Chapter 39

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Mina POV

Chaeyoung said the best way to start winter break by go to skiing in the mountain. Originally, Chaeyoung planned to go there just two of us. But, I insisted that he should go there with his friend instead. After all, I'm the reason he stop hanging out with his friend often nowadays. After argue and agreement, we reached a compromise that I would have to go skiing if he brought his friend along. Although, being stick to three boys alone seems like a bad idea, I didn't mind it. They are nice to me. Even there rumours spread around about me at school, Jeongyeon and Dahyun would occasionally talk to me in class.

Even, being around Chaeyoung didn't help myself to more sociable or for others to talk to me. Especially not after the incident involving cheerleader captain with her co captain along with her boyfriend. Most student probably still thinks of me as some secretly promiscuous slut. Its unfair really. They all know that JB and Jackson is very promiscuous themselves, since they flirts with any girl within five meter radius if them but no one ever call them a sluts. Basically, when boy being slut themselves, no one label them but when girl just talk to other boy when they have boyfriend people quickly label them a sluts. Isn't discrimination?

People can't seem to grasp my friendship with Chaeyoung. Heck, I can't either. To be frank, its a social glitch that Chaeyoung even talk to me. He's the epitome of perfect high school boy. He's nice, good looking, funny, fit, sweet, and smart. Whereas I fit the title of 'nerd' like it glove. Actually, even nerd find me bland. I envy them. People may make fun of them but at the end of the day, they still have each other. While me? I sigh. But, Chaeyoung somehow make it better. I know I don't fit in his crowd but he makes me forget that. He treats me normally, and people naturally do the same around him. Maybe he doesn't know what people said about me? How I'm using him. But, having just Chaeyoung is enough, the equivalent of having a hundred friends.

But, one question always running in my mind. What if he's no longer your friend?

"Mina?" Chaeyoung called me.

"Huh?" I slip out of my train of thoughts to look at the driver's seat.

"Are you hungry?" Chaeyoung asked.

"You know me. I'm always hungry." I said chuckle.

"I know really good pizza place." Jeongyeon suggest, leaning in from the black seat.

"I'm sick of that pizza place. We always go there." Dahyun whines.

"How about pasta!" Dahyun add excitedly.

"No!" Jeongyeon immediately shuts him down.

"How about the one ramen place I know? Its good for cold days." I suggest.

"Anything but pizza and burgers." Dahyun said.

"Sounds good." Jeongyeon adds.

"So, ramen here we go." Chaeyoung said.

I point to Chaeyoung direction to the ramen shop. We went inside the modest but bustling brick building. After ten minute wait, we're seated at a round booth in the back corner. I'm wedged between Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung with Dahyun at the very end.

"I give up. I need a fork." Jeongyeon sighs giving up.

Yeah, they didn't know how to use chopstick. How rude is that? Maybe, living oversea and never back to Korea one of the reason why they didn't often use the chopstick? Whatever. So, here I am teaching them to use chopstick. I show Jeongyeon who to move the chopstick this time so that they criss each other. Its easier, so its start to get hang of it. I didn't realise but Dahyun were watching intently, and could roughly do it as well. I didn't have to teach Chaeyoung as he already know how to use and I already teach him before.

"Oh, hey Chaeyoung." A perky voice calls. Lifting all the heads up at our table.

"Hi, Tzuyu." Caheyoung greet back and look back down at the table.

Woah, what are the odds they my friend is here today at the exact same time? I know we love to come here. But, exact same time? I sigh. I look behind Tzuyu, noticed Jihyo and Sana holding hand. They must have reconciled. That's a relieved. Jeongyeon on the other hand stay silent and I can feel the cushion tense up under him.

"Isn't funny coincidence? Our table is next to you too." Tzuyu speaks directly to Chaeyoung, not acknowledging anyone else.

"Yeah." Chaeyoung replied didn't looking up. What's going on?

"Come, let me show you what's good." Tzuyu seats herself next to Chaeyoung.

"It alright. We already ordered." Chaeyoung said.

"You should order some sides too." Tzuyu grabs the menu from her table and places it between them.

Jihyo and Sana retreat to their table after said hi to us. I could see Jeongyeon trying to stop looking at Tzuyu. But, failed.

"After this, we should get some dessert. Its my treat. But, you guys have to use chopstick. If not, dessert is cancel." I said smiling.

"Oh, come on. Bring it on!" Dahyun and Jeongyeon said simultaneous.

Yet, I could feel me self try to burn eyes into the back of my head so I can see what's going on behind me, what's going on between Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. I'm scared to know but I'm dying to know. But, I don't look tho.

"Here you go guys." The waiter start to set down our food and we quickly to try clean up our mess.

Five bowls of ramen, because Dahyun said it not enough for him if only one bowl for him, three plates of fried dumplings, two plates of shrimp tempura, and two plates of meat cutlets may be excessive, but not to me.

