JEONGIN'S heart fluttered as he remembered all the events that happened when him and Mal left to skate across town.

He remembered her warm figure glued to his as she grabbed his waist, steadying him up while they skated.

He remembered her holding his hand, then eventually hugging him tightly and kissing his forehead, telling him how proud she was of him.

He remembered staring at her pink, plump lips, the defeating urge inside him ordering him to kiss her.

Oh, how he wanted those exact pair of lips above his.

But, he didn't get what he wanted whatsoever.

He sighed as he sat down on the bed, a wave of disappointment washing his insides.

He didn't even touch her yet, and he felt like a traitor.

He frowned at himself, already frustrated.

Why did he even care so much? Not like they cared about him either. They abandoned him, for God's sake.

His train of thoughts was interrupted by the sound of loud, familiar knocking on his door.

"Come in!" He yelled in a soft, weak tone, then watched the door slowly open to reveal Mal, softly smiling at him.

"Hey, noona..."

She muttered a greeting and approached his bed, still smiling.

"Hey, Innie..."

She pulled his toned body in a tight hug, "how are you? Did you have fun today?"

He nodded with a wide smile, sitting up straight to bring his body closer to hers.

"Yes... I had a lot of fun today. And, I'm doing alright now, thanks for asking."

She nodded and smiled, reaching for his hand. He sighed and squeezed her hand, then stepped closer towards her figure.

Then, he stared at her strangely inviting lips. The urge to kiss her was now stronger than ever, and in all honesty, he needed the contact against his cold, desperate skin.

He leaned in until there were only inches apart between their faces, between their lips.

"Please, noona... Can I kiss you?" He asked in a weak, desperate tone, "just once. Please."

He never imagined himself being so desperate over a kiss, and yet, there he was. The warmth inside him grew stronger as he found her not answering, but planting her lips above his.

His stomach exploded with butterflies, which brought tears of disbelief to his closed eyes. He returned the kiss almost immediately, giving her lips a long, desperate kiss.

She kissed him back for a few, long minutes before breaking away, leaving his lips as cold as ever.

"Please, noona, I want to kiss you again..." He muttered in a desperate voice, the guilt inside him almost punching him in the gut.

You need to stop. The voice inside his mind ordered.

Just one more kiss. He urged, kissing her lips once again.

This time the kiss lasted longer, and it was more desperate than before. He thought if he let her go, she would go back to Felix's arms and leave him all alone.

As she should. The voice scolded.

He allowed himself to savor the long moments of the passionate kiss before he broke away, giving her time to breathe.

That was when the guilt hit him all at once.

Mal bit her lower lip and avoided his gaze, giving him a few moments to tear up once again.

"Sorry, Innie. I'm just not ready for... That."

She glanced into his direction, only to see him breaking down into tears. Her eyes widened in shock.

"Innie, what's wrong?! Is it about what I said?"

He threw himself in her arms, making her hug him back tightly, and began sobbing as he nuzzled his face into her neck.

"I-I'm sorry, noona..! I'm a traitor. I shouldn't have done that."

She rubbed his back in reassurance.

"Jeongin, don't say things like that! You're not a traitor."

She just didn't understand...

"Yes, I am! I am a traitor. You don't understand..." he gasped out.

She pouted her lips and hugged his waist tighter, holding him up straight. He hugged her torso tightly and continued to sob, still unable to get a full sentence out.

"I-I'm... I'm a terrible friend."

She shoved him away gently, in a way that his arms were still clinging into her as he glanced into her eyes.

"Why are you a terrible friend, Innie? I don't understand..."

He shook his head and avoided the question, then pulled her in another hug.

"Innie, are you okay? You've been acting really strange lately..." she spoke in a gentle, hopeful voice. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

He shook his head once, still clinging onto her cotton shirt.

"You won't understand..."

She sighed heavily and rubbed his back, not asking any questions after.

Because the last thing she wanted at that point was for him to be pressured to tell her how he felt.

Doubt began rising in her chest as she thought for a moment, still unable to process the whole situation.

What secret was so mentally draining and manipulative that it made Jeongin so tired and guilty all the time like that?

It seemed like her friend wasn't going to tell her any time soon either.

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