It took me longer than it should have to locate a bus stop that could take me closer to home, and as I sat down to wait, I took out my phone.

I unlocked it with no particular purpose, opening my group chat with the boys and reading through the notifications I usually skipped over. A couple of minutes later, I had calmed down to a certain degree, but I still felt like talking to someone about something completely unrelated just to get my mind off of it.

I opened my chat with jhhj.

Today, 7:47 pm

Me: jhhj

Jhhj

Dude where tf are youuuuu

This is urgent

Hyung

Hyunggggggg

Smh

Nevermind

Rolling my eyes, I shoved the phone into my pocket before climbing onto the bus.

Once I got out at the closest station to home, I pulled out my headphones and shoved them into my ears, clicking on my recently played playlist to shuffle.

But my recent playlist was full of Seventeen songs, either that y/n had played or that she had recommended for me to listen to. I switched it over to one of my old playlists.

I was quick to get home, where I put everything in place, put my phone for charging, and went upstairs to get changed into my home clothes. I did everything slowly and systematically, folding each item of clothing carefully even though I was putting it into the laundry hamper.

I knew I was just procrastinating the outburst of emotions that was bound to come after my sudden loss after the continuous efforts I'd been putting in to get her to like me back, but that was fine.

It was around eight thirty by the time I'd made myself dinner and sat in front of the tv to eat, not wanting to be alone with my thoughts.

My phone, which was set down beside me, suddenly gave a buzz. Thinking it might be y/n and that might cause another downward spiral of thoughts, I ignored it.

But then another notification.

And another.

And another.

I picked it up and found a smile on my lips when I saw jhhj's name out on the screen.

Unlocking it, I opened our chat.

Today, 8:39 pm

Jhhj: I'm hereeeeee

Sorry

I was out and I just reached

I didn't have data

But now I have wifi so we good

Now where are you

You say it's urgent and then don't reply

With a grin, I typed back:

Me: I'm here now lol

jhhj: what happened? Everything okay?

Me: yeah I was just really annoyed at the time

jhhj: what happened lol

Me: nothing nothing

jhhj: ayyyy don't 'nothing' me boy

Something's up

Me: lol no seriously.

jhhj: ...

Spill my friend

Me: well um

There's this girl I really like

jhhj: oooooohhhhhh 😏

Me: shut up istg

jhhj: tell me more pls this is so exciting lmao

Me: she's adorable I swear

Super sweet, considerate, funny, everything 

jhhj: damnnnn boy that's a catchhhh

Me: very much so

And basically her ex is visiting

The two of us were hanging out but since it was a spur of the moment thing she took me along to meet him

jhhj: and?

Is he a duck or something?

*dick lmao sorry i cant type

Me: no that's the worst part

He's awesome

It's not okay

He's so nice

jhhj: so what's the issue

Me: he's NICE that's the issue

And I think he might want to get back with her

And I'm scared 

if he makes a move I'm done for

jhhj: what makes you think she will say yes? 

And why do you think he'll make a move?

Me: he's staying at her place for the night bro 

Typing...

It went blank.

Then, again:

Typing...

jhhj: she invited her ex to stay at her place for the night?

Me: yes

jhhj: That's sus bro

Me: ikr 

I'm screwed 

jhhj: hey don't be so negative

Me: with my luck they'll be back together by tomorrow

jhhj: and if they did get back together what would you do?

Me: ?

Nothing

jhhj: what why???

Me: she's so happy around him

I can't take that away. 

If they decide to get together that's her choice and I should respect it.

jhhj: wow. Seems like you really care about this girl, huh?

Tell you what

You live in Seoul, right?

Me: wait how did you know lol

Am I sharing my location or smth lmao

jhhj: LMAO NO THAT WAS A GUESS 

Me: 😭🤚 

Well now ig I should be worried that someone will break into my house at three am because he knows which city I live in

jhhj: yeah for sure.

Anyways, my point is

I'm gonna be in Seoul tomorrow.

Me: omg what

jhhj: do you want to meet?

Me: yeah for sure

When?

jhhj: a bit before noon? I'm going  out in the afternoon 

so we can meet and maybe even grab lunch before i leave if you want

Me:  yes yes yes sure

jhhj: do you know any good places we can meet? 

Oh shit I have to go

But lmk where you want to meet.

Me: ok ok 

I set the phone down with a smile, returning to what was playing on tv, but not really paying attention to it, excited to meet jhhj. 

I knew that there was always the possibility that I was being catfished, that this guy was actually a twelve year old girl and then I would look like a creep, but I'd voice chatted with this guy a couple of times, and I hoped, for whatever it was worth, that he was for real.

***

The next morning I was impatient. Nothing to be nervous for, it wasn't like I was too invested in my friendship with jhhj, but I'd really appreciate it if meeting him didn't damage the friendship we had.

I had woken up ridiculously late for my usual standard, around ten o'clock, after staying up until four or five in the morning after watching too much tv and then struggling to fall asleep.

The good thing was that meant I didn't have to wait for too long to meet jhhj. I found the location of a cafe I had visited once with y/n and really liked, so I sent it to him, suggesting that we meet there.