"Yeah, Mina ordered sides for us already." Chaeyoung points out.

"Oh, okay." Tzuyu slinks back to her table.

"We can order a couple more if you want." I suggest.

"No. I think we had more than enough." Chaeyoung laugh.

"Lets eat." Jeongyeon say before diving into his noodles.

He had difficulty at first with how slippery they are, but uses spoon they gave to gather it up and eat it that way. Dahyun also follow his method after they fail at using chopstick too. While Chaeyoung struggles with the shrimp tempura. Usually, he would stab whatever he find difficult but I could tell he was trying to avoid ruining the battered shell.

"Here, hand me your plate." I said holding up a piece for him.

But, he had better plan as he dips his head down and eats it directly from my chopstick.

"Thanks." He cheekily smile.

"Wow, now you even feeding Chaeyoung?" Dahyun teases.

"Now as I mention, I always thought that something was going on between you and Chaeyoung." Dahyun adds.

"You just imagining things." I focus back on eating.

"Maybe. If not, you guys probably would have goes to the formal dance together then." Dahyun said.

"I asked Mina." Chaeyoung quietly murmur.

He must expecting no one hear him. But everyone does, including Tzuyu's table which the shuffling of menus and drink stop. The boys slowly crane their neck to look at me, waiting for explanation. Chaeyoung shyly stirs his bowl after realising his words were heard.

"Chaeyoung felt bad I didn't have a date. That's why. I don't like wearing dress, so.." I explain.

Dahyun seem accept my explanation and go back to eating. But Jeongyeon seem suspicious looking at me but he decide to reluctantly eats too.

"Actually, I -." I stuff dumpling into Chaeyoung mouth to bottle him up.

"Eat up." I smile and Chaeyoung sinks back into his seat and keeps eating.

Afterwards, we evenly split the bill and start to head out. At the same time, the girls.. well, I guess that I should call them now as I don't know if I could call them my friends also finish paying their bill.

"Dessert on me." I said lead the way towards a doughnut shop that I love.

"Oh, I know a really good doughnut shop." Tzuyu said as she follow us outside the restaurant.

"Jihyo and I are going to go see a movie. We will pick you up later Tzuyu." Sana takes Jihyo hand and leads her away. Jihyo mouthed something but I don't get it.

"Mina's got us covered." Chaeyoung whisper to my ear.

"Oh, okay. I was just going to buy slushies at gas station. Donuts sounds better anyways." I lie.

"I like slushies better." Chaeyoung insists.

"Its cold out though." I debate.

"Follow me, doughnut on me." Tzuyu said who's latched into Chaeyoung and is dragging him away. Dahyun look guilty to me, fearing I would be offended.

"You guys should get me a fruity one." I smile. 

"You're not coming Jeong?" Dahyun asked.

"I'm full." He said sullenly.

"Get him a s'mores doughnut. That's their famous one." I tell Dahyun and he nodded.

They leaving, left Jeongyeon and me. We find a bench nearby, sweep on the snow with the sleeves of ours coats and sit.

"Why you didn't go? You love doughnut." I said remember back how he devoured the doughnut I gave him when I first time met Chaeyoung's friends.

"The same reason why you lied." He replied.

"Huh?" I'm confused.

"You don't want to get in their way." He said.

Its takes me a while to process Jeongyeon words. Ehh? How can he read me so easily?

"Is it obvious?" I asked shocked.

"To me. I felt the same way you do." Jeongyeon sighs.

"Why? For Chaeyoung or for Tzuyu?" I asked.

"Both. Chaeyoung is my friend. And Tzuyu will never feel the same way for me." He replied.

My heart ached for Jeongyeon. He was always the bright and energetic. Looking at him now, he seem lonely and desolate.

"There's plenty girls who would like you. You're smart, one of three musketeers, on track team, good looking, nice. I mean, don't you have a girlfriend?" I said.

"We already broke up. She didn't really like me. I heard she say to her friend how I'm actually annoying. How she wanted to date one of three musketeers and track team. Guess, since the season ended it didn't help with her popularity very much." He said chuckles.

I was wrong. Jeongyeon was the last person I would have thought to be lonely. To me, he was not very differently from Chaeyoung. Well, same as Dahyun. People called them three musketeers with reason. He had the looks, friends, smart, everything. But really, we're so alike, feeling no one wants to accept us, feeling like we don't belong to anywhere. For once, I found someone who was like me.

"You like Chaeyoung right?" He asked.

He asked without hesitation, surprising me and making me nervous.

"He's my friend." I replied.

"Is that what you tell yourself?" He asked more.

"He just a friend." I said again but this time a bit quiet.

"Oh come on. I just tell you about my break up. At least you can do is be more honest." He said.

After a considerable amount of pausing, I nod slightly, meekly saying.

"Yeah. I do." I finally admits.

Yes, I like Son Chaeyoung.

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