L.O.V.E.R [2/4]
Title : L.O.V.E.R (Sequel to L.O.V.E)
Characters : Myungsoo x Sungjong
Chapter: 2
About two weeks being in college, Sungjong didn’t think it will be so fun. Except for the fact he had to see Myungsoo every single day. At least at college, Sungjong managed to avoid L somehow. Sometimes at night, he would hang out with Hoya and the others and of course there was L also. He found out that Sungyeol, Woohyun and Sunggyu hyung were not scary at all. They were nice to him and they got close really quick.
Sungjong still didn’t believe his eyes when he knew actually Hoya and L are best friends and they hang out together almost every day.
As he was roaming at the college, waiting for his class to start just about 10 more minutes, he heard his phone rang. He blinked his eyes several times to see the caller ID. It was L. Pondering why L was calling him, he picked it up. He didn’t manage to talk because L started to talk first,
‘Education class, help me for a moment.’
‘I have class later.’
‘Fourth building. No. 360.’
‘I said I have class too.‘ He hung up just before Sungjong could say a full sentence. ’Hey? L??Yah!’
Pouting a bit, he had to do just like L said. He sneaked into the class and sat at the empty seat near the window. His eyes roamed to search for L, but he was not there. Now, he just realized that L wanted him to take his place in class. But of course it won’t work. What was L thinking?!
Sungjong kept his head down when the lecturer came into the class and started to take the attendance. When he called L’s name Sungjong had no choice but to answer,
‘Here.’ But because he was answering with a low voice, the lecturer had to call his name again.
And this time, he had to raise his head a bit so he could answer loudly.
‘Practical music department, Kim Myungsoo. As far as I know is a very handsome boy student’ Once the lecturer said that, Sungjong knew his disguise was an epic fail and every one laughed in the class.
Didn’t know what to do, Sungjong stood up, facing the lecturer with a smile and said,
‘I’m Lee Sungjong. It’s very nice to meet with you.’ He kept on the smile and bowed to him.
Every lecturer in the college always mistook him for a girl by just looking at his face.
‘Nice to meet you too?’ The lecturer was dumfounded eyeing on Sungjong’s weird reaction.
But then he shook his head and said,
‘Both you and Myungsoo have write a self-reflection to me by tomorrow.’
‘Yes sir…I’m extremely sorry.’ Sungjong answered as he sat down and waited until the class finished. He was really embarrassed.
Sungjong pouted as he walked down the hallway. Thanks to L he was in trouble too. Not feeling satisfied, he called L and told,
‘I got caught by the lecturer and now both of us need to submit a self-reflection report to his room tomorrow. I told you in the first place that it wouldn’t work.’
‘Then you write one for me.’
‘Why would I?!’ Sungjong shouted.
‘Because you’re the one who got caught.’
‘Shiro! Do it yourself.’ Sungjong was so mad at L so he hung up.
The next morning, both of them were called to the lecturer room. They stood beside each other as the lecturer read their self-reflection reports. Sungjong was portraying his unsatisfied face while L was with his usual expressionless visage.
‘Are you two lovers?’ The lecturer’s question gave a shock to both of them.
‘No, absolutely not. That’s impossible.’ Sungjong refused that statement so much.
‘I have a high taste.’ The lecture just sighed hearing L’s words.
‘Then Sungjong, why did you cover for Myungsoo in his class? Is it a one sided love?’
‘What? It’s not.’
‘If you two aren’t lovers or it is not a one-sided love, then what kind of relationship the two of you are having?’
Sungjong could only scratch his head, not able to answer his question. The lecturer sighed. Then he gave them each other self-reflection report and told them to read it. L started to read Sungjong’s self-reflection report,
‘Respectable professor, in the last class I substituted for another student and made professor have a bad mood, I am very very very sorry. I am really really really reflecting on my actions. From now on, I absolutely absolutely absolutely , will really really really never do such a thing ever again. I will dedicate myself to becoming a student who can look at the sky without any shame.’
Sungjong just bit his lips. Then, it was Sungjong’s turn to read L’s self-reflection report,
‘The last class was very important; I didn’t tell you that I would let a brainless student to be my substitute.’
Sungjong glared at L. He was pissed off for sure.
‘Who are you calling ‘brainless student’?’ Sungjong asked him, ignoring the fact that they was still in the professor’s room.
‘Lee Sungjong, you really really really really really don’t know that?’ L was mocking the Sungjong’s self-reflection report with a grin on his face.
‘Yah!’
‘Enough, you two out of my room. Now!’As the lecturer noticed the atmosphere between them was tense he let the two off the hook.
Sungjong pouted knowing he was maybe over reacting when writing the letter. L on the other hand decided to walk off although he was trying to hide his smiling face. He never failed to smile every time seeing the latter pout.
