anywhere // : jihan [slow updates]

xviii

Jeonghan's P.O.V

By the time I reached Busan, it was already light out again and I had barely gotten any sleep. I was sure I had bags under my eyes and I was even more sure my phone was blowing up with unknowing texts from Cheol about how I'd be late to class soon.

The driver of the cab glanced at me from the mirror, making me clear my throat awkwardly.

"You know where you're going?" He spoke up.

"What?"

"You didn't give me an address. You just said you wanted to go to Busan. Now we're here- and I gotta get back to Seoul, kid." The middle aged driver chose a random spot on the shoulder of the busy road to stop, turning to actually face me. "So...I mean I hate to just kick you out in the middle of the city but unless you want me to drop you off at like a cafe or hotel or something?"

"Oh, I..." I rubbed the back of my neck, thinking for a moment. I assumed he meant I had to get out soon. "Uh, actually if you could take me to a specific cafe? I have the address in my phone." "Oh, yeah, sure. I don't know why you didn't just tell me the address when you called."

"Sorry, I didn't exactly plan everything out." I muttered, closing my eyes as he started up the car  again and only drove a few miles through the city before stopping in front of a somewhat busy cafe.

"Thank you again." I got out and bowed my head, handing the driver some cash and going to the trunk to grab my luggage.  I stepped onto the sidewalk, waving the car off and watching as it went by.

〰〰〰

"Yoon Jeonghan, you're a goddamn idiot."

A tall, lean man dressed with a barista's apron leaned against my booth as I stared intently into the swirls of vanilla in my freshly brewed iced coffee. "I know."

"And you're- you're absolutely crazy for running away over something probably stupid as hell."

"I know."

"You haven't been in town for thirty minutes and you're already getting on my nerves."

"I know."

"You could've at least called in advanced. You can be so insensitive sometimes, you know that?"

"I know! Oh my god, I know, so will you please shut the hell up already Kihyun! I didn't come all the way here to listen to this asshole!"

I shoved my face into my arms, sniffling a little bit. I couldn't help being emotional, I was so exhausted and drained from everything.

The male in front of me called Kihyun blinked, sitting down across from me. I lifted my head to face him slightly, my eyes a little wet and his features softening when he saw my face.

"Jeonghan...what happened?" He murmured, attempting to look at my eyes. "I was just joking, if you ran away then whatever happened probably really upset you. Tell me about it?"

Kihyun had been a friend of mine for quite a while. I met him in Busan during a music summer camp in my first years of middle school, and ever since then we've kept in good contact. If Seungcheol wasn't in the picture, he'd probably be my best friend- but he settles for second best just fine.

"I..." I didn't feel like talking about it, because running away was very likely the result of me overreacting. "I like a boy."

"Yeah? Surprise surprise. You're gay, I already knew that..did something happen with the boy?" He reached across the table, softly fixing my hair as I continued to hide my face.

"I wrote him a letter. A stupid, embarrassing letter that he was never supposed to find. And he wouldn't have! That's what makes me so..so angry!" I sniffled once again, lifting up my head to finally look at my friend. "And this- this asshat of a guy found the letter, and..."

I continued on with the story, explaining about Jisoo, about Junhui being my fake boyfriend and reading the letter, the fight with Seungcheol, the fight with Soonyoung. I told him about everything, pouring my broken heart out to him, and every time I looked at Kihyun he was just listening intently.  He had a look of both sadness and anger when I finished.

"So after all that, he said he didn't even like you?" He sighed, running his fingers through his hair in an upset manner. I could tell he was feeling for me.

"He didn't exactly say he didn't like me...he just said he was already with somebody." I sighed heavily, raking through my long hair with my fingers.

"Ah, I'm really sorry about all of this, Jeong...you deserve better." Kihyun glanced around, making sure nobody in the coffee shop needed his services before giving his attention back to me.

"Whatever, it's whatever." I leaned back in my seat, resting my head against the backboard of the booth. I pulled out my phone, my breath hitching once I glance at the notifications.

Six missed calls: Seungcheollie (3 voicemails)
Three missed calls: 💕 Hong Jisoo 💕 (2 voicemails)
One missed call: Boo SeungSassy
One missed call: Unknown (1 voicemail)
13 New Texts

I bit the inside of my cheek, shaking my head and simply turning my phone back off. I leaned down, taking a sip of my iced coffee, but barely tasting it.

"Did I just make everything worse by running away?" I whispered to Kihyun who immediately shook his head. "Hey, listen. Let's not worry about it right now, okay? You're obviously really upset, they'll understand. Here- I'll ask my boss if I can take you to my apartment and you can take a nap until I get off of work. Sound good?" He smiled slightly, and all I could do was nod in return, murmuring "I guess so."

Hi yes I am indeed alive :') I'm so sorry for the long wait, summer has been crazy! I'll be updating again soon. Thank you for almost 5k reads!!!