➀ MOON BYULYI & KIM YONGSUN

@Moon Byulyi /Yongsun had simply been wandering around aimlessly trying to clear her mind until she found a bench at a nearby park. She didn’t mean to storm out on Byulyi but she couldn’t bear to stay there any longer either, lest she say something they’d both regret. On the contrary, Yongsun was already regretting so many things. Though, don’t get her wrong; not for once did she ever regret anything to do with Byulyi but rather, Yongsun regretted trusting Minhyuk, for not listening to Byulyi and now, for leaving. While she was drowning in her own guilt, in that moment, she felt raindrops fall from the sky before a full blown rainstorm broke out. Great. Just ing great! Sighing heavily, she shook her head. This wasn’t right; she needed to head back, apologize to Byulyi and find a solution together. Yes, that was exactly what she needed to do. Running her fingers through her soaked hair, Yongsun got up, shivering slightly from the cold and started her journey back. Was Byulyi going to be mad? Maybe but it didn’t matter, let the younger be mad at her, Yongsun would not refute. She loved the woman beyond words could describe and so something like this shouldn’t come between them. She couldn’t let it. At the vibration from her phone, Yongsun looked down to see a message from Byulyi. Actually, where was she? It took the woman a few minutes to think of a reply before another message came in from the younger and this time as she was about to type in her response, a message from Minhyuk appeared/
‘I’m sorry, my sweetheart. It must be done. I’ll see you soon’
/What exactly must be done? What was he going to do now? Oh gods. What if he got Byulyi? With her mind fearing the worst, Yongsun quickly crossed the street without checking for any oncoming vehicles. She didn’t think anyone would be out at this hour of the night but more importantly, she needed to get back to Byulyi almost instantly, however her assumptions had been wrong. In that split second of time, all she saw were the blinding headlights before hard metal collided with her body; sending her rolling over the car. A small gasp escaped her lips as the back her head hit the asphalt road hard and for a moment, Yongsun felt her whole world stop. She wasn’t sure anymore if the puddle on the road was from her pooling blood or the heavy rain. Coming to a stop just a few metres away from her, a person emerged from the vehicle, but due to her blurring vision she couldn’t see who it was/
Please..
/was all she could muster weakly as a plead for help but the driver simply knelt down beside her, hands working swiftly to detach the jewelry and phone. No. She had to stop him but Yongsun couldn’t fight back for her limbs felt like water/
“Ah, yes hello. There seems to be a hit and run case and the lady is unconscious. Send—”
/that was all Yongsun heard from the person before her ears too buzzed. Was this it? Is this how her life was going to end? Left to die, all alone on an empty street? No, it couldn’t. What about her family? What would happen to Byulyi? She needed to close her eyes to rest for a bit— no. She couldn’t. At that moment, she felt a pair of arms engulf her but unable to properly see nor hear, Yongsun did the only thing she could; holding on to her dear life but even that was proving to be quite impossible as seconds passed by/

@Moon Byulyi /she was seconds away from breaking down. Why? Because no matter how much she tried to convince Byulyi, the latter didn’t seem to listen. And no, she wasn’t in the least bit mad, simply frustrated. With a firm grip on her phone and feet planted on the ground, Yongsun tried to move back from Byulyi’s hold as much as possible though like always, who was she kidding? Byulyi was strong, almost comparable to Minhyuk if not more. Even so, Yongsun wasn’t going to give up; however that resolve slowly crumbled the minute her back was pressed to the counter/
It’s for the best? The best?! For who, Byulyi?! What if he hurt you? Or worst, killed you!
/she didn’t mean for the sudden outburst but what could she do? Yongsun was past that point and now, she didn’t even care about the steady stream of hot tears that fell from her eyes. There was no use anyways/
You’re not god! You’re not invincible. You got lucky once— do you not know how much I love you? have you no idea what I would go through if anything happened to you?
/frantically wiping at her tears, Yongsun took a deep breath to control her heavy breathing before she forced herself to continue albeit distraught; Minhyuk’s threat replaying in her mind like a broken tape recorder/
You don’t know what he can do and will do. And let’s just say, for a minute, I agree with your crazy plan for revenge; we get him. Then what... who’s to say he won’t send anyone else after [you]?
/Yongsun did not want to hear Byulyi’s answer for that matter. There was nothing the latter could say to calm her heart. Running her finger through her hair with enough force, she could definitely pull a few strands out, Yongsun then pushed Byulyi back slightly and slipped out of the younger’s hold. Her mind was racing, she could barely breathe and on top of that, her heart was pounding with anxiety/
I can’t.. I need some fresh air or else I’m going to pass out.
/with that, Yongsun stormed out as the door unintentionally slammed shut behind her. Honestly, there was no specific destination in mind but all she needed was a chance to think in peace and collect her thoughts. Yongsun wasn’t going to let Minhyuk ruin their relationship like this; not a chance but as smart as he was, she had to be twice that. The only problem, how?/

@Moon Byulyi Pry it out of my hands if you must but I will not give it to you.
/she tightened the grip on her phone ever so slightly before placing the glass of water on Byulyi’s hand instead. Yongsun hated to be the bad cop at times like these but no one got to tell her who she could and couldn’t be after witnessing Byulyi fighting for her life once. That, even though she had come to convince herself otherwise over time, was inadvertently her fault and this would be too. By all means, if Minhyuk had been someone else (less dangerous) Yongsun wouldn’t have been so adamant to stop Byulyi but no, she had seen the fire in his eyes. She knew he was going to target the one thing she loved more than life itself. So tell her, just how could she simply let Byulyi carry on? For a split second, she wondered if she could go down that road again and spew lies about their incident being the truth instead— just so Byulyi would fall back but Yongsun couldn’t bring herself to do it. She just couldn’t hurt the younger like that again, therefore it resulted in the next best thing; being equally as stubborn. Eventually one of them would back down right? Taking a step back, she shook her head again/
No, I won’t but I’m not willing to risk you for that. Not again. Not ever. So forget your plan for revenge. It’s not going to happen.
/subconsciously, her words had come out in a tone a tad bit too harsh but she’d apologize and patch-up later; right now, she needed Byulyi safe/

@Moon Byulyi /it took all of her might to not show just how terrified she had been at Byulyi’s acts of frustration. If she thought she’d already seen just how furious the younger could get, she was definitely wrong; and even though Yongsun knew the anger wasn’t directed to her, she couldn’t help but shrink a little under the intense pressure. Following behind Byulyi, her gaze dropped down to the younger’s outstretched hand before she shook her head. She couldn’t let Byulyi run wild. Yongsun wasn’t sure just what more Minhyuk was capable of doing and if Byulyi made decisions without thinking; it may or may not end badly. Either way, she wasn’t going to take her chances/
I won’t give you anything until you calm down.
/hiding the phone behind her, Yongsun stood firmly on her feet. What she was going to say next may very well be the last straw for Byulyi but it had to be done/
Let it go, Byul. You can’t fight everyone and neither do I want you to fight Minhyuk. Leave him alone.
/some may think she was defending the male but she wasn’t. Not in the least bit. All she cared right now was for Byulyi’s safety and yes, she was aware that the younger was doing all this for her but as much as Minhyuk threatened her, she was his final goal so how far could he possibly go?/
What’s done is done. Just forget about it.
/with a small exhale, Yongsun moved over to the kitchen to grab a glass of water before she held it out to Byulyi/
Here, this will make you feel better.

@Moon Byulyi /she nearly keeled over at Byulyi’s sudden revelation. That bastard. Why would he even do such a thing? Actually, she knew the exact reason why. Wow, was this his revenge? Absolutely pathetic. But no, Minhyuk was smarter than this for he would know that Byulyi would go after him. So, what else did he have under his sleeve? Then again, what if he wanted Byulyi to come after him? Yongsun knew the longer she took to answer the question, the more suspicion grew; even though she didn’t do anything but at this point, she wasn’t even sure what to say? Yes, the answer was simple. Byulyi was absolutely right and Yongsun was forced into this but on the other hand, what if they were walking right into his trap. it, Byulyi deserved to know and if they were going to be in trouble, so be it; they’d figure it out together/
Byul, it’s—
/she started slowly, reaching out to hold Byulyi’s hand but before she could say another word, her phone vibrated with a text. Looking down at it, Yongsun’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets/
‘Hey babe, really enjoyed my time with you earlier (you were amazing). I had no idea you felt the same way about me too. By the way, what are you planning on telling Byulyi? Gotta get our story straight in case she comes after me again. Love you, sweetheart!’
/this was what he had in store. No. No. Glancing up at Byulyi, she trembled slightly/
Byul, it’s not true. Everything he’s said so far is not in the slightest bit true. I love you and I would never do such a thing.

