Holding Me Back

Chapter 23

Jongkook's POV

"Now? At this time?" I exclaimed, knowing that it was only 9.30pm. Somin sat up from the bed and sighed. "Oppa, aren't you tired after the shoot?" She shooked her head in disbelief. I shrugged. "You probably must not know that I do not ever rest right after the shoot. I go to the gym instead but since you're here, I also do not know what to do," I realised, thinking about my everyday schedule.

"See? You're so boring, pumping those muscles everyday. Don't you ever drink coffee and read books instead?" She asked. I gave her a bored expression. "Somin, don't you understand that not everyone does the same thing as you?" I stood up from the floor and sat beside her.

"I know, I'm just saying that don't you get bored doing the same thing?" She questioned once again. I've heard this question too many times to the point I'm sick of it but I'll just explain it once again. I took a deep breath. "You read and write books all the time too. Are you sick of it? No. Why? Because you enjoy it and it makes you happy. It's the same with me but instead, I go to the gym," I explained nicely, enough for her to understand and get done with this question.

"Alright, I get your point. Sorry if I made you mad," She patted me on my back. I smiled and shook my head, indicating that it was fine. "So, let's sleep, shall we?" She grabbed my arm and laid down on the bed, pulling me down too. It was obvious I didn't want to sleep at that time. "Somin, I really don't feel like sleeping," I complained and sat back up, pulling away from her grip.

She sat back up too and pouted. "Fine, what should we do now then?" She crossed her arms, thinking of something. As both of us thought of something to do, Somin's phone rang.

Somin's POV

I checked the caller ID which said 'Unknown'. I let it ring since it might be a scam caller and got back to thinking. "Aren't you going to pick up?" Jongkook oppa asked. I shooked my head. After a few seconds, my phone rang again. I glanced at my phone to see the same caller ID. I sighed and decided to pick it up. I unplugged the charger and brought the phone up to my ear.

"Hello?" I heard a male's voice through the phone. Oh? It sounds really familiar. "Yes?" I answered since the man sounded familiar. "Somin-ssi? It's me. Donghae," I was surprised that Donghae was calling me. "Donghae-ssi? What a surprise. How did you get my number?" I chuckled in disbelief, glancing at Jongkook oppa, who's eyebrows were raised.

"Yeah, sorry for disturbing you. I got it from Eunhyuk," He answered and laughed softly. "Ah, you got it from Eunhyuk. And no, you're not disturbing me. It's all good. Why are you calling me at this hour, though?" I asked, full of curiosity. "He's totally disturbing you, what are you talking about?" I heard Jongkook oppa scoffed as he whispered that. I nudged him to be quiet.

"Nothing much. Um..." He trailed off, sounding nervous. "Remember our conversation earlier?" He asked. I thought back. I nodded to myself when I reminisced the conversation that Jongkook oppa interrupted. "Yes, that conversation when Jongkook oppa interrupted you," I replied as the man beside me gave me a glare. I smiled cheekily at him and gave him a wink.

"Yes, that. I'll continue my question, alright?" I heard him clear his throat. I sensed that he was nervous, so it made my curiousity increase. "Would you want to hang out sometime?" Donghae's voice seemed rushed as he asked. My eyes widened. "With me? Just us?" I was shocked. "Well, yes. As friends, atleast," He chuckled nervously. My eyebrows frowned at the 'atleast' statement.

I've hung out with alot of my male friends. But with Donghae, who is my friend's friend? "Well, sure. To become friends, I dont mind," I agreed, smiling softly as I liked making new friends even when I'm 34 years old. At that moment, I forgot about Jongkook oppa who was clearly listening to our conversation.

"Alright, great. I'll call you when I'm free to hang out! Have a goodnight," He exclaimed and ended the call after I replied a goodnight. I looked at my phone, still surprised at Donghae's sudden invitation to hang out. Then, I heard a serious voice.

"You're happy?" Jongkook oppa's sour expression made me laugh. "What do you mean? He wants to be friends," I said. "Somin, he clearly wants to get closer to you," He facepalmed himself. "As a friend! Isn't it nice?" I asked in confusion, not knowing what the big deal was. "Not as a friend!" He disagreed.

