A/N: Thank you to everyone who is reading this story. I appreciate the support!

glorialopezgl534.03: Thank you for your review. Yes, both the couples will get together eventually. It'll just take some time.

Barbara: I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far.

Special thanks to my beta Vnillachamomile for helping out with this chapter. Enjoy, guys!

Jae's bedroom door cracked open.

"How do I look?" she asked.

He noticed the black dress first. It looked casual. Effortless. And hugged her in all the right places. She paired it with silver heels and tied her hair up in an elaborate side braid.

If her ex wasn't a garbage person, Woo Bin would pity him.

He turned his head. Staring was rude. "Great. Ready to go?"

She followed after him, a huge smile on her face.

Her smile fell the minute they entered the Karaoke bar. She stood outside the door, arms wrapped around herself, eyes to the ground.

He offered her his arm. "Come on. You can do this. You face Prof. Chung every day, and he's a literal demon."

She didn't crack a smile like he hoped, but she did allow him to escort her inside. Small victories.

"Princess."

The pressure on his arm tightened.

"When you said you were bringing a friend, I didn't think—you're friends with an F4 member?" Yoo Jin asked.

Woo Bin met his gaze. "Is that a problem?"

"No. Of course not. I'm just surprised. That's all. She never went to Shinwa."

"People can meet in other places."

"Yeah—I didn't say otherwise." Yoo Jin turned to Jae. "Come on. I'll show you to our table."

She didn't take the hand he offered, but did follow him to the booth in the back.

"I'll fetch us our drinks." He turned to Woo Bin. "Mind joining me?"

It wasn't the worst idea. Someone needed to ensure he didn't mix something in it.

He met Jae's eyes.

"It's fine. I could use a minute alone," she whispered.

Flashing her an encouraging smile, he left with Yoo Jin.

For a few minutes, nothing happened. Woo Bin exchanged pleasantries with the bartender, Carl, and put in their order. But the minute Carl left, Yoo Jin spoke up.

"So, Woo Bin. How do you know Jae Kyung?"

"It's like she said, we're friends."

"Right. Only, she came in here clinging to your arm. Sooooo…"

Woo Bin crossed his arms. "What exactly are you implying?"

"Nothing. I just really like this girl, so—you get it, right?"

"You want to ensure I won't get in your way?"

"Well." He let out a nervous laugh. "That's not how I would phrase it."

"She's my best friend."

"Oh, good. Because I did not come here looking for a fight."

"You came here hoping to get back together."

He snapped his head up. "Maybe."

"Yeah. After the way you treated her?" Folding his arms on the table, Woo Bin leaned forward. "Not on my watch, buddy."

Surprise flickered across his face. "Stop acting like I'm some kind of monster."

"If the shoe fits."

He slammed the table. "Sure, I made some bad judgment calls, but it's not like she was an angel. She would constantly do irksome things just to get a rise out of me."

Woo Bin reigned in his temper. Sure, slamming Yoo Jin's head against the table would make him feel fantastic, but it wouldn't give Jae the closure she so desperately craved.

No matter how much he hated it, this was her battle to fight. However she saw fit. He was only here for support.

"Like the time she wanted rainbow hair," Yoo Jin continued, blissfully unaware of Woo Bin's growing anger. "She knew I was against it. Agreed to not get it, only to come back bright orange! Now you tell me, should I have to explicitly state every color I'm against? Any normal person would infer—"

"That her hair is none of your damn business?"

"She asked for my input."

"And you told her she looked like a clown." He turned sideways. "Tell me, all the times she was supposedly being 'oversensitive', was it after a comment like that?"

Yoo Jin pursed his lips. "Fine. I made some mistakes. We all do. That doesn't change the fact that I'm crazy about her."

"Mistakes?" Woo Bin clenched his fist. "You cheated on her."

"It wasn't like that."

He didn't dignify that with a response.

