Falling For The Park Brothers' Sister ⚊ Nishimura Riki

Chapter Forty

Jungwon's point of view

The Park’s house had grown quieter lately. The twins, Jay and Sunghoon, had been spending more time at the gym with Ni-ki, leaving me feeling like an outsider.

It wasn’t just the physical presence of Ni-ki that bothered me, but the bond he seemed to have with them now.

I found myself increasingly envious, not of Ni-ki, but of the twins for their closeness to him.

Every time I saw them together, whether at the gym or around the house, it reminded me of how things had changed. I knew Ni-ki was still upset with me for leaving abruptly before, and while I was ready to make amends, the rift felt wider than ever.

It was a crisp afternoon when I found myself in a coffee shop with Sunoo, catching up after a long time. We’d decided to meet for a study session, but it was clear we needed to talk about more than just textbooks.

“So, how’s everything going with you?” Sunoo asked, stirring his coffee. “I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit distant lately. Anything on your mind?”

I sighed, looking out the window at the bustling street. “It’s just… seeing Ni-ki with Jay and Sunghoon. It’s hard. I know it sounds petty, but it feels like they’ve become closer to him, and I’m kind of left out.”

Sunoo raised an eyebrow. “You’re feeling left out because of Ni-ki?”

“Not exactly,” I replied. “It’s more like I’m jealous of how easily they’ve connected with him. Ni-ki was a big part of my life before. We went through a lot together, and he helped me when I was in a tough spot. Now, seeing them all together makes me feel like I’m not part of that world anymore.”

Sunoo looked thoughtful. “You know, you’ve never really told me much about your history with Ni-ki. What happened?”

I hesitated, but Sunoo’s earnest curiosity made me decide to share. “It was back in elementary, I was being bullied, and one day, Ni-ki stepped in. He didn’t even know me then. I was just this kid being pushed around. But he came to my rescue, stood up to those bullies, and even though we didn’t talk much afterwards, it left a mark on me.”

Sunoo’s eyes widened. “Really? I had no idea.”

“Yeah,” I continued, my voice growing softer. “I was really grateful to him, but I didn’t get a chance to thank him properly back then. So when we met again in middle school, I reached out to him. We became friends, and he’s always been someone I looked up to. I admired his strength and how he was always there for others.”

“Wow,” Sunoo said, his tone reflecting a mix of surprise and understanding. “That’s quite a story. No wonder you’re feeling so conflicted.”

“I guess,” I said, nodding. “I never admitted to anyone how much that moment meant to me. But now, seeing Ni-ki grow closer to Jay and Sunghoon, it’s hard. I want to fix things, to show him that I’m still here and that I want to make up for leaving him before. But it feels like I’m just a spectator now.”

Sunoo leaned forward, his expression supportive. “It sounds like you have a lot of history with Ni-ki that goes beyond just being friends. Maybe the best way to approach this is to have an honest conversation with him. Show him that you care and that you’re willing to make things right.”

“I want to,” I said, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “But it’s tough. Ni-ki’s been hurt, and I know I can’t just walk back into his life without acknowledging that. I need to find the right way to do it.”