Love in the Air

Chapter 12

*back to Rigi point of view*
My alarm blares and my eyes struggle to open. Then I remember the kiss. I hug my pillow and smile, both out of happiness and embarrassment.
He smiled... That means he liked it right? Did he tell the boys? What did they say? Were they mad at him?
I decide to send him a quick text asking him if he told the other guys before I finally crawl out of bed and start getting ready for school. I throw on a random outfit and walk out the door. When I step outside, I see Jisang standing at the gate. "Are you feeling better?" he asks.
"Yeah, I had some little angels watch over me yesterday," I reply.
"That's good to hear. You ready?"
"Yup." We head off toward school and as we pass the boys house I swear I see the blinds move. I can't see what it was so I try not to read into it. The day goes by slowly and I just want to go home. I finally look at my phone around lunch time and see Wonsik's texts.
"Hyuk saw us. He seemed upset but I think he's a little better now. I told Taekwoon and he took it fairly well I think. Hongbin punched me but he's cooled down since then. Don't worry about me. Hakyeon and Jaehwan are helping me work it out with them and it seems like things are going to be okay. Text me when you get back from school okay?"
My heart sinks and he thought of sweet Sanghyuk having to watch me kiss Wonsik. I feel horrible for what I've done but I know it's too late now and I don't want Wonsik to worry about me feeling bad either. "Okay. I want to talk to them too and hopefully help with things out. Thank you for always being considerate. I'll see you when I get home."
The more I think about it, the more I realize I liked Wonsik almost instantly. He was always the one I felt most comfortable with and he always took such great care of me. Though it took me a long time to realize it, I like him a lot and I just want to be with him all the time. I want to hug him and never let him go.
"Rigi?" The sound of Aetae's voice brings me back to reality.
"Huh? What?" I stammer.
"It's... time to go to class. Are you okay? You seem really out of it," she says.
"Yeah yeah, I'm fine. Sorry," I reply.
"It's fine. See you guys later," she says as she takes off.
"Let's go," Jisang says as we head in the opposite direction.
I can't focus in the rest of my classes since I'm so caught up in what happened between the boys.
I hope Hongbin didn't punch Wonsik too hard.... I hope Hyuk is okay. Did Taekwoon really take it well? Or is he just too reserved to talk about how he really feels?
The thoughts rush through my head and by the time school ends, I feel like a mindless zombie. I waddle out of school still lost in thought and don't even realize Jisang is following close behind. When we're nearing his house, he finally speaks, "Rigi, are you sure you're okay? Did something happen?"
"What? Oh sorry, yeah I'm fine. I'm just really deep in thought. It's nothing important it's just... distracting, I guess."
"Okay. Do you want me to walk you home?"
I instantly think about the boys and don't want to add to the flame. "Uhh no it's fine, you shouldn't have to walk that much more. You should get home to your family quickly anyway," I reply trying to sound nonchalant.
"Okay... Well bye then. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye," I wave happily for his sake but I'm feeling so lost inside. I quicken my pace and get home very quickly. As soon as I enter my hope and throw my stuff on the bed, I text Wonsik and ask him if I should go over and talk to them right now.
"No. Now's not a good time."
My stomach drops at the frank answer. "What's wrong?" I ask.
"It's nothing. Meet me at the boba place in an hour okay?"
"Okay."
I sigh and try to do some homework while I wait for this long hour to pass. I barely get any done despite the fact that this single hour feels like a century. I quickly go to the shop and find Wonsik sitting at one of the tables with his drink in front of him and another across the table from him. He has his hands on his drink and is hanging his head. I sit down across from him without a word. He looks up and gives me a pained smile.
"What's wrong oppa?" I ask, very concerned.
"Taekwoon finally exploded," he replies simply.
"I'm sorry... I-"
"Don't. It's not your fault. None of us meant for this to happen."
"What happened?" I ask.
