Chapter Text
Hayi was quietly sitting outside the university cafe at a table reading her English book for class. Her cell phone buzzed suddenly on the table and she flinched from being startled by it. She picked it up and read the text message from the lock screen and a small smile spread across her lips. "I'm at the gate," she read to herself and she looked up towards the main entrance of her school and saw her boyfriend, Hanbin, standing at the front gates. He never bothered to show up to any of his classes today, but there he was waiting for her to exit the campus. He stood there finishing off his cigarette looking around absentmindedly. He had caught the gazes of some girls passing by and he ignored them tossing his cigarette to the ground while they swooned and giggled. The whole fact that he paid the other girls no mind made Hayi smile even more. She felt a presence beside her and looked to her right at her classmate, Junhoe.
“Of course he would come to campus for you,” Junhoe scoffed looking over at his friend. “What was the point of even enrolling?” He sipped his coffee.
“I made him enroll” Hayi pouted which caused Junhoe to roll his eyes. “He needs to know that there are other options out there besides, you know...” She trailed off as she packed up her things.
“Yeah yeah,” Junhoe sighed. “You are wasting your time with that. But I'll let you go because someone is giving me the look of death…” Junhoe trailed off. Hayi returned her attention back towards Hanbin and sighed. Hanbin looked annoyed and mouthed some profanities to Junhoe who only smirked in response. Hayi furrowed her eyebrows looking between the boys.
“Stop being a brat,” Hayi grumbled to Junhoe before leaving to meet Hanbin. She could hear Junhoe laughing loudly behind her, clearly unaffected. She rolled her eyes as she walked towards the gates and found Hanbin still glaring at Junhoe. “Let’s go,” she muttered grabbing Hanbin’s arm finally gaining his attention.
Hanbin looked down at her, his facial expression turning from aggravated to loving in milliseconds. Hayi just sighed and pulled him along away from the school and Hanbin followed obediently, forgetting all about his little interaction with Junhoe.
Hayi and Hanbin walked alongside each other in silence, just enjoying each others presence. That was until Hanbin’s jealousy decided to turn on. Hanbin has wanted to kill Junhoe ever since one drunken night where Junhoe said that if Hanbin had not made a move on Hayi first then he would have. “Why were you with him?” He questioned grabbing her hand lightly to interlock their fingers as they walked. Hanbin loved holding her hand, it reassured him that she was always with him. Seeing her alone with his younger "frienemy" at the cafe clicked on some emotions and he did not like what he was feeling.
“You know Junhoe is just playing with your head. He doesn't really have a crush on me,” Hayi replied adjusting her backpack. “And we were not together. I was studying and he came at exactly the same time you texted me. If someone would come to campus with me they would not be having this problem,” she added in a sing song tone looking up at him.
“Ugh, you got me,” he huffed glaring at her playfully causing her to giggle. “I know but he's sneaky. And I was busy. Are you mad at me?” He questioned as he watched where they walked. Hanbin never wanted her to be mad at him about missing his classes. He knew education was important to her but it just wasn’t his thing anymore. He saw it as a waste now but that was only because he had a job and he made decent money. The fact that his career choice just so happened to be an illegal one was just a variable that he decided to look over. “Can I make it up to you?"
"Hm…come to class,” she hummed and looked at his face for an answer. Hanbin frowned while looking ahead and sighed loudly in response which made Hayi pout. She stuck out her tongue at him before looking up at the sky, thinking of answer. “I want cake,” she beamed looking back at him. He smirked and looked back at her to confirm her answer. “Cake,” she repeated and pulled him towards the dessert cafe just ahead that wasn’t far from her apartment. Just now did they both realize how far they’ve walked, any further she would have been home already.
Hayi and Hanbin entered the cafe greeting the employees politely. The new young female employee beamed when seeing Hanbin approaching the counter and Hayi narrowed her eyes towards the girl. Hanbin didn't even notice, he was too busy looking above the employee up at the menu. "Can I take your order?" The employee chirped, her question was clearly directed at Hanbin. Hayi was quite sure the girl was ignoring her presence on purpose.
