The Secrets Between Us - 12
- Your Pov -
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"Wokey dokey, rise and shine! It's time for school!" I groaned at the sound of the familiar voice. "Just five more minutes, mom!" I muttered, pulling the pillow over my face to shield myself. "What... I'm not your mother, you lazy bum!" The voice retorted, prompting me to remove the pillow and squint as I looked towards the source.
"Bae Jinsol," I groaned, recognizing my friend lounging comfortably on my bed. "What brings you here?" I asked, rubbing my eyes to clear away the sleep.
"It's not just me, it's the whole gang!" Bae exclaimed, indicating the others who were scattered around my room. I glanced around and met the gazes of my friends. Jungwon had taken over my desk chair, while Sullyoon and Jini were nestled on the couch. Jini had her head resting on Sullyoon's lap as she flipped through a book...
BOOK!?
"Book! Is that my book!?" I exclaimed, hurrying over to where Jini was sitting and snatching my book away from her. "Please don't touch it again," I said, holding onto the book protectively.
"I never knew you were into porn," Jini remarked, rolling her eyes as she sat up.
"Into what?" I asked, puzzled by her comment.
"Oh, gosh-Y/n, my child, how could you?" Bae exclaimed dramatically, rolling off the bed to join us. "You're into porn?"
"Watching porn and reading that... are completely different, Bae. And it's not what you think. Now, why are you guys here?" I sighed, trying to steer the conversation away from my reading choices.
It had been two days since our school trip ended, and the rumors about me dating Hanni Pham were spreading like wildfire.
Two days of dodging questions and pretending to be in a relationship.
"Well, well," Bae said, making her way to the mini-fridge in my room and pulling out a banana milk.
"Pass me one!" Jungwon requested eagerly. "Me too!" Jini chimed in.
"I wouldn't mind a drink either," Sullyoon chuckled.
Bae tossed the banana milk to Jungwon, who caught it with a triumphant grin. "Woohoo!"
She then tossed two drinks to Sullyoon and Jini, who skillfully caught them.
"Do you want some?" Bae turned to me with a grin. I rolled my eyes.
"You guys are already drinking my drinks, so why ask? Yes, pass me the coffee milk," I replied, settling back onto the bed and placing my book on the nightstand. Bae tossed the drink in my direction, and I caught it before taking a sip. Then, she grabbed a chair and joined us in drinking.
"So, what brings you all here?" I asked, stifling a yawn.
"Well, Haerin said you were sick when I saw her in the hallway. We came to check on you, but you seem fine," Bae giggled as I sighed. "I'm just tired after the trip," I replied, and Bae raised her eyebrows skeptically.
"Speaking of the trip... When did you and Hanni Pham even start dating? We never saw you guys interact much before," Bae remarked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, it was quite surprising when you mentioned you two were dating during the truth or dare game..." Jungwon chimed in, placing his drink on my desk and fixing his gaze on me.
I clenched my jaw, trying to maintain my facade as I glanced down at my drink. "Well, we started dating about a month ago," I lied.
"That's interesting... Congratulations, I guess," Jini said, rolling her eyes, while Sullyoon chuckled softly.
"But Hanni Pham seems like a questionable choice, don't you think? She may seem innocent, but there are some concerning traits beneath the surface, like a red flag," Bae added, tossing her empty drink can into the trash.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"Just ignore her, she's probably just envious because she's single," Sullyoon interjected, trying to lighten the mood, while the others laughed.
"Are you guys done interrogating me? I really need to sleep now," I said, clutching a pillow tightly to my chest.
"Sorry, but Auntie Kang insisted we shouldn't leave without having dinner. She's preparing Jjajangmyeon for us," Jungwon chuckled.
"Get yourself cleaned up now!" Jini commanded, tossing a cushion from the couch in my direction, punctuating her order.
ᯓ♡ᯓ
- Hanni Pham Pov -
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"Let's go," Haerin said, slipping off her shoes as we arrived at her house after school for a hangout.
I couldn't shake off the nervousness that had gripped me since Haerin insisted on coming here. I didn't want to be at Kangs's house, especially with Y/n likely around.
It had been two days since everyone knew we were a couple, and the barrage of questions from my friends about our relationship made me uncomfortable.
All I could do was lie.
Minji had been in a sour mood since that day...
Thankfully, Haerin had mentioned that Y/n was sick, so I hoped they wouldn't come out of their room.