He replied within a minute or so, saying sure, that was really convenient. He suggested we meet around eleven thirty, and then we could look for somewhere else for lunch later if we wanted to.

I didn't bother much with breakfast, just taking some fruits before getting some extra banana milk and gulping that down too. It was probably from jungkook's secret (or not-so-secret) stash, but I'd replace it later. 

Then, before leaving, I went back upstairs to change into some nicer clothes.

I didn't want to look too sloppy, but at the same time didn't want to look so obviously upper class. So rather than my usual loose-fitting tshirt and pants, I opted for a more casual pair of washed down jeans and a half- sleeved green tshirt with it, that I usually wore when I travelled.

I surveyed my appearance one last time before shaking myself out of it. 

You don't even bother with your appearance this much when you're going to meet y/n, I thought with a smile, realising that the only thing that could mean was that I was more at ease with myself around her, that I was less critical of myself. That I could just be myself with her.

I grabbed my phone, keys, and slipped into my shoes before locking the door and leaving my house.

The weather was pleasant- although the sun was beating down and there was hardly a cloud in the sky, it wasn't too hot, or uncomfortable to walk in the sun. My skin started burning a bit, though, and I wished I had bothered with sunscreen.

It was just past eleven fifteen when I reached the cafe, seeing as I had left home quite early. I still had time to wait, but didn't want to be impolite by getting something to eat or drink before he came, so I busied myself on my phone after getting a booth by the window. I'd look out occasionally, watching the people walking past in the streets.

Minutes passed, as I stared at the time on my phone's Lock Screen.

11:27

Taehyung, staring at the time is not going to make it go any faster.

Why hasn't he texted me yet?

Is he going to bail?

I opened our chat to tell him I was waiting.

Today, 11:32 am

Me: I'm at the cafe, got a booth. 

Third one on the right, next to the window

Within ten seconds, he replied:

jhhj: I'm comingggg one minute I went the opposite way at first by accident

Me: ok sure lol

Instead of obsessing over the time, I looked down at my Lock Screen photo, which was saddeningly basic.  Rather than something fun like a picture with any of my friends, or myself, or even a scenery that I had taken a photo of, it was a plain blue screen. How boring.

I busied myself in thinking of something else I could change my Lock Screen to, debating between two pictures I had taken with the boys. One was an old one at the beach, and the other was at Jungkook's house from before I moved.

I resolved on one and had just set it as my Lock Screen photo when someone slid into the booth, sitting in the seat across mine.

I looked up with a start, setting my phone down on the table. I was about to greet jhhj with the largest smile when I saw his face and my smile faltered.

Because the boy sitting across me couldn't be him, could he?

He had a smile plastered on his face, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, which were full of apprehension and worry, as if this meeting could possibly end our wonderful online friendship.

Which it very much could, seeing as he was Jeonghan.

***

He smiled apologetically, moving towards the end of the seat, as if about to leave if I said I didn't want him here.

"Taehyung," he said hesitantly. "It's um... nice to meet you, again, I guess?" He laughed a little, awkwardly, but I could tell he was cringing internally.

I didn't really know how to feel right now. My stomach felt strangely empty as I stared back at him, my mouth hanging half open. Say something, Taehyung.

"Jeonghan." Was all that came out.

He took in a nervous breath.

"You're jhhj?" A nervous smile unknowingly broke out on my face as I ran my hand through my hair. "Wow."

"Uh, yeah." He laughed, still awkward, but slightly more relaxed than before. "This is- really awkward, I'm sorry, um- but listen, Taehyung."

"Huh?" I looked up at him.

"Taehyung, I am not getting back with y/n," he grinned at the way my face instantly turned bright red. "Though I have to admit, when I first saw her I was tempted to try and see if she could even see me in that way again, she's just friendzoning me over and over. And let's be real, I don't think we're as compatible as you guys are."

He broke off, his eyes widening, and now it was his turn to flush in embarrassment, making me grin.

Just after that one sentence he had said I relaxed, letting go of tensions that had been weighing on me since last night after seeing them together.

"Mmhm?" I said with a smile. 

He was about to say something more when the girl who worked here came over to us, asking for an order. Her blush deepened when her eyes landed on Jeonghan, but she was clearly doing her level best not to ogle. I respected that, seeing as I knew she had a boyfriend.

He got a coffee, but I passed, since I had just eaten a little while ago.

"Here," she said, setting it down at the table with a smile, and rushing away to take someone else's order,

"So, Taehyung," Jeonghan began, taking a sip of the coffee and setting it down again, "what do you plan to do?"

"I'm sorry?" I was still so caught off guard by him being Jeonghan that I was having trouble focusing on what he was saying.

"Y/n," he said, as if it were obvious what he were referring to. "What are you going to do about her? You have to make a move soon. From what I could tell, you've liked her for a looong while."

"I- I don't know," I mumbled, confused. "I haven't given much thought to it, I mean, I want to let he know how I feel, I just don't quite know how-"

"Hey, hey hey. Look, you don't have to be this nervous, Taehyung. I've seen the way you look at her, and though it's only been for a short while, I know you. I know what kind of person you are, and I know you're gonna treat her good."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "You've seen the way I look at her, but have you seen the way she looks at you?" It didn't sound bitter or jealous when I said it, more like those words conveyed all my insecurities and hurt.

