Chapter 04

Yeori's POV

...

Here I am now, squeezing the lessons and answers out from my mind that I studied and memorized last Saturday night after Haneul took me home. He did explained to me why he took so long that night and got cuts on his lips. Good thing my boss gave me a day off yesterday. I'm inside the classroom taking my exam. I should focus my mind on the exam but the scene from that night keeps lingering in my mind, Aish! Yeori, focus on your paper! I mentally scold myself while writing down my answer. Our teacher separates the boys and the girls, so Haneul is in the other classroom.

(Time skip)

I sigh in relief as I left the classroom with an exhausted brain after taking the exam. Finally my brain can rest now. Counting my steps, hands on the straps of my bag, I head towards the classroom where I believe Haneul is there to take a peek at him. I wanna see how funny he looks like when taking an exam. Maybe his face are full of wrinkles right now, I chuckled by myself while heading there. I peek at the window, eyes searching for a dolphin--I mean searching for my friend but no sight of him.

"Where is he?" I mumbled, eyes still busy searching for him but I suddenly feel someone's presence behind me that made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight. Is there someone behind m--

"Looking for me?" Geez! I jumped in my spot, startled when someone have just whisper in my ear and causing me to face that person but the moment I turned my head, my lips brushed into something soft.

Wait.What.Did.Just.Happened?!

Did I accidentally kissed him?! No way. No. It can't be. I'm facing the person who just whispered in my ear, who has the same reaction as me after what happened. We're looking at each other with both wide eyes, lips slightly open and faces only mere inches away. Burning red as tomato.

"H-Haneul, w-what just h-happened?" I stammered, still shock. His face still close to mine, he didn't say anything and just stare at me.

Noticing my impatient face as I wait for him to speak, he cleared a throat. "Yeori...y-you--no..w-we.." His stammering voice sounds almost in a whisper tone as he looked down to his feet before turning back his gaze to me. "Um, d-don't worry you didn't... Your l-lips just brushed on my C-chin...yeah chin." He backed away, running his hand to the back of his neck giving me a nervous smile.

After he said those words I exhaled the breath that I didn't realized I was holding it and placed my hand on my heart, calming myself, thank god. But why do I feel something's wrong? "God. Haneul, please don't ever do that again you, pabo!" I scold as I hit his arm before walking away.

"Aw! Look, Yeori I'm really really sorry. Please don't be mad at me." He apologized, following me until I'm now in front of my locker. "Yeori come on, please don't ignore me." He sound so sorry, I could feel his gaze on me like searching for my eyes. He thought I'm mad at him that's why I'm not looking and talking to him. Well, to be honest, I didn't feel mad at him... I'm just feeling embarrassed because of what happened that's why I can't look nor talk to him. I just didn't make my embarrassed look obvious. He almost got my first kiss. After putting all my book Inside my locker, I closed it and was about to walk but Haneul grabbed my wrist spinning me around to face him.

"I'm Sorry." He apologized again and it made me sigh and nod at him. He didn't mean it anyway. I'm the one who's making it a big deal here.

"I forgive you, and I'm not mad at you, Haneul." I looked at him, meeting his eyes. His face lit up and gave me a friendly hug. I saw some students are looking at us--mostly me with judging looks, girls are sending death glares at me but I didn't mind them. They really like this guy here.

"Thank you, Yeori. I really thought you're mad at me." I could feel his chest vibrates as he laughs.

"No I'm not, now...pull away they're looking at us." I muttered enough for him to hear it, then he broke the hug with a frown. It really shows how pissed he is.

"So what?" He shrug before looking over his shoulder. "DON'T MIND THOSE BITCHES--" He purposedly made his voice loud for them to hear and because he's so tall I tiptoed just to cover his mouth to shut him up. Okay, I didn't expect that to come.

"Haneul, what do you think you are doing?!" I whispered yell at him before looking at the students around us then removed my hand away from his lips.

"They deserved to hear that. Now, let's go to the cafeteria I'm starving." He chuckles, rubbing his tummy as we start walking to the cafeteria. What will I do with this guy?

...

As we busily eat at the cafeteria, Seungmin suddenly came into my mind. I wondder if will I be able to meet that guy again or not. He's also a kind person like Haneul. I could say that guy has a good-looking face too like Haneul. But the difference between them isn't unnoticeable. Seungmin has those monolid eyes, straight nose, and juicy plum lips with dimples popp--

"Yeori? Why are you smiling?" Haneul's voice pulled me back from my thought and I don't know why but I roll my eyes away from him before digging in my food.

