It wasn't long 'til Jisung and Minho got to work, without much talk they focused on their tasks for the day. Minho let out a few exhausted sighs every now and then, getting tired from all the requests he was getting emailed. Jisung stayed silent, trying his best to get distracted by work. To his misfortune, the plan backfired and made him think back to his previous issue instead.
You might've guessed it, Jisung was going to talk to that one person he hoped he would never see again. His best friend from the past, Young-seo. Jisung wasn't sure how he was going to do what he planned, he wasn't sure if it would even help the situation or worsen it. Even so, he was desperate to get it off his chest. 'I think I got it now.' Jisung thought to himself
A few minutes later, the clock ticked signaling that it was time for lunch. Jisung exhaled after holding his breath the entire time. 'Having anxiety really isn't helping me at the moment.' Jisung felt disappointed in himself
"Where are you going to have lunch, Jisung-ah?" Minho asked
"Oh, I'll be at the lounge today. Hope you don't mind." Jisung replied
"Of course I don't, have fun. I'm assuming you'll be with him?"
"You mean Felix? Yes, I'll hang out with him." Jisung smiled
"Right, him. Alright, go off." Minho smiled back "Eat well."
"Will do!" Jisung said before walking out of the office and towards the elevator
He clicked the button that led to the first floor, playing with his fingers afterwards. The door to the elevator opened, revealing an empty hallway which was strange since it was lunchtime but Jisung thought nothing of it and walked inside the lounge.
"Ji, long time no see!" Felix spoke from behind Jisung making him jump
"Jeez Felix, you scared me!"
"Hehe, sorry about that. I just got excited to see you." Felix chuckled
Jisung shook his head as a way to reassure Felix that it's okay. "Wanna take a seat?" He asked
"Of course, I was planning on looking for you anyway! Let's take that one over there." Felix pointed at one of the tables in the back
That's when Jisung noticed the ring on Felix's finger. His eyes widened once he realized it was an engagement ring. "Yo Felix... Is that an engagement ring?"
Felix gulped, "Um... Yeah. My partner proposed to me last night."
"You have a partner?!" Jisungs mouth flew open
Felix grew flustered, "Yeah I've had one for a while."
"How long and why did you not tell me?!" Jisung spoke out excitedly
"We wanted to keep the relationship private. Sorry Ji." Felix giggled
"Oh, so you guys are that type. I get it. So who's this lucky person?" Jisung asked curiously
"Can't reveal that yet. Anyway, how are things with Minho? I was a bit surprised that you're dating my bro- I mean friend." Felix spoke
"Awh, it's a bummer that you won't tell me who they are! Things with Minho are fine, nothing to worry about." Jisung smiled
"Did you guys do it?" Felix winked
"Do what?"
"You know~"
"...Huh?"
"Did you-" Felix showed an example with his hands
"What, no!" Jisung blushed
"Really? Then your relationship is going great! He's not using you."
"Using me?"
"Yeah, he has a history of one night stands."
"Oh."
"Don't worry about it though, he didn't catch feelings or anything."
"How do you know any of this?"
Felix's eyes widened slightly before he calmed himself down, "I've known Minho a bit before you."
"Really?"
"Yeah we went to um, high school together!" Felix explained
"Oh, how was Minho like in high school?"
Felix giggled, "A total player! Everyone had a crush on him, yet he'd reject everyone. Though there was this boy for whom he'd come to school earlier than usual but that's about it. He said he was his friend or something."
Jisung chuckled, "I can imagine him being like that so well!"
As they were sitting at the table chatting their orders arrived. It didn't take long before they finished all of it, continuing their conversation. Jisung was engaged into the conversation until he spotted Young-seo at the corner of his eye. He contemplated whether or not he should ask her to wait for him but decided to anyway.
"Hey Felix, do you have Young-seo's contact?" He asked
"Yeah of course, want me to give it to you?" Felix asked with a bright smile thinking their two friends were getting along
"Yes please." Jisung answered 'I'm really doing this, huh?'
Felix gave Jisung the contact, after which they continued their conversation. During this, Jisung managed to type out a message:
Meet me at the back of the hotel, after lunch. There's something I want to ask you
(~‾‾▿‾‾)~
Lunch has come to an end, Jisung said his goodbye to Felix and walked of to the back of the hotel. Hoping she'd be there so he could finish this once and for all and there she was, standing right in front of his eyes. He didn't know how to feel though he felt his heart drop the moment they locked eyes with each other. 'This is it, the last time I see you and this place.' Jisung said to himself
He made his way next to her, unsure how to start the conversation.
"Hey, you wanted to ask me something. What is it?" Young-seo asked
"Sorry, I want to talk to you first. The question comes last." Jisung replied
"A talk about what?" Young-seo tilted her head
"About what you have been doing all this time, Young-seo." Jisung stated, still remaining calm
Young-seo kept eye contact with Jisung, though she didn't reply. She wasn't saying anything, as she expected Jisung to continue. Deep inside, she didn't know how to feel either. She admired Jisung from afar even after they've parted ways, yet having him in front of her made her feel different. Empty almost.
"Is this about your event?" She asked
"Partially, but that part isn't relevant. I'm not going to exaggerate this longer, instead I'll be direct. I know all of the things you've said about me behind my back, and if I'm being honest I wasn't expecting such to come out of your mouth." Jisung stated getting a stinging feeling in his chest upon remembering
"What things?" Young-seo asked
"Please, don't pretend like you don't know. It's fine, I've heard it all from your friends. Their indirect and direct threats to me on social media made it easy to spot you as the culprit. You should seriously be more careful with whom you share your stories with."
