Word Count: 2760

 

Art of Monogamy

 

You are a student in a prestige college, everything is perfect. Your academic skills, your social life, family, and status. Yes, everything is perfect, but not until she came. Moon Byul-Yi, that certain someone that suddenly popped out of nowhere battling your perfect life as she’s also perfect in her own ways, that someone that interrupted Kim Solar’s life, your life.

 

Moon Byul-Yi, that over friendly girl that is adored by everyone, by your teachers, fellow classmates, and by you. Well, who wouldn’t actually, she’s charming, kind, smart and somewhat very appealing though to the fact that she’s such an idiot at times, and in addition to that, Moon Byul-Yi is quite the player.

 

She likes girls just like you do, there’s a big gap between ‘like’ and ‘like’ in that matter, and it happens that Moonbyul ‘likes’ girls. You became friends with her of course, best friends to be exact, and there’s more of her that you seem to notice every single time that you’re together. Just like how she gets pissed whenever you call her a Casanova which she insist that she isn’t and answers back that a ‘lady killer’ like she is are two different things in which you agree nevertheless.

 

There are many things that you just can’t help but notice, and there’s a part of you ever since the day she took a step inside your proximity that she should not continue her playful ways, that in your age now, having one partner is enough and not to collect dozens on vixens. In your own hypothetical thinking, it is your job to teach Moon Byul-Yi, ‘The Art of Monogamy’.

 

1. Moonbyul has a handful of women in her hands… and in her phone.

It was lunch time and you were heading to the cafeteria to fetch yourself some food, then headed straight to what you call your haven – which is the agriculture student’s activity venue – and eat there. Settling your feet down the flower bed, you’re about to take a bite when she suddenly popped out of nowhere.

 

“Hey Solar!” she greeted with that smile of hers that melts everyone’s heart, but yours. Shocked of the abrupt presence, the next thing you knew is that your food is now scattered and one with the ground.

 

“What the hell MoonByul! Look at what you did!” You irritatingly stood up and went for the broom to clean up the mess and known for her adorable idiocy and clumsiness, you let her go, she was your best friend anyway. But you do know, but still can’t get used to, that Moonbyul has that element of surprise every single damn time.

 

Your back completely turned away from her, you hear her fast footsteps behind you. The broom now out of your hand due to a swift and soft touch from her as she grabs it and offers you that smile, you’re unaffected, that’s what you believed. “I’ll do it, sorry about your food I’ll treat you, I promise.” She raised a hand as a sign of assurance and cleaned off.

 

“You’re not taking that back Moonbyul, you’re going to treat me for lunch, dinner, and dessert, you got that!” you won’t back down of course. “Why are you here anyway?”

 

“Nothing, can’t I come here whenever I want?”

 

“As far as I know, you, Moon Byul-Yi is not an agricultural student.” You crossed your arms and sat back down to where you were before.

 

Moonbyul stopped sweeping and looked at you with that wit that you hated at times. “I don’t see a sign here that says nonagricultural students are not allowed, Yongsun~” and that wit is your second most hated thing in the world.

 

You drifted your attention elsewhere when all of a sudden, her phone rang. Being playful at the moment just as she was about to open her phone, you took it quickly away from her and ran. With her phone in your hands, you opened it immediately knowing her better thus for you knowing her password, multiple messages and alarms where seen on the screen.

 

She tried hard to get it away from you, up to the point that a back hug is already happening yet you’re too focused to notice the contact due to what you saw. Filled with multiple schedules and messages from different people – women – are visible to the screen. Being lost for a moment, you snapped back and that’s when Moonbyul got hold of her phone again. “Got it!” and that’s also where both of you noticed the foreign interaction between you two, resulting in a sudden opposition.

 

“S-Sorry…” she muttered before putting her phone back to her pocket.

 

“T-That’s fine…” You gave her a smile hoping to ease any awkwardness, and at the right time that’s when you had the guts to ask. “Anyway Moonbyul, you’re unbelievable.”

 

“Huh? Why is that?” she raised an eyebrow in confusion, and this got you triggered.

 

“I can’t believe it, just how much of a player are you, I think you’re in a new other level. Seriously, there’s just so many!” you were shocked, amazed, and pissed all at the same time that you had swung your hands in the air.

 

She smiled quite proudly, which pissed you off more, because you just can’t tell the way she thinks. “Exactly, I’m in a new other level, up to the point that I had to make a schedule just to not miss out on anyone.”