"Yah, what's up with that look? I'm just asking you why you're smiling."

"I'm..i'm just thinking of someone." I muttered the last words while munching on my food.

"Who is it? Is it a guy? Why does it makes you smile like that?" He blurted out and I looked up to him and saw his face looking serious. What's wrong with him?

"Nothing, nevermind that okay?" I sigh, waving my hand as I looked down to my food again.

"No, I want know who and why?" He says, stubbornness laced on his voice. Here we are again. I rolled my eyes and sigh in defeat. "Gosh, stubborn guy." I murmured looking away and decided to tell him.

"Are you saying something?"

"Nothing, okay I'll tell you. Listen, last Saturday...you left to buy an ice cream right?" I started to tell him about it and he put his spoon down. I could see his Adam's apple bopping up and down as he swallow down the food before leaning closer as he attentively listen. "Well, Mira was there too that time. She purposedly bumped me and started yelling at me in the middle of the crowd--"

"Aish! That girl, if I wasn't a guy I'll slap her face." I jumped on my seat as I was being startled by his sudden tantrums. What the hell? Can't he just let me finish?

"Let me finish okay? And calm down, you look like an angry hamster." I scold him as I motion him to stay calm and he did.

"Atleast, hamsters are cute." He muttered before surprisingly let out a windshield laugh. "Okay, continue." He added after laughing, I just rolled my eyes at him. Wasn't he angry two minutes ago?

"She was about to slap me and then there's this guy who just appeared and stopped her. He helped me." I explained, smiling as I remember the moment when Seungmin turned around. I hate to say this but...I think I had a crush on him. But don't get me wrong. What I mean is, I like how mature he talk. He sound like a cool cop and I like that kind of thing. I remember I used to be curious about a cop's life. How does it feel when you're on a mission? When you get into a fight with bad guys or investigate a case? And so on. I want to be brave as them so no one would look down on me.

"Huh, is that so?" Haneul huffs, standing up as he walks away while I was being left here on my seat with a confused face. Wondering if did I just said something wrong. Did I?

"Haneul!" I call out as I run towards the direction he just went away. He walked so fast heading outside of the school.

"Haneul!" Shouting his name again after getting outside of the school, I looked around searching for him until my eyes landed on my favorite spot. He's there sitting under the tree, I jogged towards him and stopped when I'm near. I could only see his back facing me. What's wrong with

him? This is the first time he acted like this and it makes me feel uneasy.

"Haneul." I placed my hand on his shoulder, but he didn't look at me. I sit beside him, nudging his arm. "Haneul, why did you walk away--" my words die in my throat when I heard him sniffing. Wait, Is he crying? Did I just made him cry?! "Haneul?" I call his name again and he finally turns his head and looked at me. But I see no tears. It's just only his slight red nose that I noticed and that made me internally sigh in relief. Of course why would he cry for no reason?

"I-I'm sorry I just suddenly feel sick and need to get some fresh air..." His voice sounds almost in a whisper tone. "c-can we stay here just a little bit?" He asked and I only just nodded. He looked anxious.

I couldn't utter even a single word, seeing him being like this for the first time makes me feel like something have just pinched my heart. It worries me seeing my friend like this. He's always be the positive one ever since the first day I met him. He said he just suddenly feel sick and needed to get some fresh air but I think that's not it. Does he have a problem at home? Or is there something bothers him? I thought. I wanted to ask that to him but I don't think he's ready to share it to me. So I guess I'll just wait till he's ready to talk about it. I don't want to pressure him anyway.

Without saying anything, I gave his sleeve a little tug to get his attention and when he looked at me I took the chance to pull him in a hug. He didn't refuse though. Instead, he hugs me back, little bit tight than mine and that tells how much he needs a hug right now. So, I think my guess is right. He's the only person who doesn't hesitate to catch punches and cuts just for me, the only friend I have and comforting him like this is the least I can do. I don't mind giving him many hugs if this will ease him up.

"You don't need to say sorry Haneul, just don't walk away from me like that again. You make me feel worried for you." I rub his back, comforting him and I was slightly surprised when he tightened his hug more.

Author's POV

...

Little did they know, while they are hugging each other under the tree, someone's unhappily watching their moment.

"Why? Why do I feel like this everytime I see you with him? Do I...really hate you...Yeori?" He himself as his tears rolled down from his eyes, clenching his fist.

"Someday, you'll be mine...Yeori. Only mine."