He was indeed pissed off. As Sungjong was in his way out of the college, his eyes caught sight of L’s bicycle. Still wanted revenge for what he did, he kicked his bicycle hard but not as hard to make it tumble down.
‘I wish this stupid tyre will flat!’ He was happy cursing it.
*****
Sungjong was walking around the college area with Sungyeol. Sungyeol was telling him how cheesy Woohyun can be when it comes to Sunggyu. Sungjong found out the two of them were cute dating out together. As they were laughing, Sungjong’s phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, he snorted. It was L again. He picked up, talking in a low voice.
‘L ah, I’m in class.’
‘I never thought your class is at outdoors.’
Hearing he said that, his eyes searched for something. Then, he caught sight of L at the balcony of a building near him, staring straight at him.
‘Buy me some coffee.’
L said before hanging up his phone. Sungjong was pissed off. L was ordering him around. The more he wanted to avoid him, the more he became close to him. Sungjong excused himself and went to the college café to buy some hot coffee.
These days, he could already talk to L normally. Although he still couldn’t let go of L, he can survive like this. Having L close to him was enough. At least L wasn’t pushing him away. Well, not yet.
‘Here. 2800 won.’ Sungjong handed the coffee to L, who was waiting at the balcony.
L rummaged his pocket just to pull out his wallet. He gave Sungjong 3000 won as the payment but then he pull out his hand in front of Sungjong, asking for something.
‘Return me the change.’
‘So stingy!’ Sungjong pouted as he reached for his wallet in his backpack but then he realized he didn’t have small money that time.
‘Mianhe, I’ll give the change later at home.’ He apologized.
‘I charge interest you know.’ L said and sipped his coffee.
‘Stingy!’
L just grinned and looked to his wrist watch. He forgot he had rehearsal with the Sungyeol, Woohyun and Sunggyu for the upcoming audition for the college musical.
‘See you around.’ L took his backpack with he leaned it against the wall and left Sungjong there.
Sungjong just smiled. He put his hands at the veranda. He could see almost the whole college from here. No wonder L could catch him just now. He was happy, for being able to speak with L again. Even though they were not together anymore, Sungjong can still like L, right?
*****
That night Sungyeol invited Sungjong to Dongwoo’s café like usual. But just before he could go his appa forced him to call L in his room to come down for dinner. He refused at first but his appa never let him rest until he did that.
So unwillingly, he went upstairs and knocked the door. No one answered. He wanted to call his name by he had suppress himself from doing that because he had to call L ‘hyung’. Again he knocked the door and this time L opened it.
‘What do you want?’ L asked coldly the moment his eyes saw Sungjong.
Sungjong noticed he was acting cold again to him, but this time it was weird. L looked hurt for some reason.
‘Dinner time.’
‘I don’t want to.’ He simply replied and closed his door but just before he could do that Sungjong blocked the door from closing.
‘If you don’t come down, appa will blame me.’ Sungjong knew his appa won’t let him go if he failed to bring L down for dinner.
L remained silent. His sharp eyes were gazing at Sungjong. Sungjong knew something was wrong because every time L looked at him with those eyes, L was actually having a problem.
‘What’s wrong?’ Sungjong’s question rendered L to shift his eyes to the carpeted floor.
‘Leave me alone.’ L replied as he walked into his room, leaving Sungjong at the door.
Sungjong hesitated at first, but then decided to tail L as he saw L sitting on hid bed.
‘I don’t know why you are like this. But if you’re in pain, don’t hide it. You’ll suffer a lot.’
L raised his head just to see straight to Sungjong’s eyes and ask,
‘Do you like me that much?’
‘What?’ Sungjong was perplexed with L’s words.
L, who saw Sungjong wasn’t answering, continued his words,
‘Whether I’m hurting or in pain, it has nothing to do with you.’
Now, Sungjong was hurt by his words. L looked down before saying,
‘Stop liking me.’
Sungjong didn’t know how to respond. Whether he should say something or walk away. He couldn’t lie to himself that tears were pooling in his eyes. He never thought L will say that to him. Maybe what L said was right. Ever since they broke up, Sungjong was the only one who didn’t want to let go off L.
‘I’m sorry for bothering you then.’ Sungjong held back his tears as he darted out L’s room without noticing someone saw him.
L sighed before letting his body lay on the soft bed. He took out his phone, which he hid it under the pillow when Sungjong came in. His eyes were fixed on the screen of the phone.
‘It’s the best for us, right?’ He said, eyes eyeing on a picture in his phone, the picture of Sungjong that he took when Sungjong was asleep back when they were still together.
Not a second after that, someone was at L’s door and uttered,
‘Can I come in?’
