𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

twenty-six ✪

"I heard what happened," Changbin said.

He found me as soon as I sat down on the swing set. This was our favorite spot to hang out ever since we first met.

I pushed myself on the swing, "Are you here to lecture me about how dark and mysterious love is and that I shouldn't have gotten involved with it?"

Changbin shook his head, "No. No, I came here to apologize. For everything. I'm sorry for keeping secrets from you. It was for your own -"

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that excuse already," I said, cutting him off.

I motioned for him to leave but I can still feel his presence behind me. He wasn't planning on going anywhere, I guess.

"You remember what I told you before Xukun arrived here?"

I stopped the swing but didn't bother to turn around, "About the girl you like?"

Changbin hummed, "But I know in my heart that she has her heart reserved for someone else."

I bit my lip. All throughout the years, I have noticed how Changbin looks at me and how he's been treating me differently.

Even the others have noticed this but we chose to shut our mouths because we don't want to offend him or anything. Honestly, Changbin's scary when he's angry. Seungkwan learned that the hard way.

I felt Changbin's hand on my shoulders, "You like Xukun, don't you?"

Tears finally started falling from my eyes, "So much."

I was shocked because I didn't expect him to do this. Especially because we were in public. Changbin circled his hands around my waist and hugged me. He put his chin on my shoulder.

"Xinyi," He muttered as I feel his breath near my ears. "If I say I like you, would you return the feelings?"

I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to do. I don't want to hurt Changbin. He's my bestfriend.

"C-Changbin..." I stuttered, not knowing what to say.

He held me again, real tight - then slowly let go. "Nevermind. I know the answer already."

I turned around and found him fighting back tears. I walked up and slowly held his cheeks with my thumb. I wipe the one tear that fell out of his eyes.

"You're gonna find someone that's meant for you. I promise."

Changbin nods as he pulled me again into a hug. I'm really sorry, Changbin. I hope you still consider me as your bestfriend.

🍎🍎🍎

Changbin and I walked around town after that. We were finally joking around again but the awkwardness was still there.

"Right, before I forget. Here," I fished out the phone from my pocket and returned it to the original owner. "I figured you might miss using a real phone rather than that pre historic one."

Changbin widens his eyes and took the phone, "Where did you find this?"

"Quanzhe found it. Near the haunted house."

He bit his lip. He does this when he's nervous. "I was shocked when Xiao Gui arrived with Yoojung and I knew Yanchen must be around somewhere."

I nod, as he explained. "Ziyi said he saw Yanchen near the haunted house, so I decided to see it for myself but as I was standing near the exit someone hit my head and I fainted."

Since we're talking about this, I decided to ask a few questions of my own. "But - was that really Xiao Gui who was there inside with me?"

Changbin nods, kicking the stone in front of him, "Xiao Gui found me and we noticed that my phone was missing. We were about to look for it but Yoojung texted us that you were inside, so I asked him to get to you before Yanchen does."

I sighed. Taking all this in after everything that's happened is really hard. So Xiao Gui really isn't the bad guy here?

"Thank you, Changbin." I said, reaching out for his hand and squeezing it.

"You're always welcome, Xinyi." He said, squeezing it back. "By the way, I thought you really wanted to be with Xukun?"

"I do," I said, being truly honest for once. "But the question is, does he want to be with me?"

Then I flinched, because I heard a voice from behind me. And I'm pretty sure it doesn't belong to Changbin.

"Are you seriously asking that question, right now?"

🍎🍎🍎

word count: 720 words
3/16/18