inked ties | ahn soo ho x fem! reader ✔

27 | Friends Are Essential

ARTICLE TITLE: Friends Are Essential

DRAFTED TEXT: For some people, blood is thicker than water. For me, friendship is thicker than both. In some situations, friends will be there to pick you up rather than family. For me, that's more often than not. I don't know how I wouldn't have survived through the past few months if I hadn't had my best friend.

". . . and On Jo ended up moving schools, too, recently. But we still hang out from time to time.'' Y/n said as she sipped on her drink. ''How are your new friends?''

Si Eun stirred his drink with his straw. His face was just as plain as usual. The two were sitting in the cafe they used to come to with Soo Ho, Young Yi and Bum Seok. They would often come here, sit on the same table and the exact same seats. Every time, it felt emtpy. Every time, she would imagine the rest of the seats being filled by their other friends. But that was hard when one was a scumbag, another MIA and a third in a coma.

Y/n banished the thoughts from her head, focusing on Si Eun as he spoke.

''We aren't exactly friends.''

Y/n sighed. ''Si Eun, you have to make some friends at your school. Besides, from what you've told me, they all sound nice.''

''I don't need anymore friends. You and Soo Ho are enough.''

Y/n pursed her lips. ''It doesn't hurt to give them a chance, though.''

In the time Soo Ho had been in a coma, Y/n and Si Eun didn't really have anyone else to rely on but each other. They would sometimes have study sessions at his house or at a cafe, then grab a drink. It was usually just Y/n talking, but since Si Eun had never ran away, Y/n thought he enjoyed the hang outs, too. Especially since he himself had started inviting her out at some point.

It was starting to get late, so both of them threw their cups away and picked up their backpacks. Y/n still sported her Byoksan High School uniform. It was still weird to see Si Eun with another one.

The two walked mostly in silence. It was a little routine — they would finish their drinks and then Si Eun would walk her home if its dark outside. They didn't talk much on the walks, but it was nice.

She wished Soo Ho was there.

They didn't talk about Soo Ho often. Sometimes, one of them would mention him and silence would fall between them. It wasn't awkward, but it was obvious how much both of them missed him. They never went to the hospital together, either, nor have they ever ran into each other. Y/n found it odd, but she didn't complain. She couldn't bare being there with someone aside from Mrs. Ahn.

As they made it to her building, Si Eun came to a stop. His eyes were still rather neutral, but there was just the faintest hint of a smile on his face. Y/n furrowed her eyebrows, but didn't mention it.

He opened his mouth, his lips as chapped as usual. ''Thank you . . . for being there for me. For . . . being my friend.''

Y/n gave him a tight-lipped smile. ''Of course, Si Eun. I'm glad we're friends, too.''

''I liked having friends. It wasn't so bad. Maybe . . . I'll give them a chance.'' Si Eun wasn't looking at her. It almost felt like he was talking to himself, so she didn't say anything.

She pulled him into a hug instead. It took him a moment to react, but he eventually returned it, rather awkwardly. Y/n appreciated it regardless. ''Just don't forget me when you guys become besties.''

''I wouldn't.'' He said it rather monotonely, but Y/n knew he meant it.

And so their lives went on. School, hospital, the cafe, Si Eun's house from time to time. And then she recieved a call that Soo Ho's condition had worsened, and an hour later a call that Si Eun had been hit by a truck, and she felt like she was going to die.