𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 | jinji

ten: and it will never be us.

JINYOUNG.
i had a bet by myself, for the sake of my sanity.

if we had won, i would have decided to break up with yeeun.

if we hadn't, we would have stayed together.

the latter happened.

i knew that i had feelings for jisoo, even if it was the smallest speck of love and hope.

i stare into oblivion as jisoo asked me pointless questions.

i grip tight at the steering wheel, hoping that i could control myself from bursting.

"jinyoung."

i didn't answer.

"what if i said i like you?"

my eyes widen.

i stop the car.

"the fuck is your deal?" my eyes widen a lot more. it's the first time jisoo actually cursed. "i'm sorry," i whisper by surprise.

"jinyoung." i face her. my thoughts were a complete mess, and i can barely make out the things running inside my head.

"i like you." i can feel the intense heat within my eyes, my lips unconsciously apart as her gaze softly pierced through my vulnerable orbs.

"stop." i avoid her gaze, tears starting to blur my vision, and i did everything in my power to hold them back, as i stared at the steering wheel under my tight grip.

—but hers started to flow out first.

she wipes at her tears in panic, as i've seen from my peripheral vision. "forget what i said." she focuses her gaze outside the glass windows. 

i let out a deep, shaky breath, before proceeding with the drive to her home.

don't be confused, jinyoung. you lost the bet. you're coming home, with yeeun waiting in your kitchen, on her phone as she eats yesterday's cereal, her soft smile lighting up your darkest day, and no matter what happens, she'll always be there, even if you have to suffer while staying by her side.

even if it didn't seem right, she's everything and the only person you have left.

once we break up, i won't have anything anymore.

i don't trust jisoo. i can't. from the start, it had always been yeeun.

i stop the car. silence engulfs the atmosphere as the motor pauses.

"thanks, jinyoung." i don't bother to meet her eyes. i just can't. "thank you for even being with me since day 1." she tries to look at me, and her gaze pierces through the side of my head. "i'll never forget you, and i'll always be here for you."

finally, she tears her gaze away.

but i'm slightly taken aback when she still doesn't open the car door.

"i kinda knew," she says. "i knew about your situation with yeeun, and how i would be a hindrance, and i'm terribly sorry for that—but i really, really like you, jinyoung."

"i—"

"but i know that that wouldn't be possible."

my expression remains frozen.

after a brief moment of silence, she huffs. "well, i guess this is the last." for the last time, i turn my head to meet her gaze.

it struck, a slight pain in my chest was to be felt, once seeing her vulnerable state.

"thank you, partner." she smiles, sparing a tear and letting it fall down her cheek.

before i can say another word, she opens the car door and exits, closing it, leaving me in only depressing silence.

suddenly, my phone vibrates, signalling a notification.

a message, an unknown number.

thank you, jinyoung-ah :)

who?