♡ 39

"You might as well come clean now, Peaches." Sunghoon says from the backseat of Tim's car as he drives us home.

"I don't know what you are talking about." I reply and Tim raises his eyebrow at me. He doesn't know much Korean.

"You are not with this guy. You have zero chemistry." He laughs and I don't look back at him. I have been keeping my eyes in front of me or on Tim. I refuse to look at him. I still can't even believe he is here. "He hasn't touched you once since we got in the car."

"Some people aren't big on public displays of affection. He doesn't know you!"

"Or he isn't used to touching you. Which is sad if you are dating, because your body feels amazing..."

"Stop it."

"Being in the backseat reminds me of the time we tried out that scene from your webcomic. Remember how I fucked you in the back of my..."

"Sunghoon!" I cut him off, my face entirely too hot. I can't believe he is bringing this up right now. I know Tim doesn't understand what is being said, but to say this in front of someone else. "Stop it."

"Is everything okay?" Tim asks and as if it were an after thought, like he just remembered we were supposed to be dating, he reaches over and grabs my hand.

"It's fine." I tell him, squeezing his hand.

I wish I could say holding Tim's hand isn't weird, but it is. His hand is weirdly clammy and it doesn't feel right.

"That looks fake." Sunghoon sighs, unaffected.

When we get to the house, Tim sets the couch up for Sunghoon and a cot for Jake, just in case he comes back. But him and Sohyun have probably made up by now, so I doubt he will be making an appearance.

"If you two are together," Sunghoon says as Tim goes to grab more blankets that he asked for. "Why am I sleeping on the couch? I could take the guest room."

"I stay in the guest room."

"Why aren't you sleeping in his room?"

"Sunghoon..."

"Admit you aren't really with him, Y/n." His tone drops, his voice pleading. "Tell me you didn't give up on me that easily."

"We broke up, Sunghoon. You told her about my webcomic. About who it was about!" I clear my throat when I realize I have raised my voice. "How did you see me ever forgiving you for that?"

"I know. I know. That's why I didn't tell you." He runs a hand through his hair. "I should have never put myself in that situation. I know that now. Y/n, please. Give me another chance. I flew all the way here..."

"I didn't ask you to. I never once gave you any hope that would justify you flying here to see me."

"You didn't." He agrees, nodding. I can see the hurt on his face as he looks to the ground and it doesn't feel as good as it should. The pain in my chest betrays me. Why am I not over him yet? "But I thought if I could see you in person I could get you to see we are meant to be together."

"Destined? Seriously?"

"Tell me what to do. I will do anything." He takes a step closer. "Please, give me a chance to fix this."

"Go back in time and make her not see it. Don't end up in that room with her, where you were shirtless with your hands on her. Don't threaten Heeseung."

"Trust me, if I could I would." He takes another step closer. Where the fuck is Tim? "Youngji has signed a contract with me stating she will not speak about that comic to anyone." Okay, a bit dramatic, but it does make me feel better. I have been checking daily to see if she has broadcasted who I am to the world. "I have apologized and made amends with Heeseung. It isn't a time machine, but I am trying to fix my mistakes here."

"You can't fix how I found you that night."

"But nothing happened. She was helping me, because I was cut. In hindsight I know I shouldn't have gone with her. I know I should have texted you. I never should have taken off my shirt. And the minute I tried to keep her from falling it felt wrong."

As I listen to him my mind goes back to that night. I can vividly see her basically on his lap while he is shirtless. I see his hands fly to her waist. I hear her say what she did about my webcomic.

Tears spring to my eyes. I shake my eyes, walking away from him. I lock myself in my room, sliding down the door.

I can't do this. All the progress I made is gone, out of the window. Here I am, on the floor, stuck right where I was months ago.

My body aches to go running back to him, but my heart won't let me. It still feels the pain of how it shattered that night. He needs to leave.

My phone rings and I see it's Sohyun. Great, maybe she is calling to say she is going home with Jake and will take Sunghoon with her.

"Hey." I say, trying to force my voice to stay normal.

"Hey. How's things going?" She asks, sounding a bit more sober than she had when she left the bar.

"Fine. Why?"

"Listen," she says, ignoring my question. "Jake wants to show me the Koala Sanctuary thing tomorrow, but I don't want to go without you. I am here to see you, not him." She slurs a little and I chuckle. "Come with us?"

"Of course." I say without thinking. I actually haven't been to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary since I arrived here. It has been on my list.

"Awesome. Tell Sunghoon, would you?"

"What? No."

"You haven't made up? Did he not apologize? I'll kill him. He promised me he would apologize until his knees gave out!"

"He did." I bite my lip, sighing. I didn't want to ruin Sohyun's trip here. "I will let him know."

"Thank you!"

"Sohyun, our bath is ready." I hear Jake in the background. "Who are you talking to?"

"Gotta go. Love you!" She makes a kissing sound before she hangs up.

I shower and climb into bed before I text Sunghoon.

Me: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary tomorrow

Ex-Boyfriend: A date?

Me: No. Your sister wants to go.

Ex-Boyfriend: But you'll be there

Me: Yes.

Ex-Boyfriend: I'll take it

Ex-Boyfriend: Sweet Dreams, Peaches