@Moon Byulyi /if it hadn’t been clear before of how much in the blank she was about the whole situation, this time it showed on her face. Ask herself? What exactly?! Shaking her head, Yongsun crossed her arms/
Of course I’m asking why, Byulyi. I can’t read your mind. I don’t know why you decided to attack Minhyuk?
/taking a deep breath, she collected her thoughts. Why was she getting mad at Byulyi for? She wasn’t angry at her in the first place, rather quite thankful in fact after the stunt he pulled. Yongsun was simply just worried; what was she going to do if Minhyuk decided to hurt Byulyi because of this? Right, she didn’t know about Minhyuk’s threat. Taking a step closer, she asked in a much softer tone this time/
What exactly am I supposed to be asking myself, Byul?
/however almost immediately after she asked that question, her mind had travelled back to what happened earlier. Would Minhyuk actually say anything about that? Why would he? The guy knew who Byulyi was and what she was capable of doing so just why would he put himself on the spot; obviously the younger was going to believe her more than his words. Though she still asked, her voice wavering slightly/
Did.. did he say anything to you?

@Moon Byulyi /she was startled out of her peace (which lasted only about half an hour) by her secretary who came rushing in/
“Ms. Kim, our security personnel urged me to notify you about a slight scuffle that happened by our building”
/looking up from where her head rested on her hands, Yongsun nodded as an indication for her to continue. The woman did but for some reason, she had been quite hesitant at first/
“It happened between Mr. Kang and.. Ms. Byulyi”
/at the words that slipped from her secretary’s mouth, Yongsun immediately shot up from her seat. Wait. What happened? Did Minhyuk say anything to Byulyi? No. Had she found out? Impossible, for Minhyuk would never put himself out in the open like that. Then what exactly, was it?/
“Um, unfortunately I’ve had to notify the other partners since Mr. Kang got hurt apparently and they weren’t too happy about the situation”
/she could care less about the other partners thought about the situation but now, the main concern of the day was what Minhyuk could do to Byulyi. How could she be so rash? Then again, what brought about her sudden outburst? There were so many questions running through her head but it had come to a momentary pause at the sudden vibration from her phone. Picking it up and to her surprise, it was from Cynthia/
‘I don’t know what’s happening between Minhyuk and Byul but she’s pissed and waiting at home, I’ve got a car arranged for you.’
/the message read and again, Yongsun was into confusion. For God’s sake, didn’t Byulyi promise to give him a second chance? (Not that mattered anymore after what he did but still)/
I’m going to leave for the day, thank you for telling me this, Hyerin and do arrange a meeting with the partners. I’ll explain the situation to them tomorrow.
/with a small though strained smile, she quickly grabbed her things and made her way down to find the car waiting for her. Once she was settled and well on her way back home, Yongsun’s phone vibrated and she picked it up without glancing down at the caller id; it was stupid of her to do so/
“I really don’t appreciate your girlfriend putting her hands on me”
What the do you want, Minhyuk?
“Nothing really but consider this a warning; she should watch her back or life”
/from Minhyuk’s part, it had been an empty threat at most but knowing how worked up Yongsun already was, he expected her to have caught onto the bait and she did because now, Yongsun was almost to her breaking point. Unable to say another word, she simply cut the call and focused on calming herself. When she had reached the apartment building, Yongsun thanked the driver before she got out and hurried on upstairs; unlocking the front door, she didn’t have to look around much for where the younger was for she spotted her on the balcony/
Byulyi, what did you do? Why on earth would you get into a fight with Minhyuk?!
/she asked and although she sounded mad, in all honestly, she wasn’t— just worried beyond words could describe and unknowingly, the tone of her voice showcased it in the form of slight anger/
Do you have any idea on the consequences of your actions?

@Moon Byulyi /Yongsun had taken longer than she expected in the restroom. No matter what she did, her mind kept replaying the scenes from before. God, how foolish could she have been? Everything Minhyuk did was a ing red flag from the start and yet she chose to ignore it because of some false hope? Cupping her hands, Yongsun splashed her face with water in hopes that it would ease her mind. What was she going to say to Byulyi? Did it have to be mentioned in the first place? No, this wasn’t something simple to hide and judging from the way part of her lower lip swelled slightly from when he bit on it, there was no way she could. Then again, if she revealed what Minhyuk did to her, Yongsun knew it was game over for him. There was no saying just what Byulyi would do to the guy; but apart from that, she feared what he could do to Byulyi. After all, Minhyuk wasn’t one for empty threats; and having almost lost her once, it terrified the older even more. Forcing herself to think of something else, Yongsun finally made her way back to her office and settled down on the chair. Reaching over, she then grabbed her phone; eyes widening momentarily at the message from Byulyi. All she wanted was to see the younger now but what was she going to say if the latter asked about her lip. Would Byulyi believe her? What if she thought— no, she would never/
‘I’m a little busy, could we meet later?’
/she chickened out and yes, it was a terrible thing to do but the fear that plagued the back of her mind, prevented her from texting otherwise. Yongsun couldn’t face the younger just yet. Of course, she knew that Byulyi would always believe her but part of her was afraid of opening the gates of hell for the both of them. Maybe, she just needed the extra time to clear her head a little more. Besides, she hadn’t been entirely dishonest; Yongsun definitely had more work now that their project was a bust. Sighing softly, she buried her head in her hands, nursing the forming headache/

@Moon Byulyi /she had been right, it was a long day; most especially for her because on top of work, Minhyuk didn’t seem to quit trying to imbed jealousy into her mind. Ever the persistent guy he was but this time, Yongsun despised that. Enough was enough, she’d heard him the first time and nothing was going to change her mind. Let Cynthia and Byulyi be as close as they wanted; Yongsun wouldn’t bat an eyelash (as long as she knew where the younger’s heart lay). Sighing heavily, Yongsun slammed her file shut/
Look, I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not working. I’ve known Byul for years so if you think [this] is going to get me bothered; stop wasting my time and leave.
/her tone had been harsh but at this point, she couldn’t care less what Minhyuk thought. That being said, all Yongsun got was a smirk and shrug from the guy. Talk about infuriating/
“Anyways, it’s a little dark in here isn’t it?”
/Minhyuk got up from his spot and sauntered over to the window, opening up the blinds. Taking a few moments there, he only moved back when Yongsun impatiently snapped her fingers. Really, who was she to disrupt Minhyuk’s peace but she would much rather get their work done earlier and go home to Byulyi then dilly dally about. Fortunately, the male had then seemed to focus on work for a couple of hours to come after and occasionally, there would be a light touch here and there but Yongsun had been too focused on work to notice/
“Right, if we were to expand internationally: we’d need local investors on top of my funds. I’m thinking of targeting existing firms but —“
/at the sudden stop in his sentence, Yongsun looked up from where she was perched on the desk in curiosity but the answer to her silent question came in the form as the person himself, who had apparently tripped. With her eyes wide at the sudden close proximity and not to mention, his hands on her waist; Yongsun gingerly brought hers up to his shoulders to help steady him/
“I’m sorry, Yong. I wasn’t looking”
/he whispered, lips just an inch away from her ears and at that, she pushed him back with a bit too much force than she intended to. Clearing , Yongsun shook her head/
It’s fine but be more careful next time.
“What if I don’t want to?”
/his answer had earned a look of complete confusion/
What do you mean?
/chuckling, Minhyuk ran his fingers through his hair and stepped closer/
“Exactly what I just said. Come on, Yong. You know how much I like you and I’m tired of playing this game. Look, this can be our dirty little secret if you want and she won’t find out a thing”
/before she could react, Minhyuk closed in on their distance but this time, his lips had landed on hers as he forcefully interlaced their fingers to prevent from getting pushed back again. Although she struggled against his hold, the male was much stronger than her. However through sheer luck and probably heavens’ help, Yongsun managed to break free from his grasp before striking her hand, hard against his cheek; to the point where it left a red mark. Furious didn’t even begin to describe how she felt. Betrayed? Definitely. She had put so much trust on him only for it to crash and burn. She defended him even when Byulyi had been right to have reservations. Wiping her lips with the back of her hand, Yongsun took a deep breath to prevent herself from screaming but that resolve was slowly crumbling/
Leave, Mr. Kang Minhyuk. I’ve given you too many chances and you’ve taken advantage of that. No longer do I want to see you or have anything to do with you. Just get the out!
/part of her still hoped that the guy would have some dignity left to realize his mistake and leave peacefully but no, he was too far gone. Almost as if a switch had been inside. Laughing like a maniac, clearly in rage at the slap and her rejection, Minhyuk’s piercing gaze bore menacingly into hers/
“So be it, but if I can’t have you, no one else can. Mark my words, Yongsun.. you’re going to lose every thing; one by one”
/with that, he his heels and stormed out; the door slamming behind. At this point, Yongsun wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. Cry? Scream? Call Byulyi? Carry on with her work like nothing happened? Minhyuk’s threat had one way or another gotten to her but she wanted to believe that it wouldn’t get acted upon. Then again, that trust was long broken. Trembling, she made her way over to the restroom to collect herself. Unbeknownst to her, Minhyuk had multiple tricks under his sleeve. No one got away with damaging his pride and ego. If he couldn’t get Yongsun to break first, he was going to make her girlfriend instead, one way or another. As soon as he was in the elevator, Minhyuk pulled out his phone to make a call to the same person he texted earlier/
“Have you got the pictures?”
“Yes, sir”
“Perfect, I want you to send the good ones to the [girlfriend]; I expect you’ve found her number by now?”
“Yes, sir. I’ve got the number”
“Excellent work! Make her really doubt their relationship. After all, that’s where the fun starts”
/flexing his jaw slightly at where it hurt from Yongsun’s slap, Minhyuk hummed in delight/
“Once done, wait for my next instruction”