*****
Sungjong spent his time day dreaming a lot passed a few days. He didn’t even notice when Sungyeol or Woohyun popped out in front of him. Maybe Sungjong wasn’t paying much attention. No. He wasn’t paying attention at all to his surrounding.
He was feeling down, and the others knew it very well. He locked himself in his room. He acted like he was all fine when the others were concerned about him. And L, he only looked Sungjong from a distance. He didn’t say a word towards Sungjong since that day. Even his appa tried to cheer him up, but his efforts were futile.
Knowing he concerned everyone about him, made him realized that it’s time to set every thing back to normal again.
L, he will be much better without me.
His finger hesitated to tap on the screen of his phone. He was afraid. Afraid, to delete all the memories between him and L. Sometimes love can be cheesy, but at last it hurts.
‘Every break ups must end with tears, huh?’ Sungjong mumbled before tapping the screen and in just a second the message L sent to him was deleted.
He wiped off the tears that stained his cheeks with the back of his hands, before proceeding to look at his phone images. He could lose counts of the images of L in his phone, which he used to take it when L wasn’t looking. As he was trying his hard not to let a tear escape from his eyes, he was going to delete all of them. He wanted to wash all their memories, which they shouldn’t keep.
But then just before he could delete it, someone grabbed his hand and said,
‘What are you trying to do? Memories are meant to keep.’
His eyes were widened and not please to see it was Sungyeol, who stopped him. Sungjong didn’t respond anything as he was still in shock.
‘I know you like L and I also know that boy isn’t the type of someone who always show his feeling but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on him.’
Hearing those words from Sungyeol, really made Sungjong realized Sungyeol was serious about this. It wasn’t like him to act like this unless he was damn serious. Sungjong, who still didn’t know what to reply or respond, stayed quiet and kept his head down.
Sungyeol slowly released his hand and sit beside of Sungjong on the bench at the college park. Still not having a reply, Sungyeol continued,
‘Don’t give up on Myungsoo. No matter how hard his heart is, I’m sure it will melt soon.’
This time Sungjong did reply after listening to his words but in a funny way. He was chuckling. Sungyeol frowned to see the latter was laughing.
‘Did I say something funny?’ He raised a brow, perplexed.
‘No.’ Sungjong chuckled. ‘But hearing those words coming from your mouth is funny.’
‘Yah, I’m good at giving advice. I always give love advice to Dongwoo.’
‘And that’s why Dongwoo hasn’t managed to tackle Hoya hyung yet.’ Sungjong grinned.
‘That’s because Dongwoo was the one who didn’t listen. I already told him the easiest way to tackle Hoya was to propose to him but he wouldn’t listen.’ Sungyeol tried his hard to defense himself.
But actually even Sungjong thought Sungyeol was telling the right thing. Memories are meant to be kept and only that. It can’t be more. Sungjong sighed before putting a smile on his face.
‘Thanks a lot hyung for the advice. But I don’t think I don’t need it now. Memories are meant to be kept. And L and I are meant to be separated.’ Saying that hurts him a lot, but still the right thing to do was to forget L.
Sungjong stood up, uttering,
‘Have to go to class. See you around hyung.’ He excused himself.
‘Aigoo that boy.’ Sungyeol really wanted to help the boy and he will somehow.
Not long after a minute, a smirk engraved on his visage. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number without any hesitation.
‘Hoya, it’s me. Didn’t you say Sungjong’s major is dance?’
*****
That day, Sungjong got an emergency call from Dongwoo saying he needed Sungjong’s help at the café, because some of his workers were suddenly absent. He rushed out to lend a hand.
But he wondered why he didn’t ask for Hoya’s help too. The moment he arrived that, he could see all the workers were there. Are they playing a trick or what on him?
‘You want my help for what, hyung?’ Sungjong who were perplexed asked.
‘Help me with that would you?’ Dongwoo said, as his index finger pointing at towards the stage. ‘Sunggyu and Woohyun couldn’t make it today. It’s only Sungyeol and L. L was performing alone for an hour already so he was worn out. So, perform with Sungyeol, will you?’ He explained everything.
‘Per…performed?!’ It was too sudden, he didn’t prepare anything.
It had been a while since he performed on the stage. He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to just refuse but he couldn’t let Dongwoo down.
‘But I can’t sing that good.’ A lie only he knew.
Suddenly someone put his hand around sungjong’s neck and said,
‘But you can dance, right?’
It was Sungyeol. Sungjong was perplexed to see a sly smirk on his visage. Not able to lie any more he agreed. It was only dancing, it won’t hurt, right? Just before Sungjong could ask the song they were going to dance, Sungyeol already answered it for him without hearing the question.
‘We’re going to dance ‘Troublemaker’, you know that song right?’
