Haneul's POV:

December 31st. New year's eve had finally arrived and we couldn't be more excited at that time. Everyone had woken up early to decorate. Taehyun and Hueningkai were blowing up balloons, Soobin, Beomgyu and  Yeonjun were cleaning and placing posters all over the walls while I helped Kai's mother with all the cooking.

The day had started pretty quiet. Yeonjun and I hadn't talked about the kiss from the night before, but the atmosphere was obviously different. We unconsciously would throw glances and silly smiles at each other, or "accidentally" touch hands when we were supposedly helping each other. Nonetheless, I still didn't know what we were.

There was something that was for sure, though.

I was dying to kiss him again.

"Mom, we ran out of balloons" I heard Kai say from behind, spotting him in the entrance of the kitchen when I turned my head. He winked at me as soon as he noticed, making me giggle and shake my head.

His mother sighed.

"Do you think we're gonna need more?" She asked. He pursed his lips in a straight line as he thought, humming.

"I think it's gonna look pretty empty" He responded. "Should we go to the store downtown?"

"Oh honey, that would be great" She said happily, then turned her head to look at me "Haneul, you should go with them"

My eyes opened wider, I looked at Kai's frown and then opened my mouth to talk, but he spoke first.

"It's not necessary. Isn't she helping you?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Kai's mom let out a small giggle, then shrugged.

"I trust her more than I trust all of you" She replied. I covered my mouth with the palm of my hand, trying to hold back my laughter when I heard her words and saw Kai's dumbfounded expression.

"Mom? I'm your son, hello?" He said, clearly offended. She turned to look at him and stepped forward, lifting her hand and stroking his fluffy hair lovingly.

"I know, that's why I asked her to go" He was about to complain once again, but she quickly cut him off. "Hurry up, we still have a lot to do" She demanded, gesturing with her hands for us to leave the kitchen. I smiled at her and she reciprocated the gesture, before I exited the room with Kai, who rolled his eyes and walked with a pout on his face.

A while after we had our cart filled with things to keep decorating, along with some snacks they insisted to take home. I wandered around the supermarket, looking for anything in particular, but just enjoying the variety. Beomgyu walked beside me pushing the cart, leaning forward with his arms crossed as he pushed it silently.

"Are you okay? You look exhausted" I said, giving him a smile. He scratched the back of his head and smiled back.

"Yeah, it's just that Soobin and Yeonjun hyung wouldn't shut up last night. I didn't sleep much"

My heart started to race at his words. The night before we had kissed... I couldn't stop wondering if he had said anything to them. I needed to ask in a way that wouldn't sound suspicious. Why did I care at all? I didn't know it myself, but I needed to know if it really meant something, since none of us had talked about it.

I giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear nervously.

"What were they talking about?" I asked, feeling a knot in the pitch of my stomach. However, he shrugged.

"About a new game. They downloaded it on their phones or something like that"

I nodded with a subtle smile. I felt relieved that it wasn't what I was thinking... But at the same time, why did I feel a bit dissappointed? Did I really want him to scream that we made out in the front door in a cold night?

In that moment, Yeonjun appeared to place some cookies inside the cart. My heart jumped as soon as our eyes met and his lips formed a little, warm smile.

"Is that all we need?" He asked, looking at Beomgyu. He straightened his figure and nodded.

"I think so. Should I go to the line?" He asked. My hands got sweaty at the thought of being left alone with Yeonjun, especially when I noticed the way his eyes lit up at the innocent question.

"Yeah, I think we-" He started to say, before Soobin appeared from behind and grabbed his arm.

"Hyung, you better come here. Kai is having an argument with an old man" He said between chuckles, dragging Yeonjun who was only able to throw an apologetic glance at me.

"Kai is really something else" Beomgyu muttered. "Shall we go now?" 

I nodded, still watching Yeonjun's figure being dragged in the distance. Taehyun appeared right after with his headphones on, taking them off to speak to us as we made our way to the line and pay for everything.

"My wish for the next year is that Hueningkai stops making me embarrassed in public. It's tiring to have to pretend all the time that I don't know him" Taehyun complained, huffing and making Beomgyu and I giggle.

"It's good to know that you still have hope" Beomgyu said, placing his hand on his shoulder. Taehyun rolled his eyes.

"Seriously. Why is a 17 year old arguing with some... I don't know, 70 year old man for the last box of noodles?"

"Is that why they were arguing?" I asked, trying my best not to laugh, failing terribly as soon as he gave me the "I know right?" look in response.

