★ | #43 | jealousy
"i'm not being mean, i'm just telling the truth."

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ nicole's radio station
is now playing...

there she goes • the la's
"and i just can't contain this feelin' that remains."

____________________

WITH fingers intertwined and a lighthearted conversation sounding out between them, the boy paused mid sentence as he leaned forward, adjusting their locked hands slightly as he tugged her closer.

Using his freehand, his fingers wrapped around the door handle to a local diner, pulling it open as he stepped aside. “After you.” Heeseung let out with a smile, bowing his head playfully.

His hand dropped hers, instead resting on her lower back as he guided her into the diner with care — to which she huffed out a small laugh and hummed in content.

“Woah, such a gentleman.” Haewon teased, nose scrunching up slightly as she tilted her head off to the side, stepping into the diner — the cool air from the AC a contrast to the warmth outside.

“Thank you, thank you. I try my best.” The boy breathed out with a sheepish grin, his hand finding hers yet again. “Where do you wanna sit?”

Haewon paused, lips tucked into a thin line as her eyes wandered around momentarily. Spotting a vacant booth in the corner, beside a window — she smiled and tugged him along with her.

“Here.” The girl stated, as he nodded and hummed softly in return, helping her into the booth before taking his seat on the leather cushioned seat across from her.

“You have fine taste in seating arrangement, I will say.” Heeseung chuckled, reaching up to push his hair out of his eyes as she smiled cheekily.

“Do I? Wow, that's an honor.” She huffed out jokingly, shifting in her seat slightly as she leaned over the table, eyes falling along the small menu sheets placed in front of them.

“I'm paying, by the way. So order whatever you want, I don't mind.” Heeseung said, as she lifted her head to connect her gaze with his.

“That's alright, let me pay for my own meal. We can split.” Haewon muttered, shrugging her shoulders. “After all, I actually have money to spend now that I have a job.”

“Don't blow your first few paychecks right away. Let me treat you this time, yeah? Save that up for something else. Like the manhwa you love so much.” He reasoned, waving off her words.

“Are you sure? I can afford it just fine, and still have plenty of money left over to spend if I want to.” The girl pointed out, pressing her lips into a thin line.

“Positive. I asked you out tonight, so let me be the one who treats you. I'm more than happy to do so.”

Haewon nodded reluctantly in return, lips pressed together in a thin line as she narrowed her eyes slightly. “Hm, okay then. Thank you.” The girl spoke, giving him a grateful smile, to which he returned.

“I've got the bill next time we go out, though. So we're even.” The girl claimed, as he scoffed and shook his head.

“Yeah, sure, we'll see.” He replied, rolling his eyes playfully as she snickered and peered down at the menu, pondering what to order for dinner.

“You know,” Haewon began, eyes fixated on the menu. “You're being really nice so suddenly. You sure you don't wanna tell me something?”

“You're too paranoid for your own good. I just wanted to treat you today.” Heeseung clicked his tongue, dismissing her suspicions as she forced her lips into a small pout.

“I don't know. It's just suspicious to me. Can't wipe the feeling that something is up, but if you say nothing is wrong, I'll believe you.” The girl nodded, sitting up right in her seat as she pushed the menu away, having found what she wanted to order.

“I will be mad if I find out you are hiding something from me, though.” She quickly added on, shrugging.

The boy breathed out a small laugh, a hum sounding from the back of his throat as he bit down on his bottom lip. “Okay, okay. Just have some trust in me.”

The girl smiled, shaking her head slightly. The two placed their orders, waiting patiently for their food to be cooked and served. In the meantime, they were started off with the soda they had gotten for themselves to pair with the meal.

Haewon stuck a red straw into the glass cup, lifting it carefully towards her as she sipped at the soda, as the boy began to speak.

“After this, would you rather stop somewhere to get ice cream first, or wait a little to digest after dinner?” Heeseung asked, trying to map out plans in his mind.

“Mm, depends on how full I get after this.” The girl shrugged, as he chuckled and nodded in understanding.

“Okay, fair enough. We'll just wing it then. Whatever you wanna do.” He smiled, crumpling up the paper straw wrapper in his hand, smiling to himself.

“You know what I just realized?” Haewon raised a brow, setting her drink down on the table before she leaned against it.

Heeseung tilted his head off to the side, shaking it slightly as he hummed — letting her know to continue.

“I didn't tell my mom I'd be with you tonight. She might be expecting me home by now.” The girl pointed out, as he raised his brows.

“Oh, wait, I kinda forgot about that.” Heeseung let out sheepishly, bringing his hand up to scratch the back of his neck.

His head turned off to the side, peering out the window. “There's a payphone. I can call your home phone and let her know if you'd like me to.”

“Nah, it's fine. I have a feeling she'll know anyway. I mean, you're the only one I really hang out with, so..” Haewon shrugged, pressing her lips into a thin line. “That, or she'll assume I have extra stuff with the broadcasting club.”

Heeseung nodded his head, a small hum sounding from the back of his throat.

“Also, there's a slim chance that my dad would pick up the phone instead. I don't think he'd be pleased to know that I'm with you — let alone hear your voice. He yelled at me to not hang out with you anymore.” The girl added on with a laugh, earning a huff from the boy.

“With all due respect, he needs to get over himself.” The boy snickered, scrunching his nose up slightly.

“I mean, he's bound to see me again at some point. You're stuck with me forever.” He reasoned, his tone playful.