Sungjong couldn’t admit that he just mastered the dance moves of the song last night. He just nodded as a yes. But he wondered whether the dance is appropriate to dance or not. The dance moves were too sexy.
But Sungyeol kept on forcing him and at last he just agreed. Being force to go up the stage, Sungjong let his eyes down on the stage floor. He didn’t notice a pair of cold eyes was staring at him. Sungjong didn’t want to look at the audience. He just wanted to dance quickly and got off the stage as soon as he could.
It was not like Sungjong to act like this. The boy adored being in stage so much. But not tonight. Maybe because he knew very well L was there. After thinking less than a minute, he felt stupid for being scared because of L. He made up his mind already, he was going to let go of L. And that’s his final choice. He won’t change it.
As the music started, Sungjong looked up; his body was into the song. And so did Sungyeol. They both started to dance. Sungjong could notice Dongwoo and L were sitting at the table not far from the stage. L was eyeing on him like always.
‘What is Sungyeol thinking?’ L suddenly asked Dongwoo, knowing actually Sungyeol was the one who gave free tickets to Sunggyu and Woohyun to go for a dinner at a restaurant.
‘He said he wanted to make new changes here.’
L could only frowned hearing Dongwoo’s answer. He sipped his juice and his eyes averted back to the two on the stage. He didn’t know what Sungyeol’s real intention was but he knew it was going a little overboard when Sungyeol touched Sungjong’s waist (although it was the dance moves actually). He couldn’t bear to watch it any more. He didn’t know why but he just walked out the café.
Dongwoo grinned seeing L’s act to dart out the café and mumbled,
‘As usually, jealously.’
Sungyeol, who noticed too smirked with a face ‘my plan worked’. They continued the dance as they already finished half of the song. Sungjong was enjoying himself. Everything was going smoothly until the lights went out.
Both of them stopped dancing, the entire people in the café started to make noises, asking each other about what happen. Dongwoo on the other hand, ran on the stage, managed to grab Sungyeol and asked,
‘What’s wrong now?’
‘Molla. I didn’t plan this to happen.’
Dongwoo had no choice but to call his worker. In just a minute, his worker fixed the problem. He said someone switched off the main switch. The lights were on again.
‘That was close right, Sungjong?’ Sungyeol asked Sungjong who he thought was beside him.
Not receiving a respond, he looked at his side. He couldn’t find Sungjong any where.
‘Where did the boy go?’ Sungyeol scratched his head.
‘Home maybe?’ Dongwoo only could shrug his shoulder.
During the lights were suddenly turned off, Sungjong felt someone grabbed his hand and dragged him outside the café. He swore he was going to scream but he had to suppress himself when that someone showed himself just after they got out the café.
It was L.
‘What are you doing?’ Sungjong was dumbfounded.
‘Making us even.’ L grinned.
Sungjong remembered that he turned off the main switch of L’s apartment once, because he was jealous L was spending time with a girl at the living room. And then he ran out making L worried until he caught a cold.
He could only smile recalling that time, but it hurt a bit. Sungjong who noticed they were still holding hands, pulled out his hand breaking the bond. And L quickly did the same while shifting his eyes. He buried his hands in his pockets then.
Sungjong looked down, not knowing what to say. They were in a momentary silence. Both of them not know what to say to each other.
‘Shouldn’t…we go back inside? Dongwoo and Sungyeol must be looking for us.’ Sungjong managed to break the momentary silence.
‘Let them look for us. It’s fun leaving it like that. Let’s just go home.’ Sungjong just nodded to L’s words.
Not knowing why but Sungjong’s heart ached to hear the word ‘home’, maybe because their ‘home’ now was different. Last time ‘home’ was the place they shared their love. Now, ‘home’ is the place they need to keep their love apart.
‘Oh by the way fix this.’ L said as he handed Sungjong a key.
‘Fix what?’ Sungjong was dumbfounded as he didn’t remember breaking anything.
‘Didn’t you’re the one who curse my bicycle tire to flat?’
‘So the tire really really flat??’ Sungjong couldn’t believe his eyes.
‘Yes.’
‘Daebak!’ Sungjong laughed so hard hearing it.
‘You think it’s funny?’
‘Yes, very funny.’ Sungjong couldn’t help himself from laughing and L just smiled.
For some reason L was in a good mood. He couldn’t erase the smile he was portraying and kept on humming a tune. As they were walking towards the bus stop side by side, Sungjong suddenly said,
‘I made up my mind.’ His words halted L’s pace.
L just blinked his eyes several times as a sign he didn’t understand.
‘I can’t forget you immediately, so give me some time.’ Sungjong uttered that looking straight to his eyes.
He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t trembling or shaking. He was immune with all of that. He was sick being so weak because of love.