"Fine, I messed up. I admit it. But she was in a different city. Far away. And this girl practically threw herself at me."

"That's your excuse? Really? Yeah. I stand by what I said. I would rather get hit by a bus than let you anywhere near her."

He took a second to answer. "Oh, I see what this is."

Judging from the look in Yoo Jin's eyes, whatever conclusion he arrived at, Woo Bin wasn't going to like it.

"Look. I get it. She's super hot. But trust me, she's not your type."

"And you know what my type is?"

"I go to Shinwa, don't I?" He shifted closer. "I'm saying this for your own benefit. She looks like the kind of girl who is up for anything, but believe me, she's not."

What was he on about it? Jae was a blast. She could have fun anywhere, anytime, and while doing anything.

"Even after dating for a year and a half, she wanted to move at a snail's pace. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is? We hardly did anything!" He raised both his hands in the air. "I know I shouldn't have cheated, but after almost two years? Anyone would give into the temptation."

Woo Bin's eyes darkened. So that's what he meant by fun. "You repeat a word of that to Jae, and I promise you, you'll leave here needing dentures."

"What the hell, man! I was doing you a favor." He got up. "But you know what? Leave it. Who cares what you think? You don't control her love life."

"You're right. I don't. But Jae's a reasonable person. And we're friends. She values my opinions. I'm sure I can get her to see just the kind of person you are."

"That's rich coming from you."

Instead of taking the bait, Woo Bin picked up their drinks and took off. Jae was waiting for him.

Yoo Jin followed after him. "You know what I don't get? While you might be the kind of guy who'd ignore his type if the girl was pretty enough, Jae Kyung is not like that. She would care. Unless…" He inched closer. "She has no idea, does she? About your dating history."

She didn't. But that hadn't occurred to Woo Bin until just then. "I don't know what you're talking about. Unlike you, I haven't done anything wrong."

"I think Nam Ji Ah would disagree."

"Hey! I never cheated on her, regardless of what the rumor mill says."

There was no real bite to his words. He knew his behavior towards Ji Ah was despicable, but he couldn't let Yoo Jin win.

"I wonder if that's how Jae Kyung would see it? Especially after she learns about the others. I should tell her, right? Since friends look out for each other and all."

Woo Bin looked straight at him, his eyes cold. "I guess we both must do what we think is best."

He wasn't afraid. Except for Ji Ah, he never misled anyone. So, Yoo Jin could make all the threats he wanted; nothing he could ever say would turn Jae against him.

_oOo_

Halfway back to the booth, Jae caught up to them.

"What took you guys so long?"

"It was crowded," said Yoo Jin. He grabbed her arm. "Can we talk? In private?"

"Fat chance," said Woo Bin.

Jae looked between the two of them, her expression conflicted. "Fine. At the bar." She shot Woo Bin a reassuring look before walking off.

If Yoo Jin wanted a private audience, he shouldn't have chosen a public place. Woo Bin followed them but kept enough distance for it to pass as respectable.

He ordered juice but hardly touched it. Instead, he studied Jae's expressions. When the conversation started, her face was neutral. But with each passing second, she grew more and more distressed.

He stood up. That's it. He was going to check on her.

He rushed to her side, but the haste proved unnecessary.

Just before he reached her, Jae flung her drink right at Yoo Jin's dumb face. Woo Bin stood stunned. Among all the things he expected to happen today, this wasn't even in the ball park. Jae was normally such a pacifist. He smiled. Good for her. That bastard deserved it.

"What the hell is the matter with you!" Yoo Jin yelled.

Jae smiled sweetly. "A complete accident."

He glared at her.

"What? You can 'accidentally' fall into bed with someone else, but I can't 'accidentally' spill a drink?"

"So that's why you assaulted me?"

"That wasn't assault," said Woo Bin. "You want to know what assault looks like? I'll be happy to demonstrate."

