Behind the Mask - Hyunjin x reader

The cafe was rather quiet. I sat at my usual spot by the window, my laptop open in front of me, though I hadn't actually typed anything in the last five minutes. Instead, my focus had drifted straight to the counter.

To him.

Hyunjin leaned against the counter, his signature smirk in place as he talked to a girl I didn't recognize. 

She was pretty. Long hair, soft features, the kind of girl that fit the aesthetic of someone any guy would pick for the night. She laughed at something he said, lightly touching his arm, and I watched as he let it happen, even leaning in slightly like he was actually enjoying this.

Of course he was.

I sighed, shaking my head, and forcing myself to look back at my laptop. 

Not my business. 

He could do whatever he wanted. For what I cared. 

But Felix's words kept coming back in my head. 

"He does this all the time. When he's not okay, instead of coming to us, to me, he just... finds some random girl to distract himself for a while."

So based on Felix's logic, Hyunjin is not okay right now. 

The chair in front of me suddenly scraped against the floor, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see... 

Hyunjin.

Sitting down, a drink in his hands. I raised an eyebrow, as he put the cup in front of me. 

I frowned, pushing it back towards him. 

- I didn't order-

- Just drink it, will you? He cut me off, his tone exasperated.

I huffed but picked up the cup anyway, while he leaned back, glancing towards the counter again, where the girl was still waiting.

- Why did you bring me this?

He shrugged, not looking at me. 

- Just came to check on you.

I snorted. 

- Since when do you check on me?

- Since Felix would kill me if I didn't.

Ah. So this was still about what had happened a few days earlier in the streets. I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of my latte. 

The girl at the counter looked in our direction and did a little head sign. It didn't take Hyunjin a second before he stood up, grabbing his jacket.

- Alright, I'm out. Don't stay too late.

And then, just like that, he turned to leave. 

With her.

And before I could stop myself, the words were already slipping past my lips.

- You don't even like her, do you?

Hyunjin froze mid-step. Slowly, he turned his head, brows furrowing. 

- What?

I swallowed, suddenly aware of how bold I had been right there. 

But there was no taking it back now.

- You don't like her, I repeated, watching his face carefully. You're just... I hesitated, searching for the right word. Distracting yourself.

He grit his teeth. 

- And what if I am?

- Then it's pathetic.

That did it. His brows shot up, a bitter scoff escaping his lips as he turned fully toward me.