"Someone has been threating you? I know a sorry doesn't mean anything but if you were to tell me who the person is I can talk to them about it. Though the damage has already been done." Young-seo said
"Talking to them about it won't change all of the disgusting things you've said to them about me. Apologizing is the last humane thing you could do right now."
"You're right, I shouldn't have said some things, I admit my fault..." Young-seo began "But you have to realize that, you've hurt me and that you've also said some bad things to me!"
Jisung kept quiet, waiting for Young-seo to finish.
"You've said how hard work can't beat talent, that was basically targeted towards me!"
"Did I ever say it was about you," Jisungs face dropped "Or do you just not know how to take an opinion without making it about you?"
"What?"
"You've got it wrong, Young-seo. I've never said you were talentless, as a matter of fact I was impressed with how you did some things. You just took my words out of context, or somehow found yourself in my opinion. I'm sorry to break it to you, but that part isn't on me. Though you've always had a way of making things about yourself, I'm not surprised this time either." Jisung stated
"What are you talking about? I'm not making anything about myself." Young-seo retorted back "I'm making it about us!"
"If you really were making it about us, how come it's always me who gets bad mouthed but you're the one who's always the victim? It's about time you realize that you're the main reason why this friendship didn't work out in the first place. If I'm being honest, when I first heard of all the things you've said and all of my secrets you spilled I wasn't just upset. I was disappointed in myself for trusting you but also mad at the fact that I was the one who had to apologize to someone who outed me with every chance they got." Jisung spoke louder than intended
"I had to apologize for something that I shouldn't have when you're here unable to apologize for making me look like a complete asshole to people I never even knew the names of while you made yourself look like an angel. And you, yourself know that it's the truth. Because if you were to ever tell them about the things you've done, they'd frame you before me."
"...I shouldn't have said those things but how could you say you hate me to everyone?"
"It was a poem. And if we're being real here, did you give me a reason not to hate you? You've told them my sexuality, my real name, my wish to have a friend whom I share similarities with, which books I've written, which character is based off of who, how you found yourself in a poem I wrote... None of which I have told those people myself."
"...So you're basically saying it was all my fault, that the friendship fell apart? I've done everything to keep it stable, I've cried and stressed for days trying to make it work!"
"What about me?" Jisung began "I was hurt too, but you couldn't care less! You've done everything in your might to make the friendship useful to you. Not me."
"What do you even mean by that?! I did care about how you felt, and I still do, I've been protecting you!"
"If you did care about me, you would think about how I'd feel if I were to hear about the things you've said. If you were protecting me, you would at least respect my last will to you which was to act like we never met. Like I was just the author you admired, but you couldn't even do that. You are hurt? Well so am I, except I don't search for other people's empathy and sad eyes."
Young-seo stayed silent, looking everywhere but in Jisungs eyes.
"Let me tell you the truth I couldn't tell Alice. You've broken every promise you have made to me, I've caught you lying to me multiple times and now I've figured that you out people's secrets. I think those are good enough reasons."
"I couldn't keep up with my promise, even though I knew I couldn't have done it beforehand I still promised it. That is my fault."
Jisung sighed, "I really didn't want to take this far, so I'll ask the question. Was it all worth it?"
"Which part are we talking about?"
"All the talking behind my back, keeping up with my work and making your friends hate me... Was it all worth it?" Jisung frowned
"I'm not sure. But if I could take back time and change things, I don't think I would. I'd still want to meet you, to understand you, to read your books... I don't regret it." Young-seo answered with a smile
"I see. Then to end this once and for all, I'm hoping you will respect my decision. Please, if you ever see me walk the other way, as I will do the same. It's not good for either of us to see each other." Jisung said as he turned to walk the other way
Young-seo frowned, "I have to admit that I wasn't expecting things to turn out this way. I'll make sure that it never happens again. Though, I have a question for you as well. I've already answered it, if you could take back time would you still meet me?"
Jisungs face dropped, "If I could take back time, I'd never let our paths cross each other. So, that's why I'm going to pretend like it's the truth. Thank you for being my friend in the past and good luck in the future." He said before walking away
(~‾‾▿‾‾)~
Jisung was already late, he knew that he'd get scolded but somehow it didn't bother him. He figured that he'd just deal with it, not feeling the best at the moment.
Jisung opened the door to the office, immediately spotting Minho sitting at his desk. Minho looked over at Jisung, with a worried expression. "Where were you? You're twenty five minutes late."
Jisung nervously chuckled, "I was too distracted while talking with a colleague."
"How could you not bother to look at your watch-" Minho said but the moment he got a closer look of Jisung he realized that something wasn't right
"Sorry, I wasn't expecting it to take that long. I'll make up for it by working over time." Jisung smiled
Minho nodded, unsure of what to say to that. He'd occasionally look over at Jisung to make sure he was okay, handed Jisung everything that his hand reached out for and despite finishing his work on time, he stayed with Jisung overtime.
"You didn't really need to, Min. I was fine on my own. You need some rest too." Jisung said
"Don't worry about me, what about you? You seem down all day." Minho replied
"It's just... My mind tracing over the past. Nothing to worry about." Jisung reassured
Minho patted Jisungs head, "The past isn't something to be too sad about. Sure, some bad things happened but it's something we can't change. Because of that, focus on not repeating the same things in the present."
Jisung smiled, "You're right. Though I could use a hug..."
After Jisung finished his sentence, Minho pulled him into a hug. He gently caressed Jisungs back as Jisung snuggled into his chest. "Talk to me when you feel down, no need to keep everything to yourself. It's suffocating you."
"I'll consider." Jisung chuckled
~🐈⬛~
Author J 26/03/'24
And just like that, we mark Young-seo's last appearance. We're getting closer to the ending~ So my question is, what are your expectations?
^ here's a poem to those going through a similar situation as Jisung 💕