pretty hurts

Funny enough that the moment she returned from LA, constantly surrounded with English, she now found herself surrounded by Japanese when trying to help out Hongbin with his Japanese lessons. While their teacher still wasn’t exactly on good terms with Jieun, she at least admitted that the female would be a good go to person in regards to additional help. 

Sitting over a few exercises during lunch break, she was just chewing on a piece of chicken as she checked over the homework Hongbin had been given, a thoughtful hum escaping her lips. Chopsticks tapped against her lips, she used her other hand to point out sentences that contained mistakes. “Particles are nasty little things, I know but remember that “ni” is used when something just exists and “de” when there is actually an action taking place- does that make sense?” 

He decided that having help when he wasn’t in his lessons wouldn’t kill him. Jieun, not surprisingly, does pretty well in Japanese. After the language event last year, Hongbin had Dream High and then he decided to put more focus on his musical abilities. Japanese just became a secondary thing for when he had time. Now was better than any time. 

Slowly Jieun watched as contentment sunk into her sunbae’s features, a smile on her lips as a sense of satisfaction for having lifted Hongbin’s spirits settling onto her lips. She enjoyed her snacks in peace, pepero stick between her lips as she leaned back onto her open palms, gazing up into the sky. “You definitely should! Exploring the building makes for those little changes to avoid the boredom of an all day routine settling in.”

“Maybe we can go explore together next time!” Only on second thought did she realize how that might look to others but then again, did she really care? People knew she was good friends with many guys and so far no one had ever questioned her relation to anyone. Jieun was just a social girl, no matter what gender she was confronted with. Being friendly might not be all too common in this business but it did exist.

“Not boring. I just think you got other things to worry about or that bother you. By the way!” She sat up, quickly chewing the rest of her pepero. “Why do you keep saying you’re boring?”

“Maybe I will during a lunch break. Walk around as I eat an apple or something. I don’t eat a lot during lunch. I eat mostly at breakfast and dinner, so I could easily do it. I also sleep here at least once or twice a week. I could easily do it,” Hongbin agreed, deciding it wouldn’t hurt to look around. He did pretty much live in Royal.

Hongbin nodded his head, smiling at her. He shrugged a bit, “Cause I’m not as out-going as everyone else. Isn’t it natural for someone to find themselves boring?”

Min offered a shrug at his reaction. There was nothing to be shamed about. “It’s true. If you can’t even say it with a straight face, why even have sex in the first place?” Then again, Hongbin has only had sex with one person. Which Min honestly thought would never come to day because he was so horrifically awkward with certain things. Especially with the human body.

For a moment Min stared. She had half a mind to point out that she never really relied on anyone and that was her own fatal flaw. She couldn’t just be open with someone without beating herself up over it for days. With certain things, it’s easy. Sharing little stuff was nothing of an issue to her. It provided as an excellent veil that makes people believe that Min shared everything with them with now problem. But when it comes to the heavy stuff? That was her main issue.

Yet Min stayed quiet. As always, she never bothered to point out that she probably wasn’t going to follow through with the new open-sharing thing they’d have. She’d forget, she wouldn’t want to tell him or she’d feel like he wouldn’t understand. So he wouldn’t know immediately. Not always.

Listening to Hongbin though, Min could realise that he was trying. He was trying his best. And though he didn’t have to tell her everything (nothing ever said you had to share everything with a sibling or a best friend), he did anyways. So Min listened intently, keeping her face neutral while listening to the best of her abilities. Hearing that he and Seokjin were together was no surprise. She pieced that one together herself considering how it was painfully obvious.

Hearing about the bullies, she blinked. Her eyes shot to him suddenly. She really wanted to say something and it was visible that she did but she didn’t. It wasn’t her place if the issue was said and done with. And she’d be a hypocrite to scold him for not telling her sooner considering she didn’t tell Hongbin about the bullies in New York until years after it happened. So Min nodded, looking down at her heads with furrowed brows. What are her secrets?

Hongbin decided he best place to start was to put what he had on the line. He knew Min wouldn’t judge him, but that pointed look was enough to make him pout a bit. He figured she wouldn’t be happy about hearing that, but at least it was all handled. His bullies have left him alone. One even left the company for another. He was fine and if he is bullied again, he won’t wait until someone noticed and told Hongbin to get over himself (which Jieun and Daehyun both did).

But still, he put in that effort for Min. He knew there may be a chance she won’t want to do this and if she does, he’d be hurt, but he doesn’t want to force her. He just hoped she would take the next step with him. He didn’t want to fight with her anymore and like he said, no way of knowing they’ll never fight again, but he just wanted to make sure it wouldn’t end so badly. If he’s open with her, then he would feel so much better.

When she spoke up, he tried not to show how happy he was, especially since what she was telling him wasn’t great. He knew about her medicine. He found them nearly a year ago in a Hello Kitty pillow of all places. He doesn’t understand what she’s going through, so he’s not going to say he understands. He won’t tell her what to do either because he doesn’t know what she feels when she’s on them. If they are’t working, his natural response is to get something new, but the look on her face was enough to make him keep his mouth shut.

Hearing she liked someone was surprising for him. Min seemed so confident when it came to how she felt. She told Hongbin to get over himself pretty much when it came to him in the past and Seokjin now. It was easier to tell someone else to just go for it then for someone else.