and I thought for a while before answering him with my honest thoughts.

"I really love Hanbin so I didn't regret my choice. I guess I am just too unlucky that the guy I love is actually an asshole."

"If you know that he's an asshole then break up. Come to me Mina, my feelings for you had not faltered one bit." He looked at me with much conviction. I would be lying if I said that I hadn't been touched by Junhoe, but the one I love is still Hanbin.

Meanwhile, none of them noticed that someone was lurking behind the bushes, witnessing everything unfold.

Hanbin POV
When I made my way to Mina's house, I expected myself to find an opportunity to talk to her, and not find myself watching Junhoe flirting with my girlfriend.

I clenched my fist in anger. What was Koo Junhoe doing?? Trying to steal my girl when I was out of her favor? I am going to kill this bastard.

I had a mixture of feelings in my head now. I was angry at Junhoe. I was guilty towards Mina. I was disappointed in myself. I was unconfident about my relationship. I was afraid that Mina would go out with Junhoe.

But then again, Junhoe will treat Mina a lot better than how I am treating her now...

Feeling too overwhelmed, I left Mina's house without listening to her answer. I was a coward. I was afraid that her answer was something I cannot bear to hear.