project: l.o.v.e | yoonghyo

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢

"mina!" jihyo called her friend as she ran towards her. mina turned around and smiled, "jihyo-ya~" she hummed, waiting for jihyo to catch her breath.

"i just wanted to say thank you." jihyo looks at mina with gratefulness. the younger just waves her hand, "it's nothing." mina replies, before asking a question.

"what did happen there though? what's got you in a good mood?" mina crosses her arms and raised an eyebrow at jihyo, who just smiles at her awkwardly.

"well..."

—

"what?!" jihyo's eyes widened, checking jaebum's face if he was joking. but no, he was dead serious.

"i know it looks like i'm not serious, but i am." he sensed what jihyo's look meant, before completely letting go of her wrist.

there was a moment of silence before jihyo spoke again, "...since when?" she tried to look elsewhere, figuring that the wall beside her looks good right now.

"my last year in college." was his only reply. "but i- that's two years ago!" jihyo furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief.

"yes, it is." he looked unbothered by it, but jihyo's the complete opposite. "you didn't even tell me?" she asked him, still in a state of shock.

"i can't just risk our friendship over that. plus, your heart's still someone's." he shrugged, his gaze focused on the clear skies.

"it's not..." she rebutts, but he's quick to correct it, emphasizing the last word. "it is."

silence enveloped the two, with jihyo gnawing her bottom lip in search for words, and jaebum just staring elsewhere to avoid her gaze.

"so..." jihyo started, fiddling with her fingers. "are you expecting an answer right now?" she mumbled, head hung low again.

"it's your choice, really." jaebum didn't really want to pressure her, so he decided on just letting her do what she prefers.

jihyo closed her eyes, inhaling and taking deep breaths, before finally lifting her head up.

"you... do know that... in college i really really appreciated your company, it made me feel safe." jihyo started on rambling, and though jaebum knows where this will lead to, he just let her talk.

"you took care of me and cared for me like a brother i didn't have, so-uh... i think i could only see you as a brother..." her voice decreased and decreased in volume until her rambling came to an end, accompanied by messy gestures, her hands practically everywhere trying to make it easier to explain.

"i'm sorry!" jihyo shut her eyes tight and bowed in a hurry, almost falling at the speed.

jaebum just laughed, making jihyo peek at him with a confused look. "don't say sorry when it's not your fault." he said, before grabbing a hold of her shoulders for her to stand straight.

"i expected that kind of answer so it's okay, really. but i just wanted you to know that i'm always here for you — that there's someone that cares for you." he explains, fixing her hair that was completely disheveled.

"but-" jihyo was cut off with his index finger on her nose. "no, i'm not hearing anything from you. as i've said, i only just wanted to let this out." he smiled, pinching her nose right after.

"hey!" jihyo shouted, swatting his hand off her. he laughs again, and jihyo only took a few seconds to also laugh.

"so, we're still friends?" jaebum spread his arms for a hug. jihyo teared up, practically tackled him in a bone-crushing hug.