@Moon Byulyi /it would have been a lie if she said Byulyi’s tone didn’t terrify her a bit. In all honesty, it wasn’t the first time Yongsun had heard it but since it was rarely ever used, it made her second guess for a split second of her decision to reveal the incident yesterday, later. Though, she had taken the responsibility of backing up the guy so Yongsun was going to stand her ground till the end. And if she was wrong about him, at least she did her duty a friend. At Byulyi’s last statement, Yongsun’s expression softened and a small smile curved on her lips/
Don’t worry, I’ll be alright and Byul, thank you for giving him a second chance.
/checking her phone for the time, Yongsun nodded before pushing herself off/
Yeah, let’s. I’m not going to be thrilled if Cynthia sends a search party for you.
/chuckling softly, she leaned in impulsively to give Byulyi’s lips a quick kiss for god knew it was most probably going to be the last in awhile. Taking hold of the younger’s hand, Yongsun led them back to where Minhyuk and Cynthia had been waiting. They both didn’t look too pleased but each for different reasons/
“Took you long enough, I was almost about to come in there myself”
/Minhyuk mumbled under his breath as he stood there holding Yongsun’s handbag. The sight of him almost wanted to make her laugh in amusement but she swallowed it. Sometimes, he was a kid but she preferred it over the jerk he could be most times. Following him outside, Yongsun instinctively looked up at the sky to find grey clouds. Hm, looks like it was going to rain sooner or later; didn’t help her mood one bit but maybe the change in weather would help ease her imminent worries. Turning to Byulyi, she gave the younger one last hug/
I’ll see you later babe, love you.
/she said before letting go and bidding Cynthia a polite goodbye. She then got into Minhyuk’s car to get back to her office. Hopefully, everything went smoothly from hereon but Yongsun had been too quick to wish for the male spoke up/
“So, how close are Cynthia and Byulyi?”
/what was he trying to do or rather fish for? Humming softly, Yongsun focused her gaze outside the window before she answered/
They’re best friends so pretty close I would say.
“Aren’t they a bit too close for friends? I mean, they were obviously texting each other and the wink? Oh and not to mention, Cynthia even followed Byulyi out—”
What’s your point, Hyuk?
/Foregoing the view outside, Yongsun looked at Minhyuk/
I can say the same about you. You still call me sweetheart and flirt even after you’ve promised not to. At least Cynthia keeps her distance.
/with a small chuckle, Minhyuk shook his head/
“I’m an honest man, sweetheart. I’m not hiding anything; it’s the quiet ones you should look out for. Besides, I’m just letting you know as friend”
/Yongsun was taken aback slightly but she managed to remain calm. This wasn’t even something she had her suspicions on. Yes, she had been jealous of Cynthia but that was in the past, Yongsun knew Byulyi loved her and if the younger’s actions and words didn’t prove that enough, she didn’t know what did. Sighing, Yongsun ignored the guy and leaned her head back against the headrest. His words weren’t going to get to her, unfortunately for him. This was going to be a long day; one she wasn’t looking forward too/

@Moon Byulyi /Yongsun bit her nails as she waited, racking every inch of her brain, trying to work up what she was going to say. Rather, how to start. Lost in thought and seconds away from breaking skin, when Byulyi’s voice rang through, Yongsun immediately straightened to face the younger; her worries almost vanishing as she laid her gaze on the latter. Wait. What was she worried about in the first place? Ah right, the looming feeling of impending doom: pretty irrational to begin with but considering everything that’s happened in their lives so far, not very far fetched. But that aside, most importantly, it was about Minhyuk’s behavior and the way Byulyi interpreted them. Shaking her head, by means of clearing her head and answering the question, Yongsun moved over to where Byulyi stood and wrapped her arms around for a hug/
Can’t a lady get her girlfriend all to herself, once in awhile?
/she chuckled softly and Yongsun would’ve signed it in blood (yes, she could be that intense) if possible to state Byulyi’s arms were the safest place to be. Scratch that, Byulyi herself was the embodiment of safety to her. However, they did not have all the time in the world right now for this (although she wished they did) but letting go, Yongsun took a step back to lean against the sink again/
I just wanted to apologize for Minhyuk’s behavior. I know that you’ve probably already formed opinions about him and you’ve got every right to do so but..
/sighing softly, she then bit on her lower lip before continuing albeit cautiously/
He’s not a bad person, Byul. Just bitter and angry for now but once you get to know him, he’s the absolute sweetest. You both are pretty similar in certain ways.
/upon that, she subtly smiled fondly at the sudden memory of them in college. Minhyuk had risked a whole grade which determined his ability to graduate just for her so how could someone like that be anything else? She refused to believe otherwise. Call her a fool and an idiot but that was just how she was; oftentimes her overly trusting nature brought her troubles but Yongsun believed this time it was different. At the sudden vibration of her phone, she looked down to see a message from Minhyuk/
‘Where are you? We should leave soon’
‘I’ll be out any second now!’
/looking up at Byulyi once done, she waited for a reply. Honestly speaking, Yongsun wasn’t sure what she wanted Byulyi to say; then again if she was going to say anything/
I don’t expect you to instantly change your perception of him but I know he can change.

@Moon Byulyi /for the rest of the lunch, neither Minhyuk nor she, had said a word. As a matter of fact, none of them had to the point the tension in the room felt as if someone had their fingers wrapped around ; squeezing out the ability to continue conversation or pacify the situation. That being said, what was Yongsun to pacify? Yes, Minhyuk had crossed the line, one too many times but what could she say? One wrong sentence and a bomb would be set; what if it jeopardised their upcoming endeavour. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Yongsun felt as if she could breathe again after Minhyuk has asked for the bill but that didn’t mean she was happy to find out Byulyi was ready to leave almost immediately. Of course, she understood where they were coming from, however part of her wished they had much longer to spend. Why? She didn’t know herself but the rising apprehension building up in her core suggested otherwise. With a small nod, Yongsun forced a smiled as to not reveal her dismal/
I’m afraid it’s going to quite possibly be a long night but I’ll text you when I’m done. Don’t stress though if it gets too late, Hyuk can always send me home.
/as if approving her statement, the male beside her nodded his head all too casually/
“In the mean time, I can drop y’all off wherever, we’re headed in the same direction anyways— unless you both are going someplace else?”
/Yongsun had caught sight of Cynthia’s uncomfortable expression and even though she was about to insist that Minhyuk drop them off, the words dissolved as fast as they started brewing. Why force? Pulling out her phone, Yongsun sent a quick text to Byulyi:/
‘Before you leave, meet me in the restroom, please?’
/excusing herself, she made her way over to where the restroom was and leaned against the sink, twiddling her thumbs whilst waiting patiently. What had she planned to say? Well it was about Minhyuk obviously; in fact, Yongsun still clung on to the hope that he wasn’t a bad person. Just stubborn and bitter, which wasn’t his fault— no no she didn’t blame him for that one bit, Yongsun blamed herself but she needed Byulyi to understand that he just needed time to change (hopefully)/