‘I will forget you, L.’
*****
-
----
------> Chapter 3
Characters : Myungsoo x Sungjong
Chapter: 2
About two weeks being in college, Sungjong didn’t think it will be so fun. Except for the fact he had to see Myungsoo every single day. At least at college, Sungjong managed to avoid L somehow. Sometimes at night, he would hang out with Hoya and the others and of course there was L also. He found out that Sungyeol, Woohyun and Sunggyu hyung were not scary at all. They were nice to him and they got close really quick.
Sungjong still didn’t believe his eyes when he knew actually Hoya and L are best friends and they hang out together almost every day.
As he was roaming at the college, waiting for his class to start just about 10 more minutes, he heard his phone rang. He blinked his eyes several times to see the caller ID. It was L. Pondering why L was calling him, he picked it up. He didn’t manage to talk because L started to talk first,
‘Education class, help me for a moment.’
‘I have class later.’
‘Fourth building. No. 360.’
‘I said I have class too.‘ He hung up just before Sungjong could say a full sentence. ’Hey? L??Yah!’
Pouting a bit, he had to do just like L said. He sneaked into the class and sat at the empty seat near the window. His eyes roamed to search for L, but he was not there. Now, he just realized that L wanted him to take his place in class. But of course it won’t work. What was L thinking?!
Sungjong kept his head down when the lecturer came into the class and started to take the attendance. When he called L’s name Sungjong had no choice but to answer,
‘Here.’ But because he was answering with a low voice, the lecturer had to call his name again.
And this time, he had to raise his head a bit so he could answer loudly.
‘Practical music department, Kim Myungsoo. As far as I know is a very handsome boy student’ Once the lecturer said that, Sungjong knew his disguise was an epic fail and every one laughed in the class.
Didn’t know what to do, Sungjong stood up, facing the lecturer with a smile and said,
‘I’m Lee Sungjong. It’s very nice to meet with you.’ He kept on the smile and bowed to him.
Every lecturer in the college always mistook him for a girl by just looking at his face.
‘Nice to meet you too?’ The lecturer was dumfounded eyeing on Sungjong’s weird reaction.
But then he shook his head and said,
‘Both you and Myungsoo have write a self-reflection to me by tomorrow.’
‘Yes sir…I’m extremely sorry.’ Sungjong answered as he sat down and waited until the class finished. He was really embarrassed.
Sungjong pouted as he walked down the hallway. Thanks to L he was in trouble too. Not feeling satisfied, he called L and told,
‘I got caught by the lecturer and now both of us need to submit a self-reflection report to his room tomorrow. I told you in the first place that it wouldn’t work.’
‘Then you write one for me.’
‘Why would I?!’ Sungjong shouted.
‘Because you’re the one who got caught.’
‘Shiro! Do it yourself.’ Sungjong was so mad at L so he hung up.
The next morning, both of them were called to the lecturer room. They stood beside each other as the lecturer read their self-reflection reports. Sungjong was portraying his unsatisfied face while L was with his usual expressionless visage.
‘Are you two lovers?’ The lecturer’s question gave a shock to both of them.
‘No, absolutely not. That’s impossible.’ Sungjong refused that statement so much.
‘I have a high taste.’ The lecture just sighed hearing L’s words.
‘Then Sungjong, why did you cover for Myungsoo in his class? Is it a one sided love?’
‘What? It’s not.’
‘If you two aren’t lovers or it is not a one-sided love, then what kind of relationship the two of you are having?’
Sungjong could only scratch his head, not able to answer his question. The lecturer sighed. Then he gave them each other self-reflection report and told them to read it. L started to read Sungjong’s self-reflection report,
‘Respectable professor, in the last class I substituted for another student and made professor have a bad mood, I am very very very sorry. I am really really really reflecting on my actions. From now on, I absolutely absolutely absolutely , will really really really never do such a thing ever again. I will dedicate myself to becoming a student who can look at the sky without any shame.’
Sungjong just bit his lips. Then, it was Sungjong’s turn to read L’s self-reflection report,
‘The last class was very important; I didn’t tell you that I would let a brainless student to be my substitute.’
Sungjong glared at L. He was pissed off for sure.
‘Who are you calling ‘brainless student’?’ Sungjong asked him, ignoring the fact that they was still in the professor’s room.
‘Lee Sungjong, you really really really really really don’t know that?’ L was mocking the Sungjong’s self-reflection report with a grin on his face.
‘Yah!’
‘Enough, you two out of my room. Now!’As the lecturer noticed the atmosphere between them was tense he let the two off the hook.
Sungjong pouted knowing he was maybe over reacting when writing the letter. L on the other hand decided to walk off although he was trying to hide his smiling face. He never failed to smile every time seeing the latter pout.
