Love

Twenty Four || Noodles

Jimin's POV

My feet stop me at the window of the convenience store.

It's late, later than I had hoped to be getting home. I guess it's what I get for continuously putting off work the past few weeks. I've wanted to be home earlier lately. To get into Ada's arms as quickly as possible.

"Jimin?"

Her honey-like voice dances into my ear, caressing the drum with love that drips from her tone. "Are you okay?"

"Hm?" I ask.

"You got quiet all of a sudden." Ada laughs softly and my plump lips spread into a smile. I still stare into the convenience store, eyes peering to the back where a certain form sits alone, slurping up ramen.

"Yeah, sorry," I chuckle. "I just stopped at the convenience store. I think I'll eat something and then head home. I'm not far, anyway."

"Sound good. I'll head to bed then."

I hum into the phone. "Alright," I say softly. "Sleep well, I'll talk to you in the morning."

"Get home safe."

"Bye, Ada."

"Bye, Jimin."

I slide my phone into my pocket and place my hand on the bar of the door, entering the store.

A soft "Hello!" from the cashier greets me. I bow and make my way to the back wall of the store, perusing the noodles and various snacks.

I grab a container and fill it with hot water to boil the noodles and look behind me at the person sitting at the counter.

She has a hoodie over her head, one I haven't seen before, sweatpants, and those same run-down sneakers she always wears. It doesn't take me long to work up the courage to say something to her.

"Hey," I say simply.

Her shoulders tense before she turns to me. "Hey!"

"What are you doing here?" I ask. It's awkward, like old friends who had a falling out are trying to talk normally. I guess that's what did happen, in a way.

Nothing between us is normal.

"Oh, just...eating," she says with a laugh.

"Are those black bean noodles?"

She nods. I nod.

"I got cheese ramen," I say.

She nods again. "Nice."

Silence

"Um...is that a new hoodie? I know I haven't seen you in a while, but I haven't forgotten that you only had one hoodie." I laugh, but when she doesn't, I wonder if I shouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have added the last part after months of not speaking to each other.

"It's Jung-mo's," she says, which I was not expecting.

My eyes widen and I lean forward a bit. "Lee Jung-mo?"

She just nods. "Yep."

"Are you guys seeing each other?" I ask without much thought behind it.

As soon as the words leave my lips, I curse myself. It's not my place to ask her that. We haven't spoken in months, probably more my fault than hers. Not to mention Jung-mo and I have grown apart lately. I have no right to ask about either of their lives.

Still, she snorts as a response to my question.

"No," she says adamantly. "No, we're not dating or anything. We've just become really close since New Year's."

"I see." The day she came to my house and ran away before I could even invite her inside, before Ada could say another word. The day Jung-mo told me he was too busy to go for drinks that night. Was she the reason he was too busy?

"How'd that come to be?" I ask instead of saying what's on my mind.

She shrugs. "We just kind of...bonded. Over a lost friend."

The way her eyes look at me make me feel guilty.

"I never left," I scoff out.

She's quiet.

"Well you sure didn't stick around," she replies.

"Is it wrong of me to prioritize my girlfriend for a little while?" I snap.

She flinches at my words, but I continue anyway.

"What's wrong with me focusing on my relationship with her? Do you guys have a problem with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with it," she states simply. "I was just saying that we got close because we bonded over you pushing us out. Maybe me more than him, but we were both pushed away by you. And it doesn't even make sense! One day, you and I are having fun just going out on Friday nights as friends do; then the next week you won't even look at me, let alone talk to me! You don't answer my calls or texts, or anything. I had to hear from your friends that you'd been going out with a girl. Next thing I know, Jung-mo forces me into this stupid karaoke bar and I have to watch my former best friend ignore me and push me away right before my eyes!"

"I didn't push anyone away!" I did. "Especially not Jung-mo!" I have.

"Then what did you do to me?"

My mouth opens and shuts like a fish's as I try to grasp for words. "Well, you stopped trying to reach out! You pulled away from me!"

"You didn't reach out either!" she shouts. "Did you ever think to give me a call? Did you ever come by to make sure I wasn't lonely in my house? In all these months you've been with Ada, have you ever tried to make sure I was okay? Is it any wonder I relied on Jung-mo? When was the last time you properly spoke to him?"

"It...we just saw each other at work!"

"That's not my point!" She stands up to meet me and step away from her angry form. "The point is that you've been friends with Jung-mo and I for months and you've tossed us away like we're nothing! It's not right to push away your friends, not for any reason."

I shake my head and manage to cough out a laugh. "Well, maybe you should stick with Jung-mo then, since you two don't have me anymore. Maybe it's best that way."

"You sound a little jealous to me." She crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the counter she once sat at.

"Why would I be jealous?" I retort, stepping back towards the exit. "I have a girlfriend, I don't need you."

She's silent, simply staring at me.

"What?" I ask, my frustration edging into my tone again.

"I meant jealous that Jung-mo is closer to me now, but you seem to have something else in mind."

I turn away without another word and leave my already purchased noodles in the convenience store.

I blame my blushing cheeks on my anger, but I have nothing to blame my rushed heartbeat on.

—
helloooooooo!!

long time no see, eh? it's been a while, but i'm glad to be back with morrrrre dramaaaaa!!! i'm sure you're happy too lol

sorry the gif didn't work :( i have to do this on my phone...i'll fix it soon!!

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