h̶u̶g̶s̶ a̶n̶d̶ kisses

thirty-fourth; white lies don't hurt

„thanks again. really," byeol whispers when we reach the familiar house. „are you staying the night?" i ask looking out. „yes," she clears her throat, „i wanted to see her after not visiting for over a month."

i slowly nod, unbelting myself. „i'll take out the stroller." byeol also unbelts to get shiwang out of her seat. while i open the stroller, i hear byeol baby-talking to shiwang, as she slept through the whole ride.

„actually," byeol comes to the back, where i got the stroller out, „would it be okay if it stays in your car till tomorrow? it'll be inconvenient at her house."

i feel like a dad. i look at byeol and smile, „no doubt, yes. sure," i put it together again. „thank you, i'll pick it up tomorrow." i nod at her promise.

as i shut the trunk again i see her leaning forward, „thank you again. thank you so much for everything. i don't know where i would be without you and your help," i hear her halfway whispering in my ear as she has me in her embrace.

„i think i should forbid the word ‚thank you'." i also hold her close. she giggles as she lets go. „i'll try to not say it, no promises though," byeol mumbles the last part as i laugh.

„don't worry, i love to do this. beside it was my idea to get close to her. and you of course," i add, brushing shiwangs hair off of her face.

as i look up again i see byeol smiling at me, the same rosy cheeks from today morning on her cheeks.

and if she would be mine, i would kiss her right now.

„i should go," she zones in, hugging me for a quick moment again. „i'll see you tomorrow. thank you."

i gasp as she walks to the door, „you said it again!" i scream after her. byeol looks back, smiling and tilting her head apologetically.

i don't want to face the owner of the house, so i sit back in my car. i sit there for a while before i start going to jake's.

in the morning he asked me to help him pack the last things and to move some furnitures. i couldn't say no, because i am one of the reason he's still here and not in australia already.

i don't realize how close ina and jake live to each other until i park in his driveway fifteen minutes later.

i see jake already bringing plackets out, the garage opened, full with boxes.

„are you taking everything with you?" i shut the door behind me and walk up to him. as i dab him up, he smiles at me, shrugging.

„i don't know man, i've been thinking about leaving some things here," he moves back into the house with me. „didn't you want to sell this?"

„i thought about it, but maybe i need a place to live when i visit or so," he looks around the almost empty living room. „you know you can always crash at my place?" i raise my eyebrows as he laughs.

„yeah yeah, thanks bro." jake gets up, pointing a finger at me, „do you want to eat or drink something? you didn't come from home?" i shake my head in response.

„i was shopping," jake doesn't believe a thing. „i was! really, look at my bank account," i start unlocking my phone as he laughs, shoving my phone down. „i believe you. don't worry."

☾︎✵☽︎

i let out a big sigh when heeseung excuses himself to the restroom.

i thought i was tripping or going crazy when i smelled her scent lingering around. even if i was half asleep i could tell he just had spent time with her. i could tell they had touched each other.

i feel this ache in my chest again, but i shouldn't worry, shouldn't i?

i get taken back to reality by heeseungs phone ringing. it's an unknown number, but as soon as the caller stops ringing, it rings again. i take his phone and look at the display.

ina. in grey the name is written there. he's still seeing her?

the call stops ringing but starts ringing again.

must be important.

„hi ina—" i get cut off by a hectic voice, leaving me frozen on my spot. „heeseung, it's me byeol. i was wondering if i have left my phone on your front seat? i can't find it in my bag and it's turned off," byeol takes a deep breath after rapping it down.

„uh, hi, byeol," i clear my throat. feels weird to say out the name i used to love. „it's jake. heeseung is in the rest—" i get cut off by the beeping, meaning she had hung up on me.

i let out a silent laugh, looking at the black display. she was just as surprised as me. she also froze.

i lean back, my head resting on the back of the sofa. i stare at the ceiling.

i feel shiver on my arms, down my spine.

because her voice... is just as soft as two years ago.

„you okay?" heeseung comes from the back as i hand him his phone, „ina, well technically byeol called. she was asking about her phone. did she leave it in your car, she asked." i sit straight again as he looks at his phone.

heeseungs brows crash as he types on his phone.

my throat itches. i need to ask him.

i call out his name in a serious tone, making him look at me, „are you not telling me something?" i ask. i let it out. and just like a knot losing in my chest, i look at him.

heeseung doesn't frown anymore and looks at me, „actually, yeah." he sits next to me, looking down.

the knot knots my lungs tightly.

„i've been seeing ina again," he lets out. i frown, „what?" i thought you're seeing my... ex.

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

😜😜