Stuck With You// Kim Seungmin

15

Minju Pov

This year's picnic is nice.

Feeling a bit nostalgic, I found myself drawn to the beauty of the sunset. I sat down on a nearby bench, taking in the vibrant hues painting the sky. Lost in my thoughts, I was surprised when Chan Oppa approached and sat down beside me.

"Hey, Minju," he said softly, his voice breaking the tranquility of the moment.

I turned to him, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in my eyes. Chan Oppa looked sincere, his expression open and vulnerable.

"I... I wanted to talk to you," he continued, his words hesitant. "I miss us, Minju. I miss our friendship."

His words caught me off guard, stirring a whirlwind of emotions inside me. I had spent so long trying to bury my feelings of hurt and disappointment, but here was Chan Oppa, reaching out to me.

"I know things have been awkward between us," he went on, his tone earnest. "And I'm sorry for that. I never wanted to hurt you."

His apology touched something deep inside me, softening my defenses. Despite everything, Chan Oppa was still the caring, compassionate person I had always known.

"I miss us too, Chan Oppa," I admitted, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "I want things to go back to the way they were."

A small smile tugged at Chan Oppa's lips, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

"Me too, Minju," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "Let's put the past behind us and start fresh, okay?"

I nodded, a sense of relief flooding through me. As we sat there, side by side, watching the sun dip below the horizon, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Chan Oppa's words had put me at ease, and I was grateful to know that we could go back to being the friends we always were.

................................................................................................................................................................

When we pulled up in front of our house after the picnic, an unfamiliar man stood on the sidewalk, glaring at us. My heart sank when I saw Jisung freeze beside me-he recognized the man immediately. It was his dad, and he looked furious.

Jisung took a hesitant step forward, trying to reason with his dad. "Dad, I can explain-" But his dad cut him off, his face red with anger. Without warning, he grabbed Jisung by the collar and yanked him forward.

The rest of us were stunned into silence. My brother Minho Oppa reacted first, stepping in between Jisung and his dad. "Let him go!" Minho Oppa's voice was firm and commanding, his protective instincts kicking in.

Dad quickly joined the fray, trying to mediate. "Let's talk about this calmly," he said, trying to diffuse the situation.

Meanwhile, Mom grabbed my arm and whispered, "Take Jisung upstairs. Let the adults handle this." I nodded, knowing it was the best course of action.

Minho Oppa followed us, making sure Jisung's dad didn't cause any more trouble. Once we were safely inside the house, I led Jisung and Minho Oppa upstairs, my heart racing.

As we climbed the stairs, Minho Oppa shot me a concerned look. "Are you okay?" he asked Jisung, keeping an eye out for any signs of distress.

Jisung nodded weakly, still shaken by the confrontation. "Thanks, hyung," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

As we waited anxiously upstairs, the muffled voices of the adults floated up from the living room below. The tension was palpable, and I exchanged worried glances with Jisung and Minho Oppa.