 

You clenched your teeth on this one. You calmed yourself down with Moonbyul completely oblivious of your actions and let this one go. It’s not easy to just change her ways in a snap of a finger.

 

“What a Casanova.”

 

2. You can never call her a Casanova, she hates it whenever you do, and whenever she reasons out, you agree anyway.

“For your croc’s sake Solar, I am not a Casanova!” Moonbyul’s in your house right now, in your room specifically, and you two have been arguing for about a few minutes already, with one endless topic.

 

“Yes you are, and leave my crocs out of this Moonbyul, don’t you dare go there or you’ll face the consequences!” You warned sending daggers to her direction.

 

She ran her fingers along her platinum strands, which made you stare for a good two seconds before directing your attention to somewhere else, because damn, is Moonbyul attractive or is she attractive? “Fine, whatever but I’m not a Casanova!”

 

“Then what are you then, huh?” you challenged with your arms crossed.

 

“A Casanova collects and breaks hearts, I collect, but I don’t break any! You get my point?” she’s frustrated and you can’t help but smile at this seeing that she’s so serious about her answer, not wanting for you to misunderstand.

 

“But in any case, whether you like it or not, you may or may not intentionally break some, right?” you questioned her slowly, hoping that she knows what you meant because making someone realize something is one of the hardest thing to do in life.

 

“I try not to…”

 

And you decided not to pry any further, you just agree to her explanations nevertheless, even for the nth times that you claim that she’s a Casanova and for a million times that she patiently answers that question just for you to understand, it still makes you accept her answer every single time, because you know she’s genuine, someone that is capable enough.

 

“So how many women do you have right now Byul?”

 

“Uhm… 12?” and Moonbyul says.

 

3. She loves flowers, and your flower bed.

You seem to notice that Moonbyul is fond of going in the school garden – in your haven – which you didn’t mind at first, but not until she goes there almost every day, every.day. But you can’t judge of course, since you go there every day too, even after your school activities where you’re needed in the garden, but the only difference is that you have reasons to go there, and she doesn’t… or does she?

 

“Why are you her Moonbyul… again?” you just finished arranging the flowers in order and your hands are dirty but she doesn’t mind that as she took your hands and brushed off the dirt.

 

“Why don’t you use gloves Solar? You’re pretty stupid…” she chuckled.

 

“Yah! I like being one with nature you know, and the flowers might get hurt if I touch them with gloves.” You reasoned.

 

“Yep, you’re pretty stupid. You’re pretty… and stupid.” And like any other, you just can’t handle compliments – especially those that come from her – calmly.

 

“G-Greasy…”

 

“I know, but you like it.” With a wink, she went towards your flower bed and took pictures of your arrangements. “Wow, this ones are pretty, where’d you get them?”

 

“You come here every day, you should know by now that I didn’t get them, I grew them.”

 

“Really, wow Yongsun, you’re getting really good at this type of thing.” She continued to stare at the flowers, and you stare at her, there’s just times where she’s totally admirable. “Oh, I like this one better that everyone else.” As she pointed at a certain flower.

 

“All flowers are beautiful Byul, don’t say that in front of them, don’t be biased.” You shook your head and giggled at her statement.

 

“So, does that make you a player Yongsun? You can’t seem to pick just one.” And back it again with her wits.

 

“Those are different Byul, these are flowers not women.”

 

“But flowers are like women, just like how they are as flowers. Beautiful, fragrant…” every word she takes a step closer to you, and with every step forward that she makes, is a step back to you. “… admirable…” without you noticing, she have taken quite the pace and is incredibly near to you already with such a suggestive smile on her face, the next thing you know, you’ve got nowhere to go and radiance of warmth between you two can be felt. “… you are a perfect definition of a flower Solar…”

 

By that moment, you knew that you’re attracted. That she does have an effect on you, ever since from the very beginning.

 

4. She may be smart but she’s hard to teach.

It was a very nice Saturday, and when you thought that you can relax, your door opens in a rush revealing a Moonbyul with an appearance you can’t help but laugh on.

 

“, , , Solar where are you!” you were heading down the stairs when you heard her call for you, totally in panic and she looked like she’s been scarred for her dear life.

 

“Hey Byul, sup?” you greeted casually.

 

“This is no time to ‘sup’ me Solar, I have a problem… , I miscalculated.” After that, incoherent words followed suit.

 

“Hey, calm down will you? What’s wrong?” stretching your limbs, you walked towards your couch and sat there.

 

“I miscalculated Solar.”

 

“In what?”

 

“In my date.” By that you felt that you’re wide awake now.