@Moon Byulyi /it took her a few minutes to recall what exactly Byulyi was talking about and when she did, her cheeks became dusted with a light shade of red. A memory so special to her, albeit a tad bit embarrassing but of course, didn’t they both just love to humiliate her (honestly, she didn’t mind it that much). However, the little trip down memory lane was quite refreshing to say the least. Yongsun and her parents were given the liberty to view the ring beforehand due to their close ties with Mr. Choi and having been fascinated with it, she asked (more like: begged) to wear it for a few hours. Being the sweet man he was, Cynthia’s father agreed but made her promise to return it back, which she did but happened and it got lost (she wasn’t even sure how). Truth to be told, Yongsun had fully contemplated running away and never returning but thankfully, she was found by a girl, even back then who’d always looked out for her. Maybe that’s where her little crush had formed and found every excuse to hang out with the younger under the pretence of being ‘friends’. Friends they were but they had both done a bad job of hiding their feelings (or perhaps they simply hadn’t realized the extent of their friendship until a certain point?). God, the way they used to hold hands all the time when no one was looking, the fleeting gazes and eventually the kiss the sealed it all. Yongsun was unfortunately pulled out of her reverie by Minhyuk’s musings before a sigh slipped past her lips. The poor man was so oblivious/
She’s not.
/Yongsun said shaking her head, which earned her another confused look from the guy before he inquired further in a not so quiet whisper/
“What have you been hiding from me?”
Her full name.
“Which is?”
Moon Byulyi.
/at her reply, Minhyuk’s eyes grew the size of the plates they had before them as he stared at Yongsun unable to speak a single word for a whole minute. One would think that after the sudden revelation, the guy would back down but no, just as fast, his expression had returned to neutral. Pulling out his phone with a small barely noticeable smirk, Minhyuk sent a quick text before returning the device back to its original place in his jacket/
“Let’s eat”
/he finally said after with a wide, seemingly innocent smile before he moved his seat closer to Yongsun and transferred a piece of sashimi onto her plate/
“Here, try this. It’s extremely delicious”
/it would be a lie to say she hadn’t felt a bit uncomfortable with the way he moved closer and here she thought revealing who her girlfriend was would push him away; guess not. Ignoring him for a moment, Yongsun decided to engage in conversation with Byulyi/
How was work? Were you late, love?
/her question had earned a scoff from Minhyuk/
“She shouldn’t have dropped by in that case—if you’re going to kick me, maybe a little harder, babe”
/he cocked an eyebrow at Yongsun who had resorted to glaring at him in defeat instead since the kick didn’t work/
Kang Minhyuk, will you please shut up for once before I tape that mouth of yours shut.
“, I like that”
/she was holding onto every last bit of hope right now, with pursed lips, Yongsun exhaled slightly. He had always been like this though back then, she hadn’t minded it much but circumstances were different now; even though he had merely been joking. However, sensing her disapproval, Minhyuk took that as sign to continue his meal without another word and finally, a peaceful silence had engulfed them. Yongsun could only pray it stayed this way until they finished/

@Moon Byulyi /okay, in all honesty, Yongsun was going to let it slide that Cynthia knew more about the younger’s favourites than she did; but it’d definitely be a total lie to say that she wasn’t just a tad bit irked. And of course, she understood it was because of their circumstances but still. Nodding slightly, Yongsun smiled and relayed their orders to Minhyuk. She was no child and the same way Byulyi respected her friendship with Minhyuk, she did too. Though as much as she did not want to pry, Yongsun had accidentally caught the small interaction between the two. Wait. Had she been texting Cynthia the whole time? And the wink? No. They knew each other for years and Cynthia wasn’t like Minhyuk— well she was in the past but.. no. Stop it. The hell was she so on the edge for? This was absolutely ridiculous and she needed to calm the down Shaking her head lightly, Yongsun’s gaze subconsciously trailed towards Minhyuk. He had caught them too and the smirk on his face showed nothing but amusement/
“ils semblent proches”
/he whispered with an eyebrow raised. Of course they seemed close, they were best friends after all. Bringing a finger to her lips to indicate he better shut up, Yongsun then turned towards Byulyi; her visage devoid of anything else but a smile/
I did, just waiting for grandpa over here to chose his.
“Hey, hey. We’re the same age so if I’m grandpa, you’re technically grandma. On that note, shouldn’t you be calling me oppa? I’m a few months older after all”
/he chuckled and regrettably (or not) she wasn’t quick to hide the cringe on her face. She’d rather go back to therapy than call, Minhyuk ‘oppa’. Honestly, she would mind calling Mark oppa (if he wanted) but not this guy/
Yeah.. we’ll see after I’m dead.
/once their orders were placed, Minhyuk fixed his attention on Byulyi; his face contorting slightly from curiosity/
“So, I’ve been meaning to ask you but how do you know Ms.Choi— scratch that, how did you meet Yong; being a waitress and all”
/staring at the male, Yongsun nearly fell out of her chair (had she not held the sides of it). He did not just. Maybe she should have mentioned Byulyi’s full name after all. Then again, she wasn’t sure if the younger would have appreciated every Tom, and Harry finding out about her arrangement. With a small cough, she subtly shook her head once she caught his attention but Minhyuk didn’t seem to notice that she was trying to save his from embarrassment. Well then, he was in for a surprise unfortunately: if Byulyi chose to reveal her true identity that is/

[Sorry! I replied earlier in a rush so I just realized I could have worded some things better thus the slight change orz ;; ]

[post deleted by owner]

@Moon Byulyi /all throughout the car ride, Yongsun fixed her attention outside the car window. Firstly, she didn’t want to accidentally meet Minhyuk’s gaze (come what may) and most importantly, she was still salty about being forced in the front. Honestly, she understood Minhyuk’s reasoning but that didn’t mean she was happy about it in the least bit. That, however also brought about another set of doubts in her mind. Had it just been a coincidence like she believed before, would Minhyuk really try to avoid Cynthia like the plague? Shaking her head subtly to clear her mind, Yongsun soon silently rejoiced when they arrived at their destination. Boy, was she happy to get out of the car; the music itself was deafening to the point it gave her a light headache. Humming softly at Byulyi’s question, she looked down at her hand to see faint red marks forming. Truth to be told, it did a little but she wasn’t going to worry Byulyi. However, before she could say anything more, Minhyuk spoke up in his all so chirpy way (catch the sarcasm?) and that earned an eye roll from her/
Say another word and I’ll kiss her again, on the lips this time.
/scowling yet again, Minhyuk didn’t say another word and simply hurried them into the restaurant where he had their table reserved. The place was quite posh but she didn’t expect anything less from him; after all, this was the norm for technically all of them. Once they were led to their table set in a private room, Minhyuk immediately bounced over to Yongsun and grabbed her arm, this time with a seemingly innocent smile playing upon his lips/
“Quite regretful to pull you away from your girlfriend but sit with me, please?”
/although it had come out as more of a question, the male hadn’t waited for an answer and yanked her over to the spot beside him where he had a chair pulled out for her. Settling down, Yongsun glanced across at Byulyi rather apologetically. Given the chance, she was going to refuse but Minhyuk had been stronger and she hated when he used his strength against her. Maybe, reconciling wasn’t the best idea. The guy had changed considerably and was starting to seem less like the guy she knew and loved back then. Then again, maybe she was just less tolerant towards his behaviours now/
“Pick anything you want, it’s my treat as an apology for yesterday on the elevator”
/Minhyuk said in a whisper in her ear. At that, her eyes widened ever so slightly. Here she was trying to pacify herself and not cause Byulyi to come after him but he seemed to not have any regard. Okay, she wasn’t hiding anything from the younger for she planned on telling her but after the storm had calmed. Actually, maybe sooner was better than later. Right, she’d do it tonight regardless. Clearing softly, Yongsun nudged Minhyuk away from her and glanced up briefly at Byulyi/
Byul, see anything in particular you like?