Hayi cleared her throat gaining the attention of Hanbin and the girl who finally turned her attention towards Hayi. “Chocolate cake, strawberry cheesecake and two glasses of milk,” Hayi said monotonously giving the girl a blank look. Hanbin smiled to himself as he witnessed Hayi's jealousy first hand, a rare and amazing experience. The girl quickly cashed out the order and Hanbin paid then the couple sat down at a booth away from the crowd.
They didn't say anything to each other while waiting for their food but Hanbin did get to enjoy the sight of Hayi making faces at the girl who was getting their order ready. The girl delivered the desserts and milk but not without flirting a little but as usual, Hanbin paid no mind. “Baby,” Hanbin smirked looking over at Hayi who was still glaring at the employee standing at the table. “Here try the chocolate cake baby,” Hanbin said smiling sweetly snapping Hayi out of her jealous trance. The employee grimaced as Hanbin grabbed the fork from the table and took a piece of cake holding it towards Hayi's mouth that was already open because she was caught off guard.
“Uh,” Hayi slowly leaned over the table and Hanbin fed her the cake. Hanbin smiled while Hayi blushed eating the cake and the employee scurried off leaving the couple alone. “Why did you do that?” Hayi kicked Hanbin under the table and he winced hissing at her. Even though the girl left like she want, Hayi did not liking being put on the spot like that.
“I wanted to make sure she knew you were here with me,” he shrugged in reply then rubbed his sore shin. "You're just cute when you're jealous."
"Shut up," she pouted eating more of the chocolate cake which was actually meant for Hanbin but it was really good. "So embarrassing."
"I won't do it again," Hanbin said amused while eating her cheesecake. They eventually swapped cakes and finished eating. They left cafe after a while and Hayi made sure to pay no mind to the employee in an attempt to prove that she could control her "jealousy."
Hanbin and Hayi walked together again, hand in hand, to her apartment. This time at least Hanbin carried her backpack the rest of the way. They talked about random things as they walked. Hanbin made it a point to keep the conversation mostly focused on Hayi. They talked about her day, classes and assignments that were due. Hayi didn't mind telling him, she knew he genuinely wanted to know. But she also knew that he was avoiding something. when they arrived at her apartment Hanbin hesitated as if he didn't want to come inside and that cause Hayi some concern becuase he's been inside her apartment more times than she could count.
"Just come in," Hayi said. "Chaerin isn't here," she added wondering if that was his issue. Chaerin was Hayi's older sister and they lived together in the apartment. Ever since their parents passed away when Hayi was in high school, it has just been the Lee sisters. Hanbin came in and sighed knowing that his acting skills really sucked because he knew that Hayi was on to him. They went to Hayi's bedroom and Hanbin sat in her desk chair while she put away her school things, she then sat across from him on her bed and for a while they just stared at each other. "Something is bothering you, so just say it."
Hanbin looked away from her eyes to her feet before looking back up. "He told me to keep my distance because it's risky. I assumed he meant like hanging around here for too long. I have never mixed are relationship up in what I do and he knows that so I don't know," he rambled not clear on how to explain that his boss wanted him to break up with Hayi. "I don't want you to get in trouble. We've been fine so I don't understand why he's so concerned about us. Ever since he found out your sister was Chaerin-"
"Wait," Hayi interrupted Hanbin and tried to piece together Hanbin's ramblings. "Are you talking about your boss? He doesn't want you around me because I will put you at risk?" Hayi questioned and Hanbin nodded since that is basically it.
Hayi looked away from Hanbin and laid back on her bed. She stared up at the ceiling and gathered her thoughts. She knew this time would come eventually. She has heard from rumors that Hanbin has been getting higher up in the ranks in the gang, and the higher the rank the more of a threat to rival gangs. It would make complete sense to cut off their relationship, there were too many negative outcomes if they stayed together and they both knew that. "So...what are you going to do?" Hayi asked carefully.
At first silence, then she heard Hanbin shuffle at her desk before feeling the bed dip from his weight. Soon they were looking eye to eye because he was hovering above her. "Like usual," he smiled at her. "What ever I want," he added before leaning down and kissing her lips softly.
Even though it was probably the worst decision to make, it was exactly what Hayi wanted to hear.