To Byul (Omegaverse)-Chapter 69: You didn’t mislead me though

Meanwhile, while Kang-woo was visiting the doctor, Chin-hwa met up with Ji-hoo.

They met at a park close to Chin-hwa's dorm. He planned to head home from there so he chose there as his destination.

"Hey, you made it." Ji-hoo said with his hand in the air as Chin-hwa approached.

"Yeah, I said I'd be here but you certainly beat me to the punch." Chin-hwa said, causing Ji-hoo to laugh.

"Well, I was close by so I got here faster."

He reached his hand out and said,

"Come, take a seat."

They both sat on the bench and for a moment, there was nothing but silence between them.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Chin-hwa finally broke the awkward silence. "Your confession, I mean."

"Well, it's as you heard. It's a confession." Ji-hoo said over a smile.

"Hm, I'm not sure I follow. I know what a confession is but regarding the subject of that said confession, I have no clue." He laughed and Ji-hoo laughed as well.

"Of course, you'd have no clue. I haven't made it obvious so far." He said. "But what I'm about to tell you is true, all of it. And I hope you'll find it in your heart to accept."

"O... Okay." Chin-hwa said, his heart suddenly clenching in discomfort on sensing the air suddenly turn serious. What was Ji-hoo about to say? "I'm ready to listen, but as for if I can accept your words..." He gulped, "...it all depends, I guess."

"Right, right." Ji-hoo nodded. "It all depends. No promises can be premade when it comes to a confession."

"Glad you understand."

Once again, they fell into an awkward silence. Chin-hwa was waiting for him to speak up, so he also stayed silent until Ji-hoo took in a deep breath and exhaled.

"So, Chin-hwa, the truth is, I like you." He said, his sight straight on the slides in front of them. He did not look at Chin-hwa but from the side of his eyes, he could see Chin-hwa's widening eyes. "For a while now, I've been having growing feelings for you. If you ask me how it started, I won't be able to think of a thing, but I know that I like you because when I look at you these days, the way I feel about you is completely different from the way I felt about you in the past."

"Well, I... I don't know what to say about that." Chin-hwa said, turning his face away and raising his hand to brush the back of his neck. "If... If it's something I did, if I misled you, then I... I'm sorry."

"You didn't mislead me though." Ji-hoo said. "You didn't send a single signal either. You were just being you while I was, for some reason, falling for you."

"But how is that...?"

"How is that possible?" Ji-hoo stole the words out of Chin-hwa's mouth. "The heart works in mysterious ways, I guess." He said. "And as they always say, the heart wants what it wants."

Chin-hwa went silent, pursuing his lips and feeling conflicted.

Ji-hoo was a great guy. Funny and nice. He was strong too, but he had never held such thoughts about him. He never even imagined Ji-hoo would suddenly catch feelings either.

He was careful not to act too adorable and cute and ended up attracting the interest of the people around him, so what exactly did Ji-hoo fall for?

"Are you sure..." Chin-hwa began to speak, his words dragging with uncertainty. "...you're not just confused?"

"Confused about my feelings? How so?"

"Well, what you might be feeling right now could be nothing more of a sugar rush and your heart might be leaping for some reason other than affection."

"Oh, that? No, I'm sure it's love, but it's still in the growing process, you see." He said and laughed. "I don't love you deeply enough to want to chase you to the ends of the earth. I could even give up on you if you rejected me right now. It wouldn't be easy, though, but with a few drinks, a few heartbreak songs to accompany me in bed, and crying myself to sleep, I'm very sure I'll feel better the following week."

He said and this confused Chin-hwa. He was going to laugh because the way Ji-hoo spoke was as funny as can be, but the context of his words was not really funny.

"Are you trying to say I'm free to reject me right now?" Chin-hwa asked him but he shook his head.

"Oh, no. Please don't. Just ignore what I said." He said and Chin-hwa laughed this time. A soft laugh escaped his lips, and he looked up at Ji-hoo, watching him in surprise.

Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.

He paused, realizing he wasn't really helping the situation.

"But Chin-hwa, aren't you curious why I'm telling you this now?" Ji-hoo asked. "I thought that would be your first question after I said I wasn't madly in love with you yet."

"I did get curious but your words put me off right away." Chin-hwa said. "Why are you confessing to me right now, Ji-hoo? Are you hoping for a happily ever after with me? If so, I'm sorry but I can't give you what you want."

"Nah, not a happily ever after for me. It's more like a happily ever after for you, Chin-hwa. I'm confessing for your sake." Ji-hoo said, suddenly drawing close and Chin-hwa pushed his head back on instinct.

"M-me?" He asked and Ji-hoo nodded, grabbing his hand and pulling him to sit straight and not bend his head in avoidance.

"Yes, Chin-hwa. You." He said with a straight face but Chin-hwa was still confused.

"Please, elaborate, Ji-hoo." Chin-hwa requested, placing his hand on his head. "How are you confessing for my sake?"

Ji-hoo stayed quiet for a few seconds and rested his back on the bench.

"Do you know the content of the conversation we had the first time we met?" He asked, turning his gaze to Chin-hwa who shook his head.

"No, you said we didn't talk much. But you did say..."

"Someday, if the need arises, I'll tell you what we talked about." He rephrased his words. "And today is that day. Chin-hwa, on that night, you told me about the feelings you have for Byul."

Chin-hwa flinched.

"A.K.A, Kang-woo."