Part 9

                                    

                                          
For the next week, you avoid Sunwoo like the plague. Once you realized that your distraction attempt did absolutely nothing to squash your apparent growing feelings for the man, you could've cried. Ever since your revelation, you've been thinking about him non-stop and nearly driving yourself crazy. It's like he carved out a little space in your brain and made himself at home. His scent is permanently etched into your nose, and those stupid pouty lips are engraved in your mind.
You were terrified to see him the next morning after you pleasured yourself to thoughts of him. He had opened his mouth to say something to you, but you were out the door before he could get more than a couple of syllables out. The thought that he could've heard you and was going to tease you made you want to disappear quicker than ice cream on a scorching hot day. However, to say you didn't touch yourself again would be a bold-faced lie. You just made sure you were quieter than the first time.
You have no idea what you're going to do about your situation. You can't keep running and hiding from him forever. He'll eventually call you out on it, but also… you just didn't want to anymore. A huge part of you wants to get caught. You want to come clean and tell him your thoughts and feelings, but you already know he doesn't feel the same. He's a flirt, and he's already told one person that he doesn't want a relationship right now.
A sigh of frustration is ripped out of you as you approach the apartment. You eye the building like it's going to give you some clue about what to expect when you walk into your home. Will Sunwoo be there? Is he going to attempt to talk to you for the 20th time? Will he ask you why you've been so skittish lately?
You attempt to collect yourself as you reach your apartment door and unlock it. Everything is fine. Everything is cool. If Sunwoo is home, maybe it's time you finally face the music. Maybe the two of you can sit down and talk…figure out if there's something between you or not.
Releasing the breath you didn't realize you were holding, you push open the door, only to be greeted with one of the last sights you wanted to see.
Minjee is here.
You stare blankly at the two figures on the couch. Minjee is pressed up against Sunwoo with her arms wrapped around one of his. One of her hands rests on top of his muscular thigh, and she is looking up at him adoringly until she realizes they're no longer alone. You don't even notice you're digging your nails into your palms until you feel the stinging pain that alerts you to how tight your fists are clenched. Forcing yourself to relax, you keep the blank expression on your face as you shut the apartment door, but it does nothing to stop the pain you feel in your chest.
Disappointment fills you, but you should've expected this. You knew about his complicated relationship with Minjee. You also knew he wasn't interested in you as more than a friend. Every sign pointed to it going this way. Yet you allowed yourself to hope for a different outcome, anyways.
Sunwoo's face brightens when he sees you. A twinkle enters his eyes, and his lips stretch over his teeth in a wide smile, wiping away the previous dull look that rested there. However, you refuse to let that smile do anything for you. It feels like any forward progress you made disappeared the second Minjee showed back up.
"Hey! You're finally home!" Sunwoo quickly attempts to pull you into a conversation. His eager tone should please you, but you can't get past the image of them being together. You mumble a "yeah", not willing to offer him much more. That doesn't mean he gives up, though.
"Come hang out with us!" He tries again. 
Minjee's glare warms up your skin, and you know in her head, she's throwing insult after insult at you. She's probably getting ready to curse the gods if you agree to join whatever it is they're doing. Luckily for her, you have absolutely zero desire to hang out with the two of them.