I Couldn't Care Less

The Past

Luhan glanced at Sehun, unsure of whether or not the younger boy had heard the man since he didn't respond. He gave Sehun's hand a gentle squeeze, hoping to comfort him, even just a little.

"Then why does Sehun's mom have your photo?" Luhan asked when Sehun remained silent.

Luhan's stepfather answered, with eyes trained on Sehun, awaiting his reaction, "Because we were childhood friends."

Sehun, who had his eyes fixed on the table, finally looks up to find Luhan's stepfather still staring at him.

"Y-you k-knew her since you two were young?"

The man nodded. "We were best friends actually."

"She has never mentioned you," Sehun stated, bewildered as to why his mother would have a photo of this man, who claims to be her best friend, when she has never talked about him.

The man frowned. "I'd be surprised if she did."

"Why?"

Sehun could tell the man was not comfortable talking about the past, but he needed to know.

The man sighed. "Because I left without telling her. She probably hated me for doing that. We lost contact since."

"Why did you leave?"

Sehun's question seems to have struck a chord with the man because he shuffled in his seat, hands clasped tight around his coffee cup.

"Why did you leave?" Sehun repeated.

Not looking at Sehun, the man replied, "Because she chose him..."

"Him?"

"Your father."

Sehun's heart beats faster. "M-my father?"

"Yes -" He looked at Sehun "- I knew your father. Your mother and I met him while we were in college. The three of us did everything together. We were inseparable."

"What happened?"

The man frowned again and diverted his attention elsewhere, choosing to look out the window instead. Sehun desperately wanted to know, his heart only beating faster as the seconds tick by. Luhan had fallen silent throughout the exchange, taking it all in, hand still firmly gripping Sehun's.

"Your father and I.....fell in love with her."

Sehun's eyes widen, and it seemed as though Luhan had stopped breathing for a second.

"W-what?" Sehun sputtered.

The man turned to looked Sehun straight in the eye. "Your mother was my first love. I've loved her for the longest time, but I was too young and foolish to realize it – until your father came into the picture. Only when I felt this burning jealousy whenever she was laughing and smiling with your father did I realize that the feelings I harbored for her were more than just platonic. I wanted to tell her how I felt, but it was too late....She had already fallen for your father."

"Y-you loved her?"

"Yes. Very much. That's why it was extremely difficult for me to stay friends with the two of them when they started dating. I-I couldn't take it. Even though he made her happy, I couldn't stop myself from resenting your father, and that's when our friendship fell apart."

The man paused to stare at his cup, his expression completely crestfallen. The memory seemingly raw as he spoke. Sehun couldn't believe he was hearing this. Luhan's stepfather and his mother were best friends? He was in love with her but he never told her? Then his father came into the picture and that changed everything. His mother falling for his father instead, consequently ending their friendship?