Chapter 28: more than 1000 words

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When Heeseung parked our car in front of our house, there was already some light inside. Probably my mom, who was worried I might be late.

„Should we get out?", he asked, as he noticed my hesitation. I nodded and opened the door. „Would it be a good idea if I come along?", he asked me. „I mean, into your house."

„Yeah. Sure! I'm not going to leave you out here.".

We walked up the path towards my house, When I remembered that I had forgotten something. „Ah shit. The key.". I slapped my forehead. Would it be a good idea to ring? Like it's very early in the morning. I don't want to wake someone up.

„You forgot about this?", Heeseung asked me, when he suddenly walked purposefully to one of the bushes and pulled out a key. „Right, you were drunk.". He laughed as he noticed my gasp, before handing me over the tiny metal key.

„I really didn't know you are hiding it there.", I explained. „I can't remember anything.". Carefully, I opened the door and entered our house. Heeseung followed closely behind me.

Right next to the entrance, my three large suitcases were already set up and laughter could be heard from the living room.

The older one looked at me questioningly, but I just shrugged my shoulders. I carefully peeked inside the living room, whereupon the conversation immediately fell silent.

„There you are.", my mom addressed me, carefully stroking my arm, which made all eyes turn to me. „I was already afraid that you would oversleep.".

Surprised, I found that next to my mother, both Sunghoon and his girlfriend and Jungwon were sitting on the sofa, probably waiting for me.

My mom was stunned, when she finally noticed Heeseung standing behind me.

„Oh! You came as well? Why don't you come in?". I quickly turned my head to check on him, as I noticed him nodding towards the living room, what finally made us step in.

The picture that presented itself to me was incredibly funny. My mother, who invited us in with a proud smile. My brother who only once briefly directed the look of a cell phone and his girlfriend who stared at the completely overwhelmed Jungwon, who looked as if he had just seen aliens.

„You spent the night with him!?", Jungwon burst out in shock, and gave my brother a quick sideways glance, but he didn't seem the least bit interested.

„She spent the night at his, not with him.", Sunghoon corrected monotonous.

Inwardly, I rolled my eyes in annoyance and noticed my best friend muttering a silent "what the fuck? It didn't occur to you to tell me about it?"to me.

„You must be hungry. I made you breakfast, honey.", My mother finally took the floor again and pointed to the kitchen table, where there was a plate with cinnamon buns and hot chocolate.

„Uhm, actually...", I walked over to the table and snatched one of them. „We already had breakfast.", I confessed. „But I'll definitely pack a few in my suitcase if that's okay.".

„Of course! As many as you like. Bring your friends in the US some as well.". She said, while rushing through the kitchen, handing me a box.

She watched me wrap the cinnamon buns and finally clapped her hands, which made Jungwon wince.

„Who's all going to the airport now?" her eyes roamed the room. "Sunghoon?".

„Huh?" he finally looked up from his phone. „What about me?".

„She asked if you wanna accompany Hyeona to the airport.", hissed Yoojung to her boyfriend, who was obviously not paying any attention.

My mom suddenly turned around as I finished packing the last cinnamon bun. „What about you, Heeseung?".

He widened his eyes in surprise.

„You drove all the way here.".

But he shook his head in thanks. „I'm fine. There's no seat left in the car anyway.".

„Sunghoon, do you wanna come along?", I addressed my brother harshly.

„I think I'll drive Yoojung home first then.". He talked his way out of it. Wow. A brother straight out of a book. He couldn't even come to his own sister's farewell.

„I think you should go along.", Yoojung suddenly nodded towards me. „You won't see your sister for a very long time.".

Sunghoon sighed and got up from the couch. „Fine...Give me 2 minutes. I change quickly.".

„Perfect! I am outside and load the suitcases into the car.", my mom said and left the room. My best friend finally got up from the couch as well and lined up next to me.

„Yoojung, I can drive you home if you want.", offered Heeseung, which made me toss my head around. I could interpret his gaze exactly. Almost as if he wanted to tell me, I would very much like to come along, but you know exactly that this is not possible.

