Behind the Mask - Hyunjin x reader

Chapter 17

- Excuse me?

- You heard me. I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. 

Wow. I had no idea what had gotten into me right then, but hell. 

You go Y/n. Call him out. 

I saw the flicker of something in his gaze. Was it annoyance? or maybe frustration. But mostly, something that looked a lot like realization. Like he knew I was right but hated hearing it out loud.

His hand clenched into a fist at his side, his shoulders tense, and I half-expected him to roll his eyes and walk away, to do whatever that girl was visibly looking forward to. 

But he didn't. Instead, he let out a loud sigh and ran a hand through his hair, glancing briefly at the girl still waiting at the counter.

Then, to my surprise, he sighed and muttered something under his breath before turning back towards me and dropping into the seat across. 

I raised an eyebrow. 

- Not going?

- Not in the mood anymore, he groaned. 

I smirked, taking a slow sip of my latte. 

- Thought so.

He shot me a glare. 

- Shut up.

I shrugged, unfazed. 

- I'm just saying. Maybe next time, try talking to someone instead of using them.

Hyunjin scoffed, shaking his head. 

- You're really something else, you know that?

- Yeah, yeah. I waved a hand. I get that a lot. 

For a moment, neither of us spoke. I just watched him, the way he stared at the table, fingers tapping frenetically against the surface. 

There was something restless about him, like his mind was moving faster than he could keep up with. His jaw clenched, then unclenched, his lips pressing into a thin line before parting slightly, like he wanted to say something but couldn't quite bring himself to.

It made me wonder. When exactly did we go from practically hating each other's guts to tolerating the other's presence? Ever since that night at the studio, something between us had shifted. 

It wasn't just the usual side-eyeing each other across the room, or shooting glares.

The vibe had changed. 

Into what? Hell, even I didn't know. 

We weren't friends, but we weren't enemies either. We... tolerated each other, I guess? 

Hyunjin let out a slow breath and finally looked up. 

- You really think you have me figured out, don't you? 

I smirked, taking another sip of my latte. 

- I don't need to figure you out. You're not as complicated as you like to pretend.

His lips twitched, like he was fighting the urge to smile. 

- You're annoying.

- And yet, you're still sitting here.

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. But then, his fingers stopped tapping against the table, and his expression turned just a little serious.

- You were right, though.

I raised an eyebrow, and he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. 

- About her. About... whatever this is. He gestured vaguely towards the door, where the girl had been waiting. I don't like her. Not really.

- Then why go with her?

- Because it's easy.

I blinked. 

- Easy?

- Yeah. His jaw tightened. No expectations. No complications. No... risk.

I frowned. 

- Risk of what?

He hesitated. Then, he looked at me, and for the first time, there was something vulnerable in his gaze.

- Getting attached.

The words sat heavy between us. And for once, I didn't have anything to say back. 

I studied him, and I knew. Somehow. 

- Hyunjin...

He tensed slightly, his fingers still tapping against the table before he forced himself to still them.

- What?

I hesitated.

- Is this... about Jeongin?

His jaw clenched, just for a second, and that was all the confirmation I needed.

I exhaled, setting my cup down.

- Hyunjin, you don't have to- 

- It's not a big deal, he cut me off. 

I gave him a look, and he leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand down his face before looking away, towards the window.

- I just... I keep thinking... what if this is it? What if I wake up one day and he's just... gone?

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say.

What could I say?

I wasn't going to feed him some bullshit about how everything would be okay. 

Because I didn't know that. 

He didn't know that.

- I guess that's why, he continued, voice quieter now. Why I keep things simple. Temporary. If you don't get attached, it doesn't hurt as much when they leave.

I wasn't sure if he was referring to her, the girl who had just left, or if he meant something else. 

Maybe both.

I sighed, leaning forward. 

- Yeah, well, that's not how it works.

He glanced at me, brow raising slightly.

- Keeping people away doesn't stop it from hurting. If anything, it just makes you lonelier.

Hyunjin scoffed.

- Since when did you become a therapist?

- Since I'm apparently the only one who actually calls you out on your crap.

He let out a small, barely noticeable smile, and I grinned, nudging my latte toward him. 

- Here. Take a sip. You look like you need it more than I do.

He raised an eyebrow. 

- You think I'm gonna drink after you? What if you're sick or something? 

I rolled my eyes. 

- Just drink it, drama queen. 

Eventually, he reached for the cup, his fingers brushing mine for a brief second. I wasn't sure why I noticed that. But I did.

And maybe. 

Just maybe. 

So did he.