@Moon Byulyi /Yongsun had to double take at the words she heard. Wait. Minhyuk— the Minhyuk she knew would never deliberately hurt anyone. Yes, he did beat up a couple of guys when they tried to make a move on her, but that was back in college and out of necessity. And yes, he did have unexpected bouts of anger at times but she trust that he would never go to the extent of killing anyone. Glancing at Minhyuk for a second longer than usual; just to gauge his expression, Yongsun didn’t catch the sight of anything particularly alarming. Right, of course. It was purely a coincidence and nothing more. Thankfully before the male could retort or worse, Byulyi had stepped in to ease the atmosphere and although Minhyuk hadn’t been too happy about way she had settled herself between Yongsun and himself, he didn’t say a word. His mind had been preoccupied with Cynthia instead. Not giving much thought about her friend for now, Yongsun followed the younger out before a mischievous grin graced her lips at the question/
Would it be inappropriate to say, you?
/she asked, matching Byulyi’s tone as she pulled the younger closer by the arm; her lips mere inches from the latter’s ears/
I suppose I’ll have to wait till dinner for that but to answer your question: Hyuk plans on taking us for Japanese or something.
/shrugging her shoulders to indicate that was all she knew, Yongsun slid her hand down Byulyi’s arm before interlacing their fingers. Call her a fool and absolutely smitten for Byulyi: she wouldn’t dare refute/
“Would you refrain from public displays of affection, especially in front of me?”
/Minhyuk mumbled rather scornfully as he eyed the way Yongsun held Byulyi’s hand. Rolling her eyes, Yongsun stuck out her tongue at him in a childish manner before planting a kiss on her woman’s cheek. Why did she do it? Honestly, she wanted Minhyuk to get the idea and stop pining for her. She wanted him to stop touching her at every little chance he got and this was the only way. Yongsun couldn’t say anything much to him or else he’d get offended and she couldn’t utter a word to Byulyi or else she’d go after him. In simpler words, Yongsun was stuck in the middle. However, it wasn’t all about the male for she, herself wanted to show affection towards Byulyi. Ignoring her, Minhyuk walked ahead mumbling something under his breath that she could not catch; not that she was interested anyway. Chuckling softly at his behavior, Yongsun pulled Byulyi with her as they followed the male to his expensive car. Always the show off, he was. Then again, it was his money and had Yongsun not gone through her stage of alcoholism and therapy that costed her a fortune (her parents didn’t know, thus could not help), she would have been the same/
I’ll sit back with Byulyi.
/she announced, more towards Minhyuk and moved to open the door but before she could, the male held her hand/
“Je vais me tuer si vous me faites asseoir à côté de cette femme”
/he whispered harshly in french, casting a look at Cynthia. Minhyuk spoke fluent french just like she did (that’s how they got close in the first place) but they only ever used it when they were gossiping about someone in the past. This, however was hardly gossip. Though, was his dislike really that strong? To the point where he’d kill himself if made to sit next to Cynthia? With an amused grin, Yongsun shook her head/
tu seras bien.
/again, she moved to open the door but Minhyuk’s grip was firm/
“Assied toi avec moi”
/sighing in exasperation which she didn’t bother to hide, Yongsun reluctantly let go of Byulyi’s hand before turning to face Minhyuk/
Fine! I’ll sit with you, happy?
/she whispered back just as harsh and had it not been for the fact that they were trying to reconcile their friendship; she would have hit him right there and then for acting so childish. Once they were settled, in his car without further complaints (thank god for that), Minhyuk leaned over to help Yongsun with her seatbelt but she immediately held a hand up to stop him/
I’m not five, Hyuk. I can do it myself.
/with that Minhyuk didn’t say nor do anything else though when she looked over, she saw the burning gaze of his eyes fixed on the road. — had she offended him yet again/

@Moon Byulyi /Yongsun had been a little disappointed at Byulyi’s inability to stay but she understood the younger’s reasoning and therefore, with a smile, bid her goodbye for now. Work was a sometimes but when both of them particularly cherished it, there was nothing one could do. Though, she truly hoped it was really because of work and not something else or rather, someone/
Love you too.
/she called out softly as she watched Byulyi’s figure disappear from sight. Right, she still had lunch to look forward too after all. Using that opportunity of Yongsun’s temporary downcast, Minhyuk slid his arm around her shoulder/
“Don’t be so sad, you’ve still got me. I’m not going to leave you”
/at his words, Yongsun was forced out of her unruly emotions before shrugging his arm away/
“Ouch, my heart is heart. But, don’t tell me you weren’t hungry before because your little girlfriend was going to bring you something? Wow— talk about loyalty”
/Minhyuk scoffed and moved to sit down on the couch instead. This time, she had seen the expression on his face; a mixture between hurt and anger. Great. Now she felt bad. With a small sigh, Yongsun inched closer to where he sat, although she maintained a safe distance/
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to— I just didn’t want Byulyi to get the wrong idea.
/okay, that didn’t come out right. She knew Byulyi would never ever doubt her but still, Yongsun had come this far and she didn’t want something as petty as this to ruin their relationship. Looking up at her calmly, the male didn’t answer for a few seconds; honestly that terrified her until he finally spoke/
“I’m trying to get back our friendship here, Yongsun. If she can’t understand that, then I can’t help it”
No. It’s not her, it’s me. Byulyi has nothing to do with this.
/Minhyuk was right, he was trying to make their friendship work and everything he had done so far was what friends did after all— except the endearing names and the incident on the elevator yesterday but she’d forego that for the sake of their reconciliation. And she trust, if Byulyi had a problem, she’d tell her. It was mainly her who had been driving him away; yet she blamed it on Byulyi? How pathetic of her. This was all her fault and now he though her girlfriend was behind this/
I was a bit wary of our friendship and I’m terribly sorry, Hyuk. You have nothing to worry about. I’m really happy to have you back.
/With a delighted smile at her, Minhyuk had then focused solely on work for a few hours after that; which she wholeheartedly appreciated until it was time to leave for lunch/
“I know this amazing Japanese place which you’ll absolutely love!”
/Minhyuk grinned as he held out his arm for Yongsun to hold onto but she simply ignored it and smiled instead. At her rejection, the male rested his hand on her shoulder. This time, she couldn’t do or say anything more for fear that it would hurt the guy further. Some would say this was subtle guilt tripping but Minhyuk would never mean for that; she believed. As they waited by the sidewalk to be able to cross the street (since Minhyuk insisted on driving them to their destination), Yongsun realized that he had sidled closer. That was odd. Even though she stepped away, Yongsun was pulled closer slightly and it took all of her might right then to not show any sigh of discomfort but she failed. Hopefully, no one noticed and caused a scene/
Um, please don’t misunderstand but you’re a bit too close.
/she said out softly but ignoring her, Minhyuk simply moved his hand from her side to her hand and pulled her along to where Byulyi worked. Once inside, Yongsun then pulled her hand away from his completely (probably with a bit more force than usual) before she looked at the counter. Hm.. she wasn’t there. Was she on break? Then again, they did arrive unannounced. Pulling out her phone to text, Minhyuk had then pulled her by the arm again. He had to seriously stop pulling her around. Just because she was willing to make their friendship work doesn’t mean she signed up to be a rag doll. But wait. He had brought her right to Byulyi— and Cynthia. Actually, maybe she didn’t mind being pulled anymore (if he could find Byulyi anywhere in the crowd for her). Before Yongsun could say anything, the male beside her had spoken up/
“Cynthia?”
/glancing at the guy utterly confused, her gaze then shifted onto the said woman. How did Minhyuk know Cynthia? Well, they were in the same field of work, maybe that was how but she still asked like a complete idiot/
You both know each other?

