Min Ho and Geun Suk were by the window, looking outside. Shin Hye had retreated to the kitchen for some much-needed clean up. The guys offered to help, but she refused. Min Ho wondered if she deliberately gave them some time to talk. The night had been bizarre. Half the time, it had been fun; the other half, just uncomfortable. Maybe Shin Hye was hoping things could turn around.
‘So when did you know?’ Geun Suk’s voice broke the silence. He didn’t take his eyes off the view outside.
Min Ho turned to him. ‘When did I know what?’
‘That you know… that you were in love with her.’
The sudden question should have surprised Min Ho, but it didn’t. All night, he had been wanting to talk to Geun Suk about Shin Hye, and somehow, he had a feeling that Geun Suk had been wanting to talk to him about her, too.
Min Ho gave Geun Suk's question some thought. He didn’t know exactly when he crossed that threshold. He always liked Shin Hye – what was not to like? But falling for her was another story.
‘I’m not sure when it started,’ Min Ho replied. ‘But I think I began to realize what was happening towards the end of filming. My biggest fear at that time wasn’t about ratings or how people would receive the entirety of the drama.’ Min Ho paused. ‘I was more afraid of not seeing her and not being around her anymore. I dreaded the end because then I’d run out of reasons to be with her. That’s when I knew.’
Geun Suk nodded his head tentatively as he sipped from his can. A smile was playing on the side of his lips. ‘That’s very sweet.’
Min Ho looked at Geun Suk and bit his lip. My turn. ‘How about you? When did you know?’
Geun Suk turned to him, looking slightly impressed. He was silent for a while, as if deciding whether he should tell him or not. ‘I don’t know,’ he finally spoke up, unfazed by Min Ho’s question. ‘But it took me a lot longer than you did. I can be a bit dim sometimes,’ he put a hand at the back of his nape. ‘I guess, somewhere between weeks of unanswered calls and random road trips, I realized what she meant to me. But by then, it was too late. She settled her feelings, and I decided to bury mine.’
Hearing Geun Suk say those things didn’t feel great at all, but he wanted to know why it didn’t work out. Min Ho looked down at his drink. He was a guy, too. The way Geun Suk looks at Shin Hye, one can even assume that he’s still in love with her. But something about Geun Suk’s gaze struck him more as a forgotten longing for a past love.
‘Did you ever confess?’ Min Ho asked.
Geun Suk shook his head slowly. ‘But I wanted to. It used to eat me up inside just thinking about it. What if I just told her how I felt? Would things be different? But there was always something that stopped me,’ Geun Suk explained. ‘I knew I wasn’t the one for her. She was too young then, and I was a bit of a mess. I was sure I would have just broken her heart. And I couldn’t bear to do that. Not to her.’
Min Ho didn’t know what to make of what Geun Suk was saying. Any sensible boyfriend should be furious by now, even picking a fight. They’ve been drinking, too. But instead of jealousy or anger, what he felt was kinship and empathy. He was sure that Geun Suk cares about Shin Hye. Min Ho respects their relationship as friends, and he understands where Geun Suk was coming from.
More importantly, he trusted Shin Hye’s feelings enough to know that whatever past she and Geun Suk shared, will stay in the past. She was with him now. He’s never been more sure of anything in the world.
‘I know what you mean,’ Min Ho said. ‘Thank you.’
Geun Suk looked surprised. ‘For what?’
‘For not breaking her heart,’ Min Ho replied.
Geun Suk didn’t say anything for a while, until Min Ho heard him chuckling. ‘Lee Min Ho. You really are something.’
Min Ho smiled as he shrugged conceitedly. Yes, I’m a very cool man.
‘You know, as her friend, I should be sizing you up and making sure you deserve her,’ Geun Suk pointed his beer at Min Ho.
‘As if,’ Min Ho laughed. ‘Are you even a good judge of character?’
‘Not at all,’ Geun Suk replied. ‘But Shin Hye is. If she chose you, then that must mean you’re a great guy.’
Min Ho smirked. ‘Are you flirting with me? I still haven’t forgotten that text you sent me a few years ago.’
Geun Suk almost spit his beer as he burst into laughter. ‘YA! Don’t bring that up, it’s embarrassing!’
‘I can’t believe you had to clarify that you were into women just so I would text you back.’
'Stop,' Geun Suk pleaded. 'Aigoo, I even revealed that on national television.'
As soon as the laughs died down, Min Ho turned to Geun Suk, his expression serious again. 'I really am in love with her,' he told Geun Suk. 'You're one of her best friends, I thought you should know.'
'It shows,' Geun Suk replied, smiling. 'Keunde... just don't show it too much around other people. You know how hard it is to be us and have relationships.'
'Yeah. We're barely managing,' Min Ho told him. 'But we're doing our best.'
'Promise me one thing, though,' Geun Suk said. 'Please protect her.'
'Even without that promise, I fully intend to.'
‘Thanks for dinner, guys,’ Geun Suk told them as he walked to the door. ‘I still can’t believe you let me bother you this long,’ he chuckled.
Shin Hye scoffed. ‘Min Ho oppa has fallen for you deeply. Want to take him with you?’
‘Ya!’ Min Ho elbowed Shin Hye’s arm lightly before turning to his newfound friend. ‘Don’t drive, Geun Suk-ah.’ He smiled, stretching out his hand.
‘I won’t. My driver is downstairs,’ he took Min Ho’s hand and pulled him in for a bro handshake. ‘You’re one cool guy, Lee Min Ho. You better reply to my texts from now on,’ Geun Suk told him.
Geun Suk then turned to Shin Hye, then back at Min Ho. ‘Min Ho-yah, can I? I’m kind of into hugs,’ he said, pointing at Shin Hye.
Min Ho smiled. Geun Suk pulled Shin Hye in and gave her a hug, which lasted a lot longer than Min Ho anticipated. He was about to swat him away when he let go on his own. ‘Now I know why you look different,’ Geun Suk said. ‘Stay happy, Shin Hye-ah. You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do now,’ he told her warmly. He gave Min Ho’s arm a little pat before opening the door. ‘Kanda,’ he waved and stepped outside.
Shin Hye sighed and leaned her head on Min ho’s arm. Min Ho turned to his side to let Shin Hye lean on his chest instead. ‘Was that hard?’ He asked.
‘Sort of. But I’m happy,’ Shin Hye replied. She linked her hands at Min Ho’s back. ‘Thanks, oppa.’
He leaned his cheek on her head. ‘Sorry if I invited him against your will. I just, uhh, wanted to find out some things.
‘Mission accomplished?’ She asked, still leaning on his chest.
‘Yeah.’
Shin Hye pulled away and looked up at him. ‘And?’
‘And what?’
Her eyebrows furrowed. ‘Don’t you have, uhm, questions for me, too?’
Min Ho tilted his head. Did you really love him? How much? How long did it take you to get over him? Why didn’t you confess? Did you know that he had feelings for you too? Was he your first love?
Min Ho smiled. ‘No, not really…’ he started to say. ‘Oh wait. I just have one.’
Shin Hye breathed deeply, as if preparing herself for heavy questions about her and Geun Suk's past. ‘What?’
‘Can I stay the night?’