The mall was crowded,
Jihyun sat quietly in the food court, slowly eating his ice cream. Soobin leaned across the table, glaring straight at him.
"You're not sleeping well,"
he said flatly.
Jihyun blinked at him.
"I do… sometimes."
"Don't lie. You've got dark circles.
Go see a doctor."
Jihyun only nodded, his tone too quiet, his spoon moving lazily through the melting ice cream.
After finishing,
He stood to pay the bill. Just as they were heading toward the exit, Soobin suddenly stopped.
"Wait. Isn't that Taewon?"
Jihyun froze, following his gaze.
There standing near a shop was Taewon, holding a child in his arms.
Beside him stood another person, refined and beautiful, their presence drawing attention without even trying.
Jihyun's heart clenched, something sharp cutting through his chest.
Soobin narrowed his eyes.
"Who's that person?"
Jihyun forced a bitter smile.
"Maybe, he already found someone new."
"But that kid looks two or three years old," Soobin countered.
"That doesn't make sense."
"Why can't it?"
Jihyun's voice was low, almost trembling. "Maybe he was with them before me.
Maybe I was just in between."
Soobin frowned, placing a hand on Jihyun's shoulder.
"Don't think like that. Come on, let's get that bracelet. It should be ready by now."
Jihyun nodded, but his eyes refused to move away.
The way Taewon held the child so naturally, so gently. The way the person beside him stood close, like they belonged together.
In Jihyun's heart, a whisper echoed bitterly He's cuter, better of course they'd be together.
On the other side of the mall, Taewon balanced Kang Dan in his arms, standing beside Jihan, who was checking through the shopping bags.
Holding his phone to his ear, Taewon's voice was calm.
"So what, are you coming, or should I take them back?"
Taesung's voice came through the line.
"I've got a hospital shift. You do it, only this once help me, or jihan is going to kill me"
Taewon ended the call with a short sigh.
Jihan looked at taewon
"What did he said coming?
Taewon said covering Taesung
"He said emergency came up in hospital as soon as he was about to leave "
Jihan expression tight with frustration but he stayed quiet.
Jihan looked at taewon apologetically.
"Sorry, Taewon. I had no choice. That's why I called you. I sent the driver back because Taesung said he'd come, but"
"It's fine."
Taewon reached over, taking the shopping bags from Jihan's hands.
"Let's go. I still need to head back to the office."
Jihan nodded, gently taking Dan back into his own arms as they walked toward the parking lot.
From a distance, Jihyun and Soobin stepped outside. Jihyun's eyes locked on Taewon again, who hadn't even noticed his presence.
He saw Taewon open the car door for Jihan, carefully helping him in, before loading the shopping bags in the back and sliding into the driver's seat himself.
The image burned into Jihyun's chest like a cruel truth.
Soobin touched his arm.
"Jihyun, get in."
Wordlessly, Jihyun slid into their car.
As Soobin started the engine, he tried to lighten the air.
"Let's go eat lunch. Remember the place we"
"Take me home," Jihyun cut him off softly.
Soobin hesitated, glancing at him.
"Please."
"I'm sorry. We'll go out another time. Just not today."
Soobin gave a slow nod and drove, while Jihyun sat in silence, staring out the window, his reflection a storm of emotions he couldn't name.