Ji-hoo sat back in his chair, away from the rest of the F4, who were playing pool.
The memory of his bump-into the woman played in his mind over and over again. The memory seemed so distant, yet only happened yesterday.
He knew that he gave up on her years ago, or, at least he thought that he did, considering how even in that split second, his heart started racing, his mind going blank.
'Am I lonely?'
'Was that Min Seo-hyun somehow telling me to move on?'
'I thought I did move on?'
'Is it, maybe, because I miss her?'
All these questions lingered in his head. He just didn't know the answers.
Perhaps, maybe, that was his conscience telling him something? Something important.
But- what was it?
"Ya, Ji-hoo!" Woo Bin called out. Ji-hoo was still in a daze, thinking.
"What's wrong with him?" Yi-jung commented, rubbing chalk on the end of his pool cue.
"He's looking more out of it than usual today." Jun-pyo added, half-jokingly.
When Ji-hoo didn't respond, they continued conversing.
"Hey, why don't we have a little get-together today? Us and the girls." Yi-jung suggested.
"Sure." Woo Bin replied as he knocked a ball into a pocket. "We haven't done that in a while."
"Okay. I'll call Jan Di." Jun-pyo said as he took out his phone and dialed her number.
After a few rings and when he heard her answering machine, he ended the call. "Aish, she's not answering." he complained.
"She's probably busy with school, Jun-pyo." Yi-jung told him.
Soon after Yi-jung and Woo Bin invited their girlfriends, they started preparing the snacks.
"I'm here!" Jae Kyung announced loudly as she entered the F4 lounge. Jun-pyo shot her a look.
"Hey monkey! Do you have to be so loud?" he complained. She shot him a look back.
"Do you know where Jan Di is?" he asked her. She shook her head no, and replied, "I haven't seen her since 3 days ago."
"Aish," he whispered to himself. "Where is she?"
A few minutes later, Gaeul arrived.
"Hi, jagiya." Yi-jung greeted her warmly, with a long kiss.
"You two, get a room." Woo Bin joked, as the others nodded their head in agreement.
After the kiss, Gaeul turned red-faced and smiled embarrassingly. Yi-jung turned to them and put an arm around her waist.
"Do you guys have a problem that I love my girlfriend?" he asked confidently, which only made Gaeul turn even more red. The others chuckled.
"Gaeul, do you know where Jan Di is?" Jun-pyo asked.
"I don't know," she replied. "But I think she mentioned something about meeting an old friend at the medical outreach trip yesterday."
That immediately made Jun-pyo curious. "An old friend? Who?"
"Would that person happen to be, Lee Dae-hyun..?" Ji-hoo suddenly spoke up, walking towards them.
"Ji-hoo! Welcome back man." Woo Bin commented. Ji-hoo gave him a smug smile.
"Lee Dae-hyun? Who is that guy?" Jun-pyo's eyes widened with curiosity.
"He's one of Korea's best medical students. He's a 3rd year, and he was offered a free scholarship to Shinhwa Medical School." Ji-hoo replied calmly.
"What? Why didn't Jan Di mention him to me?" Jun-pyo wondered aloud. Then suddenly his phone rang.
"Jan Di? Where are you?" he asked through the phone. "Ah, okay..." he continued.
"Well all of us, including Gaeul and Monkey are here at the lounge for a get-together, can you come as soon as you're finished?"
"...Huh? An old friend?" he repeated. "Would that friend happen to be Lee Dae-hyun, by any chance?" Jun-pyo asked knowingly, with a slight tone of jealousy.
He sighed, and after a few minutes answered, "Fine, okay. See you later." he said as he hung up.
"So she wants to invite Lee Dae-hyun as well?" Yi-jung guessed, to which Jun-pyo nodded in dissatisfaction.
"Can you believe it? She practically begged me to agree. She says it's because it's been so long since she's seen him and wants to introduce him to us." he sighed.
Ji-hoo, picking up on his friend's growing jealousy, attemped to help him relax. "I doubt it's anything major, Jun-pyo. Besides, I heard that the director actually wanted them to bond together, instead of them doing it on their own. You shouldn't worry."
"Yeah, you guys are perfect for each other! C'mon, even a great business deal couldn't break apart you guys' true love." Jae Kyung added, with a small smile.
"Don't worry, Jun-pyo sunbae. I've been best friends with Jan Di since kindergarten and you're the only person she's truly loved so much." Gaeul reassured.
Jun-pyo smiled at all this in thanks, while Woo Bin and Yi-jung walked up to him and jokingly ruffled his curly hair.
Hearing all this tore Ji-hoo secretly apart on the inside, but he managed to let out a small smile, just for his friend.