Jae took his arm. "Come on. Let's return to our table." She met Yoo Jin's eyes, her gaze unflinching. "And Yoo Jin-ssi? Show up to my workplace again, and I'm reporting you for stalking. I'm sure your dean would love that."

_oOo_

Woo Bin sat beside Jae in their booth. She was staring into her glass, her expression pensive.

"You okay?"

"He wasn't always like that. Things were different, when we first got together."

He nodded. That went without saying. She wouldn't have dated him otherwise.

She picked at her phone cover. "You must think I'm a complete idiot."

"Of course not."

"All those red flags and I..."

He put his glass down. "You're not an idiot. You're kind, compassionate, and understanding. And you try to see the best in everyone. Some assholes take advantage of that. Unfortunately. But that's on them, not you." He put his hand on top of hers. "Just because someone twisted your best qualities and used them against you, doesn't mean you deserved it."

She returned his smile. "Come on, let's get another drink."

By the time their drinks arrived, Jae was back to her usual bubbly self.

"You wanna know a secret?" she asked.

"Always."

"That day, on the bus, when we first met." She took a sip of sangria. "I was flirting with you."

It took a second for her words to register, and another for him to sift through those memories and reach a conclusion.

Yes, she was. She definitely was. It was so obvious. Past him was just too engrossed in their conversation to notice.

He leaned closer. "Understandable. I did look exceptionally hot that day."

Something akin to surprise passed across her features, but she recovered quickly. "Sure, just not as hot as pineapples."

Pineapples?

It all came crashing back. During that sleepover at her old place, where he got stupidly drunk. She'd asked him what he thought of pineapples. Completely misunderstanding her question, he answered: sweet, fun, and very, very hot.

He gulped. "You remembered that?"

"Yep. You should finish your juice. Before the ice melts."

"I think I lost my appetite."

"Okay. Then let's do some karaoke."

He followed. Singing would help. It usually did.

One song in and he was back to normal. He had nothing to worry about. They both made equally embarrassing admissions. So, it canceled out in the end.

_oOo_

After spending another hour at the bar, Woo Bin drove Jae home.

"Well, guess that's you," he said, parking right in front of her building.

She fiddled with her seatbelt. "You know, you kind of helped me get over him, in a way."

Rendered speechless, he stared at her with a dumbstruck expression.

"Yeah. It had been about a month since the breakup—when I got on that bus. I was sad, and lonely, and Dad's stuffy party wasn't helping. So, I escaped. The three hours I spent with you? It was the first time in months I didn't think about him at all." She met his gaze. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you."

The intensity in her eyes was captivating. He wanted nothing more than to pin her against the seat and kiss her senseless.

But she looked so damn vulnerable right now. How could he take advantage of that? What kind of person would that make him?

He took another look at her. He could sort out his messy feelings another day. Today, she needed his friendship.

"I'm glad I could help." He opened her car door. "I'll walk you up."

She strolled to his side, standing close enough that their hands touched at the slightest provocation.

"I'm proud of you. It wasn't easy, what you did."

"Thanks," she said, a small smile on her face, "for coming with me."

The silence stretched on, but it felt neither awkward nor out of place.

"You know why I wanted to meet him?"

He turned his head.

"I wanted to see if he felt any remorse. For how it ended. Turns out, no. Not even a little bit."

Woo Bin wasn't surprised. Total scumbags rarely did. He opened the lobby door for her and then followed her inside.

"He blamed the distance, the other woman, alcohol." Her eyes narrowed. "I still tried to keep my cool. Even after all of that. But he kept calling it a misunderstanding. Blamed me for cutting ties too quickly. Like he left me any choice after—but worst of all?"

They entered the empty elevator.

"He had the audacity to say the most vile lies about"—she snuck a glance at him—"forget it. It doesn't bear repeating."

Her unfinished sentence set off alarm bells. Vile lies? So, Yoo Jin followed through with his threat, but Jae didn't believe him?

"But I'm glad I went. It helped."

He opened his mouth to tell her the truth, but the words didn't come.

