ong Suk went back to the chair he was sitting on earlier, and Shin Hye followed. They sat side by side in silence, occasionally sipping from their mugs. Shin Hye racked her brain for something to say. Anything, really. She wanted to apologize, but for what? She didn’t know when to start.
Jong Suk’s expression when Min Ho had revealed to him and Woo Bin that they were dating was something she probably will never forget. She remembered her chest tightening and her throat drying up. She wanted to say something to him right then, but she couldn’t find the words. And when Jong Suk looked up to meet her eyes and put on a forced smile, she almost choked up.
‘So was that why you didn’t give me an answer?’
Jong Suk’s voice had interrupted her thoughts. She turned to him, but he was looking down at his mug. ‘Eh?’
‘The card with the flowers. My question. You didn’t give me an answer.’
Shin Hye took a deep breath. Her heart was still feeling heavy, and Jong Suk's wistful voice just added to that weight.‘ I’m sorry. I should have called you and told you, but I was out of the country and…’ she stopped midsentence and bit her lip. ‘Actually, no excuses are valid. I should have called you and I didn’t. That was rude of me and I’m really, really sorry.’
Jong Suk turned to look at her. ‘You don’t have to be sorry. I think it’s me who owes you an apology. I barged into your house without thinking,’ he scratched his head. ‘I can be very impulsive sometimes. It’s one of my worst traits.’
‘Ani, I think it’s one of your best,’ Shin Hye replied. ‘You always do what you feel like doing, and you’re not afraid of what people might say. It’s really brave and endearing. Sure, I got a shock when I saw you at my door, but mostly, it was a pleasant surprise,’ she gave him a warm smile.
Jong Suk closed his eyes and drooped his head low, sighing deeply.
‘What’s wrong?’ She asked.
‘I’m in a hole and I don’t think I can come out soon,’ he replied. When he lifted his face, he looked troubled. ‘Promise me you’ll stop saying things like that to me, okay? It will just get harder to get over you.’
Shin Hye opened her mouth to speak, but as always, she had no idea how to respond to that.
Jong Suk took a sip from his mug and cleared his throat. ‘I’m sure you already knew. You’re my secret,’ he said softly. ‘And I think Min Ho hyung also realized it back there. It was really silly of me to bring it up, but I guess I was just too happy that you came.’
‘I’m sorry…’
‘Again, you don’t have to be sorry,’ Jong Suk cut her off, chuckling. ‘None of this is your fault. I just have the worst timing. And the worst luck. Min Ho hyung? I didn’t stand a chance,’ he paused. ‘Then again, what did I expect, right? That no other guy was interested in you? Half of Daehan Min Guk is probably in love with you.’
Shin Hye remained silent. She wasn't sure what to tell him, if she should comfort him or if she should leave him alone. What words could possibly make him feel better? If she put herself in his place, if she found out that Min Ho was in love with another girl, nothing he could ever say would make her feel better.
'I should have known. I mean, I was beside you at the SBS Awards. I should have realized it then. But I was too busy looking at you to notice that Min Ho hyung was looking at you the same way.'
‘Jong Suk-ah,’ Shin Hye said tenderly. ‘Do you know how much I appreciate you? You’re one of the most genuine people I know – not just in this industry – but ever. You’re wonderful and kind and lovely. So don’t think for one second that you pale in comparison to Min Ho oppa.’
She turned her body to face him. He was gripping his mug tight. Shin Hye opened her palm and stretched it toward Jong Suk. ‘Hand,’ she said.
Jong Suk looked down and hesitated, but after a while, he put his hand over her palm. Shin Hye squeezed it lightly. ‘My handsome friend, Lee Jong Suk,’ she let out a sigh. ‘It would be unfair for me to tell you what to do, or to tell you that this will just pass, when I don’t even know how you really feel. All I can do right now is tell you that I’m sorry. Maybe it’s insensitive, maybe it’s even vain. But that’s what my heart is telling me. I’m sincerely sorry.’