My Shining Light

Chapter 33

Jinwoo couldn't believe how smoothly the program had run on its first day. Having Lucy in charge and managing things differently was a big change for everyone, but he found working with her incredibly refreshing. 

She shared everything with him, always checking his opinion if she was unsure or to confirm that he was happy with a decision.

It made him feel like he was still valuable to her, even though she had twice rejected his friendship.

He was just glad that she was back, because she had been right, they were the perfect match. When they worked together, everything flowed seamlessly.

They were able to keep the team on track and motivated throughout the day, succeeding in selecting their top two groups for the competition.

Jinwoo was proud of their hard work, and his ability to keep his emotions in check around Lucy.

His heart may have beat a little faster when she stood close to him, and he may have admired the way she spoke, smiled, and even the cute way she frowned a few times... but whenever he felt the pull to be near her, he was strong enough to put it out of his mind and act normal.

And so it seemed that no one had any reason to suspect that anything had happened between them.

...

At the end of the day, Jinwoo called Astro together to leave for the van.

Eunwoo came and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Hyung, I'll meet you at the dance studio later. I have other plans."

"Where are you going? You'll need to eat and rest, it's going to be a long night," said Jinwoo.

"I'm going to hang out with Lucy for a bit," he said, a big smile broadening on his face.

"What? Did you say you're going somewhere with Lucy?" asked Bin.

Eunwoo nodded, bursting with joy.

"Ooh!" cried Bin, touching up Eunwoo's hair and straightening his shirt, "okay, you're looking good!"

Sanha playfully punched his arm, "good luck, hyung!"

The others wished Eunwoo well, cheering and winking at him as they watched him leave, but Jinwoo didn't say another word to him. He sent the other members to the van and stalked off to check the locker room for anything left behind.

His face felt hot and he had an uneasy feeling in his gut as his mind raced with questions.

Where were they going... was it a date?

Was Eunwoo going to confess his feelings to her... what would she say?

Would he try to kiss her?

He found a hoodie that belonged to Sanha and tucked it under his arm, then made his way over to the car park.

He heard Lucy's laugh before he turned the corner. It made him stop walking for a second to listen.

"Mmm I think I remember you showing up in a giant yellow onesie!" she cried.

"Well you said it was a dress up party!" Eunwoo replied with a chuckle.

"I know, I just can't believe you ignored the theme."

"Do you even know what I was dressed up as?" he asked.

She laughed, "A Pokémon?"

"Ahh you did remember!"

"It's hard to forget! You were so cute..."

Argh... cute? She thought Eunwoo was cute? They shared so many memories.

The uneasy feeling in Jinwoo's stomach was turning to distress. He turned the corner to see them at the bottom of the steps, waiting on the curb side.

Lucy was looking up at Eunwoo with an open smile as he leaned towards her, saying something softly that Jinwoo couldn't hear.

He felt sick inside but he couldn't turn away.

He watched as Eunwoo gently brushed Lucy's hair out out of her eyes. She continued to smile, lowering her eyes when he touched her.

Soon a taxi pulled up to a stop beside them and Eunwoo opened the car door for Lucy.

Jinwoo stood there as though in a daze as they got in and the car drove away.

"Hey have you seen Lucy, has she left already?" a voice beside him asked. It was Kyungmi.

"Yeah, she's..." he pointed at the taxi that was leaving the car park.

"Ahh, I see."

Jinwoo gave her a side glance. What did she see?

"Wow, it must be really hard to compete with Cha Eunwoo."

"What?"

"Lucy... she's beautiful, right?"

Oh how did she know?

He thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and she had the biggest, most beautiful heart.

"And Cha Eunwoo, he's..."

Handsome, smart, popular, successful, a good guy... and like a brother to him.

He loved Eunwoo, but right now...

Right now he felt awful about his feelings towards Eunwoo.

"I better go," he said, eager to leave.

He walked furiously back to the van, his emotions no longer under control.

Never before had he let himself feel jealous of Eunwoo, never.

Yeah, his good looks got him a lot of attention, but Jinwoo wasn't shallow enough to let it bother him.

When Eunwoo gained more and more fame and he faced crazy criticism and pressure, working long days and nights to keep up with everything, Jinwoo had been by his side, loving and supporting him. It was all because he wanted the best for him. He wanted to see Eunwoo happy and thriving.

But seeing Eunwoo happy with Lucy made him sick and even angry. He'd felt uneasy about it before, but this afternoon, for the first time, he felt pure envy.

Eunwoo could get any girl, and yet he chose Lucy! Why?!

Why did it have to hurt so much?

He finally understood the reason why Lucy had refused to be friends with him again. It just wasn't possible to take back a kiss.