I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Hyeon, it's not like that."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Really? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks exactly like that."
I frowned, trying to figure out how to explain something I wasn't even sure of myself. "It's complicated, okay? I don't know what it is between us."
Hyeon let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Jihoon, it's only complicated because you're making it that way. Either you like the guy, or you don't. It's not rocket science."
"Okay, I don't like him. I just keep him around because I'm bored." I said, feeling the frustration bubbling up inside me.
Hyeon raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Bored? Come on, Jihoon. If you were just bored, you wouldn't be this worked up over him. You don't spend nights with people just because you're bored."
I groaned, rubbing my face. "Why are you pushing this so hard? What does it matter?"
"Because I'm your twin brother," he said, his tone softening. "And I know you better than anyone. You don't like admitting when you care about someone. But keeping Minji around just because you're 'bored'? That's bullshit, and you know it."
I clenched my jaw, hating how easily Hyeon could read me. "Fine. Maybe I care about him a little. But that doesn't mean I'm in love with him or anything."
Hyeon smirked. "No one said you loved him, all I care about is you pushing away someone that actually cares about you."
"You know I won't always be around to lead you back on the right road, so maybe you should stop hurting yourself by pushing him away."
I let out a deep breath, staring at the floor. Hyeon always had a way of cutting right to the heart of the issue, whether I wanted to hear it or not. He wasn't wrong—Minji did care about me. That much was obvious. But I couldn't shake the feeling that getting too close would only end in disaster, like everything else I touched.
"I just don't want to deal with it," I muttered. "It's easier this way."
Hyeon shook his head, sitting up a little straighter. "It's not easier, Jihoon. It's cowardly. You're afraid of getting hurt, so you push everyone away. But one day, you're going to push too hard, and they won't come back."
His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I didn't say anything, the weight of his warning sinking in.
"Look, I know you've been through a lot," Hyeon continued, his voice soft but firm. "But that doesn't mean you have to shut yourself off from everyone. Minji's not going to hurt you, but you're going to end up hurting him if you keep playing these games."
I swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yeah, whatever." I muttered.
Hyeon slumped in the couch, "to think you're the older twin you would be a little bit understanding, but I guess not." He said softly.
"Seriously Hyeon, it's not like you're different from me. Aren't you the same with Chris, it's obvious you like him but you deny it and you keep pushing him away." I scoffed.
"That's not the Same!" He said quickly sitting up
I raised an eyebrow, surprised at how quickly Hyeon reacted. "Oh? It's not the same? You're telling me that pushing away the guy who's clearly into you is somehow different from what I'm doing with Minji?"
Hyeon's eyes flashed with frustration. "Chris and I… are best friends so we can't date, You won't understand it's complicated.
I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Oh, so it's 'complicated' for you, but when it's me, I'm just being a coward, right?"
He opened his mouth to argue, but then paused, realizing how hypocritical he sounded. "Okay, fine. Maybe we're both being idiots. But at least I'm aware of it. You're just avoiding it altogether."
I rolled my eyes, sinking further into the couch. "Yeah, whatever. We're both a mess."
—————————
I let out a long breath, rubbing my temples. The last thing I needed was to be dragged into some awkward reunion with Jiho. The past was the past, and I had no desire to dig it up, especially not with everything that was already going on in my life.
"Yuna, I really don't want to do this," I said, trying to keep my tone calm. "I'm not interested in playing nice for old times' sake."
"Oh, please. You're being dramatic." Yuna chuckled, brushing off my concerns like they were nothing. "It's been three years, Minji. People change. Who knows? Maybe it'll be good for you two to reconnect."
I shook my head, feeling the frustration bubble up again. "Reconnect? What for? We didn't end on good terms, Yuna. I don't think I owe him anything."
"I'm not saying you owe him anything," she replied, her voice softening. "I'm just saying it might help to close that chapter. It's been open for too long, don't you think?"
I didn't respond right away. As much as I hated to admit it, she had a point. I had been carrying the weight of my history with Jiho for years, and maybe part of me was still stuck in that moment, waiting for some kind of closure I never got.
"I'll think about it," I muttered, even though the idea of seeing Jiho again sent a wave of anxiety through me.
"Good," Yuna said brightly. "That's all I'm asking. No pressure. Just give it some thought."
"He'll be in town next weekend Friday, we will meet him together."
"Wait, what?" I shot up from my bed, suddenly feeling a rush of panic. "Yuna, I said I'd think about it. I didn't agree to meet him!"
