Dedicated to who_i_am_now & shotstill75. Thank you for voting and commenting.

Warning: Unedited chapter plus I'm not good at describing places so please feel free to kill me. orz

***

"I'm in love with you, Jongin... that's why..."

Jongin didn't know how twisted his life could be. He was never aware of Jihyo's feelings for him. They're bestfriends, and the number one rule for boy and girl bestfriends is to not to fall in love if they wanted to keep the friendship for a long time.

"I didn't mean to fall in love with you, but I did. I didn't know when or how did it start, it just... happened."

Jongin massages his temple. It's been 3 days since Jihyo confessed to him, and he didn't get enough sleep after that. It still gives him headache whenever he thinks of it.

"Don't worry, I can surpass this! It's just that I can't be with you and won't see you for a while... maybe when I finally get over you, we could be friends again. Although I didn't know when was that... but hopefully it'll be sooner, because I'm sure I'm going to miss hanging out with you."

"Goodbye, Jongin."

Jihyo's words kept replaying on his mind, like a song on repeat.

"Are you okay?" Soojung asks when Jongin didn't answer her.

"Yeah I'm okay... what was it again?"

"I said Baekhyun oppa asks me to remind you about your practice game later."

"Ah, yes I remember that..."

"You're spacing out again, Jongin. Did something happened?"

"Well Jihyo confessed to me, that's what happened." Jongin thought.

"Nothing, I'm just nervous for the upcoming game, that's why."

"Really? For sure your team will win. Jihyo told me you guys are really good, so try to loosen up a bit, okay?" Soojung said as she pats his shoulder.

Jihyo... Jongin flinches when Soojung mentions her name. He haven't seen her since that day. He honestly hoped that he will at least see her at the hallway or at the locker area, but the girl was elusive.

"And speaking of Jihyo, I haven't seen her lately. Where is she?"

"She's avoiding me. And she's really taking it seriously..." Jongin sighs loudly as he tries to answer all of Soojung's queries in his head. Soojung looks at the person beside her, who's thoughts have been occupied once again.

Jongin's been heaving sighs since he visit Soojung's house last Sunday afternoon. He was exhilarated a few days ago when she agreed about him visiting their house, and was even more excited when she told him she'll teach him how to bake brownies. But when she opened the door, she didn't expect to see a sulking Jongin standing in front of her doorstep. She didn't know how to comfort him since she thinks Jongin's friends is somehow involved of his gloomy mood.

"Maybe it was because of me..." Soojung thought.

***

Jihyo visits his grandfather's tomb. It's been a while since she visited the place. Wearing a small smile, she looks at her grandfather's tomb and dusted the dried leaves that has fallen as she place a bouquet of flowers on top of it.

"Sorry if I took a while to visit you here." Jihyo silently said. "I missed you so much, pops. How I wish I can talk to you right now. I really need to hear your voice..."

"You can hear mine, if you want to."

Jihyo was startled and whips her head to her left.

"You scared me!" Jihyo exclaimed, hand clutching her chest.

He chuckles. "I should've recorded it. It's priceless."

"Ha-ha! Very funny, Sehun. Very funny!" She said sacastically.

"What are you doing here?" Sehun asks.

"I should ask you the same question. What are you doing here."

"I just followed you. You're too deep in thoughts to notice me all throughout the trip."

"You mean you followed me from school to here?!" Jihyo asks with scandalized look which made Sehun rolls his eyes as if he's saying 'duh! '

Sehun went near to the tomb and bows his head, paying respect to Jihyo's deceased grandfather.

"Hey pops, it's been a while." Sehun said as he runs his right palm against the carving on the grave.

"You're not answering me, Sehun-"

"What happened?"

"What do you mean what happened?"

"Don't play stupid on me, Jihyo. You know what I'm talking about." eyeing his friend who gnaws her lower lip, Sehun sighs when Jihyo keeps mum.

"You've been so distant this past few days as if you're avoiding something... or someone. Tell me what it's all about." Sehun demands.