(A/n: Read the flashback below, so you will not get confused what happened to Haneul at the amusement park.)

~ | F l a s h b a c k | ~

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Haneul's POV

...

Since I threw so much food after taking the rides with Yeori, my stomach still calls for a food so I decided to buy an ice cream for me and Yeori. I jogged to the nearest ice cream parlor around, that place is less crowded, but before I could enter the shop someone grabbed the collar of my shirt, dragging me to the corner. Before I could who it was I felt a punch in the face that made me fall to the cold ground. Who the hell was that?! I mentally asked as I quickly stood up from the ground and face the person who just suddenly attacked me.

It's Jackson. I know him, I saw him last time bullying Yeori.

"Stay away from Yeori!" He yelled at me with a raging eyes and clenched fists. He wants me to stay away from Yeori? Is he out of his mind? Jinja? He does nothing but to bully her and I'm not definitely going to do what he wants.

"So, what huh? So you could hurt her whenever you want? You think I don't know you always bully her? I don't think so." I scoffed as I pushed him. "Yeori is my friend, I'm going to protect her as long as I can, and remember this... As long as I'm breathing I would never let anyone harm her." I retorted and punched him back. Take that you jerk. He was about to punch me again but suddenly halt and run away.

"Come back here you coward!" I yelled and wiped the blood that came out from the new cuts on my bottom lip. Geez, another thing to treat at home.

"Excuse me." Someone tapped me on my shoulder, I turn around and saw a young boy looking at me with a banana milk on his left hand. "You dropped this." He says, showing me my wallet.

"Oh, thank you." I thanked him and took my wallet. He politely nod and gave me a smile before he left. Hmm, that kid kinda looks like a cute bunny. I thought then Yeori came into my mind. "Yeori, I need to go back to her before that bastard sees her." I muttered by myself and rush back to where I left her completely forgetting the ice cream. Yeori is more important to me.

I came back to the place where I left her but she is not there anymore. No. where is she? I started to feel scared and worried for her. What if Jackson already saw her and took her away? No, it cannot be. I looked around until my eyes landed on her figure in the middle of the crowd holding our dolphin plushy, her back is facing me but I can still recognize her.

"Yeori!" I call out her name and run towards her.

"Haneul, slow down you might t--Oh!" I know she was surprised but I cannot help myself not to hug her.

"Haneul, are you okay? And hey what took you so long and where's the ice cream?" She asked me as she gently pulled away, then she gasp when she saw the new cuts on my lips. I knew she would notice it. "Haneul, what happen to your lips?!" She pointed at it.

"I need to take you home now, don't worry I'll tell you on our way." I grabbed her hand, intertwining them with mine. I'm afraid that freaking bastard might just appear out of nowhere and take my friend away.

...

"Haneul, you said you will tell me what happened." She asked, breaking the silence when we're only few meters away from her house.

"Jackson was there, I fought with him again." I told her and that made her stop on her track and looked at me. So did I.

She frowns. "Jinja? I--"

"Don't worry, it's just a punch." I tried to assure her. But, she wasn't convinced. It's pretty obvious on her eyes that something bothering her mind and I know she's blaming herself. She looked down to the dolphin plushy on her hand, looking guilty. I don't want her feel that. I step closer to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. She looked up to me and her gaze landed on my lips. She pull out a hankerchief inside her jeans pocket and wiped the blood from my bottom lip. I admit, I was surprised at her sweet gesture but I didn't show it.

"I'm sorry." She mutters and I hold her hand that's holding the handkerchief. She looked at my eyes as I softly stare at her. Silence filled the air around us as we just stared at each other for a short moment and it wasn't awkward.

"I don't want to lose you, Yeori." I told her. Having this feeling that I need to tell that to her. Our conversation was being interrupted by my phone ringing up. I excuse myself and she nodded as she handed me her handkerchief.

"Hello" I answer. It was my driver. My eyes still glued to her. I don't know why. All I could say is that, she's worth to stare at. I smile at her the moment I noticed her blushing and looked away. She must've felt flustered by my gaze. I thought before looking away. As much as I wanted to stare her a long time I don't want her to feel uncomfortable towards me. She looks cute when she's flustered.

"Your highness, you're highly needed at home right now."

"I'm going now." I told him before turning off the call and looked at her. "I need to go now."

"Thanks for today Haneul, take care." She says before smiling and holding up the plushy's fin making it wave to me. I chuckled, waving back at her before I left. She's so cute.

~ | End Of The Flashback | ~

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