I mean. He was right. It would be kinda conspicuous if I begged my brother's best friend to come to the airport with me.

The girl nodded her head. „Would be great! Thanks!".

"Sunghoon!", my moms voice echoed through the lower floor. "Can you help me with the suitcases?".

Yoojung finally rose from her seat as well. "I'll just get my things upstairs," she told Heeseung before hurrying up the stairs. Loud rumbling and cursing could be heard from outside, causing both of our heads to spin around. I blinked a few times and noticed how his gaze was fixed on the exit. "I guess I should help your mom with your luggage.".

"In thirty seconds you can.", I answered with a sad smile and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly.

You could tell he was surprised at first, but that quickly subsided when he pulled me closer by the back of my head with a smile. "I guess you don't want to leave anymore, right?".

I shook my head slightly. "I'm just going to miss you so much. I still mean everything I said to you, but...I don't know.".

His hand carefully brushed my hair. "I'm going to miss you, too.". With a sight, he loosened the grip around my head, which made me separate from him. "Promise me to take care. And don't get drunk again!", he admonished me with a laugh. "There won't be a Santa heading you home.". "I hate you, idiot.", I punched his shoulder in a huff. "I will call you when I get there, okay?".

After a short silence, Heeseung went in for another hug, when suddenly Jungwon casually walked past us with a glass of water in his right hand. I flinched and backed away quickly. "JUNGWON?". Suspended in my shock, I couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Don't mind me. I'm was just about to prepare some popcorn and coke, because this...is the best drama I've ever seen.", he flopped back onto the couch with a huge grin.

"How much did you hear?"

"What do you mean?" he laughed ironically. "I was standing a whole ten feet from you. I haven't left this room since you came in."

"Oh my gosh". I turned around, facing the wall. This moment is definitely one of my top three most awkward situations in my life.

"I mean, am I supposed to be surprised? You've literally had a crush on Heeseung since you got back from America, and you never miss a chance to tell me".

I noticed my face heating up in embarrassment.

„Like, when you arrived together 5 minutes ago, it was so obvious whats going on.".

"I swear, if you're going to tell someone, I will kill you!", I walked threateningly towards my best friend. "No one will know anything about this!".

"My lips are sealed," Jungwon promised me with a hand oath, but his stupid grin said exactly the opposite.

I spun around and noticed that Heeseung was also trying to suppress a smirk. Just as I was about to ask what was going on, Jungwon interrupted me.

„But I actually have one question.", He looked back and forth between us, and by now I noticed the fear rising inside me. „How long is this already going on. Between you two?".

Thoughtfully, I shrugged my shoulders. „I don't know, only a few days I guess?".

Jungwon nodded slowly, while kneading his lower lip. „You slept in the same room?"

"Okay, that's it," I walked over to the couch and pushed him out of the living room with me to release the awkward tension. "Are you coming Hee?", I called after the older one, because only now I realized that he was still standing next to the TV in puzzlement.

At that moment, Sunghoon and his girlfriend returned from the upper floor. She with a handbag over her shoulder and he with a thin jacket over his forearm.

"Thanks for your help.". Mom stood sourly in the doorway, obviously exhausted from having to load the heavy suitcases alone. "Sorry, I was upstairs. Didn't hear you.". my brother explained casually. She sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Can we go then?" she looked at me questioningly.

I nodded and left the house first, closely followed by Jungwon and my mom.

"See you tomorrow, babe.", Sunghoon pressed a fleeting kiss to Yoojung's cheek before he went outside as well.

"I'll drive her home, hoon," Heeseung called to his best friend, who was already semi-entering the passenger side of the car.

"Sure. Thanks bro." he called back quickly before slamming the door behind him.

"You ready Hyeona?" my mom asked as she finally closed the trunk.

"Uh...yes I am.", I nodded decisively and walked around the back of the car once to get to the sidewalk side. While walking, I deliberately brushed the back of my hand along Heeseung's hand, which made him look up in surprise. Of course, I couldn't say anything else because Yoojung was still standing right next to him, but a little smile said more than a thousand words.

A goodbye for a very long time.

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