GATEWAY 🝔 LEE JENO

🝔 2.3

Finally finished with his shoot, Jeno walked over to his Manager who was busily conversing with someone else. From afar, Jeno was not able to figure out who it was. However, as he got closer and closer a smile lifted of his lips. Short shoulder length hair ruffling through the strong wind that hit from behind her, it concealed her features making it difficult for Jeno to recognise hre from a distance. 

 Approach forward he quickened his pace. "Yebin?" he called out catching the girls attention. 

Hearing his voice, she looked past Jeno's manager's shoulder to spot the boy walking over. Smiling widely the girl raised her hand waving at him enthusiastically. "What are you doing here?" 

"My shoot just finished. I was walking towards the exit when I saw Winwin here" looking over to his manager, Jeno saw him typing in the tablet. "Anyway, I was thinking why don't we both go out and have dinner? It's been really long since we've hung out." Yebin asked in a hopeful tone.

Pressing his lips together Jeno glanced over to Winwin once more to see the older boy shrug his shoulders. "You're shoot is over and you don't have one until tomorrow afternoon. You're free" snapping his head over, Jeno gave a short nod to the girl. 

Winwin had always been a generous manager. He never put restriction for the boy and that's why Jeno liked him a low. "But you both be careful" he warned in a stern tone. Rolling her eyes, Yebin nodded before gesturing Jeno to follow her.

🝔

Humming to himself the latter examined the menu reading through the dishes. Just before they left they visited Yebin's manager who was against letting her go. It took some convincing but eventually Yebin managed to let him agree. 

"So how's everything with your boyfriend?" Jeno brought up remembering how she mentioned to him how it was difficult for her to meet up with him due to her hectic schedules. Sipping her drink she immediately leaned on her elbows sending a wide grin. "Much better now. Sungchan and I actually moved in together so we spend a lot more time with each other compared to back then"

"That's good to hear," Last time when she was talking about Sungchan she was bawling out her worries and distress saying how she feared that they might drift apart. However, seeing her glowing features while speaking about him made Jeno feel happy for her.

Suddenly a smirk adorned across Yebin's features. Clearing her throat she slowly leaning back on her chair before crossing her arms. "Have you met her again?" her voice fell low, a tiny spark gleaming in her black orbs with a hint a teasing swimming through. 

Eyes widening he glanced up to the girl before chocking on his drink. Slapping his chest vigorously he drew a lot of other customers attention towards them. He looked like he was dying. Yebin was not expecting such an extreme reaction. Panicking she grabbed some tissue chucking over to the boy.

Wiping his lips, Jeno scanned the surrounding to find judgmental looks shooting over to them. Slightly embarrassed he felt the tips of his ears tinting red. Averting his gaze from everyone he looked up to find a snickering Yebin. Hand clasped over her mouth she tried to hide back her laugh spotting how red the boy became. Clearly humiliated. Groaning he glared at her just to make the girl laugh even more. 

He genuinely forgot how he mentioned to her that he has a girl that he likes. He never went into complete detail about Ga-eun with Yebin after the incident with Renjun. However, she knows of her. Sighing he shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't seen her again" though Jeno replied in a calm tone Yebin was able to see the downhearted gaze in his orbs. Feeling bad she pursed her lips.

"Jeno, you will meet her again. If you both were really as close as you said then you will meet her again." she gave a reassuring smile to which he scoffed realising how ridiculous she sounds. "And if you don't then don't worry. I will search high and low, Jeno. I've literally known you for years and for the first time you have mentioned liking someone. I don't think I will be satisfied until you both are together"

Looking at her with pity he just blinked his eyes a few times. 

"Search high and low" - he repeated her words mentally before letting out a depressed sigh. 

If only she knew 

Plastering on a fake smile he mouthed a thank you.

He wanted to believe her. He wished that she was right. He so badly wants to meet Ga-eun again. But there's no possibility.  Nonetheless, hearing her say that comforted him. The smallest percentage of hope building within him.

In despair, Jeno looked elsewhere, away from Yebin just to regret doing so. Like a cold breeze of negativity, it flowed straight towards him as the door of the restaurant opened. Two figures, stepped in. 

But only one of them caught his eye. A strong aura radiating out like black soot. It's like she was born from the depths of hell. If drove his whole attention onto her. Wherever she goes, wherever she steps into, she captured darkness. The white interior of the restaurant sudden dullened by her presence.  

Narrowing his orbs he trained his sight following her until she took a seat down. Gritting his teeth, Jeno clenched his fists firmly. So hard that his knuckles transformed paler, his veins across his hands and arms visible. 

Noticing the aggravation emitting out from the boy like boiling magma about to erupt, Yebin gulped physically concerned by what had come over him. He was fine moments ago. "Jeno are you ok?" she carefully spoke out. His demeanour changed out of no where. 

Drifting his sight back to the girl in front of him he forcefully relaxed his features giving a small nod however, in reality his heart had been ignited by burning anger ready to be let out. He was beyond furious.

🝔

"Is he here yet?" Jeno questioned looking around the car park. Humming Yebin scanned around until she spotted a figure approaching them. Grinning widely she ran over within an instant, embracing him into a hug. Following her footsteps, Jeno walked over watching the couple. Unknown to the boy he felt a little sullen, sensing emptiness form deep in his heart.

After they parted away Sungchan flickered his sight over to Jeno sending a small wave. After watching them leave, the boy grabbed his car keys making way to his vehicle. However, before he could even enter, a strong force subconsciously made him look back to the restaurant. There he saw through the glass window how the two were laughing and flirting with one another.

Tightening his jaw he shut his eyes in hopes to control his building temper. Letting out an exasperated sigh he yanked his car door open so he could escape from the uncomfortable scene.