sweet lies - III
words - 1,557
genre - a mix
featuring - jackson wang x reader x lee jooheon
a/n - happy new year to all my followers! I’m really trying to keep the updates coming for this since I am leaving for China soon, and I don’t want to leave you all with a cliffhanger haha. I rewrote this quite a few times, so I’m hoping this will be okay for you all, but I promise the next part will be better and hopefully longer!
Things had finally seemed to be a little normal again. You were able to get back in the studio, start a few new songs, and distract yourself from the breakup for awhile. You didn’t need Jooheon staying over as much, though you did miss the company. But, he was busy preparing for his special performance at the MAMA awards. And though you weren’t too happy Jackson was going to be part of the performance, you were happy for Jooheon.
“Hey Vernon, how are you?”
Jooheon walked into the small conference room where he and the other artists asked to perform with Dynamic Duo at the MAMA awards would all be meeting to discuss parts of the song and the performance. “Good good, you?” “I’m good thanks.”
He took a seat next to Vernon, the two of them the first to arrive just waiting on Jackson and Mark Lee from NCT. They’d talked a bit, complimenting each other on their groups recent comebacks. Their groups were close so they were comfortable around one anther. Though Jooheon eventually turned his attention to his phone as you’d been texting him all morning asking for advice about your dress for the MAMA awards. The two of you really becoming a lot closer after the last few weeks.
[You]: Do I go with something more conservative, or do I go for something sexy?
[Jooheon]: Are you kidding? If tons of guys are gonna have their eyes on you, conservative, I don’t want guys gawking at you all night haha
Soon the door opened revealing Mark and Jackson as they greeted both Jooheon and Vernon before taking their seats. Jackson’s being next to Jooheon, which only made him more uncomfortable then he already felt about the situation. Jooheon did feel a bit bad for becoming so close to you after the breakup. Jackson was still his friend, but he also didn’t think that meant he should just ignore you since you and Jackson were no longer together. He’d gotten to know you, and really like you. He wasn’t going to just push his feelings aside because he was friends with Jackson first.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Jooheon mustered a reply as his phone buzzed on the table. The last text of yours he’d be able to read before the meeting started.
[You]: Okay, I’m sorry I know you have a meeting right now. But which one? The black, or the white?
Jooheon opened up the photos you’d sent him. Looking first at you in the simple black dress, then second at the long flowing white one. He didn’t even care to think about the fact that Jackson was sitting right next to him and probably saw the texts from you. He couldn’t look away from the photos, seeing how gorgeous you looked in both dresses.
[Jooheon]: Wow, okay first. Woah, you look beautiful in both. But, white, definitely the white one. I think it will make a statement without drawing too many eyes ;) haha
Jackson did his best not to show it on his face how upset he was after seeing what he could of the texting conversation between you and Jooheon. He may not have seen much of the actual conversation, but he saw the photos and how Jooheon reacted. And that was enough for him to formulate an idea of what was really going on.
The meeting ended after a short while and the boys all said their goodbyes, Jooheon heading on his way. Pulling out his phone to see if there were any more texts from you about your dress.
“Hey Jooheon, wait up?”
Turning to see Jackson quickly trying to catch up to him, Jooheon couldn’t help but feel nervous for whatever it was Jackson wanted to talk to him about.
You were shocked to say the least. Closing your laptop as Jackson’s newest music video ended, pushing it aside as you got up and headed out of your room. You understood that Jackson took inspiration from his life for his music, but you never pegged him as the guy to write a break up song about you. Sure you could’ve done the same, but you felt that was a bit petty. To profit off of the personal things that happened between the two of you.
So many thoughts were running through your mind. Do you call Jackson, ask him what the hell he was thinking? Should you just do it back and write a song too, putting in things that he wouldn’t want you to. Sure there weren’t super specifics, but it was obvious the song was about you. The two of you just broke up a few weeks ago, people would be stupid to think it wasn’t about you.
Searching for your phone in your apartment, you called Jooheon. Hoping that he would talk some sense into you, make you forget about it.
“Y/n?”
“Sorry, I know it’s late. Have, have you seen the video?”
Jooheon sighed, letting you know his answer without him speaking. “I watched it, and looked up the lyrics. I couldn’t help but think of you. I mean who else would that song be about. How are you holding up? Did you need me to come over?”
“Yeah..”
“Wait, what do you mean you talked to him? What did you say? What did he say?”
You were a bit shocked that Jooheon would have talked to Jackson and not told you, especially if it was something about you. Jooheon sighed as you got up off of the couch, already upset and his news not making it any better.
“After our meeting the other day, about our performance with Dynamic Duo. I was leaving and he caught up to me. He wanted to talk. I’m sorry y/n I can’t help but feel like some of this is my fault, he probably took stuff I said to use in his stupid song.”
Jooheon sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. Taking a minute before continuing on. “Well, he asked if something was going on with us. Because he saw the photos of you in my hoodie, and he didn’t believe your lie that ours got switched. Since he knows you don’t own that hoodie. So he put two and two together I guess. I told him that we were closer now sure, but I told him that there wasn’t anything going on. I was just being there for you, as a friend. But, he didn’t believe me.”
“Why would me wearing your hoodie make him think something was going on between us? There’s nothing going on, we’re just friends. Is there something else that you're’ not telling me?” You looked at Jooheon, but he sat quiet. Not even looking at you as he played with his hands. Hoping you would just brush over the topic and move on.
“Jooheon, why would he think there is something more going on?”
You started to put the pieces together, understanding why it was so hard for him to answer you. “You, you have feelings for me. Don’t you.”
“Y/n, I swear I wasn’t being there for you throughout this just because I like you if that’s what you’re thinking. Or because I thought this was the perfect opportunity to finally have a shot with you. I never looked at it that way. I did it all because I really do care about you, and hated seeing you hurt because of someone who was one of my best friends. Someone who now won’t even talk to me because he thinks I went behind his back and started dating you.”
How could you not have seen it, or known that Jooheon had liked you. Sure it wasn’t painfully obvious, but looking back there were subtle signs. His flirty texts about your dress, how awkward he was when you woke up to find him next to you. But you appreciated him not using the breakup as a way to get close to you for his own benefit. That he was there for you, and only cared about you feeling happy again.
“I’m sorry that Jackson thinks you went behind his back. But, I really appreciate you being there for me. Through all of this. I don’t blame you for talking to him and maybe giving him some information for his song. It’s just a song. All I care about is that you’ve been there for me through all of this. You made me forget about the pain, helped me smile again, and just. Move on. But, I’m sure you know. Right now, I don’t think I’m ready to jump into another relationship. Clearly I’m still dealing with the aftereffects of the last one.”
Jooheon nodded, happy that his confession hadn’t ruined anything between the two of you, from what he could tell. “I know, and I don’t expect you to be ready for a relationship anytime soon. But if there is a chance, for us, then I’ll wait as long as I have to.” You smiled at him as he stood up, giving you a hug before walking towards the door.
“Sorry to kind of ruin the moment and run, but we both have early flights to Hong Kong tomorrow so, we should get some sleep.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”
“Of course. Sleep well y/n.”
“You too.”
like i said i rewrote this part like 7 times because I just wasn’t sure the feel that should be in it, but i figured this would work well because the next part is when everything will kind of come together? so yeah, hopefully you all like this? i always feel like i have one part in a series that isn’t as great and this is that part, but i promise the next part will be better!