Chapter 112: Chapter 110 - A Friend in Need is A Friend Indeed

The ache in my chest hadn’t dulled even after I left Yeonjun behind.

His words still echoed in my mind, the weight of them heavier with each passing second.

Maybe we should keep this a secret a little longer.

How had we gone from promises of love to this?

I hadn’t realized I was crying until Soobin’s voice broke through the haze of my thoughts.

“Yuri?”

I looked up sharply, my tear-streaked face meeting his concerned gaze.

Soobin stood just a few feet away, his usually smug expression replaced with something softer, something more tender.

His brows furrowed as he studied me, and for a moment, I thought he might just walk away.

But instead, he stepped closer.

“What happened?” he asked quietly, his voice laced with genuine concern.

I shook my head, biting my lip as I tried to suppress another wave of tears.

I didn't want to discuss it with him. I didn't want to discuss it with anyone.

"It’s nothing," I mumbled, but the crack in my voice betrayed me.

Soobin didn’t buy it.

He reached out, his hands gently cupping my face as his thumbs brushed away the fresh tears spilling from my eyes.

His touch was warm, steady, and I hated how it made me want to collapse right then and there.

His gaze was warm and his hold on me made me crave the comfort it provided.

“Nothing doesn’t make you cry like this,” he said softly, his tone almost scolding.

“You don’t have to tell me, but don’t try to act like you’re okay when you’re clearly not.” he finally said when he understood I wasn't going to dish out any information on the why of my current state of being.

I stayed silent, unwilling to meet his gaze.

My chest was too tight, the pain of my fight with Yeonjun still raw and aching.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice trembling. Just because I was having a shitty day didn't mean I had to cry in front of others and make them feel awkward and ruin their day as well.

“For what?” Soobin asked, his voice hardening slightly.

“The only person who should be apologizing is the one who made you cry.” he spoke and poked his tongue to the inside of his cheek as if he was holding himself back from saying more.

His words stung, not because they weren’t true, but because they were.

“Soobin, don’t—” I began, but he cut me off.

"I’m not going to badmouth him, don’t worry," he said, his jaw tightening slightly.

"But that’s only because I don’t need to. He’s doing a fine job of screwing things up on his own."

His bluntness startled a laugh out of me, weak and broken, but a laugh nonetheless.

"Soobin, please don’t make this worse." I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper

He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked at me.

“I’m not trying to make it worse, Yuri. I’m trying to be here for you. But it’s hard when the person who’s supposed to be taking care of you is the one making you cry.”

“That’s not fair,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction. His words left a souness in my mouth that I didn't like the feel of.

“No, it’s not,” Soobin agreed, his tone softening.

“And neither is making you cry like this.” he brushed another strag tears from mh cheeks.

I was an ugly cryer. I could only imagine how I looked right now.

"I must look awful right now." I let out a weak laugh, the sound breaking in my throat.

“You’ve looked better,” Soobin teased lightly, his lips quirking up in a faint smile.

“But I’ve seen worse. Believe me. Remember our first encounter?” he jokes reminding me of that God awful mortifying coffee spill.

Before I could respond, distant voices reached us, growing louder as a group of students headed in our direction.

My stomach twisted at the thought of someone seeing me like this, but before I could react, Soobin turned and stepped in front of me, blocking me from view with his broad frame.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, my voice slightly panicked.

"Saving you from the rumor mill," he said casually, his back to the crowd. "It wouldn’t look good if someone saw you crying in front of me. They’d probably think I was bullying you or something" he shrugged.

I blinked at him, startled by his nonchalant tone.

"You? Bullying me? I don’t think anyone would believe that." I said honestly.

“You’re right," he admitted, shrugging.

"Maybe not," he admitted, turning back to face me.

"But I have a reputation to maintain, you know. The cool, unbothered Soobin Choi can’t have people thinking he’s making girls cry."

I let out a shaky laugh, brushing a hand over my face.

"My bet is they’d think I confessed to you and you rejected me. That’s probably more believable."

It was no secret that a lot of students have approached Soobin but none of them really were fruitful. Even if he did date someone he kept it so down low that everything was just a floating rumor.

Soobin smirked, leaning slightly closer.

“Oh? So you’re saying people think I would reject you? That’s a blow to my ego, Yuri.”

His teasing tone was so familiar, so normal, that it eased some of the tension in my chest. I shook my head, a small laugh escaping me.

