CH2

Jisung woke up

His eyes were swollen, weighed down by guilt for ignoring his only friend.

After a long day of training, his friend had invited him out for a meal.

"I'm sorry," Jisung muttered.

"I'm worried about you. The way you..." Felix started.

Jisung cut him off with a sigh. "Is unhealthy and self-destructive… yeah, I know."

Felix rolled his eyes. "You say that, yet you keep doing it over and over."

"I can't help it, Lex. When I feel frustrated or angry, I lose myself… and before I know it, I'm with some guy."

"Then try actually dating someone instead of messing around. Kang—the charming actor—is still interested in you," Felix said, barely managing to speak through a mouthful of food.

Jisung stiffened. Felix had hit a nerve.

They were close...

But...

He had never truly opened up to him about his fears, his doubts.

Hell, he hadn't even admitted them to himself.

Jisung dropped his gaze to his plate of pasta.

Felix, unfazed, kept talking like an old matchmaking aunt.

"What about the other dance instructor? No, no… Producer Seo! He's the best choice—great body, and he's been chasing after you for a whole year now."

"Why don't you date him? You seem pretty into him," Jisung threw back lazily.

Felix wrinkled his nose in disgust. "As if I'd date any of your guys!"

Jisung let out a dry laugh. "There are so many, though!"

Felix shot him a serious look. "Guess I'll have to find someone who isn't already in your orbit."

Jisung smirked at his friend's hopeless romanticism.

Felix was his complete opposite—pure-hearted and someone who actually believed in love.

---

"And we're done!"

He grinned, pulling a silly face to make the little girl laugh.

She beamed at him, eyes shining.

He handed her a small box.

She opened it to find her tiny tooth inside.

"Hide it under your pillow so the tooth fairy can leave you some coins," he said playfully.

"Okay!" she chirped excitedly.

He lifted her down from the chair, and she quickly grabbed her mother's hand before bowing politely. "Thank you, Dr. Lee!"

As she and her mother walked out, his assistant huffed, "Kids are exhausting. Why do you even bother when your clinic is meant for adults?"

He chuckled. "Sana, have you seriously not figured out how much I love kids by now?"

Sana sighed in exasperation and left him to it.

He sat behind his desk, tossing his gloves into the trash before washing his hands.

For a moment, his gaze drifted toward the framed photo sitting in the corner of his desk.

A beautiful girl with long brown hair stood in the picture, and he was beside her, his arms draped over her shoulders.

He exhaled slowly, eyes lingering on the image.

And, as always—

He buried his feelings.

Leaving his chair, he took off his white coat, grabbed his things, and headed to his car.

---

His apartment was a monochrome world—black and white, like an old film.

He flicked on the lights, letting them push back some of the gloom.

After changing clothes, he made his way to the kitchen.

Placing his phone on the stand by the marble counter, he started a video call.

The phone rang a few times as he chopped vegetables for a quick meal.

"Traitor!" a voice yelled from the screen.

Even with the poor connection, his friend's good looks were impossible to miss.

Minho laughed, and the other huffed, "I can't believe you're getting married without me there!"

Minho stirred the pan absentmindedly. "Fast times we live in."

The other let out a frustrated sigh before asking, "How's Mina?"

Minho's expression shifted. His voice was quieter when he answered, "She'll be okay."

His friend hesitated before saying, "You two were always the talk of the university. She was crazy about you."

A pause.

Then, softer, "And you? Are you okay?"

Minho plated his food, setting it down on the table.

He grabbed his phone stand and moved to sit, facing the screen where his raven-haired friend was waiting.

"I'm fine, Jinnie. How's school going?"

His friend answered instantly, "It's alright, but America feels empty without you."

Minho smiled. "Then study hard, Hyunjinnie. Finish up soon and come back here."

The other grinned. "I will!"