„Eri-neesan. I want to ask you something." Taki said when they met up a few days after Eri got to meet Oh Saeron. Eri looked at her friend. They were sitting in a park looking at the flowers, just enjoying the day.
„What's up Taki." She asked and the boy looked at her. „Are you happy?" He suddenly asked surprising the older girl. „Yes I am. Why do you ask? Do i look unhappy?" She than asked. Taki shook his head. „No its more like the exact opposite. You seem happy. extremely happy. Its been a while since I saw you so happy." He smiled patting the girls knee. „I just feel like there is no care in the world at the moment. Uni's going fine, Kyoka and I are good at the moment and I get to spend time with my friends." she answered and Taki smiled. „I am happy that you are happy." he said Eri nodded.
„Are you happy Taki?" she then asked. Taki sighed but nodded. „I am. Its still a little bit weird beeing with Kyoka and Riki when they act all like a couple but at least I know why. But I have to say I dont like beeing the third wheel so I dont spent lunch break with them. I made some new friends. They are in the in the basketball club I recently joined. They are a lot of fun." He smiled.
„Really! Tell me more." Eri asked and Taki laughed. „They are called Yuma, Jo, Harua and Maki. Harua is in my class and he is really shy but he opened up to me. Yuma and Jo are my Senpai's. They are really cool even if Jo is confused sometimes and Maki is my kohai. He is really funny." Taki said and Eri nodded. „Thats lovely." The girl than added. She really felt happy for her friend.
Eri felt a little guilty that she didn't had so much time for Taki.
But she was happy that he got to spent some time with Riki till the day Kyoka was finally able to go out of the house again. She was also happy he made some new friends.
„Is Riki also in the Basketball club?" Eri then asked and Taki shook his head. „He's more into bowling. So he and Kyoka are going bowling constantly." He laughed. „We actually went bowling a few times since Kyoka is still grounded it was really funny. He was like a monster tho. A bowling monster." Taki than added.
Eri liked the time she spent with her lifeline and Taki enjoyed it too. He was able to talk about personal stuff and Eri would always listen. He could trust her and he hoped she did too because he was very interested in her relationship with Heeseung. He heard her talking about him here and there but he wanted to know what was going on exactly.
Taki knew that they befriended each other but he wasn't sure if there could be a little more. He kind of wanted to know if there was something between them so he just asked.
„Neesan, Is there something between you and this Sunbae of yours?" He asked and Eri looked at him. "Heeseung?" she asked and the boy nodded. She shook his head. „No why?" Eri asked and Taki shook his head. „You seem to like him a lot." He than stated earing a funny look from Eri.
„I like Heeseung." she started but was interrupted by Taki. „You don't call him Sunbae or Senpai or anything like this?" Eri nodded before continuing. „I like Heeseung as a friend. He is very nice and takes good care of me but you know he has a girlfriend." Eri than said and sounded a little bit dissapointed. Taki nodded. „So he's off limits." Taki stated and Eri nodded. „Yes why do you ask tho?" She then asked making Taki smile. „I think you would be a really cool couple." He said and Eri shook her head. "Get that idea out of your head he is taken." Eri did have a lingering thought about it tho.
He was a friend and Oh Saeron's Boyfriend and from what Heeseung told the girl he would stay her boyfriend for a while.
It was starting to get cold when Eri walked Taki home. He was still happily taking about his new friend Maki who was apparently half Japanese, half German and Eri listened to him. She was very happy for the boy that he was such a proud senpai for the one year younger boy. She was also very happy that he was able to make some friends appart from Riki and Kyoka because Kyoka would not let Riki spend much time with his friend.
„Have a nice evening Neesan." He cheered when he opened the door and entered his home. Eri smiled and wanted to make her way home when her phone rang.
„Hello?" Eri answered when she heard the familiar voice of Lee Heeseung. He didnt sound like himself tho. It was something Eri never heard.
„Whats wrong?" she said into the phone and Heeseung quickly answered. „The day we went drinking coffee for the first time you said you would return the favor of listing to me when I need someone." He started still sounding super strange. Eri nodded even tho Heeseung couldn't see it.
„I need someone to listen to me now. Can you come over to my house." He said and sounded desperate. Eri thought about it. She didnt needed to be home for dinner till 8 and it was just 6 she did have two hours and he also really sounded like he needs someone right now. „Send me your address I'll be there as fast as I can." She said and ended the call waiting for his address.
To Eri's suprise Heeseungs home wasnt to far away from her favorite park and she soon stood infront of the apparent complex.
She rang the bell and Heeseung opened the door.
Heeseung looked furious, stressed and worried all at the same Time. She had never seen him like this before. Eri took off her shoes while Heeseung was looking at his phone. He then looked at the small japanese girl. His face turned soft and there was more worry in his face than anything else.
