Cactus 『Lee Jihoon』

아홉

14:00//Thursday

Soyeun decided to leave her home right after she had finished packing her things. At first, her maid tried to stop her by calling her mom and dad, but out of fear, Soyeun slapped the phone off her hand and stepped on it to destroy it. Since her maid is quite mid-aged, she was kind of weaker compared to a high school girl who cycles everyday. And, so Soyeun had an advantage. She took the cab to get to Jihoon since she doesn't remember where she put her bicycle. She remembers the way perfectly though, as if her brain automatically drew a map whenever she had the chance to go here. She paid the taxi, having as little money in her wallet left. She went up to the third floor, and went straight to Apartment Room No. 303. She knocked once, no answer. She knocked the second time, this time, a little impatiently. She prays that the man living in here is still here. She prays that he waited for her and he'd be happy to see her. She knocked the third time, while calling out the sweetest name yet at the same time leaves a salty taste in her mouth. (a/n geddit bc jihoon is a salty baby ㅋㅋㅋ)

Again, no answer.

Soyeun decided to wiggle the door knob, and surprisingly, it was open.

"Leave me alone, Seungcheol!!" Jihoon screamed while slurring, throwing a shot glass in the girl's direction. Apparently, he was too drunk to hurt her and so she missed and hit the wall instead. The glass broke into pieces. So much for a middle school soft ball player.

"Jihoon? I-it's me, Soyeun.." She shakily said. She didn't want this kind of welcome. Looking at Jihoon right now, makes her chest hurt and she just wants to hug, comfort and be there for him.

"S-Soyeun...? Heh! Hahah!!" He threw fits of laughter and drank from the bottle. Soyeun simply stood there, afraid of what the drunken mess is gonna say, her right hand gripped on her duffle bag and her left placed itself inside the pocket of her culottes.  "Y-you, ruin my fu-huh-cking mind, Han Soyeun.. You ruin my already broken world!! Hahaha!! And you—you're back here? Such an idiotic girl.." He managed to say, while muttering 'idiot' for so many times.

"Stop that.." She sighed, putting down her bag on the floor and went near Jihoon. She hugged him for a while, not letting go. Jihoon dropped the bottle that spilled on the floor as Soyeun bursted in tears.

"Just you try and stop me," he said, pushing Soyeun away but her grip on him just became tighter. The male froze in place, getting drunkenly annoyed.

"I told you I'd come back. I told you I didn't want to be held on a leash anymore. So, I went here to find you." She muffled while buried in Jihoon's shoulders. A few moments, Jihoon began to rethink what happened the last time. The last time he saw Soyeun. She muttered things he didnt understand and now, his drunken state slowly shifted into his normal self. Eventually, his hands trailed up to the small of her back and said, "I thought you will never come back, you idiot. I thought I was going to jail. I thought my life was ending. I wanted to jump off this crappy building but... I could visualize you while at this state. I visualized you, so I waited...." He explained the best as he could. They say 90% of what you say are true when you're drunk. Soyeun hopes that the other 10% is just plain stupidity and not lies.

Tears formed in the corner of Jihoon's eyes. He wanted to say how thankful he was that he met Soyeun. He was angry at first but seeing her made things clearer for him. This girl makes his fucked up life even more fucked up and yet, he thinks she's the only one who understands and is willing to stay.

"Jihoon.... I–" Soyeun wiped her tears away but before continuing to speak, she found her lips attached to Jihoon's. Such a simple, yet passionate kiss was shared in the messy drunkard's room.

Two days.

Soyeun met this fucked up, and moody person two days ago, and she already felt the love and appreciation that she always wanted.

Two days.

Jihoon met this clumsy and idiotic, daughter of an aristocrat two days ago, and he already felt the concern and compassion that he always wanted.

He paused, looking down on the floor.

"S-sorry.." He stuttered, while his face was visually pink. He looked by the door and saw it wide open, while Seungcheol was standing by it, eyes wide open.

"What the hell? You fought me for a bottle of booze only to mess up your life even more with a fucking hooker? You're a crazy son of a bitch, Lee Jihoon." Cheol chuckled sarcastically while shaking his head in disownment. Soyeun frowned hearing such wrong judgment coming out of the boy's mouth and looked at Jihoon who started talking.

"Cheol, you've got it all wrong. This is my friend, Soyeun." Suddenly, Jihoon sounded sober.

"Friends don't kiss, Jihoon!!" The taller male said, disgust evident in his tone.

"It's a long story, okay?! Why do you care so much with what I do?!"

"Because, Jihoon, I've always been here for you. I try to fix our lives that you ruined and yet I'm here trying to fix yours alone. At least be grateful about it and stop acting like a kid!!" Seungcheol yelled. Then it all hit him as well.  Seungcheol has always been there. Seungcheol who sacrificed his career for Jihoon, Seungcheol who stayed with him all throughout, Seungcheol who took care of him like family ever since. A pang of pain and guilt hit Jihoon, but, it was replaced with astonishment when he stormed off without hearing Jihoon's side. He walked away as fast as he could when he realized Jihoon was chasing him down the corridor.

"I-I'm sorry, hyeung. I didn't know what came over me.. I appreciate the shit you've been through with me and I feel shitty at the same time. For once, please, let me make it up to you." Jihoon told him sincerely. The taller male figure paused, as he looks at his friend with pained eyes.

"Just... continue being a good person. Don't let your problems knock the good in you and try to fix things instead of running away." He smiled, tears streaming down his face. Jihoon wanted to utter words, but the older male said, "It was good to see you." He patted Jihoon by the shoulder to bid farewell. Jihoon stood there, with a blank expression on his face.

continue being a good person....

His hyeung's voice keep ringing on his head, as he promised to himself to have that in mind.

"Thank you, Choi Seungcheol.." He whispered, "you really are something."