The Boy Next Door

the best friend approval

"Chang--"

He opened the bathroom door as soon as I knocked.

For a split second I saw a disturbing scene of some guy getting ready to use the urinal before Changmin smacked his hand over my eyes and pushed me back.

"Don't stand so close to the door! You'll be scarred for life." Changmin released me.

"Right thanks for saying that after," I answered, though I was still grinning from what happened with Sunwoo.

"Why are you smiling you perv?" Changmin swung both our backpacks around his shoulder.

"Guess what just happened?" I asked as we started walking.

"If you're not even gonna use your crutch I'm not going to carry your backpack for you," Changmin looked at me with annoyance.

"Fine, fine," I rested the crutch under my arm. "It's only gonna slow us down."

"We're not in a rush," He said. He was always calm like that. "What happened?"

"I guess you could say Sunwoo's my boyfriend."

"What?" He stopped walking. "What?" He repeated.

"But don't worry, I asked him. He didn't pressure me or whatever."

"No I-I mean what happened to being cautious? How can you jump from going on a pre-date to already an established relationship?" Changmin asked.

"Would it kill you to be happy for me?" my shoulder dropped a bit.

"Of course I'm happy for you Jo," He said. "I'm just.... it just doesn't seem like a decision you would have made a week ago."

"Things have changed," I said. "I know him now."

"You know him?"

"I know more about him, at least." I said as we walked to the parking lot. "And I'm not getting married, it's not some legal contract or anything. I don't really see what your problem is here--we're dating, so we can come with you on your date with Heeji tomorrow!"

++ changmin pov

My problem? My problem was that Jo used to be as skeptical of guys as much as I am. I didn't see how this Kim Sunwoo character could swoop her off her feet so easily. I was worried he was changing her.

And as much trust I had in my best friend, I couldn't bear to ever lose her.

But regardless, look at her. She was so happy, smiling like she used to years ago. All she wanted was to live out these last few months before life started getting serious. How could I keep that from her?

How could I let my own feelings get in the way of something great for her?

"That's.... you're right." I said. "I'm sorry, I'm happy for you I'm just--just shocked it could happen in the few minutes I went to the bathroom."

"Thanks!" She grinned at me as we put our seatbelts on. "We can all drive together tomorrow. Our first double-date are you excited?? I'm so excited."

"Very excited," I said, checking my mirrors like a maniac and slowly backing out of the parking spot.

I didn't want to drive away. I didn't want time to pass because it was all going too quickly. She was going to quickly.

I didn't know how this whole Heeji thing came about. I didn't think I ever really liked her, or if I ever would. But I was willing to do anything to get Joy off my mind.

I'd always been protective of her, always wanted her to have the best, and only the best people in her life. And I knew she wanted the same for me.

But at some point, the protectiveness started to change. It wasn't because I felt obligated to, like a brother would. It was because the only person I trusted with her was myself. And the only person I wanted to see her with, watching movies on the couch, doing homework on facetime, driving with, was me.