"Mom, I'm homeeee!" Haerin announced excitedly as we stepped further into the house. After a moment, a woman emerged from the kitchen, presumably Haerin's mom-or rather, Kang Y/n's mom.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Haerin. "You finally came, sweetheart?"
She smiled warmly at us, and we returned the gesture with a polite bow.
"Hello, Mrs. Kang!" we chimed in unison, causing her to cover her mouth with her hand to hide her amusement.
"Oh, your friends came as well," Mrs. Kang remarked with a warm smile, glancing between me and Dani. "Are you Danielle?" Her eyes lit up as she addressed Dani, who returned the smile with equal enthusiasm. "It's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Kang!" Dani replied cheerfully.
"Aww, it's wonderful to meet you kids as well... Hae has mentioned you guys before," Mrs. Kang said warmly, her eyes twinkling.
"Are you guys feeling hungry? I've prepared Jjajangmyeon. Come, let's eat together!" She gestured towards the dining room, inviting us to follow.
Hyein gave me a awkward smile and squeezed my hand gently. "Let's go," she said softly, leading the way as we followed the others.
As we entered the dining room, I couldn't help but scan the room, silently wondering where Y/n might be.
Surely, they were resting in their room since they had mentioned feeling unwell-
Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat as a few curious gazes fell upon us.
"HANNI PHAM!?" Bae's exclamation startled me, and I blinked at her sudden outburst. "God, Y/N'S GIRLFRIEND is here!!!" she continued, her tone laced with surprise.
"Y/n's girlfriend?" Mrs. Kang's voice interrupted the room's sudden silence as she emerged from the kitchen, carrying noodle bowls to the table.
I noticed Y/n closing their eyes momentarily.
"Hahaha... we were just joking..." Bae awkwardly chuckled, trying to diffuse the tension as she focused on her noodles.
"Is one of Hae's friends Y/n's girlfriend or something?" Mrs. Kang's curious inquiry hung in the air as she observed us. "Sit here, kids," she gestured, motioning for us to take our seats. We complied, feeling a bit apprehensive about what she might say, especially since I was known to them as Y/n's girlfriend, which I'm not.
"Relax, kids. Mrs. Kang isn't too tough, so go ahead and share with me which lucky girl it is," Mrs. Kang reassured us as she continued setting the table. I nervously glanced at the bowl of Jjajangmyeon in front of me, my heart racing.
Minji's gaze shifted towards me, and I closed my eyes, gathering my courage.
"It's me."
ᯓ♡ᯓ
- Third Person Pov -
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"Thanks for the meal, Auntie Kang!" your friends chorused as they slipped on their shoes. You watched them for a moment before turning back to your mother, who had a serious look on her face.
"You'll come to my room after a bit," she said before walking away, leaving you with a sense of unease.
"Sorry, Y/n, I didn't mean to say it out loud. Well, best of luck," Bae apologized before darting out the door, followed by Jungwon who gave you a thumbs up, and the other two who smiled before following Jungwon.
You sighed as you watched them leave.
"Do you want me to walk you home?" your sister's voice broke the silence as she walked towards the door with her friends.
"Nah, I'm fine," Hanni replied curtly, swiftly making her way to the door.
When she reached you, she paused, and you shared a momentary glance before she continued to put on her shoes.
"Tell Mrs. Kang thanks from us for the meal!" Minji called out as she slipped on her shoes as well. With that, they all left.
"Did Mom ask you to come to her?" Haerin's voice carried a hint of concern as she glanced at you, awaiting your response. You nodded slightly, acknowledging her question. "Yeah, she wanted to talk," you replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Hope everything's alright," she said, her tone softening with concern. "Yeah, me too," you murmured, hoping your words sounded convincing.
Taking a deep breath, you slipped on your shoes. "I'm just gonna step outside for a bit," you announced, avoiding any further questions.
Haerin's eyes followed you as you made your way out the door, the cool night air greeting you. The sky was darkening, heavy clouds looming overhead. "Looks like rain's on the way," you observed, the weather mirroring your unsettled mood. With a heavy sigh, you descended the alley staircase, each step echoing the weight on your mind.
The sky rumbled ominously as you reached a small bridge, its wooden planks creaking beneath your weight. Pausing, you closed your eyes, taking in deep breaths as the wind whipped around you, intensified by the elevated position. The air felt heavy with the promise of rain.
