The Ugly Twin #Wattys2017

Chapter 18 - Mental Breakdown.

Taemin stared at his phone with a tense expression. It's been days and the blackmailer hadn't sent any message for him anymore. But that didn't make Taemin relaxed at all. It was like a calmness before a heavy storm.

"TAEMIN!"

Taemin jumped when he felt a loud tap on his shoulder. He turned his head only to meet Key's grinning face.

"Key-ah!" Taemin huffed. "You scared me!"

Key stuck his tongue out and took a seat beside Taemin. "I'm starving! Let's go eat something!"

"Hmm." Taemin hummed while shoving his phone inside of his pocket. "Where's the others?"

"Onew and Jonghyun are still having their classes." Key said. "What about Minho?"

"He's also in the class." Taemin said. "Where should we eat?"

"I want to eat out. Something like pasta... Pizza... I want to eat Italian food."

"Italian food..." Taemin hummed. "Alright, let's go."

The two of them then headed out of the college. They talked about literally just anything. Newest movie, coolest place to hang out, and...

"Isn't that Krystal?"

Taemin turned his head toward the direction that Key pointed. Oh yes. It's indeed Krystal. She was having lunch in a Japanese restaurant with Amber and Sulli.

"Should we join them?" Taemin asked.

"Ung..." Key pursed his lips then shook his head. "No."

"Why?"

"It just..." Key sighed. "I think... Krystal has changed."

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't hang out with us often. And... I think she's..."

Taemin waited for Key to finish his words but the cat-eye boy never did.

"...nothing. Forget it! Let's just go and eat our pasta now!" Key said happily and pull Taemin's wrist away.

Taemin furrowed his eyebrows as he followed Key from behind. Well, that's right. Krystal hadn't been hanging out with their clique lately. Krystal also didn't talk much. She just did it when it was needed. Key's right. Krystal's a little bit different from usual.

"I'm afraid she gets angry because you and Minho are officially an item now." Key said all of sudden with low voice. "You surely have known that Krystal used to be Minho's biggest fan, haven't you?"

Taemin frowned. "But she said she was just a fan..."

"Oh, come on Taemin." Key groaned. "Krystal likes Minho. It's obvious."

Taemin's face paled. "No way."

Key sighed. "Whatever you say."

Key then grabbed Taemin's hand and guided him to find the Italia's restaurant while Taemin followed from behind with a thumping heart.

Krystal had never liked Minho. She had never show it. She looked so happy when Minho announced that he and Taemin were officially dating.

Or...

Was it just an acting?

"How do you know?" Taemin asked Key hastily. "That Krystal likes Minho."

"Well..." Key bit his lip. "...forget it Taemin-ah."

"Eh?" Taemin grabbed Key's arm tightly. "Why forget?"

"Maybe I'm wrong. I have a feeling that she likes Minho, but maybe she doesn't. I don't want to ruin our friendship." Key said with a worried face. "-just... J-just forget what I've said."