A Drunken Mistake | Lee Jeno

Chapter 18

It had been days since the night Solji made another drunken mistake and Jeno was still in shock. If Jaemin were to burn Jeno's house down, he probably wouldn't react.

Right now, they were at the hospital lobby, drinking coffee. Jaemin was fussing about the situations in the emergency room and blabbered about what it would be like once he's finally finished with all his studies. Getting medicine-related course meant you're bound to your job for the rest of your life, signing your youth away.

He didn't mind, though. But he surely knew that his friend needed help.

"Jeno, are you even listening to me?" Jaemin asked. He pinched Jeno's thigh which woke the latter from his reverie.

"She confessed... oh my God... yes? Are you saying something?" Jeno asked. He seemed to be really out of it.

"Saying something? Dude, I have been talking for almost half an hour now and you didn't even listen to any of it?" Jaemin sighed, disappointed. "I probably need to find a new best friend."

Jeno threw him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. There's just a lot of things going on in my mind right now."

"By a lot of things, you meant Solji confessing to you that night?"

Jeno was flustered but he didn't deny it. He covered his face that now turned beet red. How could he forget the night when the girl he liked finally confessed to him? He should be happy that they were feeling the same way but his situation was far too complicated to even entertain romantic feelings.

His parents were getting a divorce and his mother was still recovering. There was no time for him to even celebrate.

"How did that confession make you feel?" Jaemin asked.

Jeno sighed. "I was elated at first but then I realized... she deserved better. If there's someone out there who deserved her, it's Mark. Not me."

"If there's one thing you're good at, it's self-loathing," Jaemin replied. "You don't get to decide who deserves her or not. If she tells you she likes you, you can't do anything about it."

"But I don't think I deserve that kind of love. Look at me? I grew up in a toxic household. I grew up watching my Dad hurt my Mom and I... I don't think I deserve love."

Jaemin scooted closer to Jeno and looked into his eyes. "Have you forgotten what I said? If there's anyone here who deserves the world, it's you. Growing up in that kind of household isn't you fault. What you did back there at your house was such a brave thing to do. You saved your mom. And you grew up quite well. Jeno, don't hurt yourself anymore."

Jeno let Jaemin's words sink in. It was still too much. Everything was too overwhelming. He knew he deserved love but he was afraid that they would end up like his parents. Two people who rushed into love, caged by marriage, and ended up failing it.

But Jaemin was right. Whatever happened to his parents wasn't his fault. If anything, he knew just what to avoid. Still, there was lingering fear in his heart.

If he were given the opportunity to pursue Solji, he might just give it up.

***

Solji found Irene in the kitchen putting fresh fruits in a basket. There was also a bouquet of pink flowers on the counter tied with a pink ribbon.

"Where are you going?" Solji asked.

Irene was surprised when she saw her daughter leaning on the wall before walking to her.

"I'm going to visit Tiffany at the hospital," Irene replied. "Do you want to come with me?"

Solji's heart raced at the question. Irene was going to talk to Tiffany, the woman that Jeno's father loved unconditionally and also his mother's best friend. Visiting Tiffany meant potentially seeing Jeno. Was she ready to face him?