You couldn't shake the thought of what might have transpired if you hadn't claimed to be dating Hanni Pham during that truth or dare game.
What alternate reality would you be facing now?
Despite the weight of your deception, there was no remorse about fabricating your relationship status.
"Stop overthinking," you scolded yourself under your breath.
"Kang Y/n?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through your thoughts, causing you to freeze in place.
Slowly turning, you saw Kim Minji standing before you, her presence catching you off guard.
"Hey..." you greeted awkwardly, offering a hesitant wave.
Minji responded with a smile as she approached, standing beside you and gazing out at the lake. The sky continued to rumble overhead, the wind swirling around you both.
"It looks like it's going to pour," Minji remarked, her gaze finally shifting from the lake to the darkening sky. You nodded in agreement, the imminent rainfall evident in the heavy clouds above.
"So, what brings you out here?" Minji inquired, turning her attention back to you.
You hesitated for a moment, searching for an adequate response. "Just some alone time," you replied, feeling slightly guilty for the curt answer.
"And you?"
"Same here... I needed a breather," she chuckled softly. "How long do you plan on staying?"
"Probably about 15 or 20 minutes," you answered, tilting your head slightly. Minji nodded in understanding. "I'll stick around 20 minutes then," she decided, closing her eyes to savor the fresh air.
"But what if it starts raining before we head back?" Minji pondered aloud, still keeping her eyes shut.
"I didn't bring an umbrella, so I'll likely get soaked," you admitted with a shrug.
Minji nodded thoughtfully before offering a solution. "My house is nearby. You can borrow my umbrella if it starts to rain. Hae mentioned that you're prone to getting sick if you get caught in the rain," she explained, extending her umbrella towards you.
Surprised by her concern, you asked, "Haerin... told you that?"
"Yeah, you've become the latest topic of gossip in our friend group," Minji chuckled, her tone light. "Not in a bad way, though. Our Hyein is actually a big fan of yours."
Realizing the practicality of her offer, you accepted the umbrella with a grateful nod. "Thanks," you said, feeling a sense of warmth from her unexpected kindness.
Suddenly, Minji's phone buzzed, she quickly checked the notification before turning to you. "Sorry, Kang, I've got to go now. See you tomorrow at school. I assume you'll be there since it's really important," she explained, sliding her phone back into her pocket.
"Good night! Take care," she bid farewell with a wave before turning to leave. You returned the gesture with a polite bow.
"Good night," you replied softly.
Once Minji disappeared from sight, you glanced down at the umbrella she had lent you.
After a moment's pause, you began to make your way back home. As you descended the staircase, raindrops began to fall, prompting you to unfurl the umbrella and shield yourself from the downpour.
Just as you reached the intersection, you collided with someone, your hand instinctively reaching out to steady them. With a firm grip on the umbrella, you prevented both of you from falling.
"I'm so sorry!" the person exclaimed, their voice muffled by the rain. Despite the noise, you recognized the familiar figure before you, and your heart skipped a beat.
Hanni
It was Hanni.
Hanni Pham.
The person you had agreed to pretend to be in a relationship with to protect her from unwanted attention.
"Y/n?" Hanni mumbled as she spotted you.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just out for a walk... Um, You?" You replied, holding the umbrella between the two of you. Despite the rain, you found yourselves standing remarkably close, the warmth of Hanni's presence palpable.
"I was waiting for someone important, but they didn't show up because of the rain," Hanni explained, her hair damp and stray droplets framing her face, adding to her ethereal appearance under the glow of the streetlights. You found yourself captivated by her eyes.
"Uh... Kang Y/n?" Hanni's voice brought you back to reality.
"Well... Um, Do you want... me to walk you home?" you offered, realizing she would get sick if she stayed out in the rain much longer.
"Uh... No thanks. I can manage. You can go home," Hanni declined, stepping back slightly to put some distance between you two.
You hesitated, not wanting her to get drenched, and held the umbrella steady over both of you.
"You don't need to-" Hanni began, but you interrupted her by placing the umbrella handle in her hand, causing her to gasp in surprise.
"Good night!" you quickly said before darting off, leaving Hanni with the umbrella Minji had given you.
Hanni couldn't help but blush at the unexpected gesture, her heart fluttering as she watched you disappear into the distance.
As she held the umbrella you had given her, she felt a strange warmth spreading through her chest, leaving her with a lingering sense of happiness.
ᯓ♡ᯓ
( To be continued... ))