The Elephant Between Us || SKZ

chapter twenty

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A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED

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Slightly hitting her shoulder with his, Felix left Jeongmin and Bangchan lost in their movements: he didn't know what to say, and she wasn't sure what to do. 

For a moment, they just stood in front of the building with their fingers still connected, both their mouths and muscles in silence. What had just happened? Jeongmin didn't even know whether or not she owed him some sort of explanation, some kind of context. 

"Wow." Bangchan ended up breaking the silence, breathing out deeply as he turned to look at her and hand her the box of pizza that, honestly, smelled deliciously. "Are you alright?"

Raising her eyebrows while running a hand all over her face, Jeongmin gave him a nod, forcing a smile at the end.

"Who was that guy, anyway?"

He asked, entering the building and closing its door after her.

"An old friend."

Don't question her choice of words: that was all her roasted brain could think about while climbing up the stairs along with Bangchan.

"Friend?" He chuckled, offering his hands the comfort of his pants pockets. "Who needs enemies with friends like those, right?"

"Aish... I-" Sighing, she ran a hand through her forehead and hair before looking at him with an ashamed tired gaze. "I'm sorry, Bangchan. I'm really sorry you had to see that."

"I didn't have to see anything." He stopped and placed a hand on her forearm softly, quietly waiting a moment to make sure he wasn't crossing the line - it wasn't the first time he touched her, yet she was clearly more fragile that time. "I saw what I saw of my own will, so there's no need for you to apologize, okay?"

Jeongmin nodded and, as she was about to continue climbing up the stairs towards the fifth floor, Changbin stopped her with a question he had been thinking about since Felix had left.

"What did he mean by you not sticking to the same for long, though?"

Oh.

Before, for some reason, she was hopeful he hadn't paid attention to that part, and that was why all the lines on her face fell another inch the moment he waited for an answer.

You either tell him everything, or you tell him nothing.

All the tiredness of an entire day fell over her body at once, with no previous warning and absolutely no escape, causing her cells to stop effortfully thinking and her silence to last more than he thought he'd wait. A lot more, in fact.

"You know what?" His serious face suddenly turned into a bright yet sleepy one, to which she raised her attentive eyebrows. "Le's head to dreamland."

Continuing their way upstairs, both of them tried to hold in their chuckles. They were so tired, that even taking a single step up proved itself to be a challenge.

For a minute, Jeongmin offended her apartment on the fifth floor with all sorts of words in her head, cursing at the broken lift until Bangchan signalled her they had finally got there. 

Thank God.

The goodbye lasted a lot less than she thought it would. 'Sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite'  he said, caressing her tensed shoulder with his right hand. Then, a short smile flashed on his orange-like lips and, with a soft sleepy head move, he signalled her to get inside, whispering. 'I'm not leaving before you do.'  Despite his insistence, it took her a minute to disconnect her eyes from Bangchan's and enter her apartment.

However, once Jeongmin heard him close the door, she slowly half-opened hers to peek at Bangchan's apartment.

Leaning against the doorframe, she just stood there in silence, simply observing for a minute or two. Yes, she was exhausted but, for some reason, she didn't really want it to be over yet. When would Bangchan return from his hometown? It was his younger brother who lived in front of her, not him. Would he even come back? Why would he, right?

Yeah... he'll be gone before you know it.

A small pout occupied her mouth and, closing the door, she locked it from the inside in a slow movement.

It's just a guy anyway. There are a lot of guys in the world.

Plus, they're all the same.

No brain, only fists and hair. Oh, and some abs, from time to time.

Jeongmin found her brother lying on the bed when she tiptoed inside the bedroom, yet that didn't mean he was asleep. In fact, when she changed into her pyjama and approached to lie down, she realized he had his eyes slightly open, tiredly following her.

"Hey." She whispered as she slid her body to his side under the warm blankets, and he looked away. "You're mad at me, aren't you?"

"I guess so." Jeongin gulped, adjusting his position on the mattress.

"I bought you pizza, though." She smiled. "Free pizza."

"Tell me it's legal."

"Ha ha." Jeongmin rolled her eyes, reaching out her hand to gently comb Jeongin's brown hair. "I'd be extremely offended if I wasn't trying to patch things up with you right now."

"Such an opportunist, you are." He contained a chuckle, and so did she.

"Learned from the best."

Then, none of them responded, and Jeongmin pressed her lips into a thin line.

Late at night, in that empty room lighted by the moon outside, the two siblings stared at each other for a couple of silent minutes, observing and contemplating each other's similar soft features.

Ever since a fork was held against Jeongmin's neck behind their house, it was always the two of them against the entire world. Even after Jeongin was stabbed in the back and his motorbike was stolen, he never left her side. Yes, he could be mean to her sometimes. He could shout at her while blaming her for all that happened. He could say he wanted to leave, but, if he had to choose between his life or hers, Jeongin would always choose hers. 

"I love you, Jeongin." Tears hung on the edge of her eyes, and he pulled her to his chest the moment the first fell, embracing her in a loving hug. "You're terrible with words, but I know you love me too."

At that point, although Jeongmin wet his shirt with her hot tears, they both smiled silently, closing their sleepy eyes.

'Whatever it is, we got this.'

She had missed the warmness of his arms and the gentleness of his fingers in her hair so much. She had missed the sweetness of all that, the care and love and fondness present in that bond they had.

'Whatever it is.'

Jeongmin was only an inch away from dreamland when a loud bang caused them to jump.

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