PSYCHO | BANG CHAN [✓]

CHAPTER EIGHT

Throughout the next few days, Chan had noticed a change. Ever since his conversation with Minho, Misun seemed off. Her smile wasn't as bright, she appeared run down, dark circles had begun to develop under her eyes, and she was entirely unlike herself.

Chan had walked into the cafe Monday morning with a smile on his face at the thought of seeing her, only to be greeted by fake smiles and rushed conversation. He tried his best to act as he always did, but he couldn't help but feel like he was being brushed off, or that she didn't have the patience to deal with him.

His thoughts were running in circles as he walked to work, clenching the coffee cup in his hand as he had decided to take his drink to go that morning. He had come to two conclusions about Misun during his walk, one being that she had simply had a terrible sleep the night prior, making her irritable in general, not just at Chan. The second conclusion was one he prayed was not the reality.

He couldn't help but wonder if Minho had broken his promise of keeping Chan's feelings for Misun a secret. He could have let it slip out during conversation, or flat out told Misun everything. Thinking of this being a possibility caused Chan to tense up, the top of his coffee cup popping off the top and the drink spilling onto his clothes.

He cursed under his breath as his work came into view, it was too late to turn around and change, but as the possibility of  Misun knowing consumed his thoughts, going to work with coffee stains were the least of his worries.

As he sat down at his desk and started the tasks he needed to complete for the day, he thought about her. Her knowing about his feelings for her wasn't the issue, it was the reaction. If Minho had in fact told her, her brushing Chan off was not the reaction he would have wanted. If she did know, and if she felt the same way, she wouldn't appear to be pushing him away.

Chan knew he was being ridiculous, one morning of Misun acting unlike herself and this was how he was acting. One encounter not going the way Chan wanted and he automatically assumed there was something wrong. He sighed as he tried to channel his energy into his work, distracting himself from the constant storm of doubt and Misun that went on inside his head. Everything would be back to normal by tomorrow.

But they weren't.

Misun was still irritable, still keeping the conversations short and not delving into anything more than a "how are you?" and "same as usual?" Three days of the same behaviour and it was eating Chan alive from the inside out. He had asked if she was okay by the third day and received nothing but a "fine" in return.

He wanted nothing more than to ask if she was sure, to skip work if needed if she wanted someone to talk to, but he didn't want to push her. If she was annoyed with him, constantly nagging her wasn't going to help the situation.

Chan spent that day at work debating if he wanted to send her a text or not. Constantly battling himself between not wanting to push her and wanting her to know he was there for her if she wanted him to be. The insecure part of him always wondered if she was talking to Minho about him, as he was also being unusually quiet since the day they talked in the cafe.

He took out his phone, typing out what he wanted to say but found his thumb hovering over the send button. He debated the outcomes in his head, and decided a short text couldn't possibly make things worse.

chan
hey, just wanted to say that
i noticed you haven't seemed
like yourself lately and if
anything is bothering you don't
hesitate to talk to me about it if
you're comfortable :)

He checked his texts religiously that day, hoping to see a reply or even that she had seen it. No reply would have made his anxiety spike, but at least it being seen meant she put in the effort to even open the text and read it.

When he realized there was no reply when he woke up the next morning, his worry grew. Why was she ignoring him? Had he done or said something to her that pissed her off? Did she actually know and was avoiding him because she didn't feel the same?

All of these questions grew louder when he walked into the cafe to see someone he had never seen before taking orders. He glanced around the room, trying to spot Misun but she wasn't there. He waited a bit to see if she came out of the back room or kitchen, but she never did.

He left the cafe without his coffee and more questions and worries running through his head.

The next day was the same, only this time Minho was sitting at one of the tables reading with a cup of espresso. Chan walked over and sat down abruptly causing Minho to jump, "Have you seen Misun?"

"Good morning to you too." Minho said as he placed his book down and took a sip from his cup.

Chan just stared, waiting for the reply to the question he had asked. When Minho noticed he wasn't in a joking mood, his smile dropped into a frown. "No, I haven't seen her."

"Have you talked to her at all?"

"No, I sent her a text yesterday asking if she wanted to come to my dance showcase but she never replied."

"And that doesn't concern you in the slightest?"

Minho's eyebrows furrowed, "Chan, why are you interrogating me? She gets like this sometimes. Goes a few days M.I.A and comes back like normal. She probably just took some time off, something she doesn't get too often."

Chan leaned back in his chair, sighing as he looked back towards the counter. It seemed empty without her behind it.

He glanced back at Minho, "You didn't tell her, right?"

"Tell her what?"

"You know what." Chan snapped, taking Minho aback at the sudden harshness.

"Of course I didn't. I told you I wouldn't, so I haven't. Jesus, I know we don't know each other well but I wouldn't do that to you."

Chan's face softened feeling like an asshole for snapping, "Sorry."

"You really care about her that much, huh?"

"Probably too much."

Minho smiled, "She deserves to have someone who cares for her. But, she's also someone who needs her space from time to time. If she didn't want you around, she wouldn't hesitate to say it to your face."

Chan would be a liar if he said Minho's words didn't bring him some peace of mind. After all, Minho was the one who had known her the longest.

If Misun needed time, that's what Chan would give her.