Third Wheeling For Dummies | on hold

sixteen

"So, basically, you have a lot of 'free time' because you don't have anyone to hang out with."

Jungwoo frowns a little. "It sounds kind of bad when you say it like that."

"But you know I got it right," Jae insists, leaning her hip against the counter. "And it was hard enough, with you beating around the garden and everything."

"It's supposed to be bush."

"Yeah, but you did it so much, it's practically a garden," She points out with a wave of her hand, pulling open a cabinet with her free one. "And don't even try to deny it."

He bites his lip softly, loosely grasping the tetrapack on the table and lifting the plastic straw to his lips. "What now?"

"What now...what?"

"I just mean," He pauses, blushing as he realised that what he expects her to do isn't necessarily going to be what she does. "Nothing, I guess. What are we making?"

She tilts her head to the side, pondering his question. "Cheese sandwiches."

He laughs softly, glancing over his shoulder at the back of the couch almost self-consciously. "All that preparation for a cheese sandwich?"

"Hey," She raises her eyebrows, pointing the fork at him. "Don't underestimate the power of a good cheese sandwich."

"Which I hope this is going to be." He pats his tummy lightly. "Because I'm starving."

She smiles at him, and then turns away to pull out the dishes. He sips the cool juice slowly, the sweet liquid trickling down his throat leisurely.

"You're always the odd one out." Jaesun speaks up suddenly, straighening and placing her hands on her hips. "But you don't want to tell your friends."

Jungwoo's eyes widen, and he shushes her, looking again at the back of Jun's head. With a thankful sigh, here realises that the emo/goth is still engrossed in finishing his third bottle of orange Gatorade. "Not now."

"Hey, it's not like he's going to say anything, anyway," She rolls her eyes as she notices him staring at Lucas's brother.

"It's his house; of course he's going to notice."

When she simply arches an eyebrow, he shakes his head. "I didn't open up my soul to you for you to announce my problems to the entire concerned household."

"The fact that that statement was not so Christian schoolboy leads me to the belief that you're getting more used to me." The corner of her lips lifts in a lazy smile, making his intestines knot up and his stomach launch into a series of somersaults. "Don't sweat it."

"It's a little hard." He mutters, reconsidering his decision to give her what she wanted. "But yeah."

"Why, though?" She questions, setting the half-melted butter dish on the counter. "Lucas is your best friend. He'll understand."

"That's not it," He says lowly, lower lip jutting out without him realising, making her break into another smile. "It's just that..." He looks at Dejun again. "Are you sure Yangyang is upstairs?"

"Yes." She intones impatiently.

"Well, it's just..." He falters for the nth time, tucking the straw between his gums and the side of his mouth. "It feels wrong, blaming him for something that's not really his fault. He shouldn't have to sacrifice time with his girlfriend because of me."

"And that's where you've got it all wrong." Jaesun nods understandingly, the plastic in her hands crackling as she carefully extracts the sliced bread.

"That's not it." He says. "Dawon's a great girl, too, and I don't want her to feel like she's coming between us. And I can manage by myself, anyway—I always do."

"But you don't have to." Her voice is soft. "He'll learn to make time for you, Jungwoo. You shouldn't be cast aside, and I'm sure Lucas wouldn't want you to feel that way."

Jungwoo lowers his head, placing the juice box on the countertop and playing with the straw.

There is silence in the kitchen once again, save the faint murmur of the T.V.

Jae rests the sharp edge of the knife against the cheese, and stops. "What are you thinking?"

This time, he doesn't really hesitate. "About how Kunhang should be back from his piano lessons by now."

Right on cue, the soft click of the lock opening resonates through the room, and both of them look up feebly.

Lucas emerges from the giant chocolate-bar door with a colossal grin rolled out across his face, said piano student in tow. He registers the two standing in the kitchen through the opening, dropping the sizeable shopping bags on the floor and opening his arms dramatically.

"'Sup?" He hollers, and a faint smile traces Jungwoo's lips. Kunhang sighs, his expression judgemental, giving Jaesun one last look before moving to the stairs.

Dejun sticks his earphones in again.

A shorter female enters behind him, grimacing as she takes in her boyfriend. "Hey." Dawon nods weakly at Jaesun and Jungwoo. "Xuxi, shut up."

The tall blond seems less than deterred as he turns his blinding white smile on the brunette. "'Sup?"

Dawon shoots Jungwoo an apologetic look and grabs Lucas's forearm, dragging him aside, muttering something to his still-grinning self, with an adoring frown on her face.

Dejun removes his earphones and picks up the fourth bottle.

Jungwoo turns around, picking up the juice and finishing off the last of it.

"See?" He says to Jae, trying for an unbothered smile as he crushes the pack and lets it fall into the trashcan.

She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. He gives her a somewhat sad, sideways smile.

They make the rest of the sandwiches in silence.

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and as you can see, we've entered the angst territory.

DO NOT WORRY, i'll guide you through safely. what do you think about the characters so far? who's your favourite, why, how, SINCE WHEN

i really enjoy reading your comments omg y'all are so sweet? but i hope this isn't getting too boring :')

love,
Manx.