I’m always hurt
But still, because it’s you

-shoot out

Choi Minjae

"Did that guy tell you anything?" Byul asked in a low voice, making me wonder who she was talking about.

"Who?"

"T-that guy! That cocky moron, Changkyun" She stuttered, rolling her eyes in the meantime.

"Oh, him. Nope, what would he say though?" I tried my hardest to hide the curiosity which was growing inside me. She'd never asked anything about any of the boys before.

"Nothing." She answered simply rolling her lips inside her mouth.
Just then Changkyun waved at us from afar. He came running to us but before he could come any closer Byul had already hidden behind me. Oh god, what the hell is going on between these two!

"Where's your phone? I've been calling you for a while." Changkyun told me taking a quick glance at Byul.

"Kihyun asked me to go grocery shopping with him, it was our turn to buy this week. But I said I was busy, so you can go with him instead. If she doesn't mind though." He then pointed at Byul with his eyes.

"Of course, I don't mind! What are you implying here?" Byul scoffed coming out from my back.

"I said that because you never share her with anyone. Don't need to get your tits exploding." He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Um, did something happen between you two?"

"Nope!" They screamed in unison whilst shooting eye daggers at each other. Great, just great. Now I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight for being way too curious.

"Come on, you guys are acting like you're datin-"

"Just go already. Go to Kihyun, have a nice day. Text me all the steamy details." She pushed me from the back, making me stumble a few steps forward.

"Now you, you talk to me!" She went and grabbed Changkyun's arm. Giving me a quick smile and gesturing bye, she dragged him away with her.

This was so unlike her. She would've never agreed letting me go somewhere with Kihyun, or anyone as a matter of fact. And she'd been even talking to Changkyun? Was this really Byul?

Trying to shrug those thoughts off, I pulled out my phone from my pocket. Kihyun's new text was staring me right into the eyes.

"Do you want to go grocery shopping together?"

Then there's two other from Changkyun.

"Yikes you guys are like married couple already I'm gagging"

"your friend Byul is picking a fight with me. Is it okay if I rip her hair off?"

I was not worried about Byul, I was worried Changkyun might go bald soon.

Whistling a tune of my favourite song 'troublemaker' I wore my jacket that was resting on my arm. What do those people call their lovers again?

BAE or something like that. Anyway, today's a good day.

But I'm afraid soon it will turn bad. Well, I would have to tell the truth someday anyway.

***

"Hmm let's see. Some orange juice, meat, lots of chips, condo- What the heck! Who wrote this!"

Kihyun's face lost its color as he screamed loudly reading the list that was handed to us by the boys while we were at college this afternoon.

"What? Let me see!" I was pushing the cart forward but hearing him I stopped. I tried to peek at the paper from behind but he moved away, ripping the list into pieces in the meantime.

"I don't think your age is suitable to see this."

"What do you mean, I'm 19!" I scoffed, he always acted like I was a kid.

"I'm talking about your mental age." He came forward and started pushing the cart with me. "I have memorised it anyway. Let's go buy some vegetables first."

"Okay." I shrugged with my shoulders. "But if there was something fishy written on the list I'm pretty sure it was Changkyun."

"I'm kinda sure too. Let me push the cart, you can go and fetch everything." He suggested pushing me a little to the side with his shoulder.

"No! I like walking with the trolley!" I protested and he gave me a look.

"See? That's why I call you a kid!"

"Argh, let's just walk with this together. You know what, you act like a kid sometimes too!"

He snarled at me as a response. "First you say I'm a nagging mom and now you tell me I act like a kid, how's that possible!"

"Okay, okay, let's stop and calm down here. Do you want to buy nuggets next? I know you like chicken." I tried to sooth him down but mostly in a sarcastic way. He couldn't help but laugh at my fake agyeo.

"You know what, you're just out of this world." He said laughingly as we were both walking side by side pushing the cart, our hands brushing with each others. "Do you want anything? I'll buy it for you."

"Me?" I pointed at myself.

"Yeah. Is there anyone else?" He scrunched up his eyebrows making a funny face.

"Why?"

"Because you've been good." He ruffled my hair making it a complete mess then went towards a rack filled with breads.

My smile faded away, it felt like a pang of sadness just hit my chest. He wouldn't say that if he knew I'd been lying.

"H-hyung? Can we meet up and talk tonight. Just us?" I said with my voice breathy, my palms sweating already just by thinking of it.

"Yeah, of course." He turned his face towards me. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You'll see. But promise me, you'll fully hear me out first. And d-don't hate me after that."

"Why would I hate you?" He laughed at me as if this was a simple matter. "Just don't tell me you steal my chicken every night, I just can't find my midnight snacks in the fridge
these days."

"I think I know who does that, but don't ask me. I'm not ratting them out."

"You know what Minjae, I'm not buying the cookies you just wanted now." He made a disappointed frown appear on his face as he put the box filled with cookies down.