Looking at her friend's resolving eyes, Jihyo knew that there's no any other way than to tell Sehun everything.

"I've already told him..."

"What did he said?"

"Does it even matter? Jongin's so into Soojung and I am not a selfish person to take him away from the person who makes him happy."

"So you choose to get hurt..."

"Well they say love is sacrifice-"

"Yeah right! And hurting your feelings is the best thing you could do. Sounds like a bull to me! How many times have you sacrificed your feelings for him again? Should I make a shrine for you?!" Sehun frowns as scold her.

"Sehun-"

"I know all you want is for him to be happy. But are you happy?"

Jihyo couldn't answer. She wanted to say that the pain was unbearable, especially when she can always see Jongin and Soojung together. That she misses him a lot and god knows how much she wanted to go near him even just once, but she knew how foolish it was.

Sehun sighs when he didn't get any answer from her. He knows she's trying so hard not to wail or sob but the violent shaking of her shoulder is enough for him to know. Sehun pulls Jihyo towards him and hugs her tightly and gently runs his fingers through her hair.

"Just cry it out. You know I'm always here for you..."

Jihyo can't take it any longer, she broke down and hugs him back.

***

"Why did you take me here?" Jihyo asks.

"So that you can clear your mind."

Sehun brought her to god knows where, but all she can see is vast blue sea and big rocks just a few meters away from the trees. No one's there except from them. And how did Sehun managed to hand her a pink balloon? She have no idea. She guessed she was too distacted to noticed him buying it earlier.

"Pink? Really?"

"That's what the guy gave me so don't complain." Sehun clicked his tongue.

"I'm not a kid to bribe me with this."

"One of the simplest ways to stay happy is to let go of all the things that make you sad."

"Umm... I don't get you..."

"If you want to be happy, you need to let go. It'll be hard, I know, but you have to. It also pains me whenever I see you cry." Sehun said, concern is lacing his voice.

Jihyo looks at him, tears starts to well in her eyes once again. She's thankful to have Sehun as one of her bestfriends. Although Sehun rarely expresses his feelings, she knows that she could always count on him whenever she needs someone to lean on.

"Sehunnie... thank you." Jihyo said softly, smiling at him.

"Anytime." Sehun smiles as well. "Besides, you're going to wash my shirt since you spill all your mucus on it earlier."

"Fine! Some friend you are..." Sehun chuckles when she glares at her.

"I'll just wait for you over there," he points where few kids that is now huddles underneath a tree, "then we can go home after, okay?" Jihyo nods okay then Sehun starts approaching the kids who tries to fix their kite that was broken when it got stuck on the tree.

Jihyo starts walking towards the sea and climb the biggest rock and sat on top of it. She inhales the salty scent of the air and looks at the vast sea. She then tilts her head up and looks at the clear blue sky that looks empty since there are no clouds. She returns her sight back to the sea, which mirrors the blue sky. It is calm and empty, not even a small boat could be seen sailing around.

She then looks around her, though she can see Sehun with the kids from afar, the place is still empty. Just like her heart - empty.

Jihyo releases a deep sigh, "I should've known... I should've known better that it'll be hell hard to fall for someone... someone as Kim Jongin." She tugs the ends of the balloon and smiled at the thought of Sehun holding the pink balloon before giving it to her. "Where did he even get this?"

Jihyo heard the children's laughter. She looks at the source of the noise and saw Sehun lifting the kite over his head before releasing it as the 3 kids runs to make the kite fly. She smiles when Sehun saw her looking at them.

"Sehun's right... it's time for me to let go." She looks up at the sky and raises her hand. She gave the pink balloon one last look before she opens her hand and let the balloon go.

"Thank you for letting me experience how to fall in love, how is it feel like to be giddy whenever you smile at me, and for inspiring me. Meeting you was fate. Becoming your friend was a choice... but falling in love with you was beyond my control. Thank you for everything, Jongin. For the last time, I want to say I love you and also... goodbye." Jihyo thought as she watch the balloon fly away.