She clapped her hands together. "Especially throwing a drink in his face. That felt awesome."

"It looked awesome too."

The conversation lasted all the way from the elevator to her doorstep.

"Well, I guess this is goodnight then."

"Jae, can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Were you in love with him?"

"I thought I was. Once. But... that can't possibly be it, can it? Love shouldn't leave you feeling so—so... empty."

"I've never been in love myself, but—no, I don't think so."

"That uneasy feeling I mistook for the spark was actually anxiety, huh?"

"Don't fret. It happens to the best of us."

At some point during the conversation, they'd moved so close that another inch, and he'd have her pressed against the door.

He took a few steps back. "It's getting late. I should go." Jun Pyo once said that accepting your feelings made them easier to deal with.

Jun Pyo was an idiot of the highest order. Next time, Woo Bin would stick to denial.

"Woo Bin."

He turned back around.

"Why did you break up with Ji Ah?"

"I couldn't give her the kind of relationship she deserved." He leaned against the wall. "Yi Jeong asked me if her presence improved my day, no matter how shitty the situation. Apparently, that's what Ga Eul does for him."

"Maybe he should tell her, then."

"That's exactly what I said." He shifted his weight to his other foot. "So anyway. That's not how I felt—about Ji Ah. And that just seemed unfair. To both of us."

"Well, I hope you find your own Ga Eul someday."

_oOo_

Jae Kyung hated assuming. Nothing good ever came from it, but Woo Bin's behavior over the past week made that task impossible.

There was nothing platonic about the way he looked at her in the car, or the things he said in that cupboard, or that letter he wrote her.

The letter.

She rummaged through her dresser until she found the box. She removed the latest installment. Maybe what he said back in the cupboard was a heat-of-the-moment thing. Maybe she imagined that intense look of longing in the car. But the letter? That she couldn't easily dismiss. She opened it up, intending to give it another read.

Dear Jae,

It hurt to hear the awful things you said about yourself that night. It hurt even more to think how often he must have repeated those words for you to start believing them.

Well, let me tell you once and for all, that all that is complete nonsense. You are not energetic; you're passionate. You're not ditzy; you're vivacious. You're not clingy; you just expected your boyfriend to do the bare minimum and spend some time with you.

And he should be honored to do so. The best part of my day is the hours I spend with you. The two weeks we weren't talking? Complete hell. Truth is, a day that goes by without hearing your voice feels incomplete.

And finally, you are not overly sensitive. He yelled at you, belittled you, called you names, made you feel small. Getting upset at his mistreatment doesn't make you 'oversensitive'; it makes him an asshole.

I hate what he did to you. I hate it so much that I want to break every bone in his body. But I won't. Frankly, I am afraid that if I let myself go there, I might not stop.

You deserve much better than that flaming piece of garbage.

You deserve someone who cherishes the moments he gets to spend with you. Someone who is happy to hear about your day (he should. You're such an excellent storyteller. I read your notes. You even make microeconomics sound interesting). Someone who not only wants to come to your art exhibition but raves about it to anyone and everyone. They selected you out of the whole district. That's not a small feat. He should've been proud of you.

Someone who wants to make you happy. You look radiant when you laugh. And honestly, it takes such little effort that I judge the person who couldn't do it.

Someone who doesn't say you look like a clown when you try a new fun color. Because that's ridiculous. I can't imagine any situation where you don't look good. I have seen you rock pajamas with bed-hair.

Someone who remembers that your favorite flowers aren't roses but gerberas. Pink gerberas. That you love food in general, but fishcakes are your absolute favorite. That your comfort food is raspberry tea, though you'd settle for any hot beverage.

That your favorite childhood movie is 'Madeline: Lost in Paris' because it was one of the few you watched with your mom. That you love sliding down railings, and sock slides, and innovative experiments (like strange flavors that shouldn't mesh together but somehow do), and dancing, and watching foreign films so you can make up what the characters are saying.

