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스물 넷l ✧ 위로

T W E N T Y - F O U R  ✧
C O M F O R T
. . .

I END UP telling Dong Jun everything.

I tell him about how Mingyu has to leave so suddenly, leaving me alone again, how sad I was before he came, how happy he actually made me feel. The words seem to tumble out of my mouth in a never-ending word-vomit, and my tears feel like it takes days to dry as I speak about all the things that's managed to land me in this situation.

However, I don't tell him about Mingyu being an agent. As much as I pity him for being left in the dark, I feel like it's not my place to disclose anything about Mingyu or the other boys, so I leave out everything related to the whole agent business.

Throughout my sobbing and ranting, Dong Jun remains quiet as he listens to me. He had taken me to a nearby park the moment I broke down, which happens to be quite empty given the time of day.

As a way of calming me down, the boy rubs my back up and down soothingly, and I've got to admit, it was oddly comforting. In a matter of minutes, my breathing has already regulated, and he tries to talk to me about other things in an attempt to make me forget about Mingyu. For the record, he's partly succeeded—but a part of me is still wallowing in self pity.

The two of us are now seated on a bench in a comfortable silence. Everything that I wanted to say, I did, so there's hardly anything else for me to talk about with him. Rather than forcing a conversation and making things awkward, I decided, staying quiet is marginally better.

"So... Are you ready for me to take you home?" Dong Jun finally asks, breaking the bubble of silence. "Or, uh, is there anywhere else I can take you to?"

My throat tightens at the possibility of seeing Mingyu again. Of course, I actually do want to see him before he leaves, more than I would like to admit; but every time I think of something—anything—that reminds me of him, I simply push them to the back of my head in hopes that I can move on from him.

"No, no. It's fine. My house will do." I answer, mustering up a tight-lipped smile. I know that I have work to go to, but in all honesty, I don't think customers would be up to seeing someone with red, puffy eyes serving their coffee so I'm doing them a favor by not working at this state.

"Are you sure?" He asks, obviously not believing me. "You're, uh... Welcome to stay overnight at my house if you'd like? Or even come over for dinner so that you don't have to go home now?"

"Thanks for the offer, Jun-ah, but I'm good."

Dong Jun nods in understanding and gets up to leave, but not without giving me his hand to take. I do as I get off the bench as well, the warmth of it radiating through my body and making me feel better somehow as I silently pray to the gods that Mingyu won't be home just yet.

✧ ✦ ✧

ONCE we've reached my house, Dong Jun walks me to the front door with my hand still in his. It feels a little odd that the boy turns out to be rather touchy, but I'm grateful to have made a friend like him before Mingyu leaves anyway, since, at least, I'll have someone to hang out with from day to day.

"You'll be alright, okay? You still have me. And Vernon and the rest of the guys." He says, looking down and giving me a small smile. "I'll even introduce you to Wonwoo's, uh... Friend, Seo Hyeon."

Just as I am about to thank him, the front door flies open revealing Mingyu wearing a weary expression on his face, hair disheveled and sticking out in random places. His uniform is untucked, chest moving up and down rather rapidly.

"Crystal!" He exclaims, immediately ripping me away from Dong Jun's grip and hugging me. "Omo, I was so worried! I thought something bad had happened to you!" Mingyu tells me, placing his hands on my shoulders and slightly pushing me away to take a good look at me. "I checked around school but you were nowhere to be found. I tried the café next, but they said that they haven't seen you at all so I went home hoping that you'll b—"

In all honesty, he probably would've been able to rant on forever, but luckily enough, Dong Jun decides to clear his throat, earning the attention of the blue-haired boy still holding me.

"Um, I'm... Just going to go home now."

Mingyu blinks, as if only noticing his presence now, and places an arm around me as he says, "Oh, of course. Thank you for taking her home."

Dong Jun nods. "No worries. Goodnight, Soo Jung."

I mutter a quick goodnight, and he takes it as his cue to leave. With one last nod he walks away, leaving me standing with Mingyu in the driveway staring after him as he exits the neighborhood. When he's finally out of view, only then does Mingyu let out a sigh, turning to face me once more.

"Let's get you inside."

Staying silent, I follow him inside. He tries to walk as close to me as possible, even trying to hold me as if I can fall apart anytime now, but I manage to dodge his hands and keep my distance.

"Crystal, can we talk?" He asks, voice hoarse and desperate all of a sudden. "I just need to explain so—"

"What is there to talk about, Mingyu?" I hiss, levelling my gaze with his. "I get it, you have to leave. You have a job to do. You're assigned to other ACs. I get it."

"Can we just please sit down and talk?" The boy pleads, holding my chin in between his fingers. "I... I can't leave knowing that you won't be okay without me. I need reassurance that you'll be fine, a promise that you'll—"

I slowly pull away, barely even having the strength to fight him anymore. It's like all my energy's been drained from me, leaving me feel tired, weary and just... Done with everything.

"Please, Mingyu. Just leave me alone."