White Tulips

Chapter 1

If you asked Han Seojun why he loved Lim Jukyung, he wouldn't be able to answer. His feelings for her were too overwhelming. They always rendered him speechless.

Even after all these years, his heart still skipped a beat every time she arrived to their group dinners. He still had to stop himself from staring at her longingly. And he still sang only about her—his songs being his only form of expressing his love.

His head was filled with her in every unoccupied minute between practice, performance and recording sessions. And whenever his feelings got too much to bear,  he would substitute her company with the make-up tutorials she posted online—tutorials which had become extrememly popular, much to Seojun's delight.

The only problem was, Lim Jukyung didn't belong to Han Seojun. She belonged to Lee Suho, his best friend.

Seojun was happy for the two of them. They were the best people he knew and they truly belonged together. Which was why, having these feelings were burdensome for Seojun. It was painful, seeing them all lovey-dovey with each other, talking about the life they now shared together. Normally Seojun would have faked a smile, but when they were all gathered in a group, he scowled without reserve. He got away with it too because right beside Suho and Jukyung, sat Taehoon and Suah who were the kind of cheesy couple that made anyone barf.

Just the thought of seeing Suah and Taehoon fawning over each other made him cringe even now as he walked into the special private room they frequented for their gatherings—private due to Seojun's and Jukyung's fame—Seojun was pushing back his gag reflex at the squealing he could hear from outside.

He scolded them as he entered the room. "Guys! I can hear you all the way from the front entrance. Why are you always so—" He stopped in his tracks. There, between a giggling Jukyung and beaming Suah sat the worst person Seojun had ever known.

Her.

The scheamer. The liar. The girl who betrayed her best friend, all for a guy.

He had heard peripherally about how she had changed, having reformed as a charity worker. She had also apparently apologized to Jukyung about the shitty things she had done before. As if an apology could remove the damage she had caused.

Han Seojun knew Jukyung had forgiven Kang Sujin. That woman had even attended Heekyung Noona's wedding. But Seojun didn't understand why she had to invade their special gatherings.

The room slowly fell silent when Seojun remained standing in the doorway. Everyone awkwardly stared at him, then Sujin.

"It's been a while, Han Seojun." Kang Sujin said with a polite smile. Her voice deeper than most girls, totally unfeminine according to Seojun and way too loud for her own good.

Yah Han Seojun, are you a gangster?!

Whiplash. Seojun pushed the memory away.

"Ah-aah! Han Seojun. You must be surprised." Jukyung said with forced cheerfulness. "I invited Sujin to join us today."

Seojun merely flicked a cynical brow at Jukyung and took his usual seat besides Suho. Suah and Jukyung nervously returned to their conversation.

The uncomfortable air in the room dissipated after a while and everyone began to chat cheerfully with each other.

Everyone except Han Seojun.

"I saw your performance on TV last night. You looked good." Suho told Seojun in his soft voice.

"Why the hell have you invited Kang Soojin?" Seojun asked Suho in a hushed tone.

"She's a friend, of course she's invited."