He was indeed pissed off. As Sungjong was in his way out of the college, his eyes caught sight of L’s bicycle. Still wanted revenge for what he did, he kicked his bicycle hard but not as hard to make it tumble down.
‘I wish this stupid tyre will flat!’ He was happy cursing it.
*****
Sungjong was walking around the college area with Sungyeol. Sungyeol was telling him how cheesy Woohyun can be when it comes to Sunggyu. Sungjong found out the two of them were cute dating out together. As they were laughing, Sungjong’s phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, he snorted. It was L again. He picked up, talking in a low voice.
‘L ah, I’m in class.’
‘I never thought your class is at outdoors.’
Hearing he said that, his eyes searched for something. Then, he caught sight of L at the balcony of a building near him, staring straight at him.
‘Buy me some coffee.’
L said before hanging up his phone. Sungjong was pissed off. L was ordering him around. The more he wanted to avoid him, the more he became close to him. Sungjong excused himself and went to the college café to buy some hot coffee.
These days, he could already talk to L normally. Although he still couldn’t let go of L, he can survive like this. Having L close to him was enough. At least L wasn’t pushing him away. Well, not yet.
‘Here. 2800 won.’ Sungjong handed the coffee to L, who was waiting at the balcony.
L rummaged his pocket just to pull out his wallet. He gave Sungjong 3000 won as the payment but then he pull out his hand in front of Sungjong, asking for something.
‘Return me the change.’
‘So stingy!’ Sungjong pouted as he reached for his wallet in his backpack but then he realized he didn’t have small money that time.
‘Mianhe, I’ll give the change later at home.’ He apologized.
‘I charge interest you know.’ L said and sipped his coffee.
‘Stingy!’
L just grinned and looked to his wrist watch. He forgot he had rehearsal with the Sungyeol, Woohyun and Sunggyu for the upcoming audition for the college musical.
‘See you around.’ L took his backpack with he leaned it against the wall and left Sungjong there.
Sungjong just smiled. He put his hands at the veranda. He could see almost the whole college from here. No wonder L could catch him just now. He was happy, for being able to speak with L again. Even though they were not together anymore, Sungjong can still like L, right?
*****
That night Sungyeol invited Sungjong to Dongwoo’s café like usual. But just before he could go his appa forced him to call L in his room to come down for dinner. He refused at first but his appa never let him rest until he did that.
So unwillingly, he went upstairs and knocked the door. No one answered. He wanted to call his name by he had suppress himself from doing that because he had to call L ‘hyung’. Again he knocked the door and this time L opened it.
‘What do you want?’ L asked coldly the moment his eyes saw Sungjong.
Sungjong noticed he was acting cold again to him, but this time it was weird. L looked hurt for some reason.
‘Dinner time.’
‘I don’t want to.’ He simply replied and closed his door but just before he could do that Sungjong blocked the door from closing.
‘If you don’t come down, appa will blame me.’ Sungjong knew his appa won’t let him go if he failed to bring L down for dinner.
L remained silent. His sharp eyes were gazing at Sungjong. Sungjong knew something was wrong because every time L looked at him with those eyes, L was actually having a problem.
‘What’s wrong?’ Sungjong’s question rendered L to shift his eyes to the carpeted floor.
‘Leave me alone.’ L replied as he walked into his room, leaving Sungjong at the door.
Sungjong hesitated at first, but then decided to tail L as he saw L sitting on hid bed.
‘I don’t know why you are like this. But if you’re in pain, don’t hide it. You’ll suffer a lot.’
L raised his head just to see straight to Sungjong’s eyes and ask,
‘Do you like me that much?’
‘What?’ Sungjong was perplexed with L’s words.
L, who saw Sungjong wasn’t answering, continued his words,
‘Whether I’m hurting or in pain, it has nothing to do with you.’
Now, Sungjong was hurt by his words. L looked down before saying,
‘Stop liking me.’
Sungjong didn’t know how to respond. Whether he should say something or walk away. He couldn’t lie to himself that tears were pooling in his eyes. He never thought L will say that to him. Maybe what L said was right. Ever since they broke up, Sungjong was the only one who didn’t want to let go off L.
‘I’m sorry for bothering you then.’ Sungjong held back his tears as he darted out L’s room without noticing someone saw him.
L sighed before letting his body lay on the soft bed. He took out his phone, which he hid it under the pillow when Sungjong came in. His eyes were fixed on the screen of the phone.
‘It’s the best for us, right?’ He said, eyes eyeing on a picture in his phone, the picture of Sungjong that he took when Sungjong was asleep back when they were still together.
Not a second after that, someone was at L’s door and uttered,
‘Can I come in?’
