Playboy

Trente-Huit

Baekhyun

"Eunji, we need to talk about this," Baekhyun said after a moment of shocked silence. He didn't want to admit it, but had felt that this was coming.

"There's nothing to talk about, Baekhyun." Eunji looked at him with confusion, shaking her head.

"Here," Baekhyun said, handing her shirt back, "let's get some water and talk this out."

"I don't want water," Eunji protested as Baekhyun got out of the bed.

"Too bad," he said, exiting the room and going out to the kitchen.

Baekhyun didn't wait to see if Eunji was following him. He walked across the hardwood floor to Eunji's mess of a kitchen filled with dishes from the night before. He grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and sat silently at the counter. Eventually, he heard the soft padding of Eunji's feet as she came to join him in the kitchen.

"Baekhyun, what are you doing?" She asked. Baekhyun couldn't tell what she was thinking. She seemed sorry and just a little disappointed, but with him or herself he couldn't tell.

"We need to talk about this," Baekhyun repeated.

"What is there to talk about?" She asked, exasperated, she clearly didn't want to dwell on the subject of her love for Sehun. "I love Sehun and I don't love you!"

"Ouch." Baekhyun winced jokingly, giving Eunji a small smile.

"I'm sorry, that was harsh, that was terrible." Eunji ran a hand through her long hair. "I'm just a mess right now, a god damn mess."

"And you need to talk about what's going on," Baekhyun urged, "remember, before I was your boyfriend I was your friend. I know I can't save our relationship, but I still want to help you."

"You're truly incredible." Eunji shook her head and joined Baekhyun at the counter. "Even though I just hurt you in unimaginable ways, you're still worried about me. You're not even mad with me."

"I am hurt, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little upset." Baekhyun looked over at Eunji. "I really love you, Eunji, but I know you can't reciprocate those feelings. I know that you won't be truly happy if you're with me."

"That's not true," Eunji said, shaking her head again, "I am happy with you."

"But not like you were with Sehun," Baekhyun countered.

Eunji quieted at that. Baekhyun knew she was hurt. He knew that she didn't want to harm him, but also knew that she belonged with Sehun. As much as he didn't like it, Baekhyun had to admit it. Eunji had never been as radiant with him as she had been with Sehun. A handful of the amazing qualities in Eunji that Baekhyun had fallen in love with had been because of Sehun. Baekhyun loved Eunji and disliked Sehun, but he just knew that he couldn't be with Eunji.

"You have to tell me now if you want out," Baekhyun said quietly.

"Out?" Eunji asked him, looking up with complex eyes.

"Out of this relationship," Baekhyun clarified.

"I..." Eunji paused, looking down at her hands in her lap. "Now that I've realized I still love Sehun, I have to get out. It's not fair to you if I keep on going like this. You deserve more, Baekhyun. You deserve someone who loves you."

"So this is goodbye?" Baekhyun asked.

"Not goodbye." Eunji shook her head. "I still want you to be my friend and I hope that you'll still want to work in the shop with me. This is just the end of our relationship as lovers."

"Good," Baekhyun said, "I wasn't ready to say goodbye."