Philophobia ❧ JEONGCHAN

4

Friends-Chase Atlantic

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"But, what if he says it back?"

Jeongin watched Selena press a banana chip to the top of her tongue. Her brows shot up with a pretty smile. She was giving him sex eyes. "He won't."

"We should make a bet," she said, shuffling off of the bed they were resting on-Jeongin's bed. His small apartment drowned in white walls and dark brown wood floors. There was nothing significant about it other than the black box on the table he had pushed into the corner of his bedroom. He had a closet, a bed, and a tiny bathroom. In the living room was a couch and television. The kitchen was a little bigger than his bathroom.

Selena had joked that he was one of Snow White's gnomes. He had to correct her and tell her they were dwarves and he wasn't in fact one of them. He watched the sleeve of her lavender crop top fall off of her shoulder. It didn't help that she was wearing running shorts that rode up her ass. A very nice ass that he should not be looking at on the day he was confessing to the guy he was in love with.

"I have nothing to bet," Jeongin told her. He tilted his head back and his sprite bottle up so the fizzy liquid could swish into his mouth and slide down his esophagus.

"If he says yes you have to tell him you were fucking me the whole time. Honesty is the best policy."

Jeongin started laughing. If that were the case he'd be dumped in a second. At least he'd be able to call Chris his ex. Even if it were for a minute he'd take it if it meant calling Chris his. "And if he rejects me, which I know he will, you have to take us to Canada."

"Should we make out to seal the deal?"

"Hilarious, Lena."

"That's me."

He rolled his eyes and hopped up from his bed. "What should I wear?"

"Go nude."

"You are drunk," he muttered, eyes stopping at the half empty wine bottle. "Shit day?"

"Let's just say I could use a trip to Canada."

Jeongin left their conversation as that and began to get ready. He wasn't going to go out of his way to be the most handsome he could be. When he got rejected he wasn't going to stand there like a fool. He was going to accept it and embrace the pain it brought. Pain helped people grow. And if it was Chris who caused it, he would take it and save it in the back of his mind as a lesson.

That didn't mean he was going to let him hurt him more than once. Chris wasn't capable of that anyhow. Jeongin plucked some of his hair and styled it so it stuck out over the side of his forehead, the rest slicked over to the side. He grabbed some loose jeans and a shirt he'd bought in new york. By the time he was done making himself presentable it was time to leave.

Selena waved him off, slurring to him she'd see him later and that she was planning a six month trip to Canada. He closed the door on her with a flick of his eyes. She was so much like him. He cracked his neck as he made his way to the street. The bar they had decided to meet up was close by so he walked there. The gift he had was tucked into a black bag. He wasn't sure how he'd give it to Chris. He wasn't sure of anything but the excitement and nervousness to see him.

Getting his heart broken was inevitable. Before he ruined all the good that they had, he wanted to create one more amazing memory. One he could look back on fondly. He entered the bar at exactly eight in the evening. His eyes lingered on Chris' broad back presented to him from across the room. He was leaning over the counter, phone in his hand as he probably searched the internet for news on any animals nearby in need of care.