𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 - 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆

07 | playing pretend

The sun had gone down and the night grew a small breeze. We didn't want to end the night early even though we did have school in the morning.

We decided on a local restaurant that was open 24 hours. Chan and his friends took one booth and mine took the other right beside theirs.

If I wasn't wrong Hyunjin looked like he was having a great time but if you asked him he'd deny it immediately. Felix on the other hand smiled constantly throughout the day, I would say our friend groups got along well. I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.

I sip my strawberry milkshake, Felix and Hyunjin looking at me. Felix chewed on fries and Hyunjin rubbed his chin in a thinking way.

"What?"

Hyunjin sighs and leans closer to the table "Is there a specific reason why you wanted to hang out with the rat pack today?"

"No"

"Lies"

I scoff "I don't lie"

"You do," Felix says and I sit back, crossing my arms. "You lied when you said you were into Dylan"

Hyunjin laughs loudly and clings to Felix who also laughed. My lips formed a thin line "That was actually kind of a good one" I agreed.

"No, I was kidding. I know you did like him"

"Like, that's very far from love" Hyunjin points out.

I felt a small tap on my shoulder and I notice Felix and Hyunjins eyes looking up above my head. I turn and see Minho.

"I'm gonna go out for some air, wanna join?" I swallow harshly and nod.

"Sure" I slide out of the booth and glance and Felix and Hyunjin who tried to contain their burst of excitement.

I look to Minho, getting out of his booth, and Chan's eyes catch mine—almost confused about why I was joining his friend outside but he didn't speak up and looked back to the others.

I turn around and walked out of the restaurant, Minho following behind me. I spot an empty table and sit down, seeing Minho sitting on the chair in front of me.

Looking out to the night and watching a group of friends pass, they were around our age and looks towards us as they continued to walk towards the beach.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

I look at Minho and he's already staring at me, I shrug "Whose ever ready for a new school year to start?"

Minho smiles and nods "I guess your right"

I didn't look away but kept my eyes on his "Do you think they suspect something? I know Felix and Hyunjin do"

"Maybe, I think me asking you to come out here will"

I sigh and look down, hesitantly I say "Is it weird if I was to say that I'm scared?"

Minho was quiet for a moment before saying "Scared about what?"

I look at him "What everyone will think about me?", My eyes fall to the table and I bite at my bottom lip before saying "How I got with one of my brother's best friends and someone Dylan hates"

"Don't think about that" I look up and meet his eyes "Don't think about what others think, Jisung this isn't about them"

"Isn't it?" I ask "Isn't this because we both don't want to look pathetic? How did we both get cheated on?"

Minho licks his lips and looks away from me. It was almost like I said something that upset him but what?

"I'll see you tomorrow Jisung" Minho stands up and I do the same.

"But where are you going?" I ask "You didn't say goodbye to the others"

Minho looks at me and gives me a small smile "I told them bye inside" I furrow my brows and he walks up to me, pushing a hair behind my ear and he whispers "and now they're watching" I froze, not because Minho was looking into my eyes or close proximity between us but because of his words.

Were they watching this the whole time?

I grab his forearm and I notice his lip twitch into a small smirk "Look, you're already so good at this"

God, he didn't have to praise me for pretending. He didn't have to look into my eyes like he was ready to lean in and close this small gap between us. He didn't have to do this.

Minho's thumb glides over my cheek and it ignites a small fire there. "Good night Jisung"

"Good night" His hand left my face and he turned around, starting his walk to his house.

I sigh and felt lightheaded from just his touch. I hate it. I didn't want to feel this, I didn't want to give in to this because this only pretend.

We were only playing pretend.