#ikon text

You flinched when water was flicked at your face. He smirked, spilling toothpaste on the side of his lip. Slapping his shoulder, you moved for the door until prevented by a jerk on your waist. Junhoe nuzzled his face into your neck and slipped his fingers into your own.

"Don't forget, Babe," he cooed, setting the cool metal into your palm. Junhoe leaned in, sneaking a chaste kiss to your lips, before hurrying off.

"I'll stop by the coffee shop after lecture to pick you up. See you soon."

The ring of your doorbell resounded, plucking you from your thoughts. Toying with the thin band around your finger, you sighed. You'd never brought yourself to take it off. Even if you were sure he had no problem removing his own.  He’d probably done it months ago.

You opened the front door, indifferent. Not expecting company, it was likely to be the landlady, coming to grill you for your inconsistent payments. But you weren't met with the screams of a middle-aged woman, instead a modest bundle of pale flowers, resting against the door frame.

Pulling the blanket tighter around your shoulders, you cradled the bouquet, curious. It was quite late in the night, much too late for this type delivery. You fiddled with the notecard.

We can't fix everything, but we were friends before it all happened. I'd be thankful if things could at least be that way again. Take care of yourself, please.

- KJH

You couldn't prevent your cheeks from flushing at the unexpected gesture; a gesture which also planted frustration within you.

"Is everything okay?" You called, sitting in the coffee shop's break room. Despite the soothing aroma, that would typically lift your spirits, you couldn't stop your hands from shaking.

A shrill, but muffled, shriek was heard from the crackly phone speaker. "June, is everything o-"

"(Y/N). I can't come out tonight."

"O-okay, um. What about tomor-"

"Look, (Y/N). I can't come by anymore. My mom thinks I'm wasting my time here. I need to graduate before she pulls me out of school."

"Oh. I guess I'll see you later then. I can meet you outside of your class. If you want."

Junhoe faltered. He could hear your usual confidence being replaced by fear. He mustered everything he had to speak the next words.

"No. Don't come by anymore. I won't either." You heard the line click. He'd ended the call.

You couldn't believe Junhoe. Although you'd been close friends before the two of you started dating, you had no intention of returning to that stage again. Especially not after that night. He didn't want to see you. What made him think that he could casually ask for you again?

You scoffed, interrupted by the tone of the elevator down the hall, signifying its arrival on your floor. The sound of clumsy footsteps- someone was entering the elevator.

At first, your nose turned up at the idea. Even if it were Junhoe in the elevator, he was the last person you wanted to see. The glint from your left hand, however, said otherwise.

||||||||||

You groaned. Originally, you'd begun a leisurely walk down your building's stairs. The aged elevators took much longer than any standard lift should. But the uncontrolled energy that spurred from your veins caused you to walk faster, even run down.

You exited the staircase panting, but instinctively straightened up, hearing the pitch of the elevator. The doors slid open with a small screech, revealing your neighbor from down the hall. You bowed politely, noticing her platform heels, as she took heavy steps towards the lobby's exit. You shook your head to yourself, chuckling. How could you be so foolish? Was this some kind of TV drama?

"I feel offended," a slightly raspy voice spoke from behind. A tall man closed the door to the stairway, the same one you'd ran your marathon in.

"Every time I asked you to go running with me, you always said no."

You turned, rolling your eyes at the source of the voice. He couldn't supress the laugh that bubbled from his lips. Its been a while since he received the classic eye roll, that you'd respond with everytime he left you speechless.

You headed out of the lobby, sorting your thoughts. You weren't sure what you were expecting when you finally caught him.

"W-wait, (Y/N)." Junhoe was a stuttering mess. He often imagined the day he'd meet you again, but it came a lot earlier than expected.  He couldn't fish the right words out of his mouth.

Junhoe noted the familiar silver band around your finger. He tugged unconsciously at your wrist. Verifying, it was his ring. The one from almost a year ago. He met your eyes and immediately recognized it: sorrow. All of the pain he put you through flashed before him. Junhoe was also reminded of the anger; he'd left you so abruptly, putting in minimal effort for the relationship by ending it. He couldn't blame you for being upset now. Junhoe pulled you closer by your forearms.

"Baby-" His voice cracked; he was about to cry. Your heart lurched at his actions. Junhoe absolutely hated crying in front of you, even more so in public. He wanted you to be the one taken care of. You instinctively reached out to hold him, reaching around his torso and pulling him into you.

You froze. This isn't what you wanted. You didn't have any expectation of recovering your relationship with Junhoe. He had the same as you, a year of school left.

Pulling away, you gazed at the ground. You were embarrassed; you acted so immaturely, getting your hopes up. He had that effect on you. Always bringing you to do things, things you thought completely illogical, but ensuring that you enjoyed it nonetheless.

"June." Despite the somber atmosphere, he couldn't stop the smile that played at his lips with the use of your old nickname for him.

"June, you should start heading home now. It's getting late." You shivered. After leaving your blanket in your apartment, you were were left with a thin sweatshirt and leggings. He shrugged off his jacket, draping it over your small frame and adjusted it, making sure you were warm. Junhoe's gaze held so much admiration, you couldn't help but swoon. This time, you didn't beat around the bush.

"June, stop. We're not getting back together, so please..." You trailed off, abhoring how much of an effect he still held on you.

"And why is that?" he inquired calmly, titling his head before grabbing your hand again, fiddling with your ring.

"We're both still in college, but more importantly, you're still in college. You're going to leave me again, Junhoe."

"(Y/N)-"

"You promised you would make me happy, Junhoe. Even if it meant me leaving you."

"(Y/N), it really was my fault. I'll try harder this time. I promise, I'll fix it."

You retracted your wrist from his grip. "But it's not your fault; you can't fix it this time. Your mother was clear with what she wanted."

"If it were another time, I would be dying to come back to you, June.”

“I can't afford to fall for you again," you spoke softly, trailing back into your empty apartment.