„Thank you for coming." He said leading her to his living room,. His small flat was decorated very nicely and Eri saw some Toy story figurines in his bookshelf.
He let himself fall down on his comfy couch looking at the celling.
„Whats wrong?" Eri asked seeing his worried face. He sighed once more before he started talking.
„Today was a horrible day." He started sighing once again.
Eri was slightly worried seeing the boy like this.
The girl sat down next to Heeseung and he sighed again. „I will listen. Just let it out." She said and Heeseung nodded.
„I finally did it." He said and Eri looked confused. „I finally did it." He said again. „What did you do?" Eri then asked. „I broke up. I broke up completely." He announced and looked at Eri. She was quite suprised about the news. She just had told Taki that he had a girlfriend.
„Okay. Did you had a specific reason or the usual?" she then asked and Heeseung looked at her. He was so happy that she was here right now.
„I completely ended it. I will not take her back. What she did was wrong. It was wrong on so many levels." He said remembering what happened a few hours prior. „What happened?" Eri asked looking at the older male.
He looked at her. Eri's eyes were soft she looked at him with worry in her face and he took a deep breath.
„You met my friend Hana right." He started and Eri nodded. „She has a classmate, Saeron regularly flirted with and annoyed this poor boy trying to get close to him even tho he didn't wanted to. I always tried my best to get her away from him because he was clearly uncomfortable. Today she went to far tho. Hana was out with the boy. And you have to know."
Heeseung stopped talking biting his lips. He was worried for his friend and he just wished that Saeron just didnt appear that day.
„You have to know Hana sufferes from panic attacks. She always did and she has them under control but she had one today. Because of Saeron. She was not letting go of the boy Hana was out and about and it became a little chaotic. Hana had a panic attack and The boy tried to calm her down but he wasnt able. He called me and he was so scared for her as well. He didnt know what to do. He even said it's his fault even tho its not. He was..." He stopped again because tears were in his eyes. He took a deep breath.
Eri looked at him. It must have been hard seeing his friend in so much distress.
„He looked so guilty. I was angry at him for getting her in such a situation. Because I know what to do but I am not Sunoo. I can handle with them but I always worry too much. And that makes her worry about me. And him apologizing made me angry. He told me it was because of Searon and I was worried about the boy as well. I took Hana home and told the boy he should get home safely as well and I told him that I would take care of Saeron." He continues the story.
Eri nodded. She looked at him and just listened because that was what Heeseung really wanted just in this moment. He needed to let everything out. His worries about his hobaes and his hatred for Oh Saeron.
„After I took Hana home I called her here and I broke up with her. I told her that what she did was unecxepatble and She was behaving like this classmate who was really bad for her. When I called her before she came over she was happy! She sounded happy! That made me so angry and annoyed. I told her what a poor human being she was and that I never want to see her in my life again and ended it. I feel better but horrible at the same time because she kind of was my first love and I know its completely over now and I am not sure I I did the right thing. My head is exploding with thoughts and the only person I wanted to tell all this is you." He finished looking at her with an slightly sad face.
That was a lot for a few hours. He was still worried about Hana, He felt sorry for the boy and he wasnt sure if it was right to break up with Oh Saeron.
Eri patted his back.
„Today was a tough day. You did well. You took care of your friend and the boy she was hanging out with. You did everything you could. You are a great Sunbae Heeseung." Eri said and he looked at her he had tears in his eyes and He didnt even understood why.
„You already told me that Saeron had a tough time with her past relationship. I know that is hard to accept but do you still love Oh Saeron?" Eri than asked.
Heeseung thought about it. When he though abut Oh Saeron He didnt feel anything apart from frustration and anger. There was no love. His heart wasnt beating faster than before. He heart wasn't beating for Oh Saeron at all. It stopped doing this a long time ago.
„No I dont love Oh Saeron anymore. I think i haven't for a while to be honest." He said and Eri nodded.
„It will be easier to get over her when you dont lover her anymore. She will become a memory that you moved on from even if she was your first love." Eri said and Heeseung nodded.
She sounded like she went through something like this before even if he knew she never had a boyfriend before. At least she never told him about any past relationships. He couldn't imagine that she had been single her whole life.
„I know moving one from your first love is hard. But I know you will make it." Eri that said and patted his shoulder once again.
„Thank you. I am really thankful that you listened to me. You are a really good friend." Heeseung said and Eri smiled. „I will be there for you Heeseung. I'm just one call away." She giggled and Heeseung had to smile.
She was the purest and cutest girl he knew and her smile made him smile as well. Most importantly she made him feel like home.