Rivals To Romantics

Jealousy..

Minho's pov..

The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the school courtyard. We decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and have lunch outside. We found a cozy spot under a large oak tree, where we could enjoy the shade and the soft breeze. Hyunjin and Felix, ever the affectionate couple, were sitting close, sharing a bento box Felix had lovingly prepared.

I sprawled out on the grass with Jisung and Wooyung, laughing and talking about our classes. Despite my efforts to feel more comfortable with Wooyung around, there was still a tiny knot of insecurity in my chest that I couldn’t quite shake off.

As the lunch period wore on, Jisung and Wooyung started reminiscing about their elementary school days. I watched as they laughed over shared memories, feeling a pang of envy. It wasn't until Jisung pulled out an old, battered notebook from his bag that my unease began to grow.

“Hey, Wooyung, remember this?” Jisung asked, holding up the notebook.

Wooyung’s eyes lit up. “No way! Is that our old comic book?”

Jisung nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! I found it while cleaning my room last weekend. We made some pretty hilarious stuff in here.”

They opened the notebook, heads close together, and started flipping through the pages, laughing at their childhood drawings and stories. I felt like an outsider looking in, and my jealousy started to bubble up.

“Look at this one,” Jisung said, pointing at a particularly messy page. “We really thought we were artistic geniuses back then.”

Wooyung laughed, nudging Jisung playfully. “Hey, our comic about the superhero hamsters was ahead of its time.”

My stomach twisted. I could see how happy Jisung was, and it wasn’t that I begrudged him that happiness—I just wanted to be a part of it. I needed to be a part of it.

Just then, Jisung and Wooyung’s playful banter took a turn. Wooyung leaned in closer to Jisung, whispering something in his ear. Jisung’s eyes widened, and he burst out laughing, but to me, it looked like something much more intimate. My heart sank, and for a moment, I felt like I was losing my best friend.

Hyunjin, always perceptive, noticed the change in my expression. He nudged Felix, who looked up from their shared lunch and followed Hyunjin’s gaze.

Felix leaned over to me, offering a soft smile. “You okay, Minho?”

I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... thinking.”

Felix nodded, understanding. “You know, it’s normal to feel a bit jealous. But Jisung really values you. Maybe you just need to remind him of that.”

I sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s just... hard.”

Hyunjin chimed in. “Why don’t you plan something special? Something that reminds him of why you two are such great friends. It doesn’t have to be grand—just meaningful.”

My eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea. Thanks, guys.”

With renewed determination, I started brainstorming. I wanted to do something that would not only remind Jisung of our bond but also show Wooyung that I wasn’t going to give up on my best friend so easily.

The next day, I approached Jisung with a nervous but hopeful smile. “Hey, Sungie, do you have any plans after school today?”

Jisung looked up from his locker, surprised. “Not really, why?”

“I was thinking we could hang out, just the two of us. Maybe go to that ice cream place we used to go to all the time?”

Jisung’s face broke into a wide grin. “That sounds awesome! It’s been ages since we’ve done that.”

I felt a surge of relief and excitement. “Great! Meet me at the front gate after school?”

“Absolutely!” Jisung said, closing his locker and giving me a thumbs up.

The rest of the day passed in a blur for me. I was filled with anticipation and a little bit of nervousness. When the final bell rang, I practically sprinted to the front gate, where Jisung was already waiting, bouncing on his toes with excitement.

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Enjoy your day..