𝒍𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 | 𝒍𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒋𝒂𝒆

9

You found him further down by the beach, sitting in the slightly damp sand and staring out into the dark ocean. "Hey," you greeted, taking a seat next to him. "I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be," Hyunjae replied, purposely keeping his eyes trained on the ocean despite seeing you trying to meet his gaze. "It's fine. You always kissed your ex in front of us, I should have realised that your sister would ask about something like that."

The mention of your ex boyfriend made you raise an eyebrow. "Right," you said, discouraged that Hyunjae was acting so cold. "I didn't realise that the idea of kissing me was so horrible that you had to leave," you tried to say it as a joke but though your tone gave away how his actions had burned you.

"Don't joke about that," Hyunjae said.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't find it funny," Hyunjae snapped. "Okay? I don't find it funny that kissing me is a joke to you."

You backtracked. "Hyunjae, that's not what I meant."

"Isn't it?" Hyunjae asked, finally turning his head to meet your eyes. His usually bright eyes were clouded with negativity; insecurity and sadness prominent in them. "You joke that the idea of kissing you repulses me, when that's exactly how you feel about me."

"That's not true," you denied immediately. "I would never think that about you, nor would I joke about that, Hyunjae," you sighed, closing your eyes tightly. The image of Hyunjae being upset with you only made your head spin. "I just said that because I didn't want you to feel pressured or anything. Of course I don't hold the fact that you don't see me romantically against you, I just didn't know that you were so against it, is all. I guess that's good to know," you mumbled.

"You don't really believe that, do you?" Hyunjae inquired. "After all these years, you can't possibly think that I don't have feelings for you."

Your eyes opened. "Well, you never said anything..." you trailed off. "I'm not one to make assumptions."

Hyunjae gathered all the courage he had left in him, ignoring the rising beating of his heart. "I'm saying something now." he said. "And I'm telling you that I've loved you since that day you called me to compensate me for the $100 fee I paid the library for your textbook. I loved you then, and I love you now."

You smiled, leaning in to kiss Hyunjae's lips. "I love you too, Lee Jaehyun," you told him as sincerely as you could muster, stroking his cheek with your thumb and relishing in the way his arms came to wrap around you. Hyunjae leaned in to kiss you again, longer this time and with more eagerness than the first time. You felt your lips bruise just slightly at the pressure and duration of your kiss, allowing Hyunjae to pull away so you could both catch your breath.

Hyunjae smiled, pulling you into a hug and pressing a kiss to your nose, cheek, and temple. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to stop pretending to be your boyfriend."

You laughed, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and pulling Hyunjae closer to you, inhaling his scent and memorising the way you felt in his grasp. "I think I'm okay with that." You sat like that for a while, listening to the ocean waves and letting your hair blow in the breeze.

"Hey Y/n?" Hyunjae asked, earning a hum. "Beach wedding or church wedding?" he asked.

Chuckling, you pull away from the hug to take his face in your hands. Observing his eyes and the way they glittered with love, you shrugged. "Whatever you want."