A smile crept up onto her pink lips at his words, before she forced a mocking groan of annoyance, eyes rolling. “Ahh, such a burden.” She joked, as he scoffed and reached around the table to ruffle her hair.

“Oh, shut up. You love me.” The boy said, as her gaze brightened, her smile reaching her eyes — something he couldn't help but to adore entirely.

“You wish.” Haewon countered, sticking her tongue out at him.

Heeseung laughed, his arms crossed over each other as he leaned forward to rest comfortably against the tabletop. “I do.” He breathed out subconsciously, as she had taken another sip out of her soda.

“What was that?” She asked, having not heard his breathy whisper. The boy hummed, giving her a small smile as he shook his head, waving it off.

“Something only for me to hear.” He replied, earning a string of complaints from the girl.

“Oh, come on, now I'm curious! Tell me please.” She pleaded, tilting her head as her brows furrowed with curiosity etched across her features.

“I’ll tell you, but it comes with a price.”

“Name it.”

“Tell me the truth. What really happened to you to get those burn marks over your skin the other week?” Heeseung questioned, as her smile faltered, shaking her head.

“I already told you the truth, dummy. I spilled hot coffee on myself at work.” The girl claimed, as he huffed and rolled his eyes in return.

“It's funny how you still think you can lie to me. I know you well enough to know that you're not telling the truth. So, until you do, my secret is mine.” He voiced out, as she grumbled underneath her breath.

“Fine, I didn't even care that much anyway.” Haewon mumbled, as he let out a breathy laugh.

“Yeah right. Look at you, all pouty now. How cute.” He teased, to which she opened her mouth to protest, but quickly shut her mouth upon seeing the waiter approaching with their food plated on a tray.

After thanking the waiter and being left alone to enjoy their meal, the two indulged in many different conversations — ranging from school, social life, work, and just life in general.

Upon finishing her food, she reached to the side towards the set of napkins the waiter had placed specifically by her plate to wipe her hands.

She lifted the napkin, going to wipe her hands off on it before her eyes fell upon blue ink, eyes widening in surprise as she felt her lips curve into a smile.

“No way.” Haewon let out, eyes skimming over the messy handwriting written in blue pen inc over the surface of the napkin.

Heeseung lifted his head, his eyes settling across her surprised expression before drifting down to the napkin she held in her hands, staring down at it.

“What is it?” He asked curiously, as she flipped the napkin around to show him.

_____________

thought you were pretty. here is my number!
— han soohyuk
(+82) ##-####-####

____________

Heeseung’s eyes softened upon seeing the phone number, along with the note left on the napkin, unable to help the small pang of jealousy he felt.

Plastering a smile onto his lips, he shook his head in response to the napkin, mustering up a response in a playful manner. “He meant to leave that to me.”

Haewon scoffed, shaking her head as she laughed. “Yeah right. Woah, I'm actually surprised right now. I wasn't expecting that in the slightest.”

“So?” He began, pressing his lips together in a thin line. “What will you do?”

“I don't know. Maybe I'll call him.” She shrugged, setting the napkin down as she peered over at the waiter, who wasn't focused on her at all — talking amongst himself with his coworkers.

“Seriously?” Heeseung let out, raising a brow. “Here, let me see that for a second.”

The girl hummed, sliding the napkin across the table for him to see. He picked it up, peering down at it as he pressed her lips into a thin line and shook his head.

“The handwriting is messy, very hard to read. Not ideal.” Heeseung said. “You can do better than him anyway.”

“Jeez, why are you being so mean? He tried his best.” Haewon chuckled, as he kept the napkin in his hold.

“I’m not being mean, I'm just telling the truth.” Heeseung grumbled, tucking the napkin into his pocket.

“Are you done eating?” He asked, eyes softening as she gazed down at her almost completely empty plate, nodding her head.

“Mhm. But—”

“Okay, let's get going then. We can get ice cream.” Heeseung said, pushing himself out of the booth as he dusted himself off.

Haewon raised her brows, blinking slowly as she processed what was happening. Heeseung held out his hand to her, to which she accepted after a minute — allowing him to help her to her feet.

“Stay here, yeah? I'll go pay.” He said, placing his hands over her shoulders as she nodded her head in response, waiting patiently by the table as she grabbed her bag and slipped it on over her shoulders.

Soon enough, he returned to her side, flashing a quick smile. “You ready to go?” He asked, bending down to grab his own bag.

“Yep.” Haewon replied shortly, returning the smile. Heeseung hummed, his hand slipping into hers as he guided her out of the diner, opening the door for her.

On the way out, he turned around, unintentionally meeting the gaze of the same waiter that had served them.

Giving him a once over, he turned away, sharpened eyes softening as his gaze fell over her, brightening the mood by starting a new conversation.

____________________________

★﹐authors corner ．﹗﹑2.0k words.
someone boo because what is this chapter. like i genuinely dislike every single but about it 😭🙏 it feels messy to me when i look at it idk

it just feels very unappealing to me

anyway !!!

ephemeral hit 20k views! i'm so happy oh my goodness? thank you all so much! it means the world to me, seriously 🤍🤍

thank you for viewing and supporting my work! i genuinely cannot put into words how happy i feel waking up every morning to new notifications of you guys adding my stuff to your reading lists, voting, commenting, etc..

it's so cute omg? and i absolutely love reading your comments !! you all are so nice and funny i love you guys 😭🫶

once again, thank you all so much!

i love you all !! take good care of yourselves <3
july 16th, 2024 — 7:50pm.
not proofread.