life can be funny sometimes, but you and minhee definitely weren’t laughing when you saw your names listed together for a project. you shot each other glares from across the lecture hall. it was bad enough that you both decided to attend the same college, and chose the same major. now you had to work together? you were cursing the universe as your professor dismissed you, trying to leave the hall as fast as you could.

of course, you weren’t moving fast enough, because you soon felt minhee’s presence beside you.

“listen, i don’t want to be your partner either, but this is a big part of our grade.” minhee rolled his eyes when he noticed you were ignoring him, “you know what? fine, i’ll write the essay, you draw the visuals. i’ve always been a better writer than you, anyway.”

“as if.” you finally looked at him, “you are not better at writing than i am, kang. you’re not better than me at anything.”

“that’s not what our marks said last semester.” minhee snickered as your face fell into a scowl.

“you’re not writing that essay.” you huffed, and minhee raised an eyebrow at this.

“so, what then? do you want to do it together?” he joked, but he became serious when you nodded, “what? no way, y/n. i’m not spending my weekend with you of all people. i have a life, you know. i have something called friends, i’m not sure if you’re familiar with those.”

“by 'friends', do you mean hyeongjun?” you shot back, “i believe that’s just a friend. singular.”

“whatever. when and where are we meeting? i’d like to get it done all in one day, so let’s not meet too late, alright?”

“pushy much?” you pulled out your phone to check your calender, “i’m free tomorrow around noon. yunjin is going home for the weekend, so you can just come to my dorm. make sure you shower first, though. you smell.”

you could hear minhee cursing you out as you walked away from him, a grin forming on your face.

➳ the next day. noon.

minhee was knocking at your door exactly at noon.

i guess he really meant it when he said he wanted to be done as quick as possible, you thought.

opening the door, it took everything in you to not let your jaw drop. you’d never seen minhee dressed down before, and it was a miracle that he actually looked… good.

“are you gonna let me in, or are you just gonna stand there looking stupid?” his voice was laced with annoyance.

shaking your head to clear your thoughts, you moved out of the way so he could walk in, “don’t be an asshole. i think we established that neither of us want to be doing this, so don’t make it worse than it has to be.” you closed the door, leading minhee over to the small desk in the corner of the room.

minhee said nothing as he sat down, before he pulled his laptop out, and then his notes. sitting beside him, you couldn’t bring yourself to look away from him as he did so. you hated to admit it, but kang minhee was attractive. 

“see something you like?” minhee’s voice broke you out of your thoughts for the second time since he’d been there, but this time, you could tell he was smirking.

shooting him a glare, you scoffed, “you wish, kang. don’t be so full of yourself, it isn’t a good look.”

“what if i did? wish you’d look at me like that more often, i mean.” minhee challenged, “what then?”

“what the fuck are you talking about? do you feel okay?” you spoke, despite the shock coursing through your veins.

“i feel fine.” minhee leaned closer to you, “what about you? how do you feel?”

refusing to back down, you stayed where you were, “fine.”

minhee just smirked as he leaned even closer. you could feel his breath on your face, and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t anticipating his next move.

“is it okay…” he placed his hand on your cheek, “if i kiss you?”

“ew, don’t be gross.” you grinned before closing the gap between your lips.

pulling away after a few seconds, you and minhee could do nothing but stare at each other. had all of the hatred between the two of you blossomed into attraction? neither of you were sure.

“that was a one time thing. that’s not happening again.” you finally broke the silence.

“never again.” minhee agreed with a nod, beginning to type away on his laptop.

as you began to work beside him, you couldn’t hold back the smile that was forming on your lips.

on the other hand, deep down, he knew he was just jealous and hurt. he had imagined his entire future with you by his side, and now that things had changed, he wasn’t sure how to react. you weren’t to blame, and neither was wonjin. in some ways, he blamed himself for not telling you how he felt that night at prom. part of him wonders if you ever felt the same towards him, and part of him isn’t sure he wants to know the truth.

with all of these thoughts swirling inside his head, it started to drive him insane. it wasn't good for him to be feeling this way towards his best friend. resentment and anger for something you simply couldn't control. he used to talk to you every day, and now he ignores your texts on the daily.

who was he becoming? even he himself didn't know.

☆ ☆ ☆

he wasn’t sure how he got here, standing outside your house, but he knew there was no turning back. as his knuckles hit the door with your super secret knock, he knew you’d realize it was him in a heartbeat.

he was right, as you opened the door not even a minute later. you didn’t say anything, you didn’t have anything to say. he didn’t look like himself. the bags under his eyes were darker than normal, and his hair was messy, not styled like usual.

“y/n..” he breathed, “i need to talk to you.. i know i probably don’t deserve it.. but could you spare me a minute?”

you nodded, stepping out onto the balcony so you were standing in front of him. you had your arms crossed over your chest, waiting for him to tell you something. truthfully, you weren’t quite sure what you wanted to hear from him..

and nothing could have prepared you for this.

“i’m in love with you, y/n.. or, i was.. i don’t know, i’m still figuring it out.” he fidgeted with the sleeves of his hoodie, “i knew i had a crush on you since we were younger, but i thought maybe it was because you were always so nice to me. i wasn’t used to that until i met you.. but when we got older, i knew for a fact that what i was feeling towards you was more than a best friend type of love.. and when i asked you to prom, i wanted to tell you, i really did.. but junho talked me out of it, and-”

“minhee, i can’t do this right now.” you had tears in your eyes, for reasons unbeknownst to minhee, and even yourself.

“i need to say this now, or i’m afraid i’m gonna explode..” he took a deep breath, now looking at his feet, “it hurts seeing you with wonjin because he’s living the life i had imagined with you. part of me is hoping you’ll break up with him right now and come be with me.. that maybe you’ll realize you’ve been in love with me this whole time too, and that i’m everything you want.. but it never fucking works like that, does it? because the other part of me knows that wonjin is inside right now, and he’s waiting for you, right? and you’ll go back to him because you love him.. you love him, and not me, right?”

at first, you didn’t know what to say to minhee. seeing him this way was both heartbreaking and terrifying. you knew he had been going through something, but this was the last thing you would have imagined to leave his mouth.

“for fucks sake, minhee.. i do love you, okay? i do! but it isn't in the way i love wonjin, and i think it’s unfair that you’re painting me to be a bad guy! like i somehow planned to ruin your life, and for what? for fun? does that shit seem like fun? you know me better than anyone, how could you ever think for a second that i did this on purpose?” you had your fists clenched, tears streaming down your cheeks, but this time you knew why.

“i didn’t mean for it to come out that way, y/n.. i’m just.. not thinking straight lately.” he turned his back to you, ready to walk back down the stairs and away from your house.

“minhee, i’m setting you free, okay? you need to move on and find someone who loves you back in the same way..” you spoke slowly, and you swore you heard minhee sniffle, “now please, get home safely.”