The Best Friend Pact || Jungwon || 18+

19. Interruptions and Confessions

"Jungwon?" I asked. "What are you doing here?"

"You are surprised?" Jay folded his arms, taking a step away from us.

"I... I followed you." Jungwon looked to the ground, before looking back at me. "Are you okay? That car..."

"I am fine." I took a step away from him, straightening out my shirt. "I thought you were on a date."

"Can we go home and talk?" His eyes are trained on the ground, not looking at Jay or me. Jay sighed and nodded.

"Go on. Be careful. I'll see you guys later." He waved as he turned back the way we had come.

"Bye, Jay."

"Thanks, Jay." Jungwon said before pulling me through the crosswalk toward our apartment.

He doesn't say a word the entire walk back. I don't either. I am not sure where to begin. Why was he following me? For how long? Should I be mad about that? Creeped out, maybe? But I wasn't. It was rather reassuring.

"You and Jay?" He asked the minute we were through the door and into the apartment. "I thought you said there was nothing there."

"That's the first thing you say?"

"You could have had any of the people from the bowling alley take you home, but Jay?"

"We wanted ice cream..." I started, but folded my arms. "Wait a minute. You were at the bowling alley?"

"I..."

"Is that where you took your date? I didn't see you."

"No." Jungwon shook his head. "I didn't have a date."

"But earlier..."

"I lied. I thought you would have one this weekend, so I pretended. And once I saw you weren't dressed, it was too late, I had to go through with my lie." Jungwon sat on the couch. "I sat outside in my car for a while and was going to come back up, but then you left. I know I shouldn't have followed you, but..."

I waited for him to finish that sentence. When it was obvious that he wasn't going to, I walked over and sat beside him.

"But what?"

"I wanted to see who you picked over me." My heart shattered in my chest at the look of prue vulnerability on his face.

"It was never..."

"It is how it felt, Nari." He put his head in his hands. "This has sucked so bad. I can't sleep in my own bed anymore. I lay awake thinking about what you are doing. Do you know how many times I have gotten up and gone to your door?"

"Why didn't you come in?"

"Because you said we had to go back to how it was before and I wanted to respect that." He ran a hand over the back of his neck. "I wanted to be fine with you going out. And when I saw it was just Sunoo and the others, I was fine."

"Then why did you stay?" I asked.

"To make sure you made it home all right." He said. "And then you left with Jay..."

"We were just the only two that wanted ice cream. You could have come with us."

"I don't like how seeing you with him made me feel."

"What do you mean?"

"I know I wasn't supposed to and I know it is against the rules of our pact," He turned toward me, now making eye contact. "Nari, I think I have fallen in love you."

I went still. What did he say? This couldn't be real, this had to be a dream. Would it look weird if I pinched myself right now?

"I am sorry." Jungwon continued after my silence. "I know I shouldn't have and I don't even know when I did. Maybe I always have. And I know we said it would ruin our friendship..."

"You said that." I corrected and he nodded.

"Fine, I said it would ruin our friendship, but I can't sit and watch you go out with other guys." He was still making intense eye contact. "Not after knowing what it feels like to be with you.That is something that is just for me."

"What?" I stand up, my cheeks on fire now. What was he saying? "What is your endgame here, Jungwon?"

"To be with you." He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me.

"To be friends with benefits again?" I asked, needing confirmation of what he was saying.

"No." He said. "I want to be your boyfriend."

I turned around in his arms, unable to keep from smiling.

"Really?"

"If you will have me."

"Of course." I nodded, leaning in and kissing him softly. "I love you, Jungwon."

Jungwon smiled widely, kissing me again.

"Let's go tell everyone!" He pulled me toward the door and I pulled back, laughing.

"Jungwon, it's late. We can't do that." I said, stopping him. "We can tell them tomorrow."

"My grandmother and sister are going to be thrilled." He said, pulling me against him, wrapping his arms around me. "They've wanted this for a long time."

"I am glad you are happy." I nodded, kissing him. "But what happens if we break up? Wasn't that your concern at the beginning?"

"I think we are too far past that now. Like you said, we have to move forward. We will find a way to deal with that if that time comes." He kissed my forehead and smirked. "But for now..."

"Oh!" I gasped as he picked me up.

"I want to celebrate."

I laughed as he walked into my bedroom, laying me down on my bed, gently. He came above me, kissing me softly before making light kisses down my neck. I don't think he had even been this gentle before.

"I love you, Nari." He whispered, before coming back to my lips. "I don't think I will ever get tired of saying that."

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A/N: This is not the last chapter of this book! As of right now, it will have about 30 chapters, plus an epilogue and several special episodes. Those episodes will include Jungwon's POV of some favorite chapters, a Christmas chapter, a New Year chapter and possibly a Valentine's Day Chapter.