Cupcakes | j.wy ✓

19

"Okay, Kyung, what's going on?" Yunho demanded, gripping my shoulder tightly.

"What?" I asked, turning to him.

"Why were Yeosang and San so tense around Wooyoung after you talked to them?" Yunho frowned. "Scratch that. What in the world did you guys talk about?"

I sighed to myself.

As soon as Wooyoung finished recording, Yunho had been pressing me about why Yeosang, San and I seemed so tense. I tried not to tell him why since Wooyoung is literally not that far away from us, and instead attempted on starting a casual conversation. Yunho still looked suspicious, but he tried to play along, even though he also attempted to ask me questions again. When Jongho finally arrived with Seonghwa carrying some snacks for us, I abandoned Yunho completely to converse with Jongho. My plan worked well, in my opinion, as Yunho didn't try to interrogate me again and Wooyoung didn't even attempt to start a conversation with me. But I knew I couldn't run away for long, and that I was going to have to answer Yunho's question in the end eventually. And so here we are.

"Just Gami and Wooyoung's strange interaction, that's all." I answered.

Yunho's eyebrows shot up and vanished under his bangs at the speed of light. "You asked San and Yeosang about Wooyoung's strange interaction with Gami?"

I flinched with surprise at Yunho's reaction. "Yeah? Why?"

"I just didn't know you had the guts to do it, that's all," Yunho shook his head. "You aren't very close with San and Yeosang, so the very fact that you are talking to them is a shock itself."

"Yeosang was wondering why I looked so tense around Wooyoung," I explained. "I answered the question, and San overheard my answer. Then he told me that Gami was Woolim's ex-best friend or something, and that it is not a good idea if they are both hanging out together because Gami is a bad influence. He told me to ask him why he is talking to her that day."

Yunho was silent for a while, before he shook his head. "Well, one thing's for sure: I think San is right, Kyung. You gotta go and ask Wooyoung about why he was talking with Gami that day. We can't let him be friends with a jerk like her."

"But why me?" I frowned. "Why can't it be you, or San, or Yeosang?"

Yunho was silent for a while, before he started speaking. "I don't really know, but I feel like you should be the one to ask him. It's a gut feeling, you know, and you know that you can trust my guts. Also, this might be your chance to get closer to the guy. Seriously, if this was a book about you and Wooyoung, it's just going in circles and your relationship with one another isn't going anywhere, which is making the book pointless."

I stayed silent, pondering over it. "I guess you're right. But do I really have to talk to him?"

Yunho slapped his forehead. "Are you really the same person who told me a few months ago to man up and ask the girl I like to a date?"

"I'm not a boy, I don't need to 'man up'," I retort.

"Okay, but you still got to try, at least," Yunho answers. "Go text him and ask him to meet up somewhere."

"Aren't guys supposed to be asking the girl these things?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Are you stalling, Kyung?" Yunho raised his eyebrows suspiciously.

"N-no," I stuttered.

Yunho chuckled. "Kyung, it's so obvious. You're literally stuttering."

"Was not!" I grumbled.

Yunho laughed before turning serious again. "Seriously though, Kyung, if you and Wooyoung hung out more, you would be dating already. You gotta be braver, girl." He punched my shoulder lightly.

"It's not my fault he's such a playboy," I grumble. "He hangs out with so many girls and the other guys and his other friends so much that even doing our science homework together is a scarce thing."

Yunho paused. "Wait what?" He frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"By what?" I asked.

"By 'doing homework together is a scarce thing'?"

"Oh." Realization hit me, and I almost facepalmed myself.

Our homework buddy thing is still going on in science class, but that didn't mean I got to spend much time with Wooyoung. Most times I had to do it alone because Wooyoung is usually off gallivanting about and hanging out with other friends. I guess you could say I was hurt about that fact, but then again I was threatened by Gami so I guess not hanging out with him is a good thing.

"It's nothing," I shook my head.

"It doesn't sound like nothing," Yunho frowns. "What did Wooyoung do?"

I sighed. "Do you promise not to chase him around Seoul and threaten to slice his head off?"

"What did he do?" Yunho inquired, ignoring my previous statement.

"Well, he doesn't often come to our homework sessions," I answer truthfully. "He is usually hanging out with his other friends during the sessions I try to plan. It's no big deal, really."

Yunho was silent for a while. I was afraid he was going to explode, but he only sighed and shook his head.

"Why is it always you," he muttered under his breath.

"What?" I inquired, confused.

"Nothing," Yunho shook his head. "Are you sure you're fine with that? With Wooyoung not coming to your homework sessions?"

"Yunho, I'm fine," I smile. "Look on the bright side. At least Gami wouldn't know that I have homework sessions with him, and she won't disturb me for it. That's at least one thing I should be glad about, right?"

Yunho still looked unsure, but he nodded. "If you say so," he nods.

I smile at him, before remembering about Gunho's condition. My smile vanished and I wrung my hands.

I still don't know how to break the news to him.

We were silent on the way back home, the two sides of my head fighting over how I should tell Yunho about the news.

Why don't you just straightaway tell him, like, 'Yunho, I think your brother's sick!'

Won't that just put him in a panic attack?

Since when had Yunho had panic attacks?

You never know. He might have one soon.

Stop wishing for such things!

What about 'Yunho, I have a feeling there's something wrong with Gunho.'

That doesn't feel right.

I sighed. This isn't working. Jongho may be right, and that I shouldn't tell Yunho about Gunho. Heck, I don't even know where to start! But then Yunho deserves to know—Gunho is his brother after all. Not telling him would be disastrous.

Ugh. Dilemmas are the worst.

After waving Yunho goodbye I slipped into my apartment and plopped onto my couch on my stomach, groaning. After a good fifteen minutes of groaning, and I rolled over to my back and stared at the ceiling, thinking about my last conversation with Yunho.

Did I really not care about the fact that Wooyoung chose to hang out with other kids instead of me? Did it really not bother much? Was it really okay?

The thoughts made me emotional and I squeezed my eyes shut. That was when I felt tears escape from under my eyelids. Then I began crying harder, tears flowing down like an unstoppable waterfall. I'm not really sure what I'm even crying about—the fact that Wooyoung chose to be with others but not me? The fact that I couldn't even tell my best friend about his younger brother?

What is wrong with me?

Why does it hurt so much?

I wiped my tears with the back of my arm and breathed in and out through my nose slowly, trying to calm myself down. My eyes fluttered shut, and I fell into a deep sleep.

I wish the pain of rejection would just go away.