"Yeonjun!"

The three of us turned our heads at the sudden voice calling his name, immediately regretting it. As soon as I saw that skinny figure with long, black hair, I wanted the earth to swallow me.

"What is she doing here?" Beomgyu asked to Soobin and Kai, who were approaching us and leaving Yeonjun behind with Wendy. They shrugged, looking as confused as we were.

"I have no idea" Kai said, turning his head to look at them once again "She's a stalker, I swear"

"This is just great. We can run, but we can't hide" I muttered, feeling my mood dropping at the speed of light. I couldn't help but stare, sending death glares to her way as her back was facing us. Yeonjun felt my eyes on them and again, he looked at me apologetically. I quickly looked away, taking a deep breath.

"It's okay, it was probably a coincidence" Soobin said, patting my head.

"Yeah, just ignore the fact that she appeared where no one should know we're staying" Taehyun said, taking the things off the cart and giving them to the cashier.

"Listen, it's fine" Kai said, placing his arm around my shoulders "Don't let her ruin the last year of your day"

We kept silent for a strong pair of seconds, staring at him. He just cocked his eyebrow and smirked victoriously.

"You mean your last day of the year?" Beomgyu asked. Kai tilted his head in confusion, moving his arm away from me.

"Isn't that what I just said?"

Beomgyu laughed, shaking his head and making him more confused.

"Idiot" Taehyun mumbled. Kai frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, standing behind Taehyun.

"I heard you" 

Taehyun didn't even look back at him.

"Great, that's exactly what I wanted"

I giggled and hugged Kai from behind, resting my cheek on his back.

"Kai, what would we do without you. I would be so bored" I laughed.

"I wouldn't" Taehyun affirmed.

Soobin and Beomgyu giggled. The older one paying for everything with his card.

We exited the store with the plastic bags in our hands. I looked at Yeonjun once again before I walked out the door. He was still chatting with Wendy, but he didn't look really comfortable. Or that's what I wanted to believe.

"Isn't any of you going to look for Yeonjun so we can leave?" I asked, sounding a bit more annoyed than I intended to.

"No way. What if she starts whining again?" Kai asked. I huffed.

"I'm sure he's going to leave her now that he knows we're done with the shopping" Soobin said, scrolling down on his phone.

I crossed my arms, my brows unvoluntarily frowning. Beomgyu looked at me and let out a breathy chuckle.

"Are you mad?" He asked.

Yes, heck, I was. But I wouldn't accept it.

"I just think she's really annoying. She seems to be following him everywhere, watching his every moves" I responded, sighing. "Don't you think Wendy is just... Not right for him at all?"

"Yeah, there's something off about her. I don't really know her, but her vibes are not that great" Beomgyu said. 

"I don't like her either" Kai confessed.

"There's something off about her."

"Wendy isn't the kind of girl I would see Yeonjun hyung dating" Beomgyu said. "Right, Taehyun?"

"What?" He asked, taking his headphoness off.

"We're saying that there's something off with Wendy"

"Who's Wendy?"

We couldn't help but laugh at Taehyun's sassiness.

"See? You shouldn't let someone like her annoy you" Kai winked.

I sighed.

"I just... Worry about him, I guess"

"Oh, there he comes" Soobin said, waving at Yeonjun when he exited the store, so he could find us.

I didn't say anything. I just turned around and started to walk with Taehyun, probably leaving a confused Yeonjun behind.

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The night had arrived. Everyone was celebrating inside the house, loud music playing in the background that made it hard to keep a conversation going without rising their voices. Haneul was sitting on the couch between Beomgyu and Soobin, watching as the younger boys played some videogames hoping for the time to go faster. Kai's parents chatted with some of the neighbors in the porch, and Yeonjun was nowhere to be seen, probably still getting ready since he usually took the longest when it came to dressing up.

Haneul felt like drinking a bit of soju, wanting to get rid of the discomfort that Wendy had brought earlier that day. She stood up and walked straight to the kitchen, looking for a glass in all the counters. She finally found them, but they were placed high enough for her not being able to reach them. She groaned, running her fingers through her hair in frustration when she suddenly felt a body slightly pressed to her back along with the sweet smell of men's cologne. Her eyes widened, startled by the sudden company. She turned her head and that's when her eyes landed on Yeonjun's beautiful features, lifting an arm to grab a pair of glasses, handing one of them to Haneul.

Her heart pounded even when he stepped back and couldn't feel the slight touch of his silhouette. She quickly turned around to face him, staring at the way he opened the bottle of soju and poured some in his glass, before he did the same with hers.