@Moon Byulyi /as soon as Yongsun had walked into the her office, a shocked gasp had escaped from her lips. There, lounging comfortably on the chair by her desk had been Minhyuk. So much for trying to get some work done/
What are you doing here? This early?
/getting up from his spot, the male grinned upon the sight of Yongsun and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly/
“You wouldn’t tell me where you lived so I came over to where you worked instead”
/chuckling slightly, he then walked over to where Yongsun still stood and grabbed her things before placing them on the table for her. It was something he always did, back in college it was her backpack and now this. Shaking her head, Yongsun slowly started towards her desk/
“I’ve got somethings for you; first, here’s your coffee: americano this time.
/he placed the cup of coffee carefully on her desk before pulling out a small box/
“A pastry— the danish kind and blueberry at that since I know you love it; well I still hoped you do. Last but not least: this..
/he abruptly stood, holding up a bouquet of flowers; deep red carnations to be exact in his hands. Yongsun was speechless, just like yesterday. Why did he always do this? Put her in a difficult situation of not knowing what to do. Sensing her hesitation, Minhyuk quickly added/
“Friends give each other flowers all the time, don’t think you’re so special”
/well that certainly made it easier. With a small smile, Yongsun graciously accepted the flowers. She loved carnations too much to decline, though it made her happy inside to know that Minhyuk still remembered all of this after years/
Thanks, Hyuk. You didn’t have to.
/she then sat down before her eyes landed on the box of pastry. Wait. Byulyi had set out for the same thing. What was she to do? The answer was simple, Yongsun was going to push this off on someone else but how did she do that without hurting the male’s feelings. For now, she simply stored it in a drawer by her desk. She’d hand it to Hyerin later/
“Why are you eating? Do you not—“
I’m not hungry, don’t worry.
/she smiled before swiftly changing topics/
How did you get into my office, in the first place?
“Ah, Ms. Hyerin over there let me in”
Oh— wait wait. You’re already first name basis with my secretary? Took me two whole years!
“I’m first name and possibly more with her”
/he held up a paper with her personal number on it. Though, when Yongsun showed no interest, he subtly crumpled it up/
“I see you’re busy?”
Yes, I am so if you could shut up for like twenty minutes, I’d like that.
/thankfully enough, he did and Yongsun got the chance to look over her work in peace. Although she was aware that Minhyuk had been staring, she decided to let it slide. She couldn’t control everything he did. Soon enough, a knock at her door was sounded which Minhyuk answered, his expression instantly souring as he laid eyes on the woman outside. Leaning his body across the doorframe with his arms crossed, he smirked/
“Can I help you? She’s busy, come back later”
/as he was about to shut the door, Yongsun quickly ducked under his arm to stop him from shutting the door before swatting the male away/
Stop it, Hyuk.. she’s allowed in anytime.
/smiling at Byulyi, she stepped out of the way to let the younger in. Having missed it since her back was faced to Minhyuk, Yongsun did not notice the scowl on his face and the glares he threw at Byulyi. The minute she turned to face him, a sweet smile was replaced in its place instead/
Right, before I forget to ask you; Byulyi suggested that we have lunch together. She has to meet with a friend, who’s in the same field as well. I mean it’s your call.
/looking down at her phone at the sudden vibration from an email, she missed the look on Minhyuk’s face again. If he was competing with Satan itself, the latter would have lost. Taking a subtle deep breath, Minhyuk smiled naturally (almost too natural?)/
Of course, who am I to refuse my sweetheart’s wishes?
/yes, he added the sweetheart as a low blow to Byulyi but he didn’t care. Looking up again, but this time at Byulyi; Yongsun grinned excitedly/
I’ll text you the time and place later. Do you have to get back to work now or have you got time to spare?
/leaning closer to Byulyi’s ear, she whispered/
I can ask him to leave.

@Moon Byulyi Honestly, I would have loved to but there are some things I need look over before Hyuk arrives. Just some cases and whatnot.
/she sighed rather dejectedly. How convenient, the one time they actually had time to spare was when she was the busiest. Looking over at Byulyi, she hummed softly in thought at the younger’s suggestion. Yongsun didn’t want to bother Byulyi with extra work but maybe when she came over, they’d get at least 15 minutes together if not more and did they not get the time, she would have lunch to meet with her. On that note, she really had to get Minhyuk to agree. With a small nod, she smiled/
Sure, that would be great; only if it’s not too much of a bother and frankly speaking, anything is fine really but you know my heart will always remain with Danish pastries— and maybe you.. that’s a strong ‘maybe’ by the way.
/with a soft laugh, Yongsun had to stop herself from going too far with her teasings for it was still too early in the morning for that. However, she quickly added had Byulyi not caught on to the fact that she was only joking/
I’m just messing with you, you’re definitely a step higher than the pastries.
/another laugh escaped her lips before it died down as they approached her workplace. Well, that was fun while it lasted. Leaning over, she gave Byulyi a kiss on the cheek/
I’ll see you in a bit or if we don’t get the chance, fingers crossed for lunch. I love you.
/bidding goodbye to the younger, she then slipped out of the passenger side and made her way into the building/

@Moon Byulyi Sure! I’ll check with Hyuk.
/she called out just before she slipped into the bathroom to take a shower. This time, it had been quick as her mind was at ease. Everything seemed to be going well— for her at least. Yongsun knew that Byulyi probably still felt cautious around Minhyuk but she hoped it’ll change soon. Maybe the lunch date was a good idea. Byulyi would be able to see that Minhyuk was trying to change. Okay, maybe she just wanted an excuse to see Byulyi again but still, it was like killing two birds with one stone, right? Though, the thought of Cynthia being there didn’t excite her much. Don’t get her wrong, Yongsun didn’t mind the presence of the said woman at all, since she was Byulyi’s closest friend but she was wary of what Minhyuk would say back if she said anything snarky. Once she was completed with her shower and dressed, Yongsun met Byulyi by the staircase, a bright smile playing on her lips/
Yup! All ready.
/she chuckled but just before she caught the scent of cigarette smoke emanating from the younger. Instinctively at that, her brows furrowed, ever so slightly. Yongsun wasn’t one to control what Byulyi chose to do but just how much was she smoking lately? Besides, it wasn’t healthy for her to continue doing so. Then again, did she have the right to comment on it? Probably not. Deciding to push it back for now, Yongsun moved over to the table to collect her phone. A small smile graced her features upon reading Minhyuk’s text. He reminded her of back when they were younger. Shaking her head, she looked up at Byulyi. She would ask him about lunch with Byulyi and Cynthia later when they met/
Let’s go.
/she said as she wore on her heels and walked out the door, down to where their car was parked/

@Moon Byulyi /just as she sent out the last email, Byulyi had come around and so, setting her phone down, she smiled brightly. Last nights sleep had done her some good for she felt energised and better. Plus, getting a chance to see Byulyi first thing in the morning definitely helped/
Good morning, you were up early? I was just replying to work emails and Minhyuk.
/Yongsun didn’t want to have to bring up the male this early in the morning but she decided that Byulyi deserved to know/
I’m meeting him later for lunch.
/she informed before bringing up the cup to her lips, taking another sip of the hot coffee. Although she knew that Byulyi probably wouldn’t mind in the least bit, she still said it anyways. After all, Yongsun did promise to not keep secrets between them. Then again, it wasn’t really a secret for it was something she did quite often with others: lunch appointments but considering Minhyuk and her history, it was best to put that out, lest it cause suspicion/
Anyways, I have a feeling that today’s going to be a long day again and I’m probably not going to see you again till much later.
/with a small disappointed pout, she sighed. Wow, had she really reached that point where not being able to see Byulyi for a few hours was deemed too much to handle? Damn. Coughing slightly to bring her mind back on track, she checked her phone for the time; she had plenty but just at that moment, another text from Minhyuk and this time, she actually rolled her eyes/
‘On second thought, where do you live? I’ll pick you up for work.. and if you don’t reply within the next 2 minutes, I’m going to bombard you with calls’
/talk about being clingy, was he always like this? However, it made her want to laugh. He was acting like a total kid for a 28 year old/
‘That won’t be necessary. Thank you for the offer though’
/she knew it wasn’t going to sit well with him but she didn’t care. The morning car ride was her chance to spend extra time with Byulyi, now more so than ever and she wasn’t going to give it up for anyone. Finishing up the rest of her coffee, Yongsun then got up/
Well then, I’m going to go get ready now. Be out in a jiffy.
/she said before checking her phone one last time, thankfully Minhyuk hadn’t replied (she wasn’t sure how to face his wrath) and then made her way into the bathroom/

@Moon Byulyi /as long as she was happy. Was she really happy to have Minhyuk back? Well, yes but at what expense? Byulyi didn’t like the guy and she too had her occasional reservations. Wait. What was she thinking? Yongsun knew the guy, he was the very same that would stay up the whole night to deal with her procrastinating trying to finish up assignments due the next day (even though, he’d finished weeks back). The very same who would cover for her when she came to class hungover and the same Minhyuk who’d beat up any guy who looked at her the wrong way. And to think she doubted his intentions. However, Yongsun was appreciative of Byulyi’s ability to be mature, even more so than her. With a small nod, she simply snuggled in closer to the younger, a small chuckle emitting from her lips at the younger’s words. Yes, it was quite weird as the latter admitted but Yongsun didn’t mind, in fact she loved it; gave her a sense of security. Falling asleep eventually, Yongsun half expected to be troubled with unsettling dreams from everything that unfolded the day before but fortunately, it had been peaceful enough. Probably because she had Byulyi beside her. Though, when she woke and moved to check her phone for the time, Yongsun realized that Byulyi was nowhere to be found. Huh, was she up already? Sitting up, she fished for her phone from underneath her pillow and groaned internally at the missed notifications from Minhyuk. Why on earth did he call? And besides, didn’t he promise not to call her sweetheart again??/
‘Hyuk, you promised. Call me sweetheart again and I’ll cancel our lunch’
/she typed in her reply before getting up from the bed. She assumed Byulyi was in the shower from the sound of water she heard from the bathroom. With light feet, Yongsun moved to make them both a cup coffee. Almost instantly after, her phone vibrated again. For God’s sake, didn’t he have better things to do then sit around and wait for her to reply?/
‘Sorry. Old habits die hard. Can’t wait to see you later! I’ll meet you at the office and we can go together’
/upon reading the message, she chuckled softly and shook her head. As long as he was slowly getting it. Setting the cups on the table, Yongsun sat down and took a sip from hers while she waited for Byulyi; long forgetting about Minhyuk, she tended to her work emails instead/

