In love with the way you lie

Chapter 5: Jinyoung's past & present

Past

Leo was Jinyoung's ex. Leo was a few years older than him and he had met him at one of Jackson's parties. Jinyoung fell head over heels in love with him. Because he was handsome and smart. He was also someone who was always sweet and loving. Unfortunately, Leo loved his money more. His parents had gotten wind of their relationship and had given him a large sum of money in exchange for leaving him and Leo chose the money. Leo wasn't even poor to begin with. But when tempted with the money, he became greedy and tossed him aside. Jinyoung was furious and heartbroken. At first, Jinyoung blamed his parents for interfering and had begged Leo to reconsider. Leo had told him that after he built his wealth, he will be back for him. Jinyoung knew that was a lie. From then on Jinyoung was never the same. He closed himself off and only relied on Jackson. Jackson was from a similar background as him and his best friend. After Leo left, Jackson and he got together but it did not last and they decided it was better to stay friends. They enrolled in the same college so when he found himself falling for Mark, Jinyoung was scared. Because Mark reminded him very much of Leo. It was a good thing that Mark seemed to want to keep a distance. Jackson seemed like he was trying to match him up with Mark even though he knew the damage Leo had caused him. 

Present

Then there was Jaebum. He was so different from the guys Jinyoung had met. He looks tough but he was a clumsy person and kind of dorky. Jinyoung found him entertaining when he was called to answer their professor's questions. He would splutter and utter a bunch of words (usually the wrong answer). Jinyoung would laugh and take pity on him. He would slip him a piece of paper with his handwritten answers. Jaebum would read out the answers. Jaebum admitted he did not understand the problem. Jinyoung peered over his shoulder and explain to him the answers patiently. "Well this is a difficult question but actually there is a simpler way of solving this if you rearrange this part and here..."

"How did you know of this method? This was not taught..." Jaebum asked him. Jinyoung shrugged and replied he had researched similar problems and pieced them together. 

"You are such a nerd Jinyoung." 

Jinyoung would retort back, "have you seen such a handsome nerd like me ?" and then wink at Jaebum. Jaebum would be rendered speechless for a while before he said he was self-obsessed. 

Jackson had a good view of seeing the two of them bicker. Jackson was happy that his plan was working. Jinyoung was finally accepting others as friends. Ever since Jackson had created the group, the 4 of them hung out often and grew closer. Jinyoung was fast becoming friends with Jaebum. Jaebum had texted him and at first, Jinyoung didn't want to chat with him but it was like the two of them clicked. It was easy chatting with Jaebum and he found himself enjoying it. They would chat about anything and Jinyoung was surprised he was opening up to Jaebum the same way he was open to Jackson. He had only known him for such a short while. And as for Mark, he was starting to interact with him more outside of soccer. Mark ate lunch with him in the cafeteria. Just the two of them. Which has never happened before. People started to gather and snap pictures of them. Both of them didn't like the extra attention and had quickly finished their food.  

Mark said, "We can't even eat our meal in peace, lets just go out to eat next time." 

That was a great idea. The restaurants outside had much better food and they would be away from the prying eyes of the students. Jinyoung had started to type in the group chat to ask Jackson and Jaebum but Mark had added, "Just the two of us."  

 Did Mark just ask him out on a date? Jinyoung was shocked but he deleted what he had typed and agreed. 

Jinyoung had texted Jaebum to ask him for advice. 

Jinyoung: Ok you have to help me, Mark asked me out and Idk what he likes, any idea?

Jaebum: Mark asked you out?

Jinyoung: yea he did so back to the question, what does Mark like?

Jaebum: Idk, someone who isn't as bratty as you

Jinyoung: EXCUSE ME? Me bratty? If I am bratty then you are dumb and clumsy. 

Jaebum: WHat? Just coz I tripped once doesn't make me a clumsy person! And wdym by dumb?? I am really smart! I am just not a nerd like you who studies all the time. 

Jinyoung: Yea, have you ever seen such a handsome nerd like me?

Jaebum: not this again

Jinyoung: so you admit you do find me handsome?

And the two of them would argue about other stuff, Jinyoung would forget his original purpose of texting him.  

One day Jinyoung showed up for class looking like he walked out of a magazine cover. Jaebum scanned him from head to toe. He had curled his bangs and wore a short-sleeved white collared shirt, pants of a light shade, complete with a beige coat. He had traded in his usual black-rimmed glasses for contacts. This was a huge contrast to the usual pullovers Jinyoung would wear. He usually wears black and dull colours.

"Woah what's the occasion?"

"Going out with Mark later, which you did not help. How do I look?" Jinyoung asked. 

"Mark will like it" Jaebum stated. So Mark was finally going to make a move on Jinyoung. He doesn't like it. And it seemed like Jinyoung is going to fall in. 

"Wait, you should wear your glasses instead, you look more natural."   

After that day, Jinyoung would appear all dressed up in fancy and surely expensive outfits. 

"Aren't you overdoing it?" Jaebum would comment. 

"Speak for yourself, you are always in your hoodies" Jinyoung pointed out as he sat down.

"Yea, save for the hoodie which you destroyed" 

"Are you really going to bring that up again?" 

The next week, Jaebum received a hoodie from Jinyoung. It was the same brand and design as the one Jinyoung had damaged. "How did you..?"

Jinyoung said it took him quite some effort to get it. Jaebum was not kidding when he said this was a limited edition. No wonder he had been so upset about it.

-To Be Continued-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's note:

New chapter for you all. Thanks for reading!