Maybe You and I

thirty one

second update for today bc why not? besides, ya'll also need to see jaemin's side hihihi
------

Chapter 31

Her phone suddenly rang, and they all looked at Haejin who looked like she was contemplating if she'll answer the call from Jaemin.

But to their surprise, she declines it.

"He can wait."

She doesn't want to talk about it much, especially because of what Mark and Donghyuck told her earlier. There's no way that Jaemin can do it... right?

"You need to know something about Jaemin." It was as if Haejin has gone def the moment Mark spoke.

It was unusual for the three of them to have this kind of atmosphere. It was tense, and it was suffocating her. Normally, if the three of them were together, they would just laugh all day long thanks to Donghyuck. But the two of them were all too serious today.

Mark took a deep breath before facing his sister, "Hendery told Chenle that your boyfriend has been coming home late. By late, I mean two in the morning." He sighed.

Haejin only scoffed and leaned her back on the couch comfortably, "He works overtime, Mark. There's no other reason than that."

"Haejin-ah, there's a rule in 360 that employees can only work until 11 or 12 if they want to work overtime." Mark said. "If he got off at around that time, where was he in the remaining hours?"

"Well then what are you guys trying to say?!" She wasn't having it. It hasn't been an hour since she woke up, yet here they are, already screwing up her mind. "Just go straight to the point!" She looked at Donghyuck who was silent. "Hyuck, speak up!"

The tanned male was startled at Haejin's sudden outburst, "I-I... I don't have anything to say, Jinjin-ah... I don't believe it either."

"But it came from Hendery, Donghyuck-ah!" Mark yelled.

Haejin slammed the table in front of her and stood up, "Stop it. The two of you, stop it." She said and looked away. She went towards Nari, who was still sleeping, and brushed his fur. "I know it came from Hendery-oppa, but it doesn't mean that it's the truth." She said and pressed her lips into a thin line.

"If we want to know the truth, we must hear it from Jaemin himself." Haejin said. "Hendery told nothing but a mere observation. So what if he comes home late? I won't believe anything that you guys say unless it comes from him."

"I trust him.. with all my heart."

"Haejin-ah?" Ningning snapped her fingers in front of Haejin, who was still looking at her phone. "Are you alright?" She asked, worriedly.

Haejin looked at her and smiled, "Why wouldn't I be okay?" She said with a smile on her face. "I'm just hungry because I haven't eaten a decent meal for breakfast. I only had a bag of chips and a handful of issues thanks to Mark and Hyuck."

Seulgi chuckled and patted her shoulder, "Well then, should we have our break already? The event is ending and the guys can handle this already." She said and looked around.

They nodded and waited for Seulgi outside the auditorium. After that, they went to  nearby restaurant to have their lunch. There were seven of them: Seulgi, Yeri, Wendy, Haejin, Joy, Irene, Ningning, Ten and Yuta. Donghyuck went back to their dorm after the incident at Haejin's apartment.

"Are you alright?" Yuta asked.

She nodded, "Of course. But I don't want to believe him."

You can't do it to me... right, Jaemin-ah?

***

"She's not picking up," Jaemin sighed and paced back and forth. Meanwhile, Hendery could only watch his friend while lying down on the couch.

"Maybe she's busy? Your girlfriend is a busy person too," Hendery said and covered his eyes using his arm. "I'll be taking a nap, just wake me up if you need anything." He said as he slowly drifted to dreamland.

"One more time, Jaemin.." he sighed and dialed her number once again. After a couple of rings, it finally stopped directing to her voice mail. "Haejinnie?" he immediately called for her name as the video on her head was still laggy.

"Jaemin-ah!" She was smiling from the other end, and Jaemin felt relief rushing through his body. "Happy valentines day!" She said while showing him a heart-shaped cake.

Jaemin was smiling from ear to ear, "Happy valentines day, Love." He chuckled. "Where are you?"

"I just got off work, and by work, I meant hosting the afternoon part of the book conference earlier." She said. "I'm sorry if I wasn't able to pick up your calls earlier..."

"No, it's okay!" He said and stood up.

Jaemin noticed Hendery stand up with a huge frown on his face while muttering, "I've never felt so single in my entire life... and this only happens when I'm with you two.. heck Haejin isn't here..."

Jaemin laughed, and little did Hendery know, that Haejin saw it all. "Sorry not sorry Hendery-oppa!" She laughed.

"How have you been?" He asked and sat on the floor.

"Really fine. You?" She asked.

"I've been busy these days since I really want to finish the game already so that I could go back..."  Haejin smiled at her boyfriend who looked really down. "I miss you so much..."

This guy... how can this guy do the things they're all talking about?

"I miss you more..."

"I've been coming home late these days..." Jaemin said, and Haejin wanted to cover her ears because it's the same topic all over again. "Because I became so busy..."

"Mhm, I heard about it..." Haejin said and placed her board down the counter. She placed the cake inside the fridge and grabbed a can of soda. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Love, I don't know what kind of news reached you but I don't have anything to hide." Jaemin said, and Haejin could hear the sincerity in his voice.

She was near to crying, because she knew it in her heart, even if Jaemin won't say it, "I know, I know that..." she wiped the tears that managed to escape.

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm just—happy..." She smiled. "I know it, and I trust you... okay?"

He nodded, "But I want to tell you everything so that you won't misunderstand..." He said, and Haejin nodded. "You see, I happened to see my boss at her worst, because she and her boyfriend broke up..."

She nodded and gestured him to continue.

"We talked about it and she asked me to stay with her until she moves on, but I decided not to do it anymore since the only girl I need to be with is you, Haejin-ah." Her heart fluttered the moment he said those words. "And please trust me, and only me... okay?"

She smiled, "I trust you... with all my heart, Na Jaemin."

—tbc.