"Thank you" She muttered, a subtle smile formed on her lips. 

Yeonjun smiled, nodding his head as he brought the glass to his lips and took a sip. She did the same, unable to stop focusing on his pouty, soft lips that now glistened with the moisture of the sweet liquor they were drinking. His tongue darted out and swiped it away in a way that made her legs wobble. She cleared her throat and looked away as soon as she felt the obvious effect he was having on her.

That didn't go unnoticed by Yeonjun, who on the other hand, enjoyed the way he had decided to tease her. He might have not talked about what happened the night before, but he knew Haneul too well not to notice how jealous she got because of Wendy. She had kept her distance the whole day, and that, on the contrary for her, made his ego increase.

"Is anything bothering you?" He finally spoke, his voice soft but still effective to get her attention. Her bambi eyes landed on him once again, then her brows furrowed.

"No, why?" She responded. Oh, she was so cute when she pretended. Yeonjun loved the way she was so innocent to think that he wouldn't notice.

He giggled, taking another sip before he shrugged.

"You seem to be quite distant today." 

Haneul rolled her eyes and huffed.

"I don't know what you're talking about" She responded, taking another sip before she decided to avoid that conversation, starting to walk away. "Let's go with the rest"

Yeonjun smirked to himself. He quickly placed his cup on the table behind him and stepped forward, grabbing Haneul by the wrist and pushing her against the counter. Her eyes widened in surprise as soon as her lower back hit the wooden edge of the counter. He held her waist tightly with one of his hands, and took the glass from her shaky hand to place it on top of it.

He was close, so close she found it hard to breathe properly. Her stomach flipped in at least 360 degrees the moment he cupped her cheek with his hand, caressing the soft skin and moving the hair away from her face as well. The cold feeling of the metallic rings and bracelets that adorned his large hands against her skin sent chills down her spine. His dark blue shirt hugged his torso perfectly, with at least three of the upper buttons being undone, revealing the immaculate pale skin of his chest, a single silver chain hanging from his neck shining with the lights. He looked so attractive, gorgeous to be precise.

"Yeonjun" She called, her voice weak and sounding almost like a plead instead. 

"Do you know how cute it is when you get jealous?" He mumbled, his nose now slightly brushing against hers, action that made her eyes start closing unwittingly. He let out another hot, breathy chuckle that she felt fanning against her lips.

"Who's jealous, idiot" Haneul whispered, trying her best to keep her eyes open. His thumb ran from her cheek to her lower lip, the feather touch making her even weaker.

Fuck, she thought. She was dying to kiss him like there was no tomorrow. She wanted to taste that sweet flavor his chapstick left on his lips. She wanted to melt in his mouth.

"Aren't you?" He asked, even closer now to finally press their lips together. "Then why would you act like that after Wendy appeared?" He insisted. However, she wasn't able to think straight to give a proper answer. "I thought I made it clear that I want you, only you..." He breathed "I think I should remind it to you."

He gently pulled on her lower lip with his thumb, tempting himself even more to just bite and subtly suck on it. He leaned in, lips had barely grazed hers in the moment Beomgyu appeared in the kitchen.

"Hey hyung, I--" He stopped in his tracks at the same time Haneul pushed Yeonjun away from her. Beomgyu was taken aback by the sight and cleared his throat. Yeonjun scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You're not interrupting anything" Haneul was quick to say "Don't be silly, Yeonjun was just playing around." She assured, walking past Yeonjun and towards the entrance, letting out a fake giggle. "I'll go see the rest" She then added, rubbing Beomgyu's arm before she finally disappeared from the kitchen.

Yeonjun and Beomgyu stared at each other awkwardly before the oldest gave him a smile, calming him down.

Yeonjun felt frustrated. He needed so much to feel her lips again, but he had no option but wait to the right moment.

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One hour before the clock announced the new year. The whole group had already eaten and were dancing and joking around. Kai's mother suddenly poked her head in the living room, gaining their attention.

"Yeonjun, a friend of yours is looking for you" She said, moving aside to let a smiling Wendy to be at sight. "She said you told her she could come and say hi" 

"Thank you Mrs. Huening. I'm really happy that we happened to be spending new year's eve in the same place. It was such a sweet coincidence" She said innocently. Kai's mom just smiled at her. Yeonjun looked confused at his friends who didn't look really welcoming, especially Haneul, who's previous happy expression had suddenly vanished.

"Go ahead and join them. You're welcome" Kai's mother said, gesturing for her to walk in, which she did.