She laughed, the sound of her amusement doing nothing to calm my nerves. "Oh, relax. You'll be fine. Besides, I'll be there. It's not like I'm throwing you into some romantic reunion. Just a casual meet-up."
"Casual," I repeated, rubbing my temples. "Right, because it's always casual when you run into your ex after three years of no contact."
"You'll survive," Yuna teased. "And if things get awkward, I'll have a reason to pull you out of there. Just consider it a chance to get some closure."
I groaned, but part of me knew there was no getting out of this. Once Yuna had made up her mind, there was no changing it. "Fine. But if this blows up in my face, I'm blaming you."
"I'll take full responsibility," she said confidently. "Now go rest, and don't stress about it too much. It's just a couple of hours. You've got this."
As we ended the call, I flopped back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling once again. Seeing Jiho again after all this time? It was the last thing I wanted, but Yuna wasn't wrong. Maybe this was the moment I needed to finally close that chapter in my life.
The following week passed in a blur. Between classes, shifts at the club, and trying to keep my mind off Jihoon's unpredictable behavior, I had little time to dwell on what was looming at the end of the week. But every now and then, the thought of seeing Jiho would sneak in, bringing with it a mix of anxiety and curiosity.
By the time Friday rolled around, I felt like I was on autopilot. I spent most of the day mentally preparing myself for whatever awkwardness awaited me. Yuna had texted me several times throughout the day, reassuring me that everything would be fine, but it did little to ease the tension building in my chest.
Later that evening, I met up with Yuna outside the café where we were supposed to meet Jiho. She was already there, casually leaning against the brick wall with her phone in hand, looking way too calm for what was about to go down.
"Hey!" she called out, smiling brightly as I approached. "You ready for this?"
I let out a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."
She nudged me playfully. "Come on, you're going to be fine. Just remember, it's a casual meet-up. Nothing more."
I nodded, though my stomach twisted in knots. "Yeah, casual."
We walked inside and grabbed a booth near the back. The atmosphere of the café was cozy, with soft lighting and the low hum of conversations blending into the background.
Yuna ordered us drinks while I nervously scanned the entrance, waiting for Jiho to walk through the door.
A few minutes later, the door opened, and in walked Jiho.
He hadn't changed much. Same sharp jawline, same dark eyes that held a hint of mystery. He looked more mature, though, as if time had hardened him. Seeing him in person after all this time brought back a flood of memories, both good and bad.
Jiho spotted us immediately, his gaze locking onto mine for just a moment before he walked over. My heart pounded as he approached, every step feeling heavier than the last.
"Hey," Jiho greeted, his voice low but casual
as he slid into the booth across from me. "Long time, no see."
I forced a smile, trying to ignore the tightening in my chest. "Yeah, it's been a while."
Yuna jumped in to break the ice, flashing her usual charming grin. "Jiho! Good to see you again. You've been hiding out in Jeonju for too long."
He chuckled softly, but there was something distant in his expression. "Yeah, well, life happens."
The small talk continued, with Yuna doing most of the talking while I sat there, trying to process the fact that Jiho was right in front of me. It felt surreal, like a scene from amovie I didn't want to be in.
At some point, Yuna excused herself to grab another round of drinks, leaving Jiho and me alone. The silence between us stretched, thick and uncomfortable.
"So…" Jiho started, his eyes scanning my face. "How've you been?"
"Good, I guess," I replied, my voice tight. "Busy with school and work. You?"
He shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "Same. Trying to figure things out."
There was a beat of silence before he spoke again, his voice softer this time. "I didn't expect to see you here. Thought you wouldn't want to talk to me after… everything."
I swallowed hard, the memories of our messy breakup flashing through my mind. "Yeah, well… Yuna thought it might be good for us to catch up. Closure, I guess."
He nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the table. "Closure… Right."
Another long pause stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words. The air felt thick with unresolved tension, and I could sense that both of us were tiptoeing around the real conversation we needed to have.
"Well this is kinda awkward." He nervously chuckled.
"Well it's not a regular think that you meet up with your ex after 3 years." I added.
"Why do we even have to act like this, I know what I did back then wasn't right. I also regret ending everything on a bad note, losing you as a lover is one thing but I don't want to lose you as a friend." He stated.
"Well… even though I'm still a little angry at you, i can't lie and say I didn't miss our friendship." I said, "I guess I just need closure to get over everything." I added.
"Well then how about shake on it and forget the past," he said reaching his hand out
TBC