I glanced at Haru next to me, sleeping safe and sound. I let out a sigh and got out of bed.

I didn't notice it yesterday, but the place was a total mess, which, looking at it, made me more stressed...

As I began to tidy things up, dirty clothes were lying everywhere, so I picked them up and placed them in the basket, then folded the laundry and put them back in the closet. 

After that, I mopped the floor and washed the dishes... 

Since I had endless thoughts on my mind, doing house chores, it was best to distract me from them... 

It was 7:30 when I prepared the breakfast... 

I woke Haru up to have breakfast together, then I asked him about their plans for today...

-" We're going hiking, and then we're going to have lunch together... "

+"I hate hiking!!... can I not come?..." 

To tell the truth, I didn't like the idea of hanging out with them. I'd rather stay home than watch them act all lovey-dovey, which made me incredibly uncomfortable. I just wanted to run away.

Why would his girlfriend want to see me anyway?!...

-"What?!... hey, this is why your body is so weak that you keep getting sick... you always lock yourself at home, not going anywhere..."

+"Anyway~, It's summer... hot and sunny... and I don't like it..."

-"What are you? A vampire?!..."

+"If you let me not come, then I am..."

-"Stop whining, I already told her you'll tag along..."

+"I don't have suitable clothes here..."

-"I bought it for you beforehand..." 

+"So you were planning this for a while... and I didn't have a clue...huh?"

-"If I had told you, you'd have runaway..."

Just as usual, it doesn't matter what excuses I use, it won't matter to him...

We got ready and drove to Heejin's house. When we arrived there, I opened the door to move into the back seat. Haru asked, "What are you doing?..." 

"It's not polite to let her sit in the back..." I got into the back seat as I answered him.

He chuckled and said, "She's cool... don't worry about such things!"

I groaned, "Even if she's cool, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have manners!..."

He reached out his hand toward me and pinched my cheek. "I got it~... Don't scold me~..." 

At that moment, Heejin opened the door and sat in the car excitedly. She let out, "Hiii! Babe! ", and kissed Haru's lips as she leaned close to him. 

And I was screaming inside, "This is why I didn't want to come... waaaah~... It's awkward and cringe~... Someone take me homeee~... a large group of couples is okay, but hanging out in three is like hell..."

She looked back and finally greeted me, "Hi, I'm Heejin. Nice to see you!..." 

Staring at me with her grey eyes, which I assumed were lenses, highlighted blonde short hair, a cherry tone lip gloss on her small lips, and Lashes extension. 

I grin awkwardly, "He~YY... I'm Myung~... I'm glad to meet you as well." 

I'm not actually, though... I'm dying here out of frustration...

Haru laughed and started the car. They kissed, sang, and danced all the way to high volume music. Super excited! 

As for me, I just stared at them silently... 

I'm not a very active person in the mornings. My brain ain't loading. Sometimes, my mom tells me that my expression is similar to a serial killer early in the morning. Well, she's not wrong... I'm actually capable of doing anything now to get out of this situation.

 ~

Finally, we reached the mountain that we were supposed to hike up.

Since I'm not a sportsman at all... I was having a really hard time hiking after one hour... I couldn't breathe, I was panting very hard, and my weak legs were shaking nonstop.

Haru held my hand and dragged me all the way up there by force... 

And his girlfriend found my suffering funny... she was laughing all the time... I was so embarrassed that I wanted to die. I wanted to disappear and never come back. I wanted the ground to just swallow me up.

When we reached the top, Haru said, "Look at the view... isn't it refreshing?..." 

Then Heejin answered," Yeah~... It's worth it~... hehe~..."... and jumped into Haru's arms.

I said, "Yep... But I'm still not convinced to torture yourself for 2 hours to see this for about 5 minutes and then come back for another 2 hours... It doesn't make sense..."

And they burst into laugh.

I know I was acting like a bad bitch but I just can't blabber sweet lies... 

That wasn't my cup of tea and I've been pissed since earlier.

After we returned down, Haru took us to a restaurant... 

When we sat down, he left the table to go to the restroom. It was an awkward situation to be alone with Heejin.

Then Heejin asked, " Can I ask you something?..."

In a sense, I felt like Dejavu, remembering Haru's mom questioning me the first time I saw her... "Yes, sure..."...

-"Oppa*, Are you his friend with benefits? "... 

+"Eh?!... No!... Of course not... why would you~..."

-"Ah!... I'm sorry if I offended you... 

I was just curious about your relationship with him since he's always talking about you all the time..."

+"We've been friends for a long time... It's normal to be close, I guess..."

Her curiosity is overboard, though... 

Is that why she wanted to see me?!... She suspected us... 

She mumbled, " How strange, he hasn't laid his hands on him... Platonic one...huh..."... 

+"Excuse me?..."

-"haha... nothing~... But Oppa, from the moment I saw you, I realized you're a naive and innocent guy... 

Why are you staying with someone totally opposite?... Are you okay with his personality?..."

+" When you spend such a long period of time with someone, you'll get used to him... 

Also, not everyone is flawless ... And I know he's kind deep inside... "

-"Hmm~... I agree... at first, I got close to him for fun... But now~... I've started liking him more... I even thought about marriage, too..."

+"Ahh~... I'm glad to hear it... you two look good together..."

-"You'll support me, right?..."

+"Sure!..."

As soon as I heard the word marriage, there was a sadness in my heart... 

I was so full of myself these days that I almost got fooled... 

