Summer when?

I never had to wash dishes before. His cooking is pretty good. I wonder if his parent runs a restaurant

too, just like Seongheo's. It's funny how Seongheo can't even boil an egg properly.

But again with all the other things he has to do, I don't think he has any time left to learn how to

cook. Seongheo wearing an apron will be quite a sight.

.......he occupies my head

a lot. It's becoming a nuisance. If it continues like this, then it will become a problem.

Before I could place it down on the side, the plate fell and shattered into thousand pieces.

I bend down to pick them up. It's not glass it won't give me a cut, but if am careless, it might start

behaving like glass and leaving a nasty cut.

"ow"

Just like this one.

It's not even bleeding. It won't leave a mark now, will it?

I just grabbed a band-aid from the shelf and wrapped it around the cut.

I don't need to do it but, it felt necessary.

Mom and dad are not coming back home today, again. It's been 4 days since I have seen their faces. It's

better when they are not around, I don't wanna hear their blunt and empty words

over and over again. It's boring.

I took a bunch of random books and sat them down on my desk.

We have tests, next week I still have my cram classes on weekends I won't be able to cover up for the

test...I have to fetch the materials now.

I looked up at the clock, it was past 9 pm, and the store is still open I have to hurry up.

They were about to close but I made it on time. I grabbed what I needed and stepped out of there before

the old man can throw an unnecessary fit again.

It's so quiet outside as well. All I can hear is the stream that flows right down the fences and-

"Kim Mingyu!"

Huh?

Oh

"What happened to armrest?"

He just smiled as he ran up to me. "Ahhh I am just proving that I still remember your name"

Look at his messy hair and clothes; he didn't even catch his breath and rushes over to talk about whatever crossed his mind.

"Maybe you should tattoo it on your body so you won't forget it", we continue our walk with the casual talks.

"Should I? But I am scared of needles"

"Yeah I know, you still,

cry like a 5-year-old whenever we have vaccine campaigns"

"Huh that is so not true, I got it like a real man"

"Umm I believe you"

Am not even looking at him

but I can clearly tell he's making the pout face again.

It becomes easier to

predict or guess what the other person is thinking or what their next words are

when you have lived with them for so long, am not even surprised with anything

he does, but I don't get bored. Even though it's the same words and gestures.

It all feels like a movie

that I rewatch all the time.

"What happened?"

his hands were already holding mine with the little band-aid around it.

"A small cut", I don't flutter at his subtle touches,

Or at least I try not to.

"When did you become so clumsy?" he said chuckling, my hand still in his grip.

"We all have those moments"

Considering you're way

clumsier than I can ever get.

Silence is not awkward

between us; I can still hear him even though he's not saying a single word.

It's like we are filling in some gaps between our words before we can come up

with something we can talk about again.

"I heard Jonghi to this neighborhood?"

he mumbles, looking around as if he will see him right

away.

"Yeah, I met him on my

way back" and after that, he also followed me, no actually dragged me home

and made me some good food. Now I can't add that, or else this person will just

make a big fuss about it.

"I should ask for his address we can have sleepovers"

"Count me out"

"No worries I will drag you there anyway"

He says followed by his

sinister laugh, his arms around my shoulders.

He laughs as if he had already

achieved it. What an idiot.

"You are smiling? Guess you like the idea of the sleepover"

his chuckles filled my left ear

mixed with his warm breaths.

I pushed his hands away and

walked ahead, "Stop dreaming"

Had to keep a distance,

hoping he doesn't see my hot red ears.

He ran up and we walked

back just like that, hearing how his day was.

I wish the road were longer.

We bid our goodbyes and part our ways.

Hearing his footsteps

disappear is still so unusual. I can never get used to it.

I hate it the most.

I just wish to hear the

voice and feel the presence, that's enough, I can never ask for more.

Dropping in my bed, I just

closed my eyes recalling the day. And drove me to sleep.

The day starts just like

that. I am on my way.

I wish I could take a cab

instead of the crowded bus. But I need to save up for future purchases.

I already saw the bus stop

when I saw Mrs. Park standing not so far away from the stand I went up to her

to greet her.

"Good morning Mrs. Park" I greet her with a small bow and a smile.

She immediately turned her

head and smiled. Seongheo resembles his mom so much.

"Oh? Little Mingyu?

Good morning. Going to school?"

"Ai, Mrs. Park I am not little anymore and yes I was on my way to school"

"I just wish Seongheo was as punctual as you, he just rushes everything and runs up at the last time

possible, I don't what I am supposed to do with this kid"

We bought chuckled at her

words.

"Don't worry; he will

learn to manage it one day"

"Ah talking about managing, Mingyu" Her voice was filled with curiosity as she turned her

head to me and asks,

"Do you think Seongheo has a girlfriend now?"

