Hwang Hyunjin || Call My Name (Under Revision)

45. A chance to love

CHAN'S POV

When Woojin told me to meet him there, I went to the pub. I went into the bar and started looking around for him. I noticed lots of people there. Everyone in here was a man, so perhaps it was a bar for men only. Some were dancing, talking, drinking with others, while others were alone and eating. Blue and pink LED lights were blended in the dimly lit room. It contributed to the pleasant and tranquil mood.

At the counter, Woojin was alone and drinking. He didn't glance at me as I approached him carefully, but I knew he was aware of my presence.

"You've showed up. Please take a seat." He smiled as he looked at me. A smile I never expected to see, a painful smile. His eyes were puffy and red, as if he'd cried. I sat beside him after he patted the chair beside him.

"Would you like a drink?" he asked.

"No, I don't drink anymore," I explained.

He smiled as he took a sip from his drink. He smiled as he looked up and around.

"Brings back memories, doesn't it? The days when we used to drink at the bar," he said.

"This isn't even the same bar," I said, looking around.

" Do you know what kind of bar this is?" he asked, and I just looked at him, puzzled.

"A gay bar," he said, and I was taken aback.

"Don't feel disgusted to be here; I know, you know, you're not straight," he said, taking another sip.

"How did you get those pictures? Did you follow us?" I asked.

"I told you I'd fight for my love," he said, not looking at me.

"Now what? You're going to use these to threaten us? Go ahead, we're not afraid," I stated emphatically.

"Don't you realize how hurt I am?" he asked, looking at me. He was on the verge of crying.

"I just want you. I just want to love you. I just want to be a couple like other normal couples and do lots of couple stuff," he said as tears welled up in his eyes.

"But, as I've already stated, I can't be yours because- "

"Because what? You're not into guys? Then what the fuck do these pictures mean?! " He slammed the pictures on the table. When I looked at them, I realized they were the photos he had sent me.

"Why are you still ignoring me now that you have no reason to reject me?" he questioned.

"Woojin.. I just don't love you. I used to love you as a friend, an older brother who guided me to a better life, but all of that vanished when I found out what you did. I was disappointed, and I still am. " I said, and he looked hurt by my words. I felt bad, but he was going too far, and I had to be cold to him.

"Can't you just learn to love me? Is it that difficult?" he asked, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, it's impossible now," I said as I turned to leave when he grabbed my wrist. I returned his gaze, and he knelt before me. People began to stare at us and whisper amongst themselves. I tried to get him to stand, but he refused.

"Please... give me a chance to love you," he pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Woojin, but it's good to fight for who or what you love in life, but you also have to know when to give up." I let go of his grip, and he just fell to the floor, crying, as I walked away.

******
HYUNJIN'S POV

2 days after.

As the weather became colder, I entered our room, removed my shoes, and rubbed my hands together to generate heat. I walked into the living room and into the kitchen.

"Jeongin-ah, help me cook," I said, and Jeongin came over to me as I set out the ingredients I had purchased.

"We haven't cooked on our own in a long time," he said as he assisted me.

"Yes, it has; we're going to make some tteokboki, egg rolls, and ramyeon," I said, and we got to work.

Jeongin prepared the eggs and sliced the onions. I started the tteokboki and ramyeon by boiling the water. I carefully mixed together the ingredients for tteokboki. I tasted it after a few minutes and wasn't sure if it tasted right.

"Jeongin-ah, try this," I instructed. I gave him a spoon, which he blew on before eating. While chewing, he looked at the tteokboki.

"Why does it... taste like coin?" he asked, offending me.

"What? No, it doesn't." I took another bite.

"Your tteokboki is a failure, I assure you," he said.

"Perhaps it tastes like coin because of the spoon," I speculated, and he simply laughed.

"Stop teasing my artwork! How do you know what a coin tastes like?" I exclaimed.

"I've tried one before," he boasted.

" Gross," I teased back, and he assisted me in repairing the tteokboki.

It was time to wash the dishes after we finished eating. We decided to play rock, paper, scissors, which I sadly lost. I wasn't very good at it. I gathered the silverware and plates and placed them in the sink. I threw out the trash and started washing.

"Yeah, winter has arrived," Jeongin said, looking out the window.

"What do you mean? It's still the third week of November; the first snow should fall when the fourth week arrives," I explained.

"I guess it's early this year," he said as I took off my washing gloves and approached Jeongin.

I noticed snow as soon as I got to the window. My mouth dropped open. Winter had arrived, and I could now wear thick coats. Then my phone rang, and I opened it to find a message from Yeona.

" See you later~ "