"Wow, I can't believe it's been a month since we started this project," Bom breathed out as we finished up the last bits of the display board.

I shrugged, "This month's been hell for me."

She looked up. "And why's that?"

"Because I had to hang out with you," I joked, as I glued down the last picture.

She smacked my arm. I looked up at her, scowling.

"Why'd you do that?" I asked incredulously.

"You were being mean."

"I was joking for crying out loud!"

"And how was I supposed to know that?" she asked, printing our names on the right corner of the board.

"Anyone that had a brain would've known."

She snorted, "It's hard to tell when you're joking and when you're being serious, Ji. You just seem so . . . "

"So heartless?" I suggested as she propped the board up.

She took a step back, staring at it before turning back to face me. ". . . so serious."

I looked at the board too, and as much as I didn't want to admit it, having it in white was definitely a good idea. "Well, that's just the way I am."

"That can't be healthy."

"Neither is binge-watching three seasons of a show all in one go, but you don't see me giving you life lessons on that," I said with a shrug.

She looked over at me from the corner of her eye, completely ignoring my previous comment. "We should change that about you."

"We?"

Again, she ignored me. "I have a great idea. Why don't we hang out? Like, not just work on the project and stuff, but actually hang out . . . as friends."

I groaned, "Spend more time with you?"

She hit my arm again.

I put my hands up in surrender, "Kidding, kidding."

"You better be.