"Well he yelled for a while. I let him but Hakyeon and Jaehwan were trying to calm him down. I think he just needed to blow off some steam since he barely had a reaction last night. Hakyeon's with him right now."
"Can I talk to him?"
"Are you sure you want to do that?"
"Yes. I should explain what happened. I feel horrible. I lead them on because I didn't know how I felt but I didn't want to hurt them. I need to talk to them."
"Okay. Let's go then." We pick up our stuff and walk back to the house in silence. Before I can see the house I stop, "wait."
"What?" he asks.
I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. "I'm sorry I did this to you guys. But Wonsik... I really like you. I don't want to come between you and the boys but... I don't want to lose you."
He finally wraps his arms around me tightly. "I won't ever let you go," he says.
I smile and bury my face deeper in his chest. "Okay, let's go." We walk the rest of the way a little more happy than we were before. Before walking into their house, Wonsik and I look at each other and take a deep breath. He opens the door and the house seems much too quiet. We walk into the living room and all five remaining men are dispersed around the room with their heads hanging down. My heart throbs at the painful sight and I can't help but feel tremendously guilty.
"Hi..." I say softly. All five heads jerk up and the sound of my voice.
"Ah Rigi. You're here," Hakyeon says in a very obviously forced happy voice.
"Yeah. I wanted to explain what happened," I reply.
"No need," Hyuk says coldly. Jaehwan kicks him and widens his eyes angrily at him.
"I'm sorry I hurt you guys. I'm sorry I did this to your relationship. I'm sorry I lead you on. I didn't know how to feel or what to say or how to act. This is the first time something like this has happened to me. You're all extremely sweet and amazingly attractive men and I didn't know what to do or how to let you down easy. When I finally had a chance to get an outside perspective and time to think yesterday, I realized that I liked Wonsik. I wanted to tell you guys but everything happened so quickly after that, I didn't have a chance. I'm sorry it happened this way but please don't be mad at Wonsik, I'd feel horrible if I was the reason you guys stopped being such amazing friends." At this point, I'm on the brink of tears and I think they all realize that I'm being completely truthful.
"It's not your fault. It's no one's fault. There are just some things we can't control and love is one of them," Hongbin finally breaks the silence. "I'm sorry I punched you hyung."
"I'm sorry I yelled at you. Hongbin is right. It wasn't your fault. I'm just glad you guys are happy and you both of you have found such great partners," Taekwoon adds.
"I... I still can't say I'm okay with it yet, but I will be. I wouldn't let something like this come between me and my favorite hyung," Hyuk says.
"Hey I thought I was your favorite hyung," Jaehwan whines.
"You think you're everyone's favorite everything," I laugh.
"I am!" he shouts. Everyone finally laughs a bit and the tension is broken.
"Well that's all I had to say. I hope we can all continue being friends. I'll see you guys later okay?" I say
"Of course we can. See you later," Hakyeon replies.
"Bye," everyone says in unison.
"I'll walk you home," Wonsik says.
"Wait!" Taekwoon says in the loudest voice his soft voice can manage. "It's raining again. Take the umbrella."
"Thanks," I reply as he hands it to me.
Wonsik and I step outside, I open the umbrella and hold it over us. We look and each other, sigh and smile slightly. We start walking and Wonsik wraps his arm around me. When we reach the gate to my house he stops me. "Wait."
"What?" I ask.
"There something I want to do... Something I wanted to do yesterday the whole home."
"What?" I ask again. He takes my hand, lowers the umbrella so the rain is hitting us and suddenly he takes me in his arms and leans me back so that he's over me like in the movies and kisses me.
"That," he says when he finally lifts his head.
"Yeah but I beat you to it you wuss," I reply teasingly.
He furrows his eyebrows and then finally pulls me up so I'm standing straight. He keeps his hands on my waist and I keep my hands on his shoulders. We look into each other's eyes and we both know... This is it, we've found "the one."
I close my eyes and rest my head on his chest again.
"I love you."
"I love you too."