"Aww, hyung. That's not fair. Come on!" I pouted blinking hard showing my eyelashes. "Pweese?"

"That doesn't suit you." He commented with a straight face on but then he went and came back with the box of cookies. "Here."

"Yay!" I cheered happily hugging him but I let go right after, remembering that we were still in public. His face looked flustered but he didn't say anything.

"Let's go back now. We're all finished."

We went towards the cashier and only while paying the bill Kihyun remembered something. "I don't think we've brought ramen, Wonho will die if we go without them."

"I'll fetch it!" I responded quickly dashing off in the crowd. Soon I found myself in front the rack-holders with sets of ramen.

"Hmm, let's see. I should buy those Shin rame-"

"Minjae!"

My train of thoughts were interrupted as I heard someone calling out my name. I turned around to find a tall looking guy in light colored overcoat approaching me happily.

I froze in my spot when I got to see their face and realize who it was.

"Oh my god it is you! I haven't seen you in ages. How come you are still the same!" He shouted excitedly observing me from head to toe. "Wait, you do remember me right? Or not..?" He said a little hesitantly. "I'll be heartbroken if you say you don't remember me!"

"Sungjae." I murmured with my voice low but he seemed to hear it.

"Yes, you remember! How come you left right after high school? Not even bothering to meet up and say your goodbyes, it really hurt me!"

Why would I meet up with him and say goodbye when he was one of the reasons I couldn't wait to leave that hellhole.

"Are you still sad about what happened back then?" He asked all of a sudden. "You were acting alright but later I figured that I've been a real jerk. I wanted to apologize but you weren't there. I'm really sorry Minjae."

He said in a sincere tone, this was my first time seeing him being so sincere.

The guy I had this so called crush back in high school wasn't like this. Yook Sungjae was as arrogant as a person could ever be and also the weirdest kid on class. Still he was a top student and a heartthrob in school.

I don't know what got into me to start building up a crush over him. To the point where I tried buying cheap girly dresses and makeups since I didn't have money of my own.

And then of course he made fun of me when I tried confessing. I would've accepted it if he kept it to himself but no, he had to made me a laughing stock in the whole school.

God knows how many times I have imagined this guy as a punching bag and punched the shit out of him.

"Minjae, are you alright?" He asked softly touching my shoulder.

I slowly moved away putting on a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's nice to meet you after years! How are you now?"

"Thanks God, I thought you were still angry about it!" He clutched his hand over his chest. "I'm so glad I could finally apologize! And just look at this coincident, I never thought I would meet you here in Seoul!"

"Yeah." I replied nodding a little. "It was really nice to hear that you felt sorry but I'm over it already. If it's okay with you I need to go back at the counter."

"No, it's okay!" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "B-but would you mind if we meet up and talk again like can I have your number?"

"Who is he?"

Kihyun's voice startled both of us. I hadn't realize when he came from the back. "You were taking so long so I thought I would come too. Is he your friend?" He looked at Sungjae.

"I know him from high school." I was praying in my mind so this conversation wouldn't go any forward.

"Who are you?" Sungjae asked Kihyun instead. "Wait, Minjae. Is he your boyfriend? Are you dating now?"

Kihyun and I shared a look with each other. "Yes, I'm his boyfriend. Do you have any problems with that?"

Sungjae's mouth parted in awe, his face looked like he couldn't believe it. He was almost falling but then he grabbed a shelf to give himself balance. "M-minjae, you should've told me that earlier. No, how did you get a boyfriend! How could the girl I turned down in high school, and look you're still the same. I mean you didn't change yourself a bit!"
"Girl?" Kihyun looked at him as if he was insane. "Turning down? What are you talking about?"

"Ask your girlfriend, she had a crush on me back in high school."

"Girlfriend?" Kihyun looked surprised as he turned to me. "Minjae, what is he talking about?"

"I.., I can explain." I tried to maintain my composure but inside I was crumbling into bits.

Kihyun stayed silent just staring at me for a while. "D-don't tell me you're-"

"You don't know Minjae is a girl?" Sungjae said before Kihyun could finish what he was saying. "I mean it looks like it. Man, don't tell me you didn't know."

Kihyun gave him a lost look before he punched Sungjae in the face hard, making him fall on the ground with a loud groan of pain.

"Kihyun! What the heck are you doing!" I shouted holding his arm from the back but he jerked away.

"Don't touch me!"

There was pure anger in his voice before he left leaving only me and Sungjae there.

____________________________________
A/n: no hate for Yook Sungjae though. He is my bias in btob!

I chose him as a villain here because I figured he would slay that part. Boy can he act!

And here's who I imagine Minjae as, but of course you can always imagine yourself when you're reading this story.

This is Park so dam, one of my favourite actresses. Isn't she cute? She looks a bit like Kim Go Eun, my ultimate favourite actress and my cousin Nishat who's 5 years old.