My Ex Is My Bestfriend

"So, are you two lovebirds going to finish washing those dishes? Because I can hear their clamor in the living room."

I glared at Ethan. "What do you want?"

He just shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just glad that you're both doing okay. And Minho, don't get jealous of me. I may have held Cassidy's heart far longer than you right now, but she's not coming back to me. She's learned her lesson. So...."

And he turned around and walked out.

I looked at Minho. "Can I..."

"Do you want to talk to him?"

I nodded hesitantly. He sighed. "Okay. Just shout if you need me, I'll just be within earshot."

"Thank you Minho." I kissed him on the cheek and ran after Ethan.

"Ethan! Hey!"

He stopped and turned towards me, his right hand just resting on the door knob.

"Where are you going?"

"Have you forgotten? I have a flight back to Japan later tonight."

"But it's still too early."

"I have to get back to the hospital too."

"Oh okay. But won't you stay for a little while?"

"And what will I do here? Watch you getting smoochie with Minho? No thanks."

"I'll try, and I will be. Just like you said Cass, it might not be now, but someday. I'll just have to focus on my sights now on our research and work."

I smiled. "Then best of luck to you Ethan! Take care. And don't forget to contact me now and then, okay?"

His brows furrowed in confusion. "But your boyfriend would be mad if-"

I interrupted him, "I'll make sure that he'll know about it, and he's there with me when that happens. Take care Ethan!" I hugged him tight, feeling the sadness of seeing him go away again.

He ruffled my hair. "You take care too. If that guy makes you cry again, just call or message me."

"Okay. Bye!"

He waved at me just before closing the door. And Ethan was gone.

My shoulders sagged a little, but there were strong hands that lifted it up. "He's really important to you, isn't he?"

"Yeah, in a way."

"Finished it Cass."

"What? You didn't wait for me? But-"

"Well, I was bored waiting for you, so might as well make my time productive."

"Well, when you put it that way. So, I guess we need to talk a lot of things now."

"Yes of course. And we'll start with you," saying that while pointing his hand at me.

I was nervous but I clapped my hand nonetheless. "Of course of course. To the couch we go."

He chuckled. "To the couch."

***

We were both sitting side by side on the couch. The TV still turned on. The show Ethan was watching still playing. Minho was intently watching my every movement, listening on my every word.

I can't unsee the disdain evident on his face as the story progressed. Well, I still get hurt about it, but I'm slowly moving on.

I finished relating the story with the lightness that is associated with the loss of the lies, burdens and deceptions I had planned. It was as if I was free from all the shackles that chained me down. The truth was free. I am free.

"Oookay. I'm a little bit spooked that you were doing that even if you were separated, but you promise nothing happened between you two when we were together."'

"Yes, I promise." I didn't notice the single tear that dropped from eye.

"Why are you crying?" Minho gently asked while wiping away that tear.

"I guess, I still feel hurt of the child I lost."

"Well, do you want to have one now?" he said teasingly.

I punched his c.h.e.s.t. "No. Not yet. But soon, if you like."

"Hmmmm. I'm thinking of names now."

"Well. The story's a bit of a shame for me really."

"No," I held his hands. "There is nothing you should be ashamed in front of me."

"Okay," he breathed deeply and then started talking.

"I had a girlfriend before, before my parents met that unfortunate accident. We were so good together, my parents even approved of her, even planning for the wedding. I brushed those off as they getting excited."

"There was one time that I met her best friend, a guy. And I was a considerate fellow back then, so I didn't mind. I trusted her enough that she'll do the right thing."

"So there were days that I couldn't accompany her because I was busy, applying for medschool and all. I thought she'd understand. And then, there was this one date we had that she asked if we could.... if we could..."

"Have s.e.x?"

"Yeah. That. S.e.x. She asked if we could do it. I seriously declined because I was afraid. And I explained to her the consequences, added to the fact that we were still minors that time. And I said I was just concerned of her well-being and her future. Because you know, people will always judge if you get pregnant that young and out of wedlock. So yeah that was it."

He inhaled sharply. "One day, there I was, leisurely walking home from school, when my friends asked me if I saw that new scandal. I really did not care about such things, but they really insisted that I should watch it. They said it was fun."

He was shaking now, gripping my hands. "I was so mad that time Cassidy. I don't know what to feel. I was hurt. She, they hurt my ego, my whole being. I trusted her that much, and this is what she'd repay me."

I gripped his hand too, showing support. "Hey it was over. I'm here."

"I know. But sometimes that lingering feeling of hurt still haunts me. And then, that was it. I stopped seeing her entirely. I deleted her number, blocked her in my social media accounts. My friends hated the guy and that girl to the core, until now. I did not blame them, her face wasn't clearly seen on the video, but I knew it was her because of her birthmark on her collarbone."

"So now you know I really don't like you having that Ethan guy." He laughed. "But I guess it wouldn't happen the same way because he was first. But Cassidy, I'm willing to take that road again, just to stay with you."

I teared up. "No Minho. You are taking another road, the one with me. Because with Ethan, we're only just friends. Period. We can't go back to the way we were before because I don't want that. I have you. I love you."

"I am just afraid Cassidy."

"Okay, I promise Minho that you will be the only one. I will only have s.e.x with you." I earned a laugh from him. "And I promise that you could trust me with all your heart. I know this is a lot to gamble, but I promise you I'm telling the truth."

"Yeah it is a lot. Because Cassidy, if I ever experience something similar with that, I don't know what to do."

I hugged him. "No it won't happen. It's you who I love now. He was my past. You are my present and definitely my future. I love you."