The Boyz Anthology

They Warned Me About You - Lee Sangyeon

As you sit on your couch scrolling through social media, a particular post instantly captures your attention. The post was put up by one of your boyfriend's friends about an hour ago, but that's not what keeps your interest. No, what keeps your interest is that one of the pictures is of your boyfriend with some girl sitting on his lap. Her arms are wrapped around his neck while his lazily rest on her waist, and from the clothes he's wearing, you can tell the picture is from tonight.

Disbelief, embarrassment, and rage all slam home in your chest. Examining the picture closely, you confirm that the clothes he's wearing are indeed the ones he left your house in a few hours ago for a "business meeting". You scoff and exit the app before pulling up Sangyeon's contact name.

Nice pics.

That's all you message him because you know he'll figure it out. If he bothers to take his hands off the girl and check his phone. You can't believe you have to deal with this shit, and even worse, you know exactly what everyone is going to say. How many times have you heard from people that he's a player? That he has problems sticking with just one person? Too many to count, but you just brushed them all off.

Sangyeon and you have been together for almost a year, and he's never done anything to prove the accusations against him true. In fact, he's done the opposite. He's been a complete, loving gentleman. Why'd he have to go and ruin it?

Your phone lights up with an incoming call. The picture that pops up is of you and Sangyeon smiling on the beach and your heart clenches. You wait until you're just about sure the call will go to voicemail. Then, you answer.

Music greets your ears and you huff out a piece of air, but that's the only acknowledgment you give him. Somehow, he still manages to hear it and immediately launches into a spiel.

"Babe, I promise you it's not what it looks like."

"I'm sure," you tonelessly reply.

"No, it's really not," he swears. "Believe it or not, I'm still with my bosses. They just decided to have the meeting at an unconventional place."

You raise a brow. "Okay? And? That leads to a girl on your lap, how exactly?"

The music in the background dies and when a car horn honks, you realize he's stepped outside. "That was a bottle service girl. She sat on everyone's lap. I guess I'm the only one that got my picture taken."

His tone sounds sincere, but that doesn't erase the damage that's already done.

"You know, they warned me about you," you tell him. "Everyone told me you were like this, and I should've listened because now I look like an idiot."

"Please," he pleads. The words are punctuated by the sound of a car door slamming and his car starting. You sigh because you know he's coming straight to you. "I'll have Hyunjae delete the picture of me. You won't look like an idiot, I promise."

"Yeah, 'cause that'll help," you scoff. "At least, I won't be the only one looking like an idiot."

He takes a deep breath as he figures out what to do. "Please, tell me how to fix this. You're too important to me, and I don't want to lose you over one stupid mistake. Yell at me. Hit me if you have to, but please don't shut me out."

You consider it long enough that he has to check if you're still on the phone. Finally, you come to a decision. "If you want it so bad, you'll have to work for it."