@Moon Byulyi /upon the question, Yongsun took a few seconds to decide how to answer the query. One, because she wasn’t sure how Byulyi was going to take it and two, the way she had fingers through her hair was making it hard for her to stay awake. Frankly speaking, she wasn’t fazed at the fact Byulyi even asked her this. After all, had the roles been reversed, she would have done the same/
He wanted to extend an olive branch.. for us to be friends again.
/she began softly before a soft sigh slipped through her lips. Getting up from her rather comfy spot on Byulyi’s lap, she sat cross-legged as she faced the younger/
Minhyuk and I, were pretty close in uni. Everyone thought we’d end up together.. even the professors but at that point we never saw each other in that light. Somewhere along the line, all that talk must’ve got to his head and he confessed.
/ her lips that were starting to get dry for some reason, Yongsun took hold of Byulyi’s hand/
I rejected him and he turned bitter. Would never speak to me, became an absolute jerk at times and—
/she had to stop herself from accidentally spilling out his tendencies with bouts of anger so she replaced what she was going to say with something else instead. Something that wouldn’t rile up Byulyi/
And would always try to be a step better, until today. I don’t know what brought about his sudden change of heart but I guess I should be happy to have an old friend back.
/now that she thought about it, part of her felt like he had ulterior motives to being friends again because why all of a sudden? But as quickly as that thought arose, she shot it down. He was genuinely making an effort here/
That was why he called and for nothing more.
/Yongsun smiled slightly before she settled beside Byulyi instead, her head resting on the younger’s chest/
I love you, Byul and I never want to lose you again.
/the last bit of words had slipped out of her lips without her realizing it, until after it was all said and done. Maybe the subconscious worries were slowly getting to her but even so, she had meant it. Now that she had Byulyi with her, she would never let her go again/

@Moon Byulyi /her heart instantly warmed up at Byulyi words; she was going to wait for her every night? God, why was she this sweet? and although she was about to ask why on earth the younger would need an extra shift, was kept shut. Yongsun didn’t want to make it seem like she opposed the idea of the younger waiting for her— though, that would mean added work for the latter. Okay, maybe she did oppose now. Just because she decided to carry on with a new project, didn’t mean Byulyi had to suffer with her/
You don’t have to, love. There’s no need to take up more work just for me.
/she said with a shrug. However, the final call was Byulyi’s to make and that was just her opinion. When the younger had agreed for her to take over, Yongsun broke out into a wide grin. One would think she actually liked cleaning. She didn’t but at least now she won’t feel bad about Byulyi doing most of the things. Yes, she had a long day but unlike the younger who was required to do physical work, all she had to do was think and talk. Once Byulyi had left to take a shower, Yongsun quickly cleared up everything and wiped down the dining table before settling comfortably on the bed. Right, now she had to reply to Minhyuk. With a sigh, she quickly typed in a reply/
‘It’s alright and sure, lunch tomorrow.’
/as soon as she had pressed send, her phone rang with a call: from Minhyuk. Wait. Had he been sat waiting for her message? Hesitantly, she answered the call/
Um.. yes?
“Good you answered, I’ve been waiting”
For what?
“To talk to you obviously”
Okay, is it anything important?
“It is actually. Yong, I want us to start off on the right foot, since we’ll be business partners after all. I want us to be best friends again”
/When she had asked if it was anything important, she had work in mind, not this and although she would have loved to become besties again, Yongsun was rather cautious at first. Taking a few minutes to ponder over it, she sighed in the end. There was no point holding childish grudges when it could be solved by simple communication/
Then, promise you won’t call me sweetheart, won’t touch me or say anything that could be seen as flirting?
“I cross my heart and hope to die”
/with a small chuckle, she nodded her head even though she was aware he couldn’t see it. That was easy enough on the contrary. Before Yongsun could say another word more, she heard Byulyi call out to her/
Yes please, love.
/she replied simply before returning to the call/
Well, if you have nothing else to say—
“Wait. You guys live together?”
...yes. Why?
/now it was his turn to not answer for a bit and by this time, Byulyi had already joined her. If she had to choose between spending time with Byulyi or waiting on the line for Minhyuk, her pick would always be the former. And so, impatiently clearing , Yongsun asked again/
Why? What’s wrong?
“Nothing. So you’ve slept with her, I presume”
What did I just say, Hyuk?
/perhaps, it was the way she called him by his longtime nickname from her or the fact that he was still surprised she lived with Byulyi, Minhyuk hadn’t said a word after that/
Well then, since you have nothing else to say, I’ll see you tomorrow.
/ending the call, she slid her phone under her pillow before turning to face Byulyi/
Sorry about that, he called out of the blue but you’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about now. He promised to keep his place.
/she grinned and laid her head on Byulyi’s lap. She was finally relieved. Yes, he would probably add in a comment here and there but old habits die hard/

@Moon Byulyi You’re so sweet.
/easing herself into the embrace, Yongsun closed her eyes for a few seconds as she calmed herself down. Fear was starting to do things to her again, making her second guess everything. This had to stop now, all these irrational thoughts and worries; just because they were happy, nothing was going to happen and maybe once in awhile, they deserved to be without reaping unnecessary consequences from it. Though, the fact that Byulyi had a feeling something was wrong didn’t help in the least. With a small shake of her head, Yongsun gave the younger a gentle squeeze/
Guess my inference was wrong and I’m fine.
/she smiled, wiping off the plethora of emotions she felt at that moment. Why was she worried? Not like she did anything but right, Minhyuk would be in a casket if she did narrate the event from before. Following Byulyi inside, she took a seat, her gaze fleeting up momentarily to Byulyi’s visage at the mention of Cynthia before accepting the chopsticks handed to her/
Oh, well I’m glad I wasn’t on the receiving end of that.
/she chuckled softly and had it been anyone else but for Cynthia, it would have pissed her off to know that Byulyi received an earful/
And it’s quite alright, no need for that.
/as they ate, Yongsun decided to tell the younger about work and the plans they had as a way to satisfy the silence between them. Not that it was uncomfortable or anything like that, but she was never one to keep quiet for long unless she was really troubled about something. For now, she decided to let the episode with Minhyuk go. Perhaps it was because he got offended? He did always have a problem with his ego/
Anyways, I’m positive that the only reason he got everyone on board is because of his looks and maybe through flattery.
/she joked with a roll of her eyes before finishing the last of her food/
So yeah, big plans and so little time before I’ve to leave; probably would have to work late but at least I won’t be the only one.
/shrugging slightly, her phone vibrated at the same time. Casting a look at it, her eyebrows furrowed. Speak of the devil. Picking it up, she read the message from Minhyuk/
‘I’m sorry, sweetheart if you were affected in any way earlier. My emotions got the best of me, so let me make it up. Lunch tomorrow?’
/upon that, Yongsun’s features softened. See, he was still the nice guy he was. Deciding to reply later, she flipped her phone screen side down before focusing her attention back on Byulyi/
Anyways babe, you should go ahead and freshen up. I’ll clean up and don’t fight me on this, it’s only fair. Besides I won’t listen to it.
/she laughed, holding up her hands to her ears in case Byulyi tried to refuse. After all, she’d taken her own sweet time and left Byulyi to do most of the work up until this point. And, even so, she was barely doing anything, simply throwing out stuff/

@Moon Byulyi /time had slipped by, out of her fingertips almost like sand and it had been quite a while until Yongsun realised how long she was taking. — she needed to get out now. Quickly, finishing up the last of her shower for she seemed to have done more of daydreaming than actual showering, Yongsun made her way out finally/
I’m so sorry for taking forever. I—
/she stopped as Byulyi had been on the balcony instead and on a call but apart from that, her face instantly brightened at the way her clothes were already laid out neatly. Honestly, Byulyi was an absolute blessing. Once her clothes were on, she made her way over to the younger, after making sure she was finished with whoever it was on the phone/
Hey, you should’ve called me or something. I hadn’t realised just how long I took.
/she said while wrapping her arms around the younger, chin resting on the latter’s shoulder. Yongsun had also caught a whiff of cigarette and instantly, wondered what Byulyi was troubled about. Since she only seemed to smoke when she had too much on her mind, as far as Yongsun knew. Was it because of Minhyuk? No, she had to stop; not everything was about him. Then, was it the call that bothered her. No again, because she was sure she’d heard laughter/
Are you alright? Who were you talking to?
/she finally asked, albeit cautiously for if Byulyi did not want to talk about it, she wouldn’t proceed further. After all, she had her own problems she chose to not reveal to Byulyi so it only seemed fair/

