Til' Midnight || Yoo Youngjae

-1-

11:30pm

I don't actually remember what we were celebrating. Just that the whole group was together. Just that her smile was brighter than I'd ever seen it.

But then again every day I saw it, it seemed brighter than before.

That was her charm. That was why I loved her.

We ate and laughed. She slapped Yongguk's arm a few times because of silly jokes. Junhong stole pieces of meat from her plate without her knowing. And we all laughed at the drunken Himchan who kept falling into me trying to kiss my cheek.

"I have to go."

Why she was leaving I couldn't decide. She stood walking around the table giving everybody a back hug and a kiss on the cheek.

She wrapped her arms around Daehyun's neck and pressed her lips to his cheek. I hated the dimpled smile he gave. I clenched my fists under the table as I saw him grab onto her arms. He refused to let her go and kissed her cheek.

"Dae!"

He stood pulling her into his arms and holding her tight and kissed the top of her head.

Just let her go

Stop touching her

Jun... Please stop smiling at him

It's not funny

It's not cute

It went on like this for a long time. To me it felt like they were standing for hours. Daehyun looked over his shoulder to me. The only one who had yet to be hugged. And he smiled.

That bastard!

I could feel my face heat and clenched my teeth. He was being like this in purpose.

I stood storming out of the building. I shoved past people. Inside I was screaming obscenities toward Daehyun. God forgive me for these thoughts but being down here hurts. It changes you. It makes you angry.

"Youngjae! Youngjae!"

Her voice screamed after me

I just continued to walk

"Jae!" Arms wrapped around my torso and I could feel her chest heave against my back.

She'd been running after me

"What's wrong with you?"

"Me? What's wrong with me!?" I turned holding her at an arms length.

Her cheeks were pink and her face was startled.

"Why does he do that?" I demanded, "why does he always have to get in the way!? Why do you like him so much? Why don't you like me?"

"What are you talking about Jae? Of course I like you!"

"Not the way I want you to." My shoulders slouched and I could feel my throat tighten.

"What-"

"I love you Jun. I'm in love with you and I have been since the day I first saw you. I've been afraid to tell you because... Well look at you! You're perfect and I'm... Well look at me. I'm terrible at being a human being. With you i feel like I can't do anything right. And.... It's obvious you love him.. And not me." Tears started falling down my cheeks and I looked at her.

"J-Jae" she stuttered. "I-"

The ding of a clock sounded in the distance

Midnight

I was too late

She was frozen in time and I could feel my heart shatter into a million pieces. I'd officially lost her forever.