You deserve someone who remembers all of that and much more. Most of all, you deserve someone who appreciates all the little things that make you, you. The way you swing your pencil around and hum a random tune when you're concentrating. The way your eyes shine when you come up with a new idea. The way you walk with a spring in your step. Your love for bright colors. Your ability to have fun anywhere and anytime. The unique way in which you see the world.

There's no other person in existence who'd text me at midnight, asking if I think insects become ghosts when they die because she suspects that's where all her food goes (do you think it's the ghost ants?). I haven't stopped thinking about it since.

Sorry, I kinda veered off course there. The point is, you need to start holding people accountable for the way they treat you. Because you're the most incredible woman I've ever met. And you deserve so much more than what you're willing to settle for.

She folded it back up. Jae Kyung hated assuming, but there was a non-zero chance that Woo Bin had feelings for her.

_oOo_

Ga Eul entered her apartment to find Unnie sprawled on the sofa, a letter in hand.

"How did it go?"

"Better than expected."

She filled Ga Eul in on the finer details.

"I hope the drink burned."

"It did. He was squinting."

While Ga Eul found the entire Yoo Jin saga amusing, that was not what she wanted to talk about. Yoo Jin was not why Unnie was lying on a couch at midnight with a confused look in her eyes and a letter in her hand.

She considered the most effective way to frame her question.

"Hey, Ga Eul."

"Yes, Unnie."

"You know how you and Yi Jeong are best friends?"

"Don't let Jan Di hear you say that. She's crazy possessive."

"Okay. Good friends, then." She shifted in her seat. "And you don't want to complicate things unnecessarily. No matter how good-looking you think he is. Or how funny he is. Or how he understands you better than anyone else. You can't risk ruining what you have."

Oh, so this was why Unnie looked so lost. The 'just friends' dance finally ended.

Unnie rested her head against her hand. "I mean, you're at a point in your life where everything is so uncertain, and he's the one person who grounds you. Brings you stability."

"Not really. I have Jan Di for that."

"Yeah, of course you have Jan Di, but Yi Jeong is there for you in ways that Jan Di can't be. He's your person. The one you can always count on."

"Are you saying I can't count on Jan Di?"

Standing up, she threw both her hands in the air. "Ga Eul."

"Unnie."

"Yi Jeong is Woo Bin."

"Yi Jeong is Woo Bin? Have you been talking to my parents?"

Unnie folded her arms. "Seriously?"

"Sorry. It was too good to resist."

"What do you think I should do?"

"I don't want to interfere. Ultimately, the decision would be yours to make, and I'm sure you'll know the right thing to do when the time comes."

She sat back down. "I don't know. If push comes to shove, I don't think I've what it takes to turn him down. No matter how disastrous it would be."

"Would it? Be disastrous, I mean."

"Well. Dating friends is always—"

"You guys have been practically dating this whole year. Oh, don't give me that look. The good morning texts. The late-night phone calls. The lunch dates. The notes he leaves you. The turning to each other in moments of crisis. That's a relationship. You just have to make it official."

Unnie tapped her fingers against the letter. "I don't know. What if we—"

"Break up? Do you honestly think Woo Bin Sunbae would do anything that'd permanently damage your connection?"

She shot her head up. "Never."

"Then you have your answer."

Despite Ga Eul's best efforts, the look of confusion didn't leave Unnie's eyes.

After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, "If you believe all of that, then why aren't you dating Yi Jeong?"

"Yi Jeong and I—"

"Ga Eul? You all but admitted it."

She swallowed her protest. Unnie had a point. Not providing any pushback to the 'Yi Jeong is Woo Bin' line counted as tacit acceptance. "It's complicated."

"Not any more complicated than my situation. Good friends. Life filled with uncertainty. A dearth of time."

"But you're missing one key factor. You and Woo Bin Sunbae are social equals."

"Yi Jeong doesn't care about that."