Narrator's POV

Somin sighed. "Oppa, I know you are jealous but Donghae is a nice man, who just wants to be friends. Don't you understand?" She felt annoyed by Jongkook's disagreement. "Me? Jealous? I'm just saying that as a guy, it is very clear that he wants to get closer to you because he sees you as a woman, not a friend. And as your boyfriend, I can't stay still," He bickered, irritated at his girlfriend.

"We only talked twice in real life! How can he see me as a woman already?" She argued back. "I don't know! Some guys fall in love too easily, I guess," He still didn't back down. "Whatever. I'm tired of arguing. He doesn't like me as a woman until he tells me himself. I will take care of it if he ever confesses to me, which he won't, so you just stay still," She stood up and went out of the room.

Jongkook groaned in frustration. He stayed in his room for a few minutes to calm himself down as Somin grabbed a glass of water, gulping it down hurriedly. "That jerk, he thinks he knows everything. How can someone like another person so easily?" Somin scoffed to herself before refilling the glass. "That woman, she doesn't even know anything. It's so obvious that he wants to hang out for the sake of a relationship, not a friendship," Jongkook snickered and complained to himself.

Jongkook finally went out of the room and sat on the sofa. He glanced at Somin, who was purposely avoiding him by drinking glasses of water. He turned on the TV and watched the variety show. Somin heard Jongkook laughing at the show and glared at him sneakily. She rolled her eyes, annoyed that he was laughing while she was still upset.

Jongkook laughed intentionally to make Somin feel bothered. He switched the channel to "Music Bank", the channel of kpop idols. It was Mamamoo, performing their popular song,"Gogobebe". Jongkook arched an eyebrow, thinking of teasing Somin.

The 4 members were indeed very pretty so Jongkook complimented one of them on purpose. "Wow, Solar is so pretty. How is she so pretty?" He praised Solar out loud for Somin to hear. Somin bit her lip in annoyance but held herself back from arguing. Since Somin was still in the kitchen, Jongkook said something even more agitating.

"How do they make the dance so bold and sexy? It really suits them," He voiced out once again. Somin took a deep breath. She went towards Jongkook. Jongkook smirked as he saw her in the corner of the eyes. She took the remote from him and turned off the TV.

"Annoying old man," She dissed him loudly and went in his room. Jongkook wasn't sure if he heard that right. He was taken aback and was frozen for a couple of seconds. He stood up and walked in his room to find Somin sulking, covered in his blanket. He felt guilty as he heard her sob. He closed the door and went nearer to her.

"Somin-ah?" He tried to remove the blanket on her but was pushed. "Go away," Her voice cracked. "I took the joke too far, didn't I? I didn't mean to hurt you," He comforted her and tried to take off the blanket again. He successfully took off the blanket, only to find her eyes full of tears and her red nose. Jongkook's eyes saddened as he saw his girlfriend crying. She probably felt frustrated.

"I'm sorry," He tried to embrace her but she backed away. "I know you are joking around but I felt annoyed when you laughed while I was still upset," A tear rolled down her cheeks. Jongkook's heart stung as he saw it drop. "I know, I know. I'm sorry,okay? I didn't want to make you cry. I just wanted to tease you," He explained, slowly pulling her into his embrace.

She sobbed on his shoulder and hit him on the chest. "You cry so easily, Somin-ah. It makes me scared," He wiped away her tears gently. "Of what?" She mumbled, sniffling loudly. "Of hurting you," He laid down on the bed, pulling her down too. He patted her back as she pulled up the blanket to cover the both of them.

"Then, take care of me properly," Somin said. "I will," Jongkook hugged her tightly. "Are you still going to hang out with Donghae?" Jongkook broke the silence. "Probably. He wants to be friends, oppa," Somin answered. Jongkook nodded hesitantly. "Alright, it's your choice anyways, Somin. Don't get too close, though," Jongkook teased. Somin giggled.

The night went on peacefully as they slept soundly after the conversation.