Our Destiny | haobin

Eighteen

"Hanbin? What are you doing here!" Zhang Hao asks him, surprised to see him there. He knows parties aren't really his thing and he had said he wasn't coming earlier.

"I hadn't gone to a party in a while. I thought I should come." Hanbin tells him.

"I'm glad you made it." Matthew smiles at him. "Would you like a drink?"

"Sure... a soda's fine please."

"Okay, I'll be right back." Matthew nods and walks towards the kitchen.

"I didn't think you'd come. You don't really look like a party person." Zhang Hao tells him.

"Yeah, I wasn't going to... but then I realized something."

"What?"

"Here's your drink." Matthew comes back and hands Hanbin a soda can. "I have to go greet some of my other guests, but let me know if you need anything else, okay?"

"Okay thanks." Zhang Hao nods and Matthew walks away. "So you were saying...?"

"Can we go talk outside? It's kind of noisy here."

"Yeah, sure." They both walk outside where there's way less people.

They both stay quiet for a while. Zhang Hao gives Hanbin time to say whatever he's going to say.

"Ever since I moved to my new school, I've realized there's not only bad people in the world." Hanbin starts. "You, Matthew, and his friends have all tried to befriend me and I've realized I was being so cold towards you... It's not because I don't want to be your friend. The truth is... I'm just scared."

"Scared? Why would you be?" Zhang Hao tries to act clueless even though he knows exactly why.

"I-I was bullied in my old school. I'm scared it'll start happening again." Hanbin tells him even though that's only one of the reasons.

"Who dares mess with you?! Just give me the names and they'll be dealt with."

"No, it's okay... Like I said, it was in my old school. They haven't bothered me anymore."

"No, it's not okay." Zhang Hao shakes his head. "The only reason they don't bother you anymore is because they don't see you, but what if they continue when they see you again?"

"My old school isn't too close to this one. I don't think I'll have to see them again. It's okay, I really mean it, Zhang Hao. But thank you for trying to help. I hadn't had a friend like you in a while."

"A friend?" Zhang Hao's eyes widen. "Wait... Does that mean we're friends now?"

"I would like to try this friendship thing out. It wouldn't be fair to not give you a chance."

-

"Jiwoong!" Jiwoong hears someone slam the front door shut.

"What?" Jiwoong walks out of his room, confused as to why Taerae came in like that.

"What was that about?"

"What do you mean?" He pretends not to know what he's talking about.

"What happened at the party... What was going to happen with Zhang Hao and Matthew."

"Oh... that." Jiwoong nods. "It seems like Matthew likes Zhang Hao." He shrugs. "Who am I to change his feelings?"

"So you're just going to let it happen? That's your-"

"Was." Jiwoong corrects him. "Taerae... I think sometimes you forget who I am. Have you forgotten?"

"No, I haven't... but-"

"I'm not a normal human being anymore, Taerae. Have you forgotten I had as many chances as all of you? And I failed each and every time." Jiwoong sighs. "I know it seems like I'm just an ordinary human being since I still look like this and can put on a show in front of you guys, pretending I'm just like you, but I'm not."

"So you're just going to give up like that?" Taerae's eyes start to water. "I mean I know you can't be with him, but is it really okay for you to watch them like that?"

"Maybe it's for the better. If Matthew falls for Zhang Hao, then I'll end up getting over him sooner or later. I'll be okay really." Jiwoong gives him a small smile. "And if Zhang Hao falls for Matthew, he won't fall for someone he shouldn't... so wouldn't that be for the better?"

Taerae just stays quiet as he feels tears roll down his cheeks. Jiwoong's trying to act like he's fine when he's not. Matthew was his soulmate... and Jiwoong failed each and every chance he got because he kept falling in love with him over and over again.

So now Jiwoong can't come face to face with Matthew. If he does, Taeare might never see him again.