"His family does, though. You don't have that problem. Sunbae's family adores you."

"Everyone, except Yi Jeong's father, loves you. And I never got the impression that Yi Jeong gave a rat's ass about what his father thinks."

"And Jun Pyo Sunbae doesn't give a damn about what President Kang thinks. That hasn't stopped her from wrecking Jan Di's life."

Unnie stared back at her in shock.

Ga Eul folded her legs up on the sofa. "Have I ever told you why my parents disapprove of Woo Bin Sunbae?"

"I assume it's because he made a terrible first impression."

"Well, yes, but that's not the only reason. It's also because he's an F4 member."

"Okay, so?"

"Jan Di used to live with her family. In her own house. She used to have a college fund. Just like me. Then she started dating an F4 member and lost it all."

"I heard President Kang destroyed her family's dry cleaning business."

"She did a lot more than that. She made it impossible for them to find employment anywhere in Korea. They had to escape to another country. And even then, it took all of the F4 and their families combined power to keep them safe."

"Poor Jan Di. Poor Jun Pyo. His own mother ruined the life of the woman he loves. It must have been horrifying. For both of them."

"Those were dark times." She paused. "I know that Jan Di doesn't regret it, and of course Jun Pyo Sunbae is worth it. But I can't afford that kind of instability. Not when I'm this close to achieving my dream."

"But your situation isn't entirely like Jan Di's. Yi Jeong is independent of his father. Plus, Mr. So doesn't wield the same kind of influence that President Kang does."

"Still. That's not a risk I can afford to take right now. Especially since I don't even know what's in Yi Jeong's heart."

"Would that make a difference?"

"Like you said, all the logic in the world fails when the person you like is in front of you. But since Yi Jeong hasn't actually asked me out… let's just say I won't force his hand."

_oOo_

Woo Bin searched the porridge shop for Jae. She stood inside the kitchen, doing dishes with Jan Di.

"Hey," she said. "Mind waiting a few more minutes? We're almost done."

Jan Di wiped her hands. "Actually, Unnie, could you finish up by yourself? Woo Bin Sunbae and I've something to discuss."

Jae's puzzled expression mirrored his own.

"It's official Shinwa business." She grabbed Woo Bin's arm. "Mind joining me outside?"

They found a table in the back, as far away from the kitchen as possible.

"Official Shinwa business? Really? That's the best you can come up with?"

"I'll be asking the questions, Sunbae, if you don't mind."

He studied her face but found no hint of joviality. What did he do to piss her off this badly?

"I had an interesting conversation with Unnie today. About your meeting with her ex."

"She told you about how she poured her drink on him, right? You should've been there. It was glorious."

"Yes, I'm sure it was." She inched closer. "Do you've any idea why she did it?"

"I have my guesses."

"He refused to take any responsibility for the cheating. Kept calling their breakup a misunderstanding, and apparently"—she shot him a death glare—"said some rather unkind 'lies' about you. Any idea what that means?"

He averted his gaze. "Don't look at me like that. I don't know what he said. Maybe it's that I skin kittens as a hobby."

"Sunbae!"

"I wasn't being deceptive, okay? I had no idea she didn't know."

"Right. That's why you let her believe that Yoo Jin was lying. Because that's the sign of an upstanding person."

"That didn't seem like the right time to bring it up."

Jan Di's glare grew even more deadly (yes, apparently that was possible).

"Come on, we both know what Yoo Jin told her was mostly fiction, designed to make me look like the devil, with maybe a nugget of truth sprinkled here and there."

"Sunbae, Unnie is not some snotty Shinvavian I don't give two hoots about. She's a good person. I'm not going to let you hurt her."

"Don't you dare! She's my best friend. I would never—"

"So tricking her into a relationship is what, exactly?"

"Tricking her, seriously, Jan Di? Until yesterday, I had no idea that she didn't know." He looked at her unyielding stare. "Have you ever known me to lie to a girl I'm involved with? I will tell her, okay, before I ask her out. If I ask her out."

