APRICATE ; p.sunghoon

✤ | 13 - heartbreak caused by a one-sided love

AERA'S POV

a loud sound invaded my ears, forcing me to wake up from my sleep. i quickly identified the sound as the ringing of my own phone as i picked up the call.

"aera-ya" jeemin's quiet mumble travelled through my ears.

"hmm? are you okay?" i asked my best friend, surprised that she was calling me so early in the morning.

"heeseung... he has a girlfriend..." as soon as the words left her mouth, jeemin broke down, loud sobs being heard from the other side of the call.

"wait, what?!" all the haziness of my mind that was caused by sleep were suddenly replaced by a sense of sympathy and worry. "are... are you sure?"

"i'm sure, aera. i heard him talking to a girl on the phone yesterday evening when we were still in jeju. he... he said 'i love you' and 'miss you more, babe'. i heard it aera. i heard it myself." her sobs grew louder as she failed to control her emotions.

"oh, jee..." i trailed off, not knowing what to say that would comfort her.

THIRD PERSON POV

jeemin was four years younger than heeseung, yet her feelings for him were unbelievably strong. after jeemin's mom had requested him, heeseung had started tutoring her when she was in sixth grade, meaning, she was only twelve and he was sixteen. at first, something that was a simple playful crush turned into something she adored by heart; love. she had started to wonder about his favourite ice cream flavor, or what his favourite song was. she imagined how it would feel to be his girl, the feeling of being loved by him. no matter how much she tried to move on from her love interest of seven years, she was unable to do so. and at point, she started to wonder if she even wanted to forget him.

however, according to heeseung, jeemin was like his little sister. he loved to tease her and ruffle her hair. he never let anyone speak anything bad about her or belittle her. but he also loved to mention how she was just like yunah to him.

and even after waiting and hoping for years, when jeemin got to know that the man who was her safe place, the man who made her feel important and gave her more attention than her own parents had ever given to her, had a different person who he seeked comfort from, she was devastated. she felt like dying, because heeseung was who made her truly want to live.

no matter how much aera tried her best to comfort her best friend and reassure her that she would find someone better than him, it didn't prove to be of any use.

jeemin had cut the call an hour later, claiming that she just needed some time alone. aera sighed, feeling bad for her best friend. she made a mental note to herself to check up on jeemin a few hours later before she got up and started getting ready.

today, aera and sunghoon had planned to go to an aquarium together and then go watch a newly released movie at the cinema hall later.

she took a shower and wore a sleek white coloured dress that hugged her curves and reached until her mid thighs. combing through her hair and pulling it into a polished bun, she wore a simple locket around her neck, pairing it with some small diamond earrings and sprayed some perfume before slipping the white heels onto her feet. she picked a dior purse from her closet, putting the strap of the bag over her shoulder.

as she was about to reach for her phone to inform sunghoon that she was ready, a car honked outside her family's mansion.

aera opened the curtains of her window, taking a peek at the driveway. a smile made its way onto her face as her eyes fell over sunghoon's personal car. she made her way downstairs and went outside.

as soon as she went near the driveway, she saw sunghoon talking on the phone, leaning on his car.

when his eyes met hers, he gave a soft smile, reaching over to open the car door for her before he himself got inside the car.

"yes, do what i said earlier. i'll hang up, i'm busy now. and don't call me unless something extremely urgent comes up." sunghoon said to the person on the other side of the phone, who aera assumed was gyuvin, before he hung up and greeted her.

"sorry, aera. there were some important business matters that needed to be sort out." sunghoon said as he started driving, his right hand on the steering wheel.

"oh no, it's okay. i understand." aera replied smiling. "we're going to the aquarium first, right? you know, i really really loved visiting aquariums of different countries since i was a kid. i would always compare the fishes there and then point out the most unique one... oh, and making up stories about their appearances was my absolute favourite." she spoke, her voice buzzing with enthusiasm.

sunghoon nodded to her earlier question before raising an eyebrow at her somewhat weird childhood hobbies. "what can i even expect from you?" he said with a soft smile.

"hey!" sunghoon couldn't help but chuckle at aera's complain, as she glared at him.

in this way, the car ride to the aquarium went on, consisting of aera sharing her habits with sunghoon, before they reached at their destination.

the pair got out of the car as sunghoon held aera's hand gently, guiding her through the crowds of people present there.

"i would have rented this place for today, but your brother said that watching the other families and their kids having fun together was also one of the main reasons you liked going to aquariums. so... i just decided not to." sunghoon spoke after they had gotten their tickets from the counter.

aera nodded before a teasing smirk made its way onto her lips, "park sunghoon... are you trying to impress me by digging out information about me from my brother?"

sunghoon scoffed, a smile on his face, as he said, "no, aera. don't think about it too much."

aera looked at him playfully, "well okay then park, whatever helps you sleep at night i guess."

× author's note: started writing after lostwriterswrite helped me to motivate myself, hshshs thanks smiley :heart eyes:

vote and comment if you enjoyed reading !!

with lots of love, reen <3