 

“What?” you tried to question again, wanting to believe that you just heard it wrong, but no.

 

“I miscalculated in my date Solar, I have two girls at the same date and time, what do I do? Whom do I attend to? I can’t choose, I shouldn’t choose!” rolling your tongue inside your mouth just by the cheek – a habit that you do whenever you’re getting pissed – you threw a pillow right at her face, hoping to get her back to her senses, to feel your wrath properly and as painful as possible. “Ow!”

 

“Are you serious?!”

 

“What? Why?!”

 

“Just stop it already, break it up, tell them what you need to tell, just stop it already. There, problem solved.”

 

“Easy for you to say!” Moonbyul sat beside you and that’s when you started faintly kicking her, pissing her off too to get your frustration to calm down.

 

And a kicking fight begins, until both of you were laughing at your childish behaviors. Finally having to calm down, you grabbed her by the cheeks causing her face to distort and a pout be formed on her lips – cute.

 

“Listen, when is the date?”

 

“Later, around 5 pm…”

 

“Look, just settle things already, I’ve been teaching you Byul, but you never listen.”

 

“It’s in my nature, what can I do?”

 

“Then, I’ll help you.”

 

“How?”

 

“Let me be your girlfriend.” A part of you says that you would regret it, but there’s also a part that says you won’t. What better way is there to teach someone than to put yourself in the field.

 

5. Slowly but surely, she learns… quite well.

Everything is going well, you two have been dating for a few months already, and who would’ve thought you two would build up such chemistry. She’s improving and she works hard more than anyone you know, but of course, there are times where she slips.

 

“Byul, eyes on me.” you said sternly as both of you were on the mall when suddenly you whipped a glance on her looking at someone in a rather not so friendly but more like something else kind of way.

 

“Yes ma’am.” And with her quick response, you can’t help but to admire her even more, well to give credit for her hard work.

 

“Your eyes Byul, I can see you.” You warned jokingly but with a hint of seriousness.

 

“It will never happen again.” With a cheeky smile on her face that you can never stay mad at, something that you realized whenever you’re together. “Kiss me?”

 

“What?” you asked curiously. “Why all of a sudden?”

 

“I did good today didn’t I?” she made a look on point, with her face filled with expectancy, together with a pout and pleading eyes, how can you say no?

 

“Fine.” Holding her by the shoulders for support since she’s quite a tall one, you placed a quick peck on her lips, which caused both of you to smile.

 

“Why so quick?” she whined. And you giggled in this reaction of hers.

 

“That’s because you made a mistake today, by staring Byul and you know that.” You just had the eagerness to even more, God knows how much you wanted those kissable lips linger longer into yours.

 

“It won’t happen again, I promise.”

 

Oh, who cares anymore? With one swift move, encircling your hands around her neck as you approached forward having your lips be perfectly connected to hers. Her hands travels to your waist and you can feel her smile through the kiss. Tasting the sweet and euphoric minty taste of her lips, it seems almost impossible to stop. It doesn’t matter if both of you are in a public place, because if ever this was one of your mission in life then it’ll be perfect ‘Mission Complete’ for you.

 

If only oxygen didn’t take part to the gentle and sweet contact, you would’ve wanted it longer.

 

“And that Byul, is the art of Monogamy…”

 

“Teach me more, Ms. Kim.”

 

6. Her reasons after reasons, but you like them anyway.

Even after so many months, it seemed that she has learned really well, you two are still together and going strong. But her habits are still there, like going to the garden, every day, as always.

 

“Why are you here every day Byul?” you can freely ask this time.

 

“I’m not here every day you know…”

 

“Yes you are…”

 

“Well, maybe. But I’m not here when you’re not here, since you’re the only reason why I come here anyway.” And greasy Moonbyul strikes again.

 

“Greasy…” you push her lightly before going back to digging and arranging the flowers.

 

She caught you off guard when she approached and placed a soft peck on your cheek. “But you like it anyway…” and giving off that charming smile that melts hearts… especially yours. “Oh, my favorite flower!” she interrupted quickly.

 

“Here you go again with your favoritism.”

 

“Nope, I love all flowers, it just happened that I like this one most.”

 

“Oh yeah?”

 

“Really, just like how I like all girls…” and this got your blood going, pissed.

 

But you stopped when she sets off a reassuring smile and a hold to your cheeks. “… but I love this certain girl best among them all…” followed by a soft kiss on your lips, that felt longer by each second. You like this too much.

 

Teaching monogamy to someone like Moon Byul-Yi was never easy, but for you it, it was a mission success.