She got up. "You better. Because if you don't, I will."

"Jan Di."

She turned around.

"Is it really a deal-breaker?"

"You already know how I feel about your dating history."

He did. Jan Di was never one to soften her opinions or to hide her displeasure. Since they'd become friends, she'd bombarded him with her opinion on the matter at least once a month.

"But of course, I can't speak for Unnie."

There was no need to panic. Woo Bin hadn't done anything wrong. Besides, unlike Jan Di, Jae was an open-minded person. She wouldn't care. He tapped the table. But she reacted so poorly when Yoo Jin told her…

He shook off the worry. That meant nothing. Yoo Jin obviously put a negative spin on it. It'd be fine.

_oOo_

Yi Jeong entered the F4 lounge living room to find Woo Bin lounging on the couch, browsing his phone.

"That'll never work," Woo Bin mumbled. "Now that one is just creepy. You can't be serious? No one in their right mind would ever..."

Yi Jeong sat on the armrest. "What are you reading?"

"Nothing."

Yi Jeong took a peek at the screen. "10 sure-fire ways to tell your friend you like her! Really, that's what we've come to?"

"Oh, go bother your ladylove instead."

Since Woo Bin was clearly distressed, Yi Jeong let that jab slide. "Since when did you need a manual to ask a girl out?"

"Jae isn't just another girl. She's my best friend. I can't afford to screw this up."

"Right, clearly kissing her at midnight on New Year's Eve is the way to go," said Yi Jeong while tapping point number 5 in the article. "That's only like what? Six months away."

"Pound sand."

"Just take her out to a nice restaurant and tell her." He snatched Woo Bin's phone. "I'll even call her for you."

"Give that back." Woo Bin tried to snatch the phone back, but Yi Jeong kept maneuvering it away from him.

"Shhh. It's ringing."

"Hello," said Jae Kyung.

"Oh, hi Jae."

"Take the leap," whispered Yi Jeong.

"That? That's just Yi Jeong practicing the sonnet he wrote for Ga Eul. You know how sappy he is."

"You wrote her a love letter, but I'm the one who is sappy?"

Woo Bin covered his phone mic. "That wasn't a love letter."

"Sure. Just keep telling yourself that, bro."

Woo Bin gave Yi Jeong the finger. "Yeah, I'm back. Sorry about that. Yi Jeong was being annoying." He rubbed his neck. "So, Jae, I was wondering, what you doing tomorrow night?" His face fell. "Oh, I see. Okay. Have fun then."

He stared at the carpet, his expression blank.

"Woo Bin."

No response.

"Woo Bin."

No response.

"Woo Bin."

He left his phone on the table and walked away.

_oOo_

Yi Jeong found Woo Bin holed up in the F4 lounge gameroom, throwing a squash ball at the net. The amount of force he used made Yi Jeong fear for his shoulders.

"Bro."

Woo Bin continued the onslaught.

"Would you just talk to me?"

"No thanks."

Yi Jeong waited for him to make another shot, then flew his way into the court, catching the ball seconds before it shattered his face.

"Are you crazy?" asked Woo Bin.

"Well?"

The silence stretched on for a few seconds.

"Jae's parents are in town." He turned his face away. "To take her back home."

Time ticked on, but neither of them said another word.

"Maybe she won't go."

"Yeah, she'd totally choose working two jobs over traveling the world."

Yi Jeong opened his mouth to protest but ultimately remained mum. Woo Bin was right. They both knew how tough the past year had been for Jae Kyung.

Yi Jeong handed him the ball back and then rushed to the opposite side of the court. "Let's play."

A/N: So, did you guys enjoy the chapter? What was your favorite part? Do agree with Yi Jeong, that it's a love letter? What did you think of Ga Eul and Jae Kyung's conversation? What do you think Yoo Jin told Jae Kyung in the bar?