Getting confused or flattered by Haru's actions or words when it doesn't mean anything to him.

I keep getting back to square one.

Sooner or later, he will get married. As his mother or this girl wishes... 

He will lose his interest in me in the end.

Why does it hurt whenever I have these thoughts?...

 ~

When our lunch was over and we got in the car... Haru said he would drop me off home first because Heejin wanted to spend more time with him... 

While we were on our way to my home, they were talking nonstop, and I quietly was looking out of the window. As he stopped by my place, Haru asked, "Are you okay?... you don't look well..."...

And I answered, "I'm fine, just tired... Have a good day, you two..."

Then I got out of the car and walked home... 

As I entered and greeted my parents, I took a shower to cool my head and headed straight to my room.

I slumped down in my bed and grabbed my phone. Haru's mom texted me again: "Do you know what he's doing these days? He doesn't answer my calls."

I replied, "Hello. Sorry, we've been busy with work."

-"What about today?... Are you together now?..."

+"No. He's with his girlfriend."

-"Really?!... That's a relief then. Finally you gave me good news. Make sure to report me if anything odd happens. "

I put my phone away as tears started streaming down my face. I wasn't sure telling his mom about Heejin was the right thing to do or not, but I couldn't think of anything else. If his mom finds out that he nursed me for two days, she'll get mad.

I curled up in a ball and let the tears flow until I was too exhausted to cry anymore. Finally, I drifted off to sleep.

 ~

It was tomorrow evening that finally Haru contacted me again and asked if I had any plans, and I told him that I'd go out for dinner with Taemin... 

-"Cancel it... and come over here... we can go to work together tomorrow..."

+"Nope... I already planned it and it's been a while since I last saw him"

-"Then let me come with you... I'm bored..."

+"I wanna be alone with him... so maybe next time... you have so many people around you... Go have fun with them..."

-"Are you mad at me?..."

+"Nah, why would I?... "

-"You're acting cold... "

+"... I'm not..."

-"Fine... see you tomorrow... "

After he hung up the phone, I got ready and headed to see Taemin... 

I talked to Taemin about what I've been through these days... then he said, " I know you've had a hard time since college, and you have no choice but to get help, but be careful around him to not get controlled by him... "

+"I know... which is why my stress level has increased since I started working with him... in addition, everyone who's around him hates me... they keep judging me... I wish I could run away..."

-"It might be a good idea to save your money for make-up classes... Get started and learn it since you love it from the beginning... 

Don't care about others' opinions, just do what you like... 

When you learn how to do it, you can change your job..." 

+"Ah!... Not a bad idea. I'll think about it... "

-"Hang in there, buddy... you'll be fine soon..."

While we were talking, Haru called me again and said, "Where are you right now? Are you done?..."

+"Eating dinner... not yet, why?..."

-"I'll pick you up... call me when you're done..."

+"Don't bother yourself... Taemin will take me home..."

-"... Tell me where you are!..." He grumbled.

+"... (sigh)... Xx Barbeque on Xx Street..."

Haru arrived as dinner was over. I introduced them to each other, and then the 3 of us walked to have a cup of coffee before heading home. Haru was acting completely normal around Taemin even though he dislikes him. 

Putting those kinds of business smiles on his face.

We talked for a while and then said goodbye to Taemin... 

Haru didn't say a word until we arrived, and neither did I... 

The mood was heavy and there was just music in the air. I felt anxiety rise in me as a result of his silence.

As soon as we entered his place, he left to take a shower without even looking at me. After he came out I took one too.

When I came out, he was sitting on the couch and playing with the TV remote... 

Then he said, "Let's watch a movie..."

"It's midnight... we can't wake up tomorrow... " I said... 

"Come here...", pointed next to himself seriously... 

I sat down next to Haru and he laid his hand on my neck, stared at me with a bitter expression and took a deep sigh... 

I asked, "What's wrong?..."

-"Why did you want to be alone with him?..."

+"Because he doesn't know you so he could feel uncomfortable... "

-"wasn't it because you're avoiding me?... Or is something going on between you two?... You've been acting strange since yesterday."

+"I'm not!!!... Having my own private time doesn't mean I'm avoiding you... What could've possibly been?... "

He slipped his hand down and grabbed my shoulder...

-"Myung, I don't like him... he's not giving a positive vibe... Don't hang out with him too much..." 

+" Enough!... He's my friend... Don't talk shit about him..."

His grasp became tighter and I could feel his anger rising, and it scared me...

-"You're so kindhearted that people will always be able to easily take advantage of you... Just trust me!..."

+"Who are you? My dad?... 

I'm not a child... I know who I'm hanging out with..."

-"Am I not enough for you?... Can't you stay only with me?... Hm~!?..." He shouted.

I was irritated by his words and said loudly, "I'm the one who isn't enough... you keep wanting more from me..."

-"He has ulterior mot~"

I clenched my fists and cut off his words, "Don't even dare say more, or I'll leave. NOW...

I'd like to sleep..."

I got up and headed to bed. Haru stayed in the living room for about an hour, then crawled into bed. And we didn't say a word all night...

I felt unfair... he always had so many people around him, and he kept having fun with them, like going to bars, parties, clubs, or even his one nightstands while he had a girlfriend... However, he won't let me hang out with my only friend... shouldn't he be strict with his girl instead of me?... Isn't this ridiculous?...

...................................................

*Oppa, for girls, is the name of an older boy (your brother, or your lover, your friend...) who is close to you...