@Moon Byulyi /nodding at Byulyi’s reply to her question, she nearly choked when questioned instead. Right, the younger had been asking about her actual work and not about what transpired in the elevator earlier/
Work went great.
/was all Yongsun could say without being forced to think about the male. When the car door was opened for her, she graciously got in. Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she’d been able to drive but thankfully, she didn’t have to now. Under normal circumstances, she would have bid Minhyuk goodbye but Yongsun couldn’t bring herself to do it. Was she mad at him? She wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the feeling of guilt for rejecting him in the past because in a way, if he did turn out to be a monster, it was she who created it. The ride home for Yongsun had been quiet as her mind wandered over to the event that unfolded and no matter what she did, it plagued her mind. Though whenever it would switch onto Byulyi instead, it did feel like a breath of fresh air. The power she held over her was infinite. Once they were settled in the comfort of their place, Yongsun slipped off her heels eagerly before turning to face the younger. Did she want to cook? For Byulyi, always and never will she hesitate but her shoulders were starting to hurt from when Minhyuk had her pressed against the elevator wall/
Just for today, let’s order in?
/Part of her had felt bad for she promised to cook everyday for the younger and yet, here she was but Yongsun truly did not have the mental capacity nor the physical ability to do anything much tonight but she wasn’t going to show that out to Byulyi. Rolling her shoulders back slightly, she bit down on her lip as to not wince. Guess she needed a hot shower, yeah, that’ll help/
I’m going to freshen up real quick, love. Be back out soon.
/Yongsun smiled, leaning in to place a brief kiss on the younger’s cheek before she slipped into the bathroom. Once inside and clothing stripped off, she the shower; revelling in the way the temperature of the water seemed to help. God forbid she had a bruise for she seemed to bruise like a peach and could think of no answer if Byulyi saw. Though, she assumed it was nothing of that sort and probably just the force having caused temporary shock to her nerves; or so she remembered reading about it somewhere. And, although she had only intended to take about twenty minutes at most, Yongsun seemed to lose track of time. Rather, she did not want to get out just yet. As much as the water helped her nerves, it helped erase certain memories of the day. But, as it did that however, new questions posed in her mind. Was it a good idea to keep meeting with Minhyuk? What if he did something worse? No, he wouldn’t. Yongsun knew him and it was not like the man to take revenge. Even so, love could change a person in worst ways than it empowered them. Shaking her head, Yongsun pushed that thought out. Minhyuk was a good person and there was nothing to be worried about. Sure, he was a complete at times but he would never hurt her... right?/

@Moon Byulyi /once they were outside, Yongsun was about to comment again on Minhyuk’s behaviour. Although they went way back, she was in a relationship now and this was hardly appropriate. However, before she could open , they had run into another one of her workmate but she hadn’t missed the way Minhyuk slid his hand over to her side while he exchanged pleasantries. Thank his lucky stars that she wasn’t one to cause a scene or else he would have had an earful at that moment. Once they had entered the elevator to get to the topmost floor where her office and the meeting room was, Yongsun pried his hands off her/
Please refrain from touching me again.
/was all she could whisper harshly as to not evoke suspicion from her fellow workmate and the thankfully, for the rest of the day and during the meeting, Minhyuk kept his hands to himself. Surprisingly, his proposition had sat well with the other partners of her company and soon enough, their conference had ended on a good note. Yongsun had expected the reaction they got, for Minhyuk had always been one to sweet talk his way into achieving anything. Sometimes, his talent terrified her. Besides, his looks definitely struck a cord with the women of the group/
Well, since everyone seems to be on board, Minhyuk and I will draft up a plan and run it through again by next week. Thank you for your time.
/she concluded with a smile before she observed everyone leave except for Minhyuk, a wide grin on his face/
“Told you”
Touché and since that went better than expected, we can discuss the rest tomorrow.
/right about that moment, her phone vibrated with a text so she picked it up to check who it was; her eyes widening and enamoured smile playing at her lips at Byulyi’s name/
‘I am, I’ll be down in a few minutes!”
/As she was busy typing in a reply (rather contemplating adding a heart: she did in the end), Yongsun had completely missed Minhyuk’s scowl but as soon as she looked up again after, it disappeared and was replaced with a calm smile/
I have to go, anyways I’ll see you tomorrow.
“No, wait. I’ll walk you down. I should be heading back too”
/Minhyuk got up the same time she did and followed her out to the elevator again. Not giving it much thought, she didn’t say anything until his hands found their way around her waist again. Looking up at him, she pushed him away. Okay, now she was going to say something/
Look, Minhyuk; I know we were close before but you need to stop this blatant flirting. I have a girlfriend, who I love to bits in case you didn’t hear me the first time.
/she swore she saw his eyes burn for a split second before it was replaced by mischief/
“Blatant flirting? Oh, my dear. Had I been flirting with you, I would have pulled you in to say that you’re all I think about, day and night. That I want to kiss you and have you scream my name”
/he pressed her against the wall of the elevator and at that moment, Yongsun felt her whole body freeze up in shock/
“Had I been flirting, I would have kissed you and pushed a wrench into your relationship”
/Minhyuk inched closer, his lips dangerously close to Yongsun’s, even though she tried pushing him away with all her might/
“But I have done no such thing so far and a word for thought, does she really trust you, if you’ve to establish our relations?”
/with that, he straightened and acted like nothing had happened just about as the elevator door opened before he walked out. At that point, Yongsun was pretty honestly shaken up but she forced herself to speak out/
Of course, she does.
/how dare he question their trust. Maybe, he wasn’t the same Minhyuk he was/
“That can change”
/was all he said as he continued walking, a chuckle rising out his lips upon the sight of Byulyi/
“You’re girlfriend is here. See you tomorrow”
/ignoring the male, Yongsun immediately rushed towards the younger woman, hugging her as if her life depended on it. Yes, Minhyuk had simply been messing with her but it would be a lie if she said it didn’t make her a little apprehensive. What was he capable of doing?/
Hey, how was work?
/Yongsun finally asked, pulling back slightly once she had calmed herself down. She couldn’t show her fears and worries to Byulyi, in case she did anything to Minhyuk. After all, he was like this because of her in the first place/
I know I saw you before but I honestly missed you.
/with a chuckle, she interlaced their fingers, hiding anything she felt from before as they waited for her car. Out of the corner of her eyes, Yongsun could see Minhyuk subtly staring but right now, or ever, he was the last thing she wanted to think about/

@Moon Byulyi /Yongsun froze momentarily at the question posed towards her. She hadn’t even stepped out off the cubicle, yet was aware who it was. Honestly, she wouldn’t blame the younger, for had she witnessed everything that unfolded, she would have lost it almost instantaneously. Though, she assumed there was a lot to explain/
Kang Minhyuk; my former rival, colleague and ex best-friend from uni. We had a slight.. disagreement.
/she said at first before stepping out, coming face to face with Byulyi. At this moment of time, Yongsun wasn’t sure how to interpret the younger’s expression. Was she mad? Who wouldn’t be. Was she disappointed? Most probably. Was she going to do something about it? Yongsun hadn’t the slightest clue. Moving over to the sink, she washed her hands, contemplating on what to say next but she assumed she’d start from the most pressing matter/
I know what he said Byul, but he hadn’t known who you were to me. Minhyuk was simply looking out for me.
/once her hands were washed and dried, Yongsun inched closer towards Byulyi, taking the latter’s hand in hers/
Now that he knows, he won’t say anything else and if he does, I’ll keep him in place.
/leaning in, she placed a chaste kiss on the younger’s lips/
Besides, you’re the only one I love, so you’ve got nothing to worry about.
/with a smile, she let go of Byulyi’s hands and took a step back/
I’ve really got to get back to work now but I’ll see you later, alright?
/and with that, Yongsun had to force herself to leave. As much as she wanted to stay with Byulyi, she had important matters to attend to and on top of that, Minhyuk was waiting. Once her stuff was collected, the male lead them out with his hand comfortably placed at the small of her back. Although, Yongsun had definitely stepped away and even commented about it, he still persisted on the basis that it was to guide her through the busy cafe, though what she had not realised was that it hadn’t been only for that/