*****
Sungjong spent his time day dreaming a lot passed a few days. He didn’t even notice when Sungyeol or Woohyun popped out in front of him. Maybe Sungjong wasn’t paying much attention. No. He wasn’t paying attention at all to his surrounding.
He was feeling down, and the others knew it very well. He locked himself in his room. He acted like he was all fine when the others were concerned about him. And L, he only looked Sungjong from a distance. He didn’t say a word towards Sungjong since that day. Even his appa tried to cheer him up, but his efforts were futile.
Knowing he concerned everyone about him, made him realized that it’s time to set every thing back to normal again.
L, he will be much better without me.
His finger hesitated to tap on the screen of his phone. He was afraid. Afraid, to delete all the memories between him and L. Sometimes love can be cheesy, but at last it hurts.
‘Every break ups must end with tears, huh?’ Sungjong mumbled before tapping the screen and in just a second the message L sent to him was deleted.
He wiped off the tears that stained his cheeks with the back of his hands, before proceeding to look at his phone images. He could lose counts of the images of L in his phone, which he used to take it when L wasn’t looking. As he was trying his hard not to let a tear escape from his eyes, he was going to delete all of them. He wanted to wash all their memories, which they shouldn’t keep.
But then just before he could delete it, someone grabbed his hand and said,
‘What are you trying to do? Memories are meant to keep.’
His eyes were widened and not please to see it was Sungyeol, who stopped him. Sungjong didn’t respond anything as he was still in shock.
‘I know you like L and I also know that boy isn’t the type of someone who always show his feeling but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on him.’
Hearing those words from Sungyeol, really made Sungjong realized Sungyeol was serious about this. It wasn’t like him to act like this unless he was damn serious. Sungjong, who still didn’t know what to reply or respond, stayed quiet and kept his head down.
Sungyeol slowly released his hand and sit beside of Sungjong on the bench at the college park. Still not having a reply, Sungyeol continued,
‘Don’t give up on Myungsoo. No matter how hard his heart is, I’m sure it will melt soon.’
This time Sungjong did reply after listening to his words but in a funny way. He was chuckling. Sungyeol frowned to see the latter was laughing.
‘Did I say something funny?’ He raised a brow, perplexed.
‘No.’ Sungjong chuckled. ‘But hearing those words coming from your mouth is funny.’
‘Yah, I’m good at giving advice. I always give love advice to Dongwoo.’
‘And that’s why Dongwoo hasn’t managed to tackle Hoya hyung yet.’ Sungjong grinned.
‘That’s because Dongwoo was the one who didn’t listen. I already told him the easiest way to tackle Hoya was to propose to him but he wouldn’t listen.’ Sungyeol tried his hard to defense himself.
But actually even Sungjong thought Sungyeol was telling the right thing. Memories are meant to be kept and only that. It can’t be more. Sungjong sighed before putting a smile on his face.
‘Thanks a lot hyung for the advice. But I don’t think I don’t need it now. Memories are meant to be kept. And L and I are meant to be separated.’ Saying that hurts him a lot, but still the right thing to do was to forget L.
Sungjong stood up, uttering,
‘Have to go to class. See you around hyung.’ He excused himself.
‘Aigoo that boy.’ Sungyeol really wanted to help the boy and he will somehow.
Not long after a minute, a smirk engraved on his visage. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number without any hesitation.
‘Hoya, it’s me. Didn’t you say Sungjong’s major is dance?’
*****
That day, Sungjong got an emergency call from Dongwoo saying he needed Sungjong’s help at the café, because some of his workers were suddenly absent. He rushed out to lend a hand.
But he wondered why he didn’t ask for Hoya’s help too. The moment he arrived that, he could see all the workers were there. Are they playing a trick or what on him?
‘You want my help for what, hyung?’ Sungjong who were perplexed asked.
‘Help me with that would you?’ Dongwoo said, as his index finger pointing at towards the stage. ‘Sunggyu and Woohyun couldn’t make it today. It’s only Sungyeol and L. L was performing alone for an hour already so he was worn out. So, perform with Sungyeol, will you?’ He explained everything.
‘Per…performed?!’ It was too sudden, he didn’t prepare anything.
It had been a while since he performed on the stage. He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to just refuse but he couldn’t let Dongwoo down.
‘But I can’t sing that good.’ A lie only he knew.
Suddenly someone put his hand around sungjong’s neck and said,
‘But you can dance, right?’
It was Sungyeol. Sungjong was perplexed to see a sly smirk on his visage. Not able to lie any more he agreed. It was only dancing, it won’t hurt, right? Just before Sungjong could ask the song they were going to dance, Sungyeol already answered it for him without hearing the question.
‘We’re going to dance ‘Troublemaker’, you know that song right?’
