"I LOVE YOU!!!", Shihyun yelled. Sooji stopped dead in her track. What did he just say? She turned around and saw him standing there full of smile. How dare him to say it so easily like that!

She walked to him as fast as she could and slapped him in the face with all the power she has. "Why did you say that?!", she was furious.

"Huh?", Shihyun still couldn't process what was happening. His cheek hurt. Did he just get slapped in the face for confessing his feeling??

"How could you always do that to me?! You always said that so carelessly like it was nothing! You asked me to DATE YOU! TO MARRY YOU! TO BE YOUR WIFE!! You made me believe that... I am the only one! THEN YOU LEFT!! YOU FUCKING LEFT!!!", it's like all her anger that she buried for six years blow up in his face. She grabbed the flowers in his hand. "And now you said you love me huh? You don't even remember my favorite flowers DAMN IT!!!", she throws the flower on the ground.

He always gives her red roses. Stupid red roses. He never remembers her favorite flower. Sooji dropped her head to hide the tears that start streaming down her face. She was tired, angry, frustrated and depressed at the same time.

"Anemone...", Shihyun suddenly said. "Your favorite flower is anemone...it means betrayal, helpless love, empty love, thanks for being there for me, I will give you my everything..."

Sooji's looking up at him. Surprised that he remember everything she said. Shihyun wiped her tears. "I hate what that flowers mean...So I will never give that flower to you....You know why I always give you red roses?", Sooji didn't answer, so he continued. "Because that's how I see you, red roses always remind me of you...bold, beautiful, and strong...and red roses mean I love you...", he said carefully.

Sooji can't help but sob. She should be happy, but she's not. She really wants to believe him, but she couldn't. She's crying because she's frustrated with herself. She didn't even know what she actually feels right now. Because her feelings are jumbled like a big mess. Shihyun pulled her into a hug. He holds her tightly. And stroke her back gently.

"I don't need you to say it back...and I don't expect you to believe me right now...I just want you to know what I feel...no more games...no more pretending...no more lies...and I'll prove it you...and I'll wait till you believe me...", Shihyun pulled her away to see her face. It was red and puffy.

"My hand hurts...", her hand feels hot after slapped him hard. She focused on her physical pain because that's the only thing that she's feeling sure right now.

"Yaa!! I am the one who supposed to be whining...", Shihyun protested jokingly. Then grabbed her hand and massages it slowly with his thumb.

"But it really hurts...", she watched his hand on hers. That sight always warms her heart somehow. In his hand, she always feels safe.

"Yeah...I know that...I can FEEL it..", Shihyun said sarcastically, pointing at his cheek.

Sooji could see his cheek is reddened and might be turning blue soon. She feels a little bit guilty. But not guilty enough to say sorry. "I want to say sorry...but I won't, because you really deserve that..."

"I know....", Shihyun chuckled. "Let's get you home..."

Sooji picked up the roses. "It's ruined...", she mumbled. The beautiful roses lost a few of its petals.

"But still pretty...", Shihyun added.

After a short drive in silence, they've finally arrived at her apartment. He walked her to her room. Now they're standing in front of Sooji's apartment door.

"How is your hand?", Shihyun asked worriedly.

"It's fine..."

"I am sorry I snapped at you this morning..I am jealous..."

"Why you suddenly said that?!", really? Was one slap not enough for him?

"Like I told you before...no more lies.."

"But you can just say something like that so easily..."

"Because that's how I feel...and I want to be honest with you...", Shihyun sigh. "Can you understand that? I said everything easily because that's the truth..."

"I...", Sooji didn't know what else to say.

"Just go inside...and get some rest...", Shihyun won't ask her to invite him inside, because he knew Sooji needed time alone to think about everything.

"Okay..."

"Night...."

"Night..."

After a few steps, Shihyun turned around. "Can I kiss you?"

"KWON SHI HYUN!!!", Sooji glared at him.

"Okay then...", he shrugged off then leave thinking next time he'll just kiss like he kissed Sejoo this afternoon. Maybe he'll get another slap but it'll be worth it.

===========

Sooji is laying in her bed staring at the ceiling. She wants to sort out her feeling, but she didn't know where to start. Why everything always complicated when it comes to Shihyun. She loved him. No, she loves him still. And he said he loves her. Isn't that what she wanted? But it couldn't be. It's too good to be true.

It's impossible for him to love her. She has been through this before.  He left her, after saying she's the only girl he likes. He left her because he loves Taehee. He was even willing to die for Taehee. Now, he's back. Without Taehee. That must be why he start mistaking pity as love.

That must be it. That's the only logical explanation she could come up with. Now the next step is finding out a way to deal with it, without breaking their friendship again. And without breaking pieces of her heart again.

Maybe she should keep a safe distance from him. And ignore him if he starts giving her another hope. Maybe he'll eventually get bored and start realizing that what he felt for her just pity. That might be working and she could keep her heart safe from another broken heart this time. Her phone beeping. One message received.

Shihyun : Stop thinking and go to sleep..

She read the message and smile. And cursed herself a second later for smiling because of that super platonic message. She almost turned off her phone when it's beeping again.

Shihyun : oh...I still love you by the way...just in case you forget...😁

AAARGGHH!!!! Sooji buried her face with a pillow. How could her heart survived if he did that?!!!

=======

"What's up dude...", Shihyun hit Sejoo in the back with full force, his face almost hit the bar table.

"WHAT THE...", Sejoo turned around and seeing his friend grinning like pabo. "What's wrong with you?"

"I said it..."

"Say what?"

"I love you.."

"Sorry...I know I am beyond perfect..but I still interested in woman..", Sejoo said casually while sipping his beer.

"Not you! Sooji! Idiot...", Shihyun grumbled.

"So...how it goes?"

"He slapped me..", Sejoo spouts out his drink in Shihyun face and burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAAA!!!!"

"YAAA!!!", Shihyun wiped his face.

"She-she what?", Sejoo said between his laugh.

"She slapped me after I said that I love her...Happy now? Huh?!"

Sejoo nodded trying hard to stop himself from laughing. "Mianhe...but...it's...", Shihyun snatched Sejoo's beer from his hand.

"Go ahead...laugh your ass off..."

"Sorry...I 've never thought Sooji would do that...", Sejoo finally talked after successfully stop laughing. "But why would you so happy? Did she hit you that hard? You might need a CT Scan...hahahahaaa...", he laughed at his own jokes.

"If you won't stop laughing...I'll leave..."

"Okay...okay..I'll stop..", Sejoo was grinning. "What makes you so happy then..."

"Because I finally said what I feel...and it's liberating in a sense...I know she still didn't believe me...and I still have a long way to prove it...but I'll fight for her because she's worth it..."

Sejoo smiles, a little bit proud of his friend. He just hopes that this time he really keep his words. "So, what is your next plan?"

"It's Sooji's birthday in two days...I want to give her a surprise..in our nest.."

=============

Ps : Sooji's birthday...yeay!!!