Do You Love Me Like The Way I Love You? || SF9

Episode 18: Welcome to the Jungle Game

(*AN: I am so sorry that I haven't been able to update in so long! I've just started college two weeks ago and it's been taking up most of my time. But luckily, I am able to update right now while I have the time. Hopefully, I will also get to see SF9 as they come here to Seattle, the city in which I live in, on November 17. I hope I get to take a pic with them but the ticket price along with the group pic is $159...😅 Might as well save up for the signed poster...)

Inseong's P.O.V.
They sure are taking a long time with that private chat. I wonder what's going on in there... My thoughts wandered from left to right, forwards to backwards as I paced back and forth in the hallway. No, no, Inseong! You can't just barge in there while they're talking privately! That's just not how it works! I tilted my head, rubbed my chin, and continued my pacing. Stopping, I gently gripped the door knob. Should I do this? What if they're talking about something serious! No, I shouldn't bother them. Reluctantly, I let go of the knob. However, I just couldn't shake the worry from inside of me. Slowly, I opened the door. The sight before me, shocking me within. Outwardly, I remained calm. "Chani? Youngja-ssi?" I stated, as if asking a question.

"Hyung!" Chani exclaimed. Quickly, they stopped what they were doing and Chani got up from the bed, standing slightly in front of me. "Look, I can explain..." His voice trailed off as he turned to face me. He first glimpsed over at Youngja-ssi, of whom was sitting there on top of the bed, blushing madly then to me. "Hyung, I-!"

Suddenly, I grabbed Youngja-ssi by the wrist and walked away with her trailing behind me, leaving Chani in the room. I don't know why I did it at first, but I soon realized that I had done it out of pure jealousy. "Inseong-ssi?" Youngja-ssi stated, looking directly at me. I blushed and rapidly turned my face away from her. She just can't see me like this. "I can explain..."

"What is there to explain?" I began, my voice quivering as tears began to flow. "Youngja-ssi, I love you and yet things turned out like this. Yes, you're not the little girl I remembered you to be. You're a lady now. At first, I only liked you as being somewhat like a younger sister. Seeing you and Chani like that in the room..." I stopped for a moment as I took her hands into mine and looked down at the wooden floor, unable to look back up because I did not want her to feel bad for me. "... I know that you're not a little girl anymore. Youngja, I love you. I really do. I have always had a thing for you but I never told you about it because I was afraid of Minjun threatening me. I understand that you like Chani. There's no doubting that. Go on, be with him..."

"I don't know!" Youngja-ssi exclaimed, startling me. She began to cry, tears trailing down her face.

"Wha-What do you mean?" I asked of her, raising a brow.

"I mean that I don't know who I like..."

"Huh?"

"At first, I only liked you, Inseong-ssi. Only you. But then-"

"But then Chani started liking you and that's what had caused you to feel like the way you feel right now in the present." I finished Youngja-ssi's statement before she could even continue. "Listen, Youngja, I understand that you're feeling troubled right now. However, I hope that you won't regret anything after all of this ends."

"Inseong-ssi..."

But before she could continue any further, I walked away from her and into the kitchen. Grabbing a plastic water bottle from the fridge, I gulped down a few sips and sighed. I felt bad about leaving her in the hallway but I couldn't help but have my emotions overwhelm me.

Just what should I do? Should I just  give up on her?

Meanwhile, Jihye is out with her best friend Suhyun at a nearby tteokbokki shop. Suddenly, Suhyun notices that Jihye is sad and asks her what's wrong. (*AN: This part is written in third person!)

"Yah! Hwang Jihye, what's wrong?" Suhyun asked of Jihye, a look of concern drawn upon her face. She took a sip of water from her cup and stared at Jihye, waiting for an answer.

Jihye, seemingly appearing to have zoned out, shook her head and flashed back into what was occurring around her. "H-Huh? Wh-What, Suhyun?" She picked up another piece of tteokbokki with her chopsticks, ate it, and waited for an answer from her friend. "Did you say something or am I just hearing things?" Releasing a nervous laugh, she put her chopsticks down and frowned.
"I know that you must be wondering about why I'm so down lately. You're my best friend, Suhyun, but there are some things I'd rather keep to myself."

"Is this about Chanhee?" Suhyun asked of Jihye, putting down her chopsticks. Gingerly, she wrapped her hands around one of Jihye's hands and continued, "Whatever it's about, I just want you to know that I'm always here for you no matter what happens. And if Chanhee decides to reject you, then he's missing out on dating such a wonderful girl,"

"Wonderful? What's so wonderful about me? I mean, have you even looked at me?"

"Jihye, you're amazing. Why can't you see that?"

"Suhyun, you're my best friend. Of course you would say that!"

"Well it's true!" The two friends laughed, grabbed their chopsticks off the table, and went back to eating their meal.

Nevertheless, as Jihye separated from Suhyun, she couldn't help but think about what had occurred between her and Hwiyoung only a week prior. Opening the front door of her family's apartment, she was once again greeted by no one, her father watching some foreign martial arts film, eyes glued on the TV screen and mumbling about what was happening in the movie. Of course, her mother was at work and her father was busy just laying there on the couch, watching movies at full volume. That's how it always was. Or so, it's been that way ever since her dad was fired from his job due to certain allegations.

Being an only child, Jihye has always hated being alone even when there are people surrounding her. And now that the new school year has started and with Suhyun moving to Busan, Jihye realized that once again, she will be all alone. Flopping upon her bed, she sprawled out on her stomach, phone in hand. She scrolled through her social media like any other day, her eyes glued to the screen.

A Kakao Talk message? Who's Youngkyun and why is he spamming me with so many messages? Yah! Stop! Did Suhyun add him to the group chat?

Text Message Coversation:

Jihye: Yah! Youngkyun, who are you? Stop texting me so many messages! 😠I'm trying to play YG Beat Evo right now! Aish! 😑

Youngkyun: Hi, Jihye. It's me, Hwiyoung. How could you not know my real name though? 😓 We've been in the same class since middle school...😐

Jihye: Omo! 😱 Hwi-Hwiyoung?! 😨

Youngkyun: Y-Yes? 😳

Jihye: Wh-Why are you texting me? 😧 Who added you to the group chat?

Youngkyun: I talked to Suhyun earlier today at school and I'm surprised she added me to the chat. 😛 How are you?

Jihye: Wow! 😱 To think I would actually get a Kpop idol's Kakao Talk ID... 😧 And, honestly, I don't really know what I should feel...

Youngkyun: I understand. Maybe it wasn't the right move to try and talk to you like this. I know you're struggling right now, especially since you like Chani and now know that I like you. No matter what, I hope that you know that I'm here whenever you need me.

Jihye: Thanks, Hwiyoung...

Youngkyun: No need to thank me. I'm just being what a friend should be. 😇

Youngkyun: Awe man! 😧 I gotta go! We have to practice in a few. I'll tttyl! 😘 See ya later, Beautiful! ❤️

Jihye: Yah! Beautiful? Yah! Kim Youngkyun!

Without realizing it, Jihye was smiling. Maybe, just maybe she is starting to like Hwiyoung just a little. Or maybe, she's starting to like him a whole lot.