Chapter Text
As usual, Sunwoo absent-mindedly chops vegetables in the silence of her empty apartment, feeling frustration and regret arise out of her usually calm self.
Click.
The small pang of regret that pierces her immediately vanishes when she hears the frantic fumbling of keys and clicking outside.
"Sunwoo."
Jamie enters their apartment, his cheeks lightly dusted with a rosy flush from the harsh weather outside.
The sound of him calling her name immediately fills her with warmth. She knows she shouldn't be feeling this way for her best friend of all people, but her heart says otherwise.
"You're still awake, fam?" His eyebrows lift up in surprise at seeing her standing figure in the kitchen.
She lets out a light laugh at the look of concern on his face. Is he really that surprised?
"Yeah, I was cooking. Thought you'd be hungry."
"Guess you've got good timing," he hums in amusement, a playful gaze in his eyes. "You've been following me around, you stalker. You just missed me that much, huh?"
She tucks a strand of silver hair behind her ears, embarrassment flushing her face.
If she had told him the truth, the truth that she memorized the time he always returned at, what would he have thought?
After a moment of pondering, Sunwoo decides telling him such information would probably lead to the downfall of their friendship.
"Oh, please. Humble yourself," she huffs out, placing a plate of fried vegetables and noodles onto the table. "Enjoy."
"You're the best, y'know that?" He flashes her the smile that she loves oh so much- and for a moment, lack of sleep isn't a problem on Sunwoo's mind anymore. If her staying up late and making his favorite dishes meant that he would show her that smile everyday, she would do it everyday without hesitation.
She clears her throat, forcing herself to stare far away from his face to save her sanity. If Sunwoo's had one thing she struggled with for her entire life, it would be keeping her expressions in proper control. As Jamie had said in their teenage years, she was a little too obvious to read- she had spent her entire high school years attempting to fix that issue, and she could only pray now that her efforts weren't in vain.
"Oh yeah, by the way?" He says as his cheeks puff out, mouth full of noodles. "My date went really well- you mind if she comes over this weekend, fam?"
Sunwoo represses the disgusting feelings that threaten to arise out of her, her smile threatening to fall as well.
"No, I don't."
"But I'll stay home for tomorrow," He promises. "So you won't be alone."
Sunwoo feels a rise of annoyance in her gut; is he feeling pitiful towards me?
"You really don't need to." She tries her best to control her emotions once again, yet the bitterness in her tone is evident. "I have friends besides you, you know."
He chuckles lightly as he places his finished plate onto the sink, his tone filled with affection. "My best friend's gotten so popular, what will I do with myself?" The tone of sarcasm is thick on his voice, and Sunwoo is about to spit back a teasing retort when he walks over solemnly to her.
"But really. I promise," he murmurs quietly, placing a hand onto her cheek.
Her heart sinks; she would've fallen to her knees immediately if this was his first time making such a promise.
But now, she knows his promises are just empty promises.
The despair she had felt on the first day he broke the promise flickers back into her mind like a broken lamp. These empty promises of his soon became a routine, yet her heart always had a glimmer of hope with each word he spoke.
She absolutely despises the way Jamie is able to have her in the palm of his hand so easily. She hates the fact that he's so incredibly oblivious to all of this- she hates the way he makes her feel such abhorrent emotions. You never keep your promises, she wants to say. Do friends really touch each other like this? Are you really this oblivious to how I feel?
Stop putting my hopes up just to crush them like it's nothing.
She shakes her head lightly, and reminds herself that it's Jamie. After spending their childhood together, she should know better that he isn't exactly... skilled when it comes to realizing others' romantic feelings towards him. Instead of retorting back at him like she usually would've, Sunwoo pulls away from his touch and forces yet another cheerful yet bitter smile.
"Tell me more about this girl you went on a date with," she clicks her tongue, hoping he doesn't notice the sudden change of topic. "I'm surprised a date actually worked out for you, pretty boy!"
Sunwoo had always called him that since their teenage years, and it never meant anything much than a silly nickname to her- until her feelings started to bloom for her pretty boy.
One day, that smile of his became something she wanted to study everyday.
His nails tap on the counter, his ring shifting with every movement. "Can't say. She kinda reminds me of you, though." His lips curve into an amused smile, clearly poking fun at her while simultaneously ignoring the second part of his sentence. Jamie knows they're best friends- he knows they tell each other everything, whether it be friendships or lovers.
Infuriated, she chooses to ignore the second part of the sentence as well. Flirting with each other playfully wasn't something new to her, so why did it infuriate her this much?
She throws light punches onto his arm, failing to copy the moves in the boxing show she had watched with him. He jumps onto the couch in response, snort-laughing. "Fam, I'm glad you never pursued boxing as your profession, 'cause these moves fucking su-" He cuts out when she doesn't stop, her hands eventually reaching onto his chest to tickle him.
"My weakness! Stop," he cries out, his desperate pleas mixed with giggles as he rolls around, avoiding her hands. After a taking a breather, he pauses, a smile lighting up his face. "I'll bring her over tomorrow so you can meet her, yeah?"
And Sunwoo finally pulls her hands back, nodding with a smile of triumph on her face. The feelings of annoyance and jealousy that brew up inside her threaten to arise once again, but she pushes it down.
"Then I better get some sleep to get rid of these damn dark circles," she grumbles, pushing the messy strands of her hair back again. "I don't wanna meet her looking as rough as I do right now."
"Ah, yeah," Jamie breathes out, his voice filled with worry. He bites his lip aggressively- he can't bring himself to retort back with a joke to such a statement. "You really should."
She only nods in response; she can't seem to get rid of the thick jealousy that boils up in her chest. She doesn't want it to spill out- she can't let her feelings get the best of her.
"Good night, Sunwoo," Jamie smiles, the concern and solicitude refusing to fade from his eyes.
She whispers back, the thick jealousy bubbling up in her chest slowly fading back to pure adoration.
"Good night."