Reputation

Chapter 19 - Realised?

Jeonghan POV:

After the crazy night yesterday, Joshua and I decided to head to Scoups' house to chill. As we were walking there, I saw Ara getting into a cab with the same guy from yesterday.

Curiosity got the best of me. When we were playing games, I casually asked, "Scoups, where's Ara?"

"Oh, she went out on a date," he replied.

"And you let her?" I asked, trying to mask my surprise.

"I can only protect her, not restrict her, Han," he said, giving me a curious look. "Why?"

"Just wanted to disturb her as usual," I replied, attempting to sound nonchalant.

"Dude, if you like her, you should just tell her, you know," Joshua chimed in with a smirk.

"What? I don't like her, I just like teasing her," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, right. You think I didn't see when you two almost kissed at the beach house?" Scoups said, laughing.

I felt my face heat up. "That was nothing. Just in the moment, you know?"

"Sure, whatever you say, Han," Joshua said, shaking his head. "But maybe you should think about why you're so bothered by her going on a date."

I tried to focus back on the game, but their words stuck with me. Maybe they were right. Maybe it was time to stop pretending and figure out what I really wanted.

Ara POV:

As I walked through the door, I found Jeonghan and the boys lounging around the living room, deep in their own world of banter and gaming. They looked up as I entered, and I could feel their curious gazes on me.

"Hey, Ara, how was your date?" Scoups asked casually, though I sensed a hint of amusement in his voice.

I shrugged, trying to brush off the strange feeling that had lingered since last night. "It was fine," I replied vaguely, dropping my bag onto the couch. I didn't want to delve into details right now.

Jeonghan glanced at me from across the room, his expression unreadable. "Everything okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

"Yeah, just thinking," I said, forcing a smile. "Anyway, what did I miss here?"

Joshua jumped in with exaggerated enthusiasm, launching into a detailed account of their gaming session.

After the boys had left and the house settled into a quiet lull, I retreated to my room and sank onto my bed, letting my thoughts drift. The events of the past few days replayed in my mind like scenes from a movie, each frame revealing a different emotion.

As I stared at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the memory of Wonwoo's smile and the warmth of his hand in mine. It was nostalgic, almost like revisiting a chapter of my life that I had left behind. But beneath the surface, amidst the fluttering of those old middle school butterflies, there was a distinct feeling of something missing.

As the house quieted down and the night settled in, I found myself lost in thoughts that seemed to swirl endlessly. It was a rare moment of introspection, one where I couldn't ignore the tangled mess of emotions within me.

Just as I was drifting deeper into contemplation, Scoups quietly entered my room. His presence alone was comforting, a reminder that amidst all the complexities of life, there was someone who understood me like no other.

He sat down beside me on the bed, his expression a mix of concern and familiarity. "You seem lost in thought. Everything okay, Ara?" he asked, his tone gentle yet teasing.

I sighed, trying to find the right words to express what I was feeling. "I don't know, Scoups. Everything with Wonwoo... it was nice, but something felt off," I admitted, turning to look at him.

He raised an eyebrow playfully. "Thinking about someone else, perhaps?" he teased, a knowing smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help but smile. Scoups always had a way of getting to the heart of things. "Maybe," I said vaguely, not wanting to admit too much.

He chuckled softly. "You know, sometimes what feels comfortable isn't necessarily what feels right," he said sagely. "Do you think it's because of Jeonghan?"

I hesitated for a moment, surprised that Scoups had picked up on it. "Maybe," I admitted quietly. "There's just this... connection with him that I can't quite ignore. It's like we understand each other in a way that's hard to explain."

Scoups grinned knowingly, leaning back against my pillows. "Ara, you know I've always thought there was something between you two. Maybe it's time to explore that," he suggested, his tone teasing yet sincere.

I nodded slowly, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as I considered his words. "Thanks, Scoups," I said sincerely, grateful for his insight.

"Anytime, little sis," he replied, ruffling my hair affectionately before getting up to leave. "Just follow your heart."

As Scoups turned to leave, I couldn't resist teasing him a bit, knowing he was always the cool, collected one when it came to advice.

"Oh, by the way," I called out mischievously, catching him mid-stride. "Speaking of following hearts, how's it going with you and Jiyeon?"

He paused, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. "What are you talking about?" he replied, attempting to feign innocence.

I raised an eyebrow, mirroring his teasing tone from earlier. "Oh, come on, Scoups. It's written all over your face whenever she's around," I teased, enjoying the role reversal.

He chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, maybe I... um, we'll see," he admitted sheepishly.

I grinned, knowing I'd hit a nerve. "Uh-huh, sure. Just remember, big bro, advice goes both ways," I said with a wink, reminding him of his own words of wisdom.

Scoups rolled his eyes playfully, unable to hide his amusement. "Got it, Ara. I'll keep that in mind," he said before finally leaving me to ponder the swirling thoughts about Jeonghan and my uncertain heart.