Part 1:“Do I need a reason to like him?” In which you’re in love with your best friend and someone asks you why you like him.
Part 1. Posted on 5 May 2021.
The question makes you stumble and drop your yogurt to the ground, whiteness splattering everywhere. You’re mumbling incoherent nonsensical words of apology when a hand swoops in to pull you up from the ground. “Are you okay?”
Your heart jumps to your throat, and breathing becomes a chore. Chocolate brown tired eyes behind a pair of black glasses scan your face worriedly. The touch on your wrist begins to burn, a pleasant heat stemming from where his fingers touch your wrist. You’re sure your ears are as red as tomatoes. Anybody else, and they would’ve understood. They would’ve known. It would be impossible not to. But not him. Not your dense best friend. You mumble something and it must satisfy him because he lets go of your hand, shaking his head. “When will you start paying attention to your surroundings?” A beat. Then, “Who is this?”
It is then you remember your other friend standing next to you. “Oh this is Min Hyuk. Min Hyuk, this is Nam Joo Hyuk, my best friend.” Min Hyuk grins widely, the naughty spark in his eyes sends worry flowing through you. He wouldn’t spill the beans would he? You really should be more careful of how you behave around Joo Hyuk, you need to stop being so obvious. The two shake hands and you shake your head, attempt to chase away the buzzing that is filling it up- as it always does whenever Joo Hyuk is near you these days.
“Where are you guys headed?”
“Oh we’re heading to the learning center. We wanted to study for the French final together.” A beat. “Can I join you?”
You blink at your best friend. He looks back at you, eyebrows raised. “But, Joo Hyuk, you’re in English. Why do you want to study French?” You say, and he shrugs. Min Hyuk begins to laugh and you turn to him, beginning to feel slightly annoyed. “What’s so funny?”
He smiles in that secretive way of his that makes you want to smack him, walking forward, and Joo Hyuk matches his pace. You hurry after both of them.
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“Come on, tell me!”
You look up from your laptop for the hundredth time to glare at Min Hyuk. “Non.” you say sternly, “Study your French.” Min Hyuk only sniggers in reply. You roll your eyes and look at the alphabets on screen again, mouthing the words. Involuntarily, your eyes slide upwards and forward, to where Joo Hyuk is sitting with his laptop, fingers tapping away at the keyboard. A sigh escapes your mouth. It would be so easy to just go there and wrap your arms around him like you used to. Except, no, it would not. You didn’t have a crush on him then. Now you do.
Min Hyuk taps the desk in front of you loudly, making Joo Hyuk glance up sharply, looking annoyed. You look away, embarrassed at being caught, and smack Min Hyuk’s hand away. “We’re going to fail our final at this rate.” You hiss, and he laughs. “Tell me why you like him and I promise I’ll shut up.” You glance at Joo Hyuk warily, and he looks away from you, eyes going back to his laptop. “Promise you’ll shut up?”
“Oui, mademoiselle.”
You sigh loudly, making Joo Hyuk glance at you in concern. You feel your ears go red, and smile at him before looking away. You can almost swear he grinned back.
“Fine, what do you want to know.”
“Since when have you liked him?”
Forever maybe? Ever since you saw him carry an injured chipmunk to the infirmary with such tenderness it surprised you even though you knew he was the gentle sort of guy? Or when he cut up your steak for you when you fractured your thumb when you both were 10 and fed you your dinner? Or when you were 16 and he rushed to your house in the middle of the night when your favorite character in the book you were reading died and hugged you till the tears stopped? “A month.”
“What do you even like about him?”
How warm his hugs are. How his eyes crinkle when he smiles. How his lips tilt a bit more to the left than the right. How he holds the frame of the car door every time you get into any car and tells you to mind your head. The way his t-shirt rides up every time he stretches his arms after four hours of intense gaming. The way he goes silent every time he looks at the stars, like he has just noticed how beautiful they are. The way he is unashamed to say he likes the same music as you do, and that he likes romance fiction. The way he seems to always be there for you whenever you need him. The way his eyes shine in the sunlight and his lips look so totally kissabl-
“He’s nice.”
“He’s nice?” Min Hyuk guffaws loudly, drawing attention from everyone in the center, including Joo Hyuk who crumples his nose as he looks at his laptop. You place your hand against Min Hyuk’s mouth, shutting him up. “Byu bwike bim baush beesh biche?” his words come out muffled and you pull your hand back, wiping it against your jeans, disgusted with your friend. “You like him only because he’s nice?” Min Hyuk’s tone is incredulous and you glare at him. “You said you’d study French if I told you. Study.”
“Ya! You promised me to tell me why you like-” You stomp on Min Hyuk’s foot, breaking off his loud question, and Joo Hyuk looks absolutely disgusted. You look at him, smiling uneasily. “Sorry!” You mouth at him. You don’t blame him really, if it were you, you would be annoyed too by some loud jerk who wouldn’t let you finish your work in peace. Joo Hyuk just ignores your smile and looks away, jaw clenched, and your stomach twists. You hate fighting with him. You rarely do, but when it happens, it’s the worst.
“That is it. I’m heading back to my dorm. I’ll get to study there at least.” You pack up your things and storm out, Min Hyuk following you, calling out apologies. As you walk out, you notice Joo Hyuk continue to ignore you, even when you wave at him, and your stomach twists again. Why does it feel like the beginning of an end?
As Min Hyuk catches up to you and apologizes over and over again, you don’t see Joo Hyuk’s eyes trailing after you all the way till you’re out of his line of vision. Nor do you see the fingers he has clamped around his pen tightly.
xxxxxx
A/n: Hahah this was an effort, and will probably continue into a series sometime soon! Thanks for reading! <3
(EDIT: You can read Part 2 here! and part 3 here!)