Jeonghan chuckled. "Taehyung, y/n has made it very clear that the two of us are just friends. Yes, when I came back, I cant deny that I found her attractive as ever, but that doesn't mean I was attracted to her."

"That makes no sense," I whined, and tried to imitate his voice: "I found her attractive but I wasn't attracted to her."

He laughed at my imitation of him."It makes perfect sense. Finding someone attractive is recognising those traits that make them amazing. Being attracted to them is completely different," he said.

"Well, when you put it like that, yeah, that does make sense."

Jeonghan drained the rest of his coffee from the cup. "Look, Taehyung. Y/n has reached a level of maturity with my and her past that usually doesn't seem possible. She has this way of joking about and bringing ridiculously intimate experiences that still doesn't make things awkward. So please, please please don't worry about me coming in the way of you guys' happiness."

I didn't know what to say. I had been terrified of this guy coming in between y/n and I, ruining my chances, and leaving me alone forever, but here he was handing me my dream opportunity simply out of his own goodwill, and his love for her in a different manner.

"I- I don't really know what to say, Jeonghan," I stuttered. "Thank you, I- wow."

He smiled at me again, and this time I didn't hesitate to return it.

"Wow, your smile really is a box," he mumbled, before grinning.

"What?" 

"Nothing, nothing, y/n was telling me that 'your boxy smile is everything'," he said, quoting his fingers, "but now I get what she meant," he said, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. 

I reached for mine too, but he stopped me. "She also told me you have a bad habit of trying to pay for everything. It's okay, I'm the one that ordered a coffee," he said, handing the girl his card.

I resisted the urge to grin. She'd talked that much about me? The thought itself made me giddy with joy.

Once he had paid, the two of us left, walking down the street with no particular destination. 

"So, Taehyung," Jeonghan ran his fingers through his hair. "You still haven't told me what you plan on doing to win this girl's heart. That is, if you haven't already."

"I, uh- okay, this is a weird question, but how did you get to the point where you asked her out? In uni, I mean."

He laughed, a clear airy sound. "Let's see, um, I'd been single for a while, and I had quite a few friends, but most people just wanted a hook up, you know- no commitment sort of thing, and I didn't want that. Then I met y/n, who was a year my junior. Freshman in college."

I looked over at him as he explained, losing himself in the past.

"She was so sweet when I first spoke to her, I had a crush on her since the first time we met. But she kept referring to me as her friend," He explained.

"...and over the next few months I'd go out of my way to help her out with things, or even-" he laughed "- I remember waiting outside her lecture classroom and hearing her professor saying that she should get a particular book from the library, so I rushed there and checked it out before she did, so she would have to come ask me for it."

That seems like something out of a drama, I thought with a smile. I could totally imagine it happening in the one y/n and I had watched together.

"So she came to my dorm the first time because of that, to pick up the book, and when we got talking I found out that she was actually struggling with a huge load of things. Far from her family, working ridiculously hard, all that. So I just tried to be there for her, you know, and eventually over a couple of months we ended up getting real close, not very unlike you two right now," he said, wiggling his eyebrows, and I blushed.

"But how did you actually do it? Like, how did you ask her?"

"To be honest, I don't really know. I had such a big crush on her it wasn't even okay, she drove me mad."

"Yeah, I know that feeling," I grinned.

He slapped me on the back before continuing. "I was pretty basic, to be honest. I asked her to go with me to some event, I don't really remember what it was, and that was the first time I stayed over at her place. 

Nothing happened, nothing at all, but we were so awkward about it that we hardly talked the whole rest of the week. Our friends picked up on that, obviously, and the teasing was insane, my goodness."

He twisted his fingers with one another. "It drove me crazy, not speaking to her. All our friends thought we'd hooked up and that's why we were so awkward." 

He continued: "The next weekend I took her to a theme park, we went on a bunch of rides and then got food, then I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes." He turned to me, his hands in a ta-da gesture.

"And that's how I met your- well, not your mother, that would be hella weird. Uhm- that's how I met your... future girlfriend!" He finished, beaming.

Without a second thought, I pulled him in for a bro hug. "Hopefully," I said, pulling away, "if I can pluck up the courage."

"Oh come on, buddy, you'll be fine. Besides, if I know anything about y/n, it's when she talks that much about someone, she really cares about them. You've got this."

***

A/n: AJSNDIJENFIEJ I CANT BELIEVE IM AT 30 CHAPTERS ALREADY 

I just realised that since I average my chapters at around 3k words, I've published more than 90 thousand words and I have more than 20k words of scrap lmao. Also I'm proof reading and I realised this chapter seems kind of rushed but I'll go over it when I edit, I'm too lazy right now

But important announcement- 

I will be revising the entirety of Love Maze so far. Though there won't be any changes to the plot etc, I am just updating the language/ grammar etc.

Also I will try and find a name for y/n's brother lmao because I've been asked by like five different people what his name is.

Anyways, I hope you guys have a great day or night, and make sure to keep hydrated and eat well :)

Stay safe <3