She was dressed in a short pink dress. Her long black hair was curled in the edges and her lips shone thanks to the lips gloss. She smiled and her dimples popped at Yeonjun.

"Yeonjun, you look really handsome" She shyly said. A subtle dust of pink covered her warm cheeks. Yeonjun forced a smile.

"Thank you. You look good as well" He responded. She smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I can't wait for the year to be over. Starting a new year with someone like you is going to be so dreamy."

Yeonjun just nodded, clearly uncomfortable. But his discomfort wasn't enough for Haneul to stop feeling like crap. She could hear her friends whispers to each other about the situation, but the truth was that she didn't want to even share a room with her. She just decided to left and go to the kitchen with the excuse of serving some snacks for them.

"Haneul, come here! It's almost time!" Kai's voice resonated all over the place. Haneul groaned to herself before she went back to the living room. She didn't like to have Wendy there, but she decided to just ignore her and enjoy the moment.

Yeonjun's eyes instantly landed on her, with an expression that almost screamed for her to help him. She looked down, her arm laced with his was a bitter look for her no matter what. She stood there with the rest of the boys, as Yeonjun quietly hated the moment.

The final count has started. They were all standing next to each other in a circle, including Kai's parents. Wendy gripped tightly on Yeonjun's arm, but he only had one thing in mind. He desperately wanted Haneul to be the first kiss of his year. He knew she was all he wanted in the start, in the end.

Ten, nine, eight... 

Yeonjun released himself from Wendy's grip, getting closer to Haneul. He grabbed her by the arm and turned her around.

"Haneul... I" He whispered. She looked at him in confusion, with her brows furrowed and her head tilted to the side.

Seven, six, five...

But then Wendy had other plans, she stood behind yeonjun and tried her best to get his attention.

"Yeonjun!" She called him. He hesitated, now standing between the both of them.

Haneul turned around again with her back facing him. She felt her heart sink, it was like she knew what was going to happen.

Four, three, two, one...

"Happy new year!" Was all that could be heard. Everyone started to hug each other. The fireworks echoed from outside. Beomgyu hugged Haneul, then Soobin, and that's how it was, one by one.

Then she turned around and that's when her world fell.

Wendy had her hands cupping Yeonjun's face, as close as it could be. They were kissing, and Haneul couldn't even look away.

Her soul felt like leaving her body. Her eyes burned, her chest tightened and hurt. Beomgyu noticed what was happening as he stood next to Haneul, placing his arm around her.

Yeonjun pulled away from the kiss and looked around dumbfounded. 

"Are you okay?" Beomgyu whispered to Haneul. She blinked a few times and looked up at him with a fake smile.

"Yes, why wouldn't I?" She said. "Let's go grab some food. I'm hungry" She said, grabbing him by the hand and dragging him with her to the kitchen.

Yeonjun turned around and desperately wanted to follow her, but Wendy stopped him.

"Where are you going?!" She whined "Stay with me, please"

Yeonjun kept looking towards the kitchen.

"You... I need to go there. You don't unders--" He said, before she cut him off.

"What? That you always run behind her?" She spat, making him finally turn his head to look at her in disbelief. "Want me to bring her? I will" Was all she said, before she marched to the kitchen where Beomgyu leaned against the counter and Haneul opened a bag of chips. She stood right in front of her, obviously angry. "Listen here" She said. Haneul looked up and cocked a brow. She felt nauseous by just talking to her.

"What? Weren't you busy?" She asked, placing the chips in an empty plate.

The rest of the boys appeared in the kitchen. Kai was about to speak but kept his mouth shut when he witnessed the show that was going to start. Beomgyu looked at Wendy's attitude confused, wondering how was it possible for Haneul to not lose it yet.

"Yeonjun and I kissed, you know what that means?"

Haneul smiled.

"That you're really desperate?"

Wendy felt her blood boiling in her veins.

"It means that I we could start this new year together, and for that to happen, I want you to fuck off, got it?"  She demanded, making Haneul look up at her. "Can't you see that he feels pity for you?"

"What are you talking about, Wendy?" Yeonjun suddenly spoke. However, she just showed him the palm of her hand, asking him to shut up.

Haneul looked at him, then back at Wendy.

"He told you that?" She asked sarcastically, not really believing her words.

Wendy laughed.

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked. "Let's see... You never cared about him, he never cared about you. I was always there dreaming to get close to him and he even showed signs to be interested as well. You had a boyfriend that was his friend, he promised he would take care of you if needed. He promised that to him innocently because you know, Yeonjun is a really sweet guy"

"Wendy!" Yeonjun shouted.

