/ Run Away /- Jeongin

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 14

"Hi, noona."

I stand by Jeongin's bedroom door, the atmosphere surrounded by awkwardness and his sweet aroma. He is sitting with crossed legs on his tidy bed. The room has still remained the same as before. The boy in front of me was dressed in a hoodie and pants. How does he look so casual and nice at the same time?

"Come sit here." Jeongin hesitantly speaks. I hadn't seen him in weeks, his voice still soothes me.

I make my way across the paper-filled floor and sit on the bed next to him. Neither of us didn't make any eye contact or spoke any words. We were comfortable having each other's company, so many things are yet to be spoken out.

Talk to him.

Jiwoo's words echoed in my head. I would do it, but I was unwilling to be the first one to speak out. My shy attitude got to change.

"I'm sorry." Jeongin starts, finally breaking the silence off.

His abrupt apology poured me with guilt. I was supposed the one who came to apologize. He looks down while playing with his fingers.

"No, I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have shut you out in the first place."

"Yeoona, I should have taken things slower. I didn't think properly." Jeongin rises his head at last.

Our eyes meet again. I watch as both his pupils change into our destined color. The sorrow in them showed itself. My urge to ask him what happened to them remains, I want to know everything that happened 5 years ago.

"Jeongin, what made you-" I cut myself off not knowing how to continue. I let my head fall down, embarrassed by my confidence just now. Jeongin seemed to guess what I wanted to say and tensed a bit.

"I don't know how much you know, but it started 5 years ago..."

He continues telling me the story of a boy named Raewon. I learned that he was a good friend of Jeongin. They had a special bond no one else dared to break, they were inseparable.

It was not till one day, Raewon's girlfriend met her soulmate and fell harder for him instead. He eavesdropped on their conversation about his girlfriend wanting to break up with him.

I felt that, it was so like mine. I had no idea what it would be like in Jeongin's shoes. His friend was slowly losing himself and was growing an obsession with the 'love' he had with his girlfriend.

They fell into an argument that broke them apart. That night, Raewon ran out of the house saying he wouldn't come back till he found his girlfriend. Jeongin didn't stop his reckless behavior and by the next morning, he had been reported dead by a run vehicle while crossing the road.

From what I heard from Channie, Jeongin blamed himself for his death. The boy's parents had already told Jeongin it was nothing to do with him. He just couldn't move on.

Jeongin's shimmery eyes couldn't hold it anymore, a tear forced its way out and down his face. I brush the tear off his cheek without further thinking.

"Don't cry. At least you have me." I said.

"That's when the nightmare started, is it?"

"Yeah," I respond.

"Thank you noona, for listening."

"Anytime." I let out a smile so frail it could break by simply touching it.

Jeongin returns the smile. He effortlessly looks so cute when showing his dimples. My heart could melt anytime.

"I.N ah, 5 years ago, I wasn't the best at state as well." I raise my head so I could have a better look at the boy in front.

"There was a boy, I thought he loved me, but it turns out he was cheating on me, and using me. I was reckless and trusted the wrong people."