Chapter 19 

Special Friend 

I was whistling as I took the papers to the copying machine. Mr. Jung asked me to have a photocopy of the blueprint of the hotel building of their project. 

Heck, I’m in a good mood today! I bit my lower lip. Remembering my conversation with Sandara earlier is making me giddy. We share the same feelings! She likes me too! ing yeah! 

“You’re in a good mood huh.” The Senior Architect asked me while also copying something. 

“Am I?” I asked, with a huge smