Jamais Vu

Chapter 19

"So, both of you really got together? You never told me anything about him," Haewon sent Sunhee a disbelief look as Sunhee steered the car away from basement parking. 

They just had their meal. Dowon and Sehun chose to stay back and hung out around Gangnam while Haewon trailed after Sunhee with the excuse of wanting to get something that she left. Sunhee knew Haewon was dying to dig more information.

Sunhee could consider Haewon as one of her closest friends, not that she had many of those. She had friends from her trainee years, and there were some from her culinary school, but since she was too occupied with her work, she didn't have any who she was close to at that moment. Haewon was the one with her for years since they started working together.

"I did tell you about him," reiterated Sunhee.

Haewon turned in her seat. "You did, but never the part that you like him. One day you were like, hey eunnie, I got myself a partner and you got yourself a new boss. Oh, and his name is Jung Hoseok, bye." Sunhee laughed in response. "I didn't know who he really is until he popped up at the store weeks ago and now, you had me at, what's up babe?" Haewon pushed on. "Sunhee-ya, you do like him, right?"

"He won't be my boyfriend if I don't like him," answered Sunhee as she stopped the car at the red light. "It's simple actually. He likes me, I like him, and here we are," Sunhee put her car into gear as the light turned green.

"Just like that?" Haewon looked at her in disbelief. "Come on, I know something else must be there. Did you confess to him first? I know you can be really straightforward."

Sunhee hesitated and pondered. "Technically, yes, I guess so."

"Sunhee-ya, you confessed to a guy with millions of fans and he said he likes you too? You are truly crazy, do you know that?" Haewon looked at Sunhee as if she's an alien. "Crazy."

"You do know we go way back before he even debuted," Sunhee hedged.

"Was he carrying a torch for you for all these years?" Haewon was curious.

"I don't know. We don't actually have time to have that heart-to-heart talk."

"You were too busy making out to have a talk," nodded Haewon. "Ow!" Sunhee slapped Haewon's thigh in response.

"We just got together before he went to the US, duh," reply Sunhee. "Get your head out of the gutter."

"I was just talking about kissing. What's so guttery about that?" defended Haewon. "So, did you guys do it?" she asked again.

"Are you talking about kiss right now?"

"Yes, I am," Haewon looked at her eagerly. "How was it?"

"I'm not going to tell you how unbelievably good it was," Sunhee bit her lips when she realized her slip and felt like banging her head to the steering wheel.

Haewon hooted excitedly. "You just told me two things with just that. One, you guys kissed!" Haewon put her finger up. "And he's a good kisser!" she put another finger up and showed Sunhee a peace sign.

"Damn it, eonnie. I've never asked you about you kissing Doo Hyuk-oppa," said Sunhee, referring to Haewon's long-time boyfriend.

"You did," replied Haewon.

"Did not!" objected Sunhee.

"You did and you were wasted at that time," Haewon was looking at her nails. "You even asked me things that were a little bit personal."

Sunhee looked at Haewon in disbelief, "I did not!"

"Did too. Not going to repeat what you asked," Haewon shuddered. "Watch the traffic," warned Haewon as Sunhee was still looking at her. "You don't always get drunk, but when you do, I feel like taping your mouth off with duct tape."

"I did no such thing," Sunhee was in denial.

"Remind me to record you when you're totally drunk. I'll make it into a DVD so you won't forget," Haewon looked out and back at Sunhee again. "I hate to remind you of this, but you'd never stay long in a relationship before. Heck, I don't even think it could even be considered as a relationship at all. A trial run? I don't know. In all the years I've known you, you've never gone beyond 2 dates. Are you sure you want to start one with this guy who is also your partner with gazillion fans? You're risking a lot of things in one go."

Sunhee didn't reply that quickly. She just stared at the road and became silent. It was true. Sunhee dated a lot before but it never lasts. It was like she was treading the water but never really took the dive.

"I know you have this huge baggage behind you and I really hope that this time around it will last," Haewon glanced at Sunhee worriedly. "Gosh, I sounded like a broken telephone. How many times have I said that to you before?" asked Haewon.

"Quite a few," Sunhee pause. There's always something about the person she was dating that was triggering her panic that she chose to ditch them straight away. She knew it was lame but it's always the 'it's not you, it's me' excuse.

"Does your mom know about this?" pried Haewon.

"I don't have to tell her about my love life. As you said, it didn't qualify as one," replied Sunhee exasperatedly. 

"Your past flings, yes. This one, we'll see."

"Those previous relationships were not flings!" objected Sunhee.

"Test drive?" Haewon corrected.

"What's there to drive?"

Haewon guffawed uproariously. "Ooh girl, you don't want me to answer that."

"Eonnie, you're freakingly disgusting" Sunhee protested while Haewon was laughing her head off. "I bet you didn't tell your mom about your exes either."

"Sunhee-ya, you're different. You've never told her anything about the guy you liked before. Maybe you should," advised Haewon.

"Or maybe those guys weren't the one for me," defended Sunhee.

"Excuse me. You dumped that Jiwon guy because he ordered food in advance for your second date. You ditched Seokho when he pointed out that your hair is getting too long and this is my all-time favourite, you left Dongsil on the spot because he gave you roses. You and I both know why, but I don't think Dongsil did. Don't you see the pattern here? Are you going to break up with Hoseok-ssi if he buys you roses or ordered food for you, too?" Haewon was on a roll. She knew Sunhee couldn't avoid that conversation in the car where there was nowhere else to run to excuses to make.

"I already have Dr. Ma as my therapist and talk about it. I don't have to listen to another psychobabble advice from you," pointed Sunhee out. It was making her feel uncomfortable and Haewon was actually close to the truth. She's always a good observer.

"I doubt you told Dr. Ma anything about your love interest since you don't see her all the time now," reminded Haewon. She was right when Sunhee was quiet. "Look, both you and your mom went through that thing together. As much I hate to say this to you, not all men are like your dad."

"I don't want to talk about him. I had enough sessions just about him," Sunhee gripped the steering wheel tightly. Talking about her dad was a touchy subject and Haewon knew that.

"Don't let what happened to stop you from living," Haewon patted Sunhee's lap. "I don't plan to be nosy but I am really concerned about you."

"I know," replied Sunhee curtly.

"Well, I guess with Hoseok-ssi not being around you that much, this would be different," pondered Haewon. "Just asking, how many times have you seen him, alone?"

Sunhee had to stop and think before replying. "I didn't actually count," she didn't really keep track of the frequency they met.

"More than twice?" Haewon nodded thoughtfully. "That looks promising." Just then Haewon's phone buzzed. "Oooh, Doo Hyuk-oppa is going to pick me at the shop," Haewon grinned widely as they were about to reach the bakery. Haewon was so excited that she nearly jumped out of the car as Sunhee parked at her spot.

She pulled herself back in and turned to Sunhee. "I'm not sorry for having this talk, I just want you to be happy. Remember that," said Haewon, pulling Sunhee close and hugged her earnestly. "See you tomorrow Sunhee-ya," she waved and went to her waiting boyfriend.