𝙁𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙚 || 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙣

32. The Untold Truth

A/N:
Your author finally could wrote something for you 🥹
Happy Reading 🌸

Jihoon

"It's the truth, Jihoonie. Riha was one of my best friends along with Jun and Won," he begins, his voice trembling slightly with each word as he clutches my hands for support. I silently encourage him, nodding to show that I'm listening and understanding. His eyes flicker towards mine, seeking any kind of reaction.

He hangs his head low, hiding it under his unruly hair as he continues. "In our first year of university, she suddenly confessed her feelings to me, and I didn't know how to respond. I didn't want to lose a good friend, so I asked her to give me some time to think about it. She didn't say anything after that, just nodded to herself before she walked away that day."

I don't know what to think, not yet as the words fall out of his lips. I try to listen to his every breath that feels louder than usual, maybe it's the close proximity that we're sitting on the couch, side by side, facing each other as if nothing else matters except the person in front of us. He holds me steady with only his gaze as he continues, "Nothing changed after that. We remained friends, the three of us hanging out together like always. Then Minghao joined our group, and I nearly forgot about her confession because, truthfully, we never had anything between us in that way."

"Then, all of a sudden, she showed up at my home unannounced on a weekend, two months after her confession. My whole family was acting strangely as we had breakfast together, and when she finally left, Chan gave me the cold shoulder while my parents looked deeply disappointed. I tried to talk to them, only to discover that I had supposedly been in a two-year-long relationship with Riha, and I hadn’t even been aware of it." He chuckles sadly at the memory, shaking his head lazily. I can't help but feel a pang of sadness for him, my hands clutching his palms involuntarily, as if to offer some small measure of comfort.

He softly pats my hand, a small smile adorning his lips, and yet that small gesture makes my heart race, hammering against my ribcage, and I love this feeling. His hand reaches up to my hair, tenderly brushing away a loose strand, and I can't help but lean into his touch as my skin burns with every delicate brush of his fingertips. "I tried every way to talk to her, but she avoided me. When I finally managed to confront her, I found out that she had told the same story to my friends. By the time I confronted her, she begged me to act for a month," he continued, the sadness in his eyes genuine and palpable.

"I hated that," he began, his voice trembling with anguish. "I never wanted to act like that, especially not in front of my parents and my friends. I was at a loss, having no idea what her motive was for spewing all that nonsense to my parents and my brother. I hated every moment of it," he continued, his eyes welling up with tears. In that moment, I felt utterly helpless, unable to offer any solace or assistance.

"But trust me, it didn't take long to grasp her true intentions," he sighed, his tone now tinged with bitter clarity. "She showed up at my home again, only this time she brought her parents along. Her father, just like mine, is a businessman, and he was keen on sealing a significant deal with my dad. However, when he broached the topic, my dad wounded his pride by asserting that he doesn't mix personal and professional matters," he recounted, a scoff escaping his lips. I couldn't help but smile at the hint of satisfaction in his voice, and he seemed genuinely pleased with the reaction his story elicited from me.

"I thought that was enough, and I no longer would be needed, but she threatened me, saying she'd kill herself if I told the truth to anyone. I couldn’t take such a thing lightly, so I gave in to her demands. But Won was quick to suspect something, and he started to dig deeper into the situation.To avoid his scrutiny, I resorted to lying—a lot of lies, and once I started, I couldn’t seem to stop," he confessed, his breath ragged and tears spilling down his pretty cheeks. Without thinking, my hand involuntarily reached out, wiping away the thick streaks of tears from his cheeks. He leaned into the touch but stayed silent, savoring every moment of the small comfort.

"But maybe God was fed up with my lies and decided to intervene when a senior caught her red-handed, kissing another guy in a studio. She was labeled a cheater, and Jun hated her, thinking she had broken my heart. Well, technically she did, but that was as a friend, and I no longer needed to act. However, I didn’t want to make her look bad than that, so I never told anyone what she had done," he finished with a smile, his eyes curving into crescents as a lone tear rolled down his chin.

Inside me, there is an overwhelming urge to pull him into a tight embrace and reassure him that he isn't alone, that I'm here with him through all his struggles and pain. The emotion is so powerful; I want to be his source of comfort and strength. But the question that held me back and caused me to hesitate was, who am I to stand beside him in his time of need? What right do I have to assume that I could be the anchor he so desperately needs, and will my presence truly make a difference?

"Why are you telling me this since you never told anyone about it?" I ask, suddenly feeling brave for some unknown reason.

"Isn't it obvious, Jihoonie?"