Chapter 21

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Kang Gook did not like the way Tae Joo was on the phone. As he was leaving the room, he was thinking that he deserved it.

Tae Joo and Lee Jun.

He didn't know if they were together or not, but the phone call showed that they were close. He hated himself for having messed up so much. Of course, Tae Joo wouldn't want him after hospitalising the man not only once but twice.

The following days Kang Gook tried by all means to avoid Tae Joo as much as he could but one day it was unavoidable as they were now working in the same building. He and Jae Won were going for lunch one day. They waited for the elevator to come and when it opened, Kang Gook's eyes witnessed something that took his appetite away.

In it, Lee Jun was brushing Tae Joo's hair away from his face fondly, smiles on their faces. He had to admit that they looked good together and it was a painful realisation.

The two friends got in the elevator and when they got out, they went their separate ways without exchanging any words.

"do you think, he has moved on?" Tae Joo asked Lee Jun after they got out of the elevator.

His steps were slow as he looked back and saw the man Kang Gook was with holding his back. He frowned.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to him too."

"he shouldn't. Then there would be no reason for me to stay" Tae Joo slowly muttered as he felt miserable. He looked back at the two males exiting the building.

"do you really think you can go back to how things were?" Lee Jun asked wanting to understand Tae Joo's attachment to Kang Gook. It was the first thing Tae Joo had asked him the first time they met. He had wanted to hear stories of Kang Gook and how he survived all these years by himself.

To Lee Jun, Tae Joo had changed so much. He had grown so much but deep inside the Tae Joo from the past was tucked in. He had thought he had a chance since Kang Gook was out of the picture, but he had been wrong. Kang Gook was very much still in the picture. A picture only Tae Joo could see. He tried to be there for Tae Joo but Tae Joo's heart had a hole that he couldn't fill.

It was a hole too deep and wide for Lee Jun.

It was a hole only Kang Gook could fill.

"we don't have to go back to how things were. We can just start over. I'm confident that I can do it right this time. I can be there for him now"

"you've always been there for him though; he is the one who took advantage of you"

"the fact that he needed you guys when I was there said a lot."

"we've talked about this countless times; it was not your fault" Lee Jun declared.

"I know." Tae Joo looked up not wanting the tears in his eyes to fall. It neither the place nor the time for tears.

The tension in the elevator did not go past Jae Won. He had seen Kang Gook tense so when they were exiting the building, he gently held Kang Gook's back asked him,

"do you know those two?"

Kang Gook nodded not wanting to spill much.

"come on we've been friends for a long time don't you think I deserve more than a nod"

"We grew up together"

"with whom?"

"Han Tae Joo"

"You mean Mr Min?"

Kang Gook nodded again. Jae Wook couldn't believe it.

"If you grew up together why didn't you acknowledge each other?"

"things happened"

"care to share?"

Kang Gook didn't reply.

They got to the restaurant with a question mark hanging between them. They sat down and ordered. It was when they were waiting for their food that Kang Gook started narrating their childhood stories and how reckless he was. Jae Wook was a bi man, so he listened quietly without judging.

It was a sad story and retelling it made Kang Gook realise how much he had failed Tae Joo. It had been silly for him to do that.

Their food came and Kang Gook was not feeling hungry anymore.

"so you guys haven't talked? No makeup sex or anything"

"I'd be happy with a handshake" Kang Gook said as picked up Kimchi from a plate and ate it.

"are they going out?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything, but they seem close. I'm angry at the fact that he is with him like he used to be with me so I don't know. If that's the case it would crash me. I've missed him so much."

"was he the reason you said no to me?"

"yes. Dating someone else was going to remind me of him and I would have pushed myself into depression"

"that deep?"

"that's how much I love him."

"I know this is going to sound crazy"

"don't say it then."

"listen...... make him jealous"

"Why would I do that?"

"That's the only way to find out if the guy still has feelings for you."

"I'm certain that he has moved on and I won't hate him for it. I deserved it."

"I don't think so. Listening to your story it's not possible for him to move on that easily."

"It was that bad trust me. He wouldn't want me to be with him again after going through that"

Jae Wook shook his head.

"Do you want to make a bet?" He asked as he gulped down a spoonful of rice.

Kang Gook's chopsticks fell on the ground as he looked at his friend.

"did you not listen to what I've said?"

Jae Wook took his time to chew and swallow his food.

"the guy can take you back, lets bet on it"

"I'm not doing this with you."

"trust me I'm your friend. I want you happy"

"and how would that make me happy?"

"you'll get him back"

"how exactly" Kang Gook sat back on his chair to listen to his friend's crazy suggestions"

"I said it, make him jealous and make him admit his feelings"

"I..." Kang Gook stopped to think. It was crazy that he was considering this idea.

"I say before the end of the month he'll take you back"

Kang Gook shook his head. He wasn't supposed to, but something at the back of his mind was nudging at his heart.

He was curious. He wanted to know if Tae Joo had moved on. If he had moved on with Lee Jun.  If Tae Joo still had him in his heart just like before. He knew he was going to regret this in the near future. But it was something that he needed. It was something he had to do.

"How do I make him jealous?" He asked dejected.

This was not it.

Jae Wook dropped his chopsticks and drank his water. He wiped his mouth with a serviette and looked at Kang Gook, a smirk on his face.

"Let's date."

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