"Shut up! can't you see that she's manipulating you?!" She yelled "Poor Haneul got so depressed he had to leave everything behind because the little brat needed attention, then, as if she hadn't make him stressed enough, she became suicidal and tried to kill herself because her boyfriend was stupid enough to ride a car without a seatbelt that was being driven by another drunk idiot!"

Haneul's smile vanished, and as soon as Wendy stopped speaking her palm landed on Wendy's cheek, slapping her with all her might. The hit was so hard that made Wendy's head turn.

"You can say whatever you want about me, do whatever the fuck you want to Yeonjun, but don't you dare to talk about Rocky, you fucking bitch" Haneul said in a tone of voice none of them had ever heard. Her eyes filled with hate and anger, her chest rising and falling erratically. Wendy just held her cheek with a death glare in response "And next time you do, I promise you, you won't have a single hair left on your empty head" She spat, walking away and crashing her shoulder with Wendy's.

"You went too far" Beomgyu said, shaking his head and following behind Haneul, filled with anger.

Taehyun stepped forward glaring down at her.

"You know, I've kept quiet all this time and I already thought you were stupid" He said, tucking his hands in his pockets "But whenever you open your mouth, turns out you surpass yourself. Congratulations, now you're not only the stupidest girl I've ever met, but also the most despicable one" He added, turning on his heels and leaving the kitchen.

"I can't believe you're all this blind!" She yelled.

Soobin shook his head.

"Unbelievable" He said, leaving the kitchen.

"Just so you know, you're not welcomed here. I hope to see you're gone when I come back or I'll have to kick you out myself" Kai said, pointing his finger at her before leaving.

Yeonjun stepped forward, his face stone cold. Wendy started to tear up, tugging on his sleeve.

"Junie..." 

"Leave" He said.

"What?"

"I said leave!" He repeated, rising his voice.

"But!"

"Next time, if you have a brain, use it. You were not only talking about her boyfriend" He said, walking past her, stopping next to her ear "It was my best friend."

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Haneul was sitting on her bed, still filled with anger as she looked at anything in particular. A knock on the door snapped her back to reality.

"If it's Yeonjun, go away."

The door opened  slowly, Beomgyu poking his head in.

"It's me" He said. She sighed.

"Come in."

Beomgyu entered the room, not even caring about closing the door. He was worried for her.

"Are you okay?" He asked "How did all of this happen?"

Haneul stood up, running her fingers through her hair frustratedly.

"I don't know... It's all so complicated" She muttered "How could he do that?"

Beomgyu tilted his head.

"Do what?"

"He kissed her, then didn't even say a word... Why did he even invite her" She said, sighing again "I miss Rocky so much."

Beomgyu's expression softened at the sight of her friend feeling so hurt. She didn't even need to say much to make it obvious.

"Is there something between the two of you?"

She kept quiet for a second.

"I don't know anymore, Beomgyu." She confessed. "The worst part is... He's still here, but it feels like I just lost him. I can't handle this kind of pain anymore." 

Her voice cracked. Beomgyu stepped forward and wrapped her with his arms in a hug. Haneul rested her cheek on his shoulder.

"I'm sure Yeonjun hyung really likes you" He said, rubbing her back.

She looked at him with teary eyes and let out a humorless laugh. 

"Not enough" She admitted "Now I just want to stay away from him."

That's when they heard his voice calling out for her.

"Haneul, where are you?!" 

She looked at Beomgyu, almost panicking.

"I don't want him here. I want him to stay away" She said frantically.

Beomgyu turned his head and slightly pulled back, then looked at her once again.

"Just tell him to leave you alone."

She shook her head.

"That's not going to work with him..."

"Haneul?" Yeonjun called again.

She moved her gaze from the opened door to Beomgyu's face again.

"Beomgyu, please forgive me" She whispered. He tilted his head in confusion.

"What? Why?" He asked.

"For what I'm about to do."

Before he could say something else, she pulled him by the back of his neck and pressed her lips on his. Beomgyu froze at her actions, not even knowing how to react as she gently molded her lips with his. His body stiffened, but managed to barely respond to he kiss by thinking his friend needed him.

Yeonjun couldn't believe his eyes as soon as he stood in front of that opened door. His heart felt like it was being ripped apart from his chest. He couldn't remember something that painful since Rocky's death. His gaze dropped, making a couple of steps backwards before he finally walked away.