To Be Loved... (BOOK 1)

The Meeting

"Did you know San was planning something for Wooyoung's birthday?" I asked Ms. Jung as we washed and dried the dishes together.

She gasped. "What's he planning?"

"Laser tag or theme park. We haven't decided."

"Go with the laser tag. San wouldn't be able to do anything in his condition. At least it'll be dark and just whoever you're inviting."

"Very true." I agreed, rubbing a dry towel around a plate. "San's best friend, Yeosang, literally sprinted around the track in gym just to tell me he's been trying to message me about it."

"Is Yeosang on the football team too?" She asked, handing me another plate.

"No, he's a wrestler."

"Oh, jeez." She seemed skeptical. I put the newly dried plate on the rack and took out my phone to show her Yeosang's last Instagram post. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."

"So that's Yeosang." I laughed since I knew it wasn't what she had expected.

I know all she wants is for Wooyoung to be surrounded by good people. I don't blame her for being skeptical since he's been bullied in the past.

She was still scrolling through my Instagram before she handed my phone back to me.

"Here we go." I scoffed.

Jisung was actually calling.

I walked out the front door and sat on the porch.

"Do you seriously live with Wooyoung now?" Was the first thing out of his mouth.

"If you wanna talk, you can come here. Otherwise, I have nothing to say."

"Fine." He groaned and hung up. He'll be here soon, I'm sure.

"Hey." I looked to my left to see Minho waving. Obviously he's going to see Seonghwa. "It's cold outside, why are you out here sulking?" He walked over to me, shivering and rubbing his arms because of the weather.

"I think Jisung is coming over." I mumbled into my hands.

"Does he plan on working things out with you?"

"I don't want to if that doesn't involve you and Wooyoung. You do still want to be with him, right?" Minho stayed quiet. "Does this have to do with Seonghwa?" He nodded. "Have you talked to him about it?" He nodded again. "And?"

"He told me that I don't actually like him like that, I'm just blinded because I'm getting over a breakup and getting a lot of affection."

"That makes sense."

"Yeah, and I hate that it does."

"Do you feel like you're waiting for Jisung still though? Do you have any hope left? Or are you completely done?"

"I don't know."

"Wow, Lee Know doesn't actually know something for once." I smiled, trying to lighten up the conversation just a little. He groaned and rolled his eyes in response.

"You better pray he's not here the same time as Wooyoung. That's a fight waiting to happen."

"Maybe it should." I shrugged.

"No. They'd start throwing fists. Especially Jisung."

"Over me?" I batted my eyelashes and smiled sweetly.

"I cannot believe that's the reason."

The front door to Seonghwa's house opened and closed as he made his way towards us.

"Hwang Hyunjin, it's cold out. Why aren't you inside? Go get a jacket." Always Seonghwa and his motherly instincts. "You too." He looked at Minho and pulled him into his arms.

"Jisung is apparently coming over soon to talk to Hyunjin."

Seonghwa looked at me in shock. "You better make sure Wooyoungie isn't here." I smiled since that's what Minho said earlier.

I heard loud music down the road and they both ran into the house.

"Good luck!" Minho shouted before closing the door.

Luckily they were out of sight by the time Jisung arrived. He was quick to get out of his car and walk up to me.

"I need you to do me a favor." I tried to seem as intimidating as possible by keeping my voice low and standing up tall to tower over him. "Get the fuck over your jealousy when it comes to Wooyoung. You don't know the things he's been through. I was the only one who's known about anything and I was the only one that's been there. The reason we're so close has nothing to do with personalities. It has to do with history. I've treated you no different from him all these years, but you were too insecure to see that. So give me one good reason as to why you don't like him that doesn't have to do with me."

"I don't have one." He mumbled, looking away from me.

"Exactly. Your problems don't give you the right to shit on others. I just got kicked out of my house and all my stuff is destroyed. But you don't see me out here making everyone miserable."

"Listen, Hyunjin, I didn't come here for you to lecture me." He was calm, but I had things to get off my chest.

"Well too fucking bad, Jisung!" I shouted. "You did a lot of hurtful things and we need to talk about it."

"I don't hate Wooyoung."

"That's a start. He still hates you."

"Maybe he won't if I talk to him."

"Doubtful, he heard you talk shit about him and San when you called me." Jisung's eyes went wide, then he stressfully ran his fingers through his hair.

"Fuck." He whispered.

"What about Minho?"

"I want us to be friends for now if he'll let me. If we still feel that connection, then I want to start over and do things right."

"That would mean not hiding him."

"I know."

I felt my heart racing once I saw Wooyoung pull into the driveway. He slammed the car door and stormed over to us.

"What the actual fuck are you doing here?" Wooyoung snapped at the sight of Jisung.

"Listen, Wooyoung, I'm-"

"No, I will not listen to anything you have to say, thank you very much." He was quick to interrupt. I put my hand on Wooyoung's shoulder and nodded, trying to tell him to listen.

"I'm sorry for everything I said about you and San in the past. I've been jealous of you from the start obviously because you and Hyunjin seemed a lot closer than him and I were."

"Which we are." Wooyoung, you're not making this any better.

"And that's fine. But I'm over that. I realized I kinda acted like Hyunjin was my territory and that's messed up. I was also jealous of you and San. Truthfully, I think you guys are really good for each other."

Wooyoung seemed more calm than before.

"I still don't like you." He shrugged with his arms crossed.

"I figured, but I don't hate you anymore."

"Never should've in the first place."

"I know, I know and I'm sorry."

I could tell Jisung was being sincere. He probably got a taste of what a good family was supposed to feel like and it switched his entire mindset. I don't think me or Wooyoung will be able to forgive him for a while, but being civil and not hating each other is definitely a start.