Final Piece

Chapter nine

I don't see or hear Donghun these next few days, as I want to focus completely on my exams. I repeat everything I've studied before, and when the time finally comes, I think I do very well. I can't know for sure since I'll get the results in a month, but I have a good feeling – and I usually can trust my guts when it comes to things like this.

"I knew you'd do well! How do you feel?"

Marcus congratulates me when I come back to work. He doesn't even ask me how it went; he just looks at me and smiles. Apparently, Donghun's not the only who's able to read me like a book.

"Thank you. I'm relieved and glad that it's finally over. I can relax a bit more now."

"You mean you can spend more time with a certain silver-haired man?"

His smile turns into a mischievous grin, and he wiggles his eyebrows. I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks, but I don't say anything – there's no need to, we both know he's right.

"When's your next date?"

I just shrug my shoulders, and he nods in response. He doesn't pry, doesn't pressure me, and I'm grateful for it. There's no way I could contact Donghun. I don't have a phone because I can't afford it, but to be honest, even if I did, I wouldn't use it. All I need is my e-mail-address that I check from time to time on a university computer.

Today's shift is rather busy as the weather is quite nice and a lot of people decide to get a sandwich to eat at the nearby park, and when I finally can call it a day, I'm exhausted and more than happy to go home. After I've finished cleaning, Marcus and I bid our goodbyes and we part ways.

It's not yet dark, as the sun is just visible behind the horizon. The last sunrays of the day kiss my cheeks, and I enjoy the warmth that caresses my skin that is chilled by the wind. I decide to not go home right away, but to go to the botanical garden instead. I haven't been there in a while since I was busy with all the studies.

It's quite the walk, about thirty minutes, but I don't mind. I actually like to walk, not being too fond of bicycles and everything that has wheels. I don't really know why, but it's way more relaxing to just use my feet to go somewhere.

Suddenly, I can see a flash of pink in the corner of my eye. As I look closer, I spot Jun who crosses the street. My first thought is to just keep walking, but then I realize that this is the chance to talk to him again. It's been on my mind since my date with Donghun.

"Jun!"

Upon hearing his name, he turns around. I walk faster to catch up to him, and as soon as he recognizes me, his lips stretch into a smile. I'm sure the heat in my cheeks and my accelerated heartbeat is caused by my speed-walking.

"Chan, hi! How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, thanks. What about you?"

"I'm good too. Donghun told me about your exams. How did they go?"

I'm surprised that he knows about it, and it leaves a confusion in my stomach as to why, and more importantly what he and Donghun have talked about. I'm uncomfortable with the thought, but at the same time I'm really curious about it too. I choose not to ask about it, I don't want to seem nosy.

"Not sure, I'll get the results later. But I have a good feeling about it, I think I'll get a decent mark."

"I'll keep my fingers crossed. But from what I know about you, I'm sure you did great."

He smiles even wider at that, and the heat that rushes into my face is inevitable. I lower my gaze, mumble a small "thank you", hoping that he wouldn't see my face.

I startle as I, seemingly out of nowhere, feel a soft but slightly cold hand under my chin, gently forcing my head back up. Jun looks at me, still smiling, a spark in his eyes.

"We really need to work on your self-confidence. I love humbleness, but a healthy amount of being self-aware is attractive as well."

Did he just?!

I look him in the eyes, even more flustered and confused. My heart's beating as if I ran a marathon, and at this point I wonder why I haven't melted into a puddle. Why does he make me feel this way? I think of Donghun, the comfortable feeling of being safe I experience whenever I'm around him. Jun on the other hand leaves an excited feeling in my stomach, a curiosity, and a bunch of what ifs.

What if Donghun and I will enter a relationship? What if we do and he and Jun break up? What if they don't? And what if the things I feel for the two of them intensify? Is it possible to feel attracted to more than one person at the same time? All these thoughts, racing through my brain, make me feel slightly dizzy.

"How do you feel?"

Jun looks at me, confusion written all over his face. I've uttered the words without really thinking about it, but deep down I know I have to ask.

"I already told you, I'm-"

"No, that's not what I mean. How do you feel about Donghun and I?"

We lock eyes then, his milk-chocolate ones and my brown ones. I can see how he weighs his options on what to tell me, how he contemplates to tell me the thing I want to hear or the truth.

"Please, don't lie to me. I need to know. I couldn't bear to destroy your relationship."

He averts his gaze for a second, but when he turns his head back at me there's a determination in his face that surprises me.

"I actually haven't planned on telling you, since I think it's between you and Donghun. When we first came to Subway, I already knew about you. He'd already told me about you before. He acted off and was troubled, and after a few attempts to talk to him he finally admitted that he'd met you. That he had feelings for you. Of course, I was confused and also a bit hurt at first, but I couldn't help but wonder what kind of person you are. I mean, Donghun and I have been together for over five years now, and he has always been loyal and faithful, and I also didn't have the impression that he didn't love me anymore. So, I've figured you must be something special. I wanted to meet you. That's why we came that day. And I know that's not a really nice thing to do, but I also wanted to see your reaction when you first saw us together. And I saw that you have the same feelings as he does. Since then, I... I dont know. I just think of you a lot. I feel the urge to protect you, to make you happy and if the way to achieve that is for you to be with Donghun, I'm willing to open up our relationship."

His hand still rests on my cheek, his thumb slowly drawing circles on my skin as he speaks, his eyes locked with mine. I can see the warmth they hold, the sincerity, the love he feels for Donghun. I don't know how to react; I haven't expected anything like this. I'm more than confused as to what exactly this means – for me, for Donghun and I, for Donghun and Jun...

And for Jun and I.

All I know is that he makes me feel happy.