"I’m saying people think you’re too full of yourself to say yes to anyone." I countered and it felt good to banter with someone instead of fighting.

“Ah, so you’re calling me out now?” he asked, pretending to be offended.

“Here I am, trying to save your reputation, and you’re tearing mine down.” hd feigned hurt.

"You’re ridiculous" Despite myself, I let out a soft laugh, wiping at my eyes.

“And you’re not denying it,” he said, his smirk widening.

The voices faded as the group moved on, and Soobin turned back to face me, his teasing smile giving way to something more serious.

"Come on," he said, gesturing toward the parking lot.

"Let me take you home" he offered.

I shook my head, stepping back.

"I’ll be fine, really. I don’t want to bother you."

“You’re not a bother,” Soobin said firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly as if daring me to argue.

“And I’m not letting you walk home alone looking like this. Just get in the car, Yuri.”

There was no room for negotiation in his tone, so I sighed and nodded, following him to his car.

The ride was quiet at first, the silence heavy but not uncomfortable. I stared out the window, my mind racing with everything that had happened.

Soobin sat beside me, his hands resting on his lap as he glanced at me every so often.

“So,” he said finally, breaking the silence.

“Do I get any points for being the hero today?” I could understand it was his attempt at easing the awkwardness.

“Points?” I turned to him in question.

“Yeah,” he said, leaning back against the seat with a smug grin.

“I mean, I did swoop in and save the day. I feel like I deserve some credit.”

I rolled my eyes, though the corners of my lips twitched upward.

“You didn’t really save the day, Soobin. You just found me crying and decided to annoy me instead of leaving me alone” I joked because joking was easier than facing the gut clenching feeling in my stomach the the uncertainty I left in our conversation with Yeonjun.

“Annoy you?” he repeated, feigning offense.

“I’m trying to cheer you up, Yuri. If anything, you should be thanking me.” he puffed his chest out and pouted like a little boy.

I shook my head, but his antics managed to pull me out of my spiraling thoughts, if only for a moment.

“Soobin,” I said after a pause, my voice quieter now.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” he said, his tone losing its playful edge.

“What would your parents think if you showed up with someone like me?”

He blinked, caught off guard by the question.

“What do you mean, ‘someone like you’?”  he asked in confusion.

I shrugged, looking away.

“You know… I’m not exactly from your world, Soobin. I don’t fit.” I didn't know what made me voice it out but I did and there was no going back.

He frowned, leaning forward slightly.

"Yuri, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard you say."

I looked at him, startled.

"My parents don’t care about that kind of stuff," he continued.

"And even if they did, who cares? I make my own decisions. At least in your case I would. You're worth fighting for" his smile returned to that restrained smile that reminded me of the political smile he put up for everyone.

It was as if he wanted to say more.

I studied him for a moment for a lie but his expression was earnest.

“You really believe that?” I asked again.

“Of course I do,” he said without hesitation.

“And you should, too.”

I smiled faintly, though the heaviness in my chest remained.

“Thank you, Soobin. For everything. I don’t know what I would have done without you today.” I said honestly.

“Probably cry a lot more,” he teased, though there was a hint of something deeper in his tone.

I hesitated, then added, “I really do appreciate you, Soobin. As a friend. I don’t want to lose that.”

His smile faltered for just a second, so quickly I almost missed it.

But when he spoke, his tone was light again.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed. And don’t worry, Yuri. You’re not getting rid of me that easily." He winked and his words held a promise.

The car slowed to a stop outside my house, and I reached for the door handle. But before I could step out, Soobin’s voice stopped me.

“Yuri,” he said, his tone softer now.

I turned to him, waiting.

“You deserve to be happy, don't forget that” he said simply.

His words lingered in my mind as I stepped out of the car, the warmth in his voice contrasting sharply with the cold evening air.

But the warmth disappeared the moment I saw who was waiting for me.

Yeonjun.

He was sitting on his bike at the end of my driveway, his expression unreadable. His gaze flicked to the car behind me, and I saw the moment realization dawned.

His expression hardened in an instant, any softness to them gone in a glimpse.

Without a word, he revved the engine and sped off, the roar of his bike cutting through the stillness of the night.

My heart sank as I watched him go, the weight of everything crashing down on me once again.

A/N: hellooowww lovely people! Another update. Not as long as it took my last time but I put a lot of thought in this chapter. Let me know what you think of it.

Also the year is about to end. What are your plans? And what are your New Years resolutions?