𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐢𝐭. | 𝐤𝐡𝐡&𝐤𝐫𝐧𝐛

[𝟏𝟏] 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

gyujeong's p.o.v.

i sat there, trying to cool off. i was so infuriated by minsik for what he said. if he hadn't wanted me to go after hyorin then he should have told me so in the first place. he could've also done it privately rather than in front of her and hwimin. there was a bunch of things that minsik could have done differently in that situation.

i tried to clear my head until i heard footsteps approaching.

───

minsik's p.o.v.

ugh. what were you thinking? gyujeong's your friend and a pretty good one at that. he even asked for your freaking blessing! and you agreed! i scolded myself mentally. i sat in that spot, replaying the scene through my head.

i was honestly out of line. i couldn't help but feel somewhat protective over hyorin because i've had eyes for her. shaking my head, i knew that i didn't deserve her. she probably sees me as a jerk now.

suddenly, i heard someone walking towards me.

— ۵ —

back to hyorin's p.o.v.

"care to explain?" i asked without making eye contact, looking straight ahead at the door i entered through.

he let out a heavy sigh and began.

he explained how he was just feeling aggravated by the game and took it out on gyujeong, which i didn't fully believe but i let him continue regardless.

"in conclusion, i'm sorry you had to see that," minsik apologized while looking sheepishly at the ground.

"add lying to the things that you should be sorry about," i mumbled, causing him to look at me with a puzzled face. "i'm not stupid. at least not to that extent. i know the two of you and i know that a racing game isn't a typical thing that you guys would fight about. you're lying about something and that's not what best friends do."

"sometimes we do the things that we do and we don't even know why," he responded cryptically.

"and sometimes we know why but we're too afraid to admit it," i looked at him with a knowing look, "so let me know when you're not afraid to tell me the truth." i gave him one last glance before walking out of the batting cage.

if minsik won't tell me then maybe gyujeong will. i thought to myself as i walked to find him.

i finally found him sitting in the food court with hwimin. both of their backs were facing me as i slowly walked towards them.

"...i just don't see why he won't tell her." i heard gyujeong say to hwimin. taking advantage of the fact that they couldn't see me, i hid behind a tall plant near them and eavesdropped.

"well i don't see how she doesn't notice it." hwimin said in response. i grew more curious.

"she probably thinks it's platonic."

"but the thing is: do you like her?" i didn't look fast enough to see whether or not he shook his head or nodded. "if you do, then why should it be such a problem?"

"because—" i accidentally stumbled into the plant due to my excessive leaning.

"hyorin?!" they both exclaimed at the same time, jumping up from their seats.

act normal. act normal. c'mon. i thought to myself before plastering on a fake smile.

"h-hey guys. what's crack-a-lackin' homeslices?" what part of act normal did i not understand??