image ⌮ yang jeongin

4 | bento box

西

Jinha~

"Would you like to sit with us?" A group of girls motioned me to come join them at their table. They had sly smirks on their faces, as if they were plotting some type of malicious schemes. I'm certainly sure that there's something odd about them...

"Oh... um... s-sorry." My anti-social self walked passed them, and inevitably bumped into Jeongin. I literally see him everywhere, so it's kind of expected by now.

"Did you have lunch?" He asked me out of curiosity, and I shook my head in reply. "I have extra food... come join me."

Jeongin clutched onto my arm and lead me up the stairs, to the very top of our school building. It felt like an anime or kdrama, for sure- you know, that usual seen where the male protagonist takes the shy heroin up the rooftop, where they share their utter most poignant memories to each other?

"How's the view?" He stood beside me as we admired the overwhelming beauty of Seoul. There's nothing similar to this back in the province- only fields and mountains, which were also quite beautiful too.

"Amazing." My mouth hanged open in complete admiration.

"That's good. We're actually not supposed to be here, but oh well." He shrugged and started to open his backpack. Jeongin took out two bento boxes, both containers designed with a Rilakkuma print on the exterior.

"That's so cute." I pointed at the lunch boxes, and he replied with a simple nod and smile- I noticed that he has braces.

Jeongin took off the lid and revealed a container full of kimbap, and the other with fried chicken. My mouth started salivating by just staring at it.

"Feel free to take as much." He grabbed a piece of chicken and devoured it.

"Thanks!" I took a bite out of a crispy chicken, then immediately put a piece of kimbap in my mouth.

"Innovative." Jeongin clapped like a seal while praising me.

"I'll go buy us some drinks downstairs." I suggested and he agreed.

I waited in line for a while, just to use the dang vendor machine. Come on- there's tons of students here, so they should at least add more vendors!

"Here you go," some guy handed me a canned drink. It was the same guy that tried bothering me in class earlier. "Nice to meet you, I'm Kim Junkyu. You know, I was just trying to befriend you earlier- Jeongin is just bitchin'."

"Oh, okay." It was finally my turn at the vendor, so I got myself and Jeongin some drinks.

"You don't want it?" He asked, gripped with curiosity. Junkyu thoroughly examined my face, until a soft smile suddenly then creeped onto his lips. "Are you busy later? Wanna go out?"

"Yeah, I'm busy..." Actually, I'm not. "Sorry- gotta go."

"Jinha-"

I quickened my speed and ran up the stairs, just so that I didn't have to see that Junkyu guy anymore. I don't want to be judgmental, but he really does seem like a Casanova. Sorry.

"Took you long enough," Jeongin joked while taking off his airpods. "The line must have been really long."

"Yeah, it was. That Junkyu person from earlier tried talking to me again... tell me, is he nice?" I felt complete satisfaction while popping the can lid open. That refreshing sound- so nice.

"Yeah, he's nice. Junkyu tends to lead on a lot of girls, though- I just don't want that to happen to you." Jeongin quietly said the last phrase. He seems genuinely concerned about me, even though we just met.

"Why does it matter to you? You don't even know me." I asked, and he suddenly fell silent. Jeongin looked into the distance with a longing, blank look in his eyes. Within the horizon, his gaze was fixed- he seems deeply hurt. I then felt responsible and sorry for what I've said.

"Minji was really important to me. I need answers... what actually happened to her?" Tears were evident in his eyes, and extremely painful to witness.

I guess Jeongin and I shared the same connection of yearning. Sometimes, I could still feel her presence and hear her voice... even though it's all just in my head. It's been almost four years since she passed- yet, I still blame myself for it.

Why didn't I die with her? Or why didn't she survive with me?

These questions with no answers still remain lingering in my head.

Each and everyday.

_________________________

Wanna One just had their last comeback today, and being a fan of them ever since the very beginning of PD101 S2... IM BAWLING RN HUHUH

Song: Sunset Rollercoaster (落日飛車) — My Jinji