𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒. yoon jeonghan ✓

7. in the car

"Sure. Why not" I shrugged, seeing no problem in going there because the food there was in fact one of the tastiest foods I've had in my life.

"Thank you" Mingyu thanked the cashier, taking the shopping bags and walking out of the shop with me following behind him.

We both walked out and walked towards the entrance of the mall. I looked back one more time towards the restaurant that they went into — though it is barely visible from this distance.

We walked out and went to the parking lot. Spotting Mingyu's car, I immediately went in as soon as he unlocked the doors.

A few minutes later, after attending a call, Mingyu entered the car as well and started the engine. "Who called?" I asked as he got in.

"My dad. I had told him I would call him but I forgot so he called me instead" – "Oh" Probably the driest reply I've ever given.

Mingyu started driving as I stared out through the window, the scene of them together, holding hands flashed in my mind once again.

Am I overthinking this? It's not like they have never held hands before. Just holding hands doesn't mean they're in love. But they looked so happy together. They were laughing together.

Unknowingly, I let out a loud sigh, gaining Mingyu's attention. "Is everything alright, hyung? You seem to be in deep thoughts"

I just bobbed my head up and down, not bothering to look at him. "You look sad. And angry. What happened? You know you can tell me"

I sigh for the hundredth time today, finally looking at Mingyu who is focused on the road in front of him. Should I tell him? He definitely recognized her, what's wrong just telling him, right?

After a few seconds of debating in my head, I finally decided to talk to him.

"You know how we just saw Seungcheol a while ago, at the mall?" Mingyu nodded, still having his eyes on the road. "The girl he was with" I stopped, trying to read his mind through his emotions to know whether he recognized her or not.

He gulped. And I find that weird. He definitely knows.

"You know her, Gyu," I finally let out. "It's Jiyeon. He was with Jiyeon. The so called colleague of his, is her"

"H-how are you so sure that it's her? She isn't even in Seoul, hyung. You know that" he stuttered? That's unlike him.

"She is. And I know that you know that as well. You saw her with your own eyes just now, Gyu. I won't believe you if you say that you didn't recognize her, even after I just told you that it's her"

"And don't tell me I saw it wrong. There's no one that knows her better than I do" I state the obvious.

I kept looking at Mingyu and all I could sense from his reaction was, nervousness? He knows. He knew it the whole time. He hid it from me. Even Mingyu.

"Stop acting, Gyu. You can't lie to me. I practically raised you. Don't think I will fall for you acting" He finally let out a sigh.

"Fine. I'm not good at acting to begin with so I will just tell you. Yes, I do know about her being in Seoul. But it was Seungcheol hyung that told me. And now you're possibly angry with Seungcheol hyung. So you should sort it out with him. Please don't be mad at me, hyung. I swear I have no role in this"

"Yes, I knew they were out together today. He told me this morning that he was going out with her. I'm sorry for hiding it from you, hyung, but I was told to not tell you anything. And I may know why–"

"She doesn't want me to know about her" I cut him off.

Mingyu sighs once again. "I haven't met her yet, hyung. I haven't even talked to her. So I believe I cannot tell you anything. You should talk to Seungcheol hyung"

I nodded my head with a sigh, shifting on my seat, feeling somewhat uncomfortable about this conversation. I've never really talked to Mingyu like this.

I leaned my head on the window, looking out at the streets. Nothing is making me feel better. Everything is a mess.

Joshua, my bestest friend of all time, won't talk to me. And I believe he has every right to be mad at me. But have I not been trying enough? I have tried anything and everything in my will to make him forgive me, or to at least talk to me. But he won't.

Jiyeon is back in Seoul, hanging out — or possibly dating my own best friend. I met her. But I wasn't able to do anything. I walked away. Just like I did the day I had left her. I left her crying on the ground. And this time, I did the same. I left her crying.

Not being able to control my emotions, I let my tears flow out. The image of her eyes filled with tears is still so clear in my mind.

She didn't let me see her crying. I wonder what she was thinking when she saw me. Was she happy? Was she angry? Did she wanna talk to me and hold me as much as I wanted to? Or did she want to slap me and hit me?

"Hyung…" I wiped my tears quickly as Mingyu's palms landed on my shoulder. I looked out the window to hide my face from him as much as possible. I can't cry in front of him.

He retreated his hand a few seconds later and put it back on the steering wheel again. "Should we go home instead? I don't think you can stay out now"

"I'm fine, Gyu. Just go to where we were going" – "Okay"

My phone started ringing, startling me by the sudden vibration on my thighs. I slowly wiped out my phone from my pocket and turned on the screen to see the caller ID. I read the contact name and had to recheck what I read at least five times.

"Who is it?" Mingyu asked as I didn't answer the call despite it having been ringing for at least 30 seconds now.

I checked the contact name for the nth time before finally accepting what I read is right and that my eyes are alright.

Joshuji. Joshua Hong who I have been trying to talk to for the past months.