Ah, the same question again. Mrs. Park perhaps did you figure how

I feel about Seongheo that you ask

me that question every single time we get a chance to talk.

"I don't know, maybe he does?"

"You are not sure yourself, that kid comes back

home so late and never tells us a thing that

happens to him in school"

"Yeah, he never told

anything about that part of his life"

It's been 6 years, he told

me he use to have a girlfriend before he met me. She eventually dumped him and

moved away. Seongheo said it wasn't hurtful at all, he said it was more of

a relief since all she did was nag him. He's so bad at choosing partners.

"Help him or else he's going to end up dying alone"

Mrs. Park, it's the 21st

century, your son won't get married that soon. Think about his career and

health, mother.

I just gave her a nod.

First of all, how am I

supposed to help him when I lack the experience myself?

She knows I am a ******

right?

When was the last time I ever thought about it, never actually?

"Mom!"

Good kill this awkward

situation now.

Seongheo ran up to us and

smiled turning his head towards me, gasping in for air.

"Seriously, try to wake up early for once"

"I know, I know, let's go palgeo-i"

(Palgeo-i = armrest)

I bowed to her for the last

time before boarding the bus.

Seongheo followed me in; I

just sat down on the first seat that I could find as I went in.

He sat down on the seat

that was behind me since there was already a person sitting next to me.

I grabbed my earphones and

leaned back on my seat, closing my eyes.

Just to feel a hand

reaching out for one side of the earphones.

"Why are interrupting my peaceful ride?"

"I forgot to bring mine"

"I wish you will

forget to wear your pants one day too"

"Hey wait am not THAT clumsy"

"Sure"

He is so close. I can't

hear the music anymore.

The heartbeat is just

filling up my ear. It's too loud.

I just buried my face in my

bag, just before the person sitting right next to me notices how awkward I look

right now.

I don't want to end this

ride.

Just like anything else the ride ended before it can even start.

I just snatched the side

from his hands and walked down the bus.

I started to walk without

him before I see him walk past me.

Swinging his earphones in

his left hand.

What an unnecessary

incident to distract me again today.

I shouldn't be surprised

nor be flattered.

But Park Seongheo makes it

hard.

Such a cheap act to pull

out.

"Idiot"

He walks up to his friends

as usual, again with his smile.

Wait, Jonghi leaves in the

same neighborhood, why didn't we meet him at the bus station. Am happier we

didn't but, is he late for school? He will make it, he doesn't like classes at

all, and who am I to worry about it.

Seongheo had to visit the

club room so I walked inside the classroom alone like always.

But before I could step

inside the class, someone just grabbed my collar and pulled me back, and pushed

me aside. The grab made me choke a bit. When I looked up just to see Hwangso

walking inside with some other people following him from behind, a senior? What

is he doing here?

"Where is that jerk? Oi! Im Jonghi"

I saw that coming, who else

could it be. Trouble at 7 am.

"He is not here yet-"

No one is letting me finish

my words or work today.

"Oh? What's going on?"

For real Jonghi, nice

timing.

"You finally showed up huh?"

The senior says with a very

angry tone. Okay since they have seen each I should be on my way.

Again before I could take

another step, the jerk just grabs my wrist and drags me with him again.

Am I his bride or

something? Why is he always dragging me places?

"Oi! Im Jonghi! Why are you dragging me with you?!?"

"I don't know! I panicked"

"Are you stupid?!? Leave my hand?!"

"NO! Help me with this!"

"Why should I?!"

"Cause you are my guardian angel!"

"Stop spouting nonsense idiot!"

"I am sorry!"

"Shut up and leave my hand I have an idea"

He stops running and turned

his head to me while trying to catch his breath.

"Tell- me, what's- your plan?"

I walked to our left and

went inside a room.

"Try to breathe first and follow me nitwit"

Luckily this idiot dragged

us near the staff room, those seniors can't do anything.

Jonghi just followed me

inside as I walked up to Mr.Cha.

Mr.Cha looked a bit

confused to see us there; of course, it's unusual to visit him like this before

the class starts.

"Kim Mingyu and Im Jonghi, why are you two here? You should be in your classes by now"

"Ah that well Mr.Cha"

Darn it, I can't come up

with an excuse.

I turned my head towards

Jonghi; he can lie pretty good right?

"Ah that Mr.Cha I wanted to ask"

"Ask me what?"

"That, Ahhh can I have Mingyu as my teacher"

Your what now?

DON'T TRY IF YOU CAN'T!

I stepped a bit on his

shoes before he could further. Of course, he groans in pain.

"Mr.Cha he is just asking if I can be his tutor, and help him study"

"Study? Sure! Why not? Why would you need my permission?

Go ahead it will be a great help anyway. At

least my class will have 100% passed students."

