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

Episode 25: Now or Never

(Sorry for the late update, my summer has been rather busy along with the new school year coming up; I've been kind of full with my schedule. But anyways, I hope you enjoy this new update! Thank you all for waiting! 🤗 ~ Author-nim )

Jihye's POV
At Tteokbokki Palace, Jihye waits for Youngja and Eunbi to show up. Patiently waiting, she decides to check her phone. As she does, she receives a Kakao Talk message from Hwiyoung.

Kakao Talk Conversation

Youngkyun: Hey, Jihye 😁

Jihye: Umm... Hi, Hwiyoung 😕

Youngkyun: Please just call me Youngkyun 😝 We're friends right? 😉

Jihye: Umm... So what is it that you wanna talk about? 😕

Youngkyun: Turn around 😁

Confused by Hwiyoung's Kakao Talk message, I put my phone away in my bag and did what he had ordered. Turning around, I saw Hwiyoung standing before me.

"Hwi- I mean Youngkyun, what brings you here?" I asked of him, touching my bangs out of pure awkwardness. "Don't you have to practice with the guys again?"

Hwiyoung just chuckled and gave a pearly white smile. "Actually..." His voice trailed off as he pointed off in the distance. I saw a group of eight other men waving at me with big smiles upon their faces. "... Our manager Jeon-nim decided to treat us out today as a congrats for working hard on our latest comeback. And since this place opened up not too long ago, we all agreed to check this place out," Hwiyoung smiled again and said, "Oh, they're calling me over right now!" He gently wiped away some strands of hair away from my ear and whispered, "I'll chat with you later..."

Slowly and awkwardly, I nodded and watched as Hwiyoung headed back to his seat at a booth at the back of the restaurant, joining the rest of the SF9 members.

Text message notification sound

Text Message Conversation

Youngja: Hey, Jihye 😁

Jihye: Hi, Youngja 👋🏼

Jihye: Are you guys almost here? 😅

Youngja: Actually, we're near the back...

Glimpsing up from my phone, I looked around at my surroundings, hoping that I'd spot Youngja and Eunbi among all the other people in the crowded restaurant. Luckily, I saw Eunbi waving her arm in the air and signaling me to come and join them at a nearby booth. I quickly walked over in their direction.

With a smile, the two greeted me and handed me a menu. "So," Eunbi began, trying her best to make me feel welcome. "Do you eat out often, Jihye?" She glimpsed down at her menu, not even looking up.

"Actually, my mom usually cooks for my family nearly every day, so we don't really eat out..." my voice trailed off as I too glimpsed down at my menu and tried to spot some food that contained the least amount of calories as possible. "I'll just have the kimbap... I need to lose weight anyways..."

"Oh," This time, it was Youngja who spoke. She looked at me with a look of concern. She gave me a hesitant smile and said, "But, Jihye... The tteokbokki here is rumored to be one of the best! You should try it with us!" With a little giggle, she ordered our meals, without even asking me if I was alright with what she had just ordered for not only herself and Eunbi, but also for me as well.