Even if it wasn't meant to last a lifetime doesn't mean it wasn't meant to be

Chapter 2

(Why are they talking so happily?)

It hurt .

(Why were they laughing so loudly?)

It—

"Sunbae!"

He was abruptly shaken out of his trance by Jang Suhye, standing next to him with a worried expression on her face.

(Why did she have such an expression? There was no one of importance here for her to worry for. )

"Jang Suhye-ssi? Ah, look at the time, we should get going."

He had started mumbling at the end as he looked down at his watch.

It was 6:58, he must have spaced out.

"Sunbae... are you alrigh–"

He got up abruptly, throwing his bag over his shoulder with a jingle of his car keys.

"I'll just bring the car to the front, meet you there."

He quickly made a break for the door, ignoring all of the judging stares he could feel from behind him.

(Completely oblivious to the stare of the girl behind him, watching in horror as she watched the thin trickle of blood fall from his palms. Biting her lip apprehensively, reaching forward as if wanting to reach out to him. Fretful eyes watching after him as the door swung shut behind him with a loud squeak.)

(っ • 3 < )っ<3

"Morning Oppa," a familiar voice yawned out with a slammed car door from behind her.

"Hi."

He nodded at her as she let herself in, sitting herself on the back seat, throwing her bag down and slumping comfortably on the seat.

She seemed tired, he wondered if she even slept from the dark circles weighing down below her eyes.

Jang Suhye had started calling him oppa for about a week now, at first as a joke, but then slowly proceeding to habit. And Kim Rok Soo only accepted it with open arms, treating her like his own little sister.

(Someone he felt he had no choice but to protect. To have to take care of, even at the risk of his own selfish desires.)

They were driving out to work, Kim Rok Soo had been waking up earlier than he had before to not only make it on time living so far from work, but also to pick up Suhye.

"Hey Oppa, can we listen to music today?"

He sighed before reaching forward to the radio, turning the dials until it finally reached Suhye's usual station.

"Thank you."

Kim Rok Soo only nodded with a quiet hum and put his eyes back on the road.

They sat in comfortable silence, watching as the sights blurred past the car window, content to just be in the other's presence.

Suhye suddenly broke the silence, shouting over the music as she tried to speak.

"Hey oppa...can I– lower the volume please!!"

Kim Rok Soo reached forward and lowered the volume, almost completely muting the music.

"Can I ask a question that may make you kind of uncomfortable?"

He frowned.

"If you are so sure it'll make me uncomfortable then why are you asking?"

"No it's just... I don't want to push much and reopen old wounds and all that but..."