Finding True Love

The third wheel

"Ow, son of a..." Korn held his arm. Where Knock was playful in his punches, Yihwa was not.

"Korn, don't curse at me. You didn't tell me when Pop got to town, and then only called me late last night to give me a short warning about lunch today." Yihwa smacked him again. Korn rubbed at the red mark forming on his arm.

"Hey be happy I called at all. I was a little distracted last night."

"Distracted? Distracted? What could have so distracted you that you forgot about me?" Knock felt his cheeks heat. He quickly turned away before Yihwa could see him. "Huh? What? Oh." Knock moved away faster. His feet taking him to the entrance of the restaurant, leaving Korn and Yihwa behind.

Knock knew had been Korn destined for doom when he had called Yihwa the night before. He had forgotten that he needed to invite her to lunch as well. Calling her late meant interrupting her beauty treatments. Something Knock never planned to do. He had heard her voice through the phone. She had not been pleased to be interrupted, but also equally angry that Korn had waited to tell her about Pop at all.

Knock reached the entrance to the restaurant and slipped inside, leaving the two to bicker on the street. As his eyes scanned the restaurant he realized he had no idea who he was looking for and if Pop was even there yet. He was the only one who had no clue who she was. He had not been part of Korn's life then. The three of them could reminisce, leaving him with no place in the conversation.

He suddenly felt as if he was a third wheel for his boyfriend. He couldn't deny Korn's words had hurt him last night. When he had confessed to visiting Pop without telling him. And then, with the word girlfriend, Knock's heart nearly stopped. The few bites of food he had already eaten had turned sour in his stomach. Sure, Korn had used the word ex, but that barely registered. Korn had been with a girl. It only took seconds for him to play out a thousand scenarios of Korn's life with a girl. It was too easy to picture. And even easier for him to picture Korn leaving him for a pretty face from his past.

There were two tables with a young woman sitting alone. Both of them were attractive. Their faces were both buried in their phones, neither looking in his direction. Knock could only hope it wasn't either of them, but he was sure he wasn't that lucky. The door chimed behind him. With the loud squeal of Yihwa's joy that pierced his ears, he lost his hope. Yihwa shoved past him, running to a table where one of the young woman was sitting. Her head popped up, and she returned Yihwa's squeals.

"Why are you just standing here?" Korn whispered in his ear.

"I didn't know what she looked like until just this minute. I'm the only one who doesn't know her, remember." Knock couldn't keep the bitter tone out of his voice. Korn didn't notice. He was already two steps away. Knock followed, his feet dragging along the tiled floor. Knock didn't realize he could get even unluckier. At the table Yihwa had already sat down, placing herself directly across from Pop, leaving Korn to sit next to Pop and him across from Korn, next to Yihwa.

"Thank you again so much for yesterday Korn. You've always given me so much strength." Pop wrapped her arms around Korn's shoulders and pulled him in for a hug. Knock's teeth ached as he ground them together, keeping his mouth shut. As she released her hold her eyes caught Knock's. "Ah, you must be the..." her words cut short as Korn pinched her arm. "Ow." She smacked him.

"Why did you smack me?"

"Why did you pinch me?"

"Keep your voice down." Korn whispered to her.

"Why? Is it some big secret who he is?" Pop whispered back. Knock watched as Korn's eyes scanned the other tables. As expected no one was looking or paying them any mind. Pop bumped Korn with her shoulder. "Hey boyfriend, are you going to introduce me?"