Sungjong couldn’t admit that he just mastered the dance moves of the song last night. He just nodded as a yes. But he wondered whether the dance is appropriate to dance or not. The dance moves were too sexy.
But Sungyeol kept on forcing him and at last he just agreed. Being force to go up the stage, Sungjong let his eyes down on the stage floor. He didn’t notice a pair of cold eyes was staring at him. Sungjong didn’t want to look at the audience. He just wanted to dance quickly and got off the stage as soon as he could.
It was not like Sungjong to act like this. The boy adored being in stage so much. But not tonight. Maybe because he knew very well L was there. After thinking less than a minute, he felt stupid for being scared because of L. He made up his mind already, he was going to let go of L. And that’s his final choice. He won’t change it.
As the music started, Sungjong looked up; his body was into the song. And so did Sungyeol. They both started to dance. Sungjong could notice Dongwoo and L were sitting at the table not far from the stage. L was eyeing on him like always.
‘What is Sungyeol thinking?’ L suddenly asked Dongwoo, knowing actually Sungyeol was the one who gave free tickets to Sunggyu and Woohyun to go for a dinner at a restaurant.
‘He said he wanted to make new changes here.’
L could only frowned hearing Dongwoo’s answer. He sipped his juice and his eyes averted back to the two on the stage. He didn’t know what Sungyeol’s real intention was but he knew it was going a little overboard when Sungyeol touched Sungjong’s waist (although it was the dance moves actually). He couldn’t bear to watch it any more. He didn’t know why but he just walked out the café.
Dongwoo grinned seeing L’s act to dart out the café and mumbled,
‘As usually, jealously.’
Sungyeol, who noticed too smirked with a face ‘my plan worked’. They continued the dance as they already finished half of the song. Sungjong was enjoying himself. Everything was going smoothly until the lights went out.
Both of them stopped dancing, the entire people in the café started to make noises, asking each other about what happen. Dongwoo on the other hand, ran on the stage, managed to grab Sungyeol and asked,
‘What’s wrong now?’
‘Molla. I didn’t plan this to happen.’
Dongwoo had no choice but to call his worker. In just a minute, his worker fixed the problem. He said someone switched off the main switch. The lights were on again.
‘That was close right, Sungjong?’ Sungyeol asked Sungjong who he thought was beside him.
Not receiving a respond, he looked at his side. He couldn’t find Sungjong any where.
‘Where did the boy go?’ Sungyeol scratched his head.
‘Home maybe?’ Dongwoo only could shrug his shoulder.
During the lights were suddenly turned off, Sungjong felt someone grabbed his hand and dragged him outside the café. He swore he was going to scream but he had to suppress himself when that someone showed himself just after they got out the café.
It was L.
‘What are you doing?’ Sungjong was dumbfounded.
‘Making us even.’ L grinned.
Sungjong remembered that he turned off the main switch of L’s apartment once, because he was jealous L was spending time with a girl at the living room. And then he ran out making L worried until he caught a cold.
He could only smile recalling that time, but it hurt a bit. Sungjong who noticed they were still holding hands, pulled out his hand breaking the bond. And L quickly did the same while shifting his eyes. He buried his hands in his pockets then.
Sungjong looked down, not knowing what to say. They were in a momentary silence. Both of them not know what to say to each other.
‘Shouldn’t…we go back inside? Dongwoo and Sungyeol must be looking for us.’ Sungjong managed to break the momentary silence.
‘Let them look for us. It’s fun leaving it like that. Let’s just go home.’ Sungjong just nodded to L’s words.
Not knowing why but Sungjong’s heart ached to hear the word ‘home’, maybe because their ‘home’ now was different. Last time ‘home’ was the place they shared their love. Now, ‘home’ is the place they need to keep their love apart.
‘Oh by the way fix this.’ L said as he handed Sungjong a key.
‘Fix what?’ Sungjong was dumbfounded as he didn’t remember breaking anything.
‘Didn’t you’re the one who curse my bicycle tire to flat?’
‘So the tire really really flat??’ Sungjong couldn’t believe his eyes.
‘Yes.’
‘Daebak!’ Sungjong laughed so hard hearing it.
‘You think it’s funny?’
‘Yes, very funny.’ Sungjong couldn’t help himself from laughing and L just smiled.
For some reason L was in a good mood. He couldn’t erase the smile he was portraying and kept on humming a tune. As they were walking towards the bus stop side by side, Sungjong suddenly said,
‘I made up my mind.’ His words halted L’s pace.
L just blinked his eyes several times as a sign he didn’t understand.
‘I can’t forget you immediately, so give me some time.’ Sungjong uttered that looking straight to his eyes.
He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t trembling or shaking. He was immune with all of that. He was sick being so weak because of love.
‘I will forget you, L.’
*****
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------> Chapter 3