"Ah what Mr.Cha, I am

not the only one that fails in our class"

"You are"

"You are"

Mr.cha and I both said that

at the same time.

Jonghi just turns his head

away and scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Haha it's a really good decision kid you should help each other, now let's go to class"

"Yes, Mr.Cha"

We walked ahead, Mr.Cha

followed us from behind.

Jonghi leaned in to

whisper.

"Thank you"

"Shut up"

"I will buy, wait,  no. I will make you a niiice meal for your kindness"

"Please don't"

"Why? You don't like my cooking? You said it was good"

"I can buy my own food"

"Yeah, yeah I know but it's NOT very unhealthy"

Just before we enter the room I asked.

"Why do you care?"

"You make me"

"Make you what?"

"Worry"

"Don't bother"

"What about me? I am really bothered by you"

I walked inside.

"That's your problem"

He just chuckled and went to his seat.

"I know" he exclaims so loudly now everyone is looking at him. Nice way to seek attention.

Jerk.

Classes started right away

when Mr.Cha entered the room after us. Do I really have any time to spare and

that little piece of dirt anything?

No, I don't think so.

Students rush out as soon

as they heard the bell, the room gets quieter. I didn't get to grab anything on

my way today. I have to get something from the cafeteria.

I stood up to walk out, but

Seongheo was already at the door looking in my direction.

"You are going to eat today? Let's go together"

Don't smile like that

moron.

I walked up to him, he was

alone. I guess that's why we want to eat with me.

"What about your friends?"

I asked as we walked down

the cafeteria together. The corridors are filled with people, each from

different classes. Seniors and juniors.

"Gone"

I looked up at him in

confusion, that's when he turned his head towards me and shook his head

immediately.

"No no don't worry they are not dead"

"If you say it like that, it does sound like they are dead"

He chuckles while covering

his mouth with his left hand. It's one of his habits. He doesn't cover his

mouth when he laughs. He should though, he has a hideous laugh. So ugly and

loud, that his laugh is funnier than the joke itself.

"I just saw you getting up so I wanted to sit with you"

"You expect me to buy you food?"

He rummages his hand

through his pocket to grab money when we reached the counter.

"Ehh no, I have my own money. I would never ask you to-"

He will never change.

"I will get two sandwiches"

I told the counter lady.

"Is that enough?"

I asked looking at him.

"Can we get something to drink too?"

Look, how shameless.

Shamelessly smiling.

I just handed him the card,

he grabbed it ran towards the vending machine, while I just waited for our

sandwiches.

We sat down at the nearest seat we could find.

He handed me a chocolate

milkshake box as soon as we sat down.

"For you"

"Yes, yes thank you"

He got himself the same

thing.

"Why would you buy that? You don't like sweet things"

He looked at it as he said,

"Just, I wanna know how it tastes"

"Don't complain how sweet it is"

"Ahh don't worry I won't"

"Oh? You guys are here?"

We turned our heads to see

Jonghi standing there holding a sandwich of his own.

Without any word he just

takes a seat next to mine.

"I thought you ordered another takeout today"

Seongheo asks him as he

stuffs his sandwich.

"I got caught so yeah"

"Well of course you

would, teachers now know you do that every day"

"Not, to tell you the truth, somebody told the teachers about it"

He's glaring at me I know.

Why?

Cause I was the one who

reported him for purchasing takeout foods in school.

"Too sad"

"Yeah, for people who eat so little it's not a bit deal after all"

"Why are you sitting with us?"

"I was alone that's why"

"Then you should eat alone"

"Nooo I need a company 24/7"

"You need someone who needs a babysitter,  what are you? A kid?"

"OH maybe! I am"

So annoying, I swear.

I kept my sandwich down and turned my head to him.

"You-"

"Since when did you two become so close?"

"What? We are not close"

"Mingyu is going to be my teacher"

"What? I never agreed to that?"

"Remember what you told Mr.Cha, if I don't get my grades up he will question you"

I want to strangle him to death right now; I won't go to jail right? Are 50 years of prison worth it?

"Teacher? As in being a tutor? That's good though"

"I don't have any time for it"

"1 hour after school, that should be enough, or maybe I can visit your house? After all, I already

know your address"

Seongheo chuckled again.

What's so funny?

"Finally Mingyu you can make friends without me"

Friends my foot.

I just grabbed my drink and stood up.

"We are not friends,

nor do I want him as a friend"

I just can't stand

breathing next to that creature.

I just walked out of there.

He had to interrupt the

only I have with Seongheo.

Walking down the corridors,

I heard footsteps following me.

I stopped and turned back.

"Why are you following me?"

He just shrugs without saying a word.

"Go away"

I turned back to continue walking but.

"I know"

"I don't care what you know"

"Really?"

I started walking again.

"I know you like  Seongheo"

What?

To be continued...

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