Over the next few days, as Mina was getting settled in and adapting to her new job, Jake would constantly ask her to hang out after work.
Sticking with her plan, however, she would always come up with an excuse.
After another week of trying and only receiving excuses, Jake started wondering if something was wrong.
"Hey dude, I thought you said she was your best friend," Jaewon asked his friend after yet another failed attempt.
"Yeah we are, or we were...," he mumbled that last part, quietly so Jaewon wouldn't hear.
"Then how come every time you ask her to hang out she has an excuse?" His friend asked.
"I don't know but I'm going to find out." He replied determinedly.
+++++++
The following day, Jake had planned to ask Mina to hang out after work again, but this time he would keep pushing.
Until she agreed or at least gave him some answers.
Sat at his desk, he quickly tried to finish the report he was working on to find Mina. Knowing that she would rush out quickly he typed making all sorts of errors but didn't care.
As soon as he typed the last word and the time read five o'clock, he immediately put his things away and started for the company's lobby.
There he saw Mina making her way out the door. He guessed she saw him since her walking speed had suddenly increased.
It took a while but Jake was finally able to catch up to her in a narrow quiet alley. He quickly and gently grabbed ahold of her wrist and took a second to catch his breath.
"Mina, what is going on? How come you've been avoiding me?" He asked, gently tugging on her arm.
"Jake I can't do this right now." She claimed.
"I was hoping we could hang out like we used to do." He explained expectantly.
"But we can't." She replied, her voice barely a whisper causing Jake to almost miss it.
"What do you mean?" He questioned.
Taking a deep breath she turned to face him, her face still and serious.
"We can't hang out like we used to. Things are different now!" She exclaimed a hint of frustration in her voice.
"Things don't have to be different! We can just go back to where we left off!" He reasoned making Mina scoff at the idea.
"Jake it's been nine years." She declared trying to remain calm.
"It may have been years since we've seen each other but you're still my friend and I care about you!" He answered, causing her to groan as she rubbed her hands over her face.
"Then why the hell did you leave me?" She questioned shouting. Her composure now lost, her voice shaky and breathy.
"You were the person I needed most and you left me." She revealed, keeping it all in seemed pointless now. Warm tears quickly began to fall from her eyes, surprising both her and Jake.
"Mina...,"
She breathed in, "When I found out you were leaving when I had to finish high school alone...," she paused sniffling, "When my parents got divorced." She mumbled.
Jake's breath hitched as he fully processed all she had just said. He hated seeing her cry, and knowing that he was the reason was even worse.
He had no idea his leaving hurt her this much, but he did know that he was never going to let her be hurt like this again.
Without wasting a second more he quickly pulled her into a hug so tight she could barely breathe. With one hand on her back and the other resting on the back of her head.
"I'm sorry for leaving and not being there for you. I've always regretted it, but I promise that I won't ever leave you again, from now until I die." He promised her as he continued to comfort her as she cried until she calmed down enough for him to take her home.
+++++++
Jake had offered to drive her home and seeing that they were closer to Jake's car than any bus stop, reluctantly agreed.
She gave him her address and they continued without a word, the only thing filling the silence was the music of the radio.
Trying her best to avoid any contact—to spare herself any more embarrassment, she kept her body turned away, watching everything out the window. She however could feel the glances from Jake every time the car stopped.
Once they finally arrived at the street belonging to her house began to gather her things. As soon as she reached for the car's door handle, however, Jake locked the car's doors. She tried the door a few times before realizing it was locked.
The hell?
She turned to him extremely confused and slightly annoyed. All she saw was him staring directly at her and her expression softened.
"Sorry, but I just wanted to apologize again for everything, I still want to be friends with you but only if you're up to it. Do you think you'll forgive me?" He asked, grabbing one of her hands, and stroking it with his thumb.
"I don't know... but I do want to try." She began slightly smiling, "I know that you moving away wasn't your fault, but I also remember how I felt afterward." She explained keeping her eyes on their hands.
"Then if that's the case, do you wanna go on a friend date with me this Saturday? Just a small one, we could do something simple like going to an arcade or movie or something else." He proposed, hoping she would say yes.
She sat there for a second, thinking what's the worst that could happen? After considering for a bit she nodded yes nervously.
Jake's face lit up at her small confirmation and secretly cheered to himself.
"I'll text you the details later." He said as he unlocked the car doors.
She nodded grabbed her things and opened the door. Before shutting the door she bent down to place a kiss on his cheek. So gentle he almost didn't feel it.
"Bye Jake." She said softly. Backing up she closed the door and left him to process.
He sat there smiling to himself, absentmindedly reaching his hand to touch his cheek
As he drove home, all he could think about was her and how excited he was for their upcoming friend date.
***********
I'm so happy I got this chapter out of the way
This is one I've been wanting to write for a while but you know I'm slow with updates
I almost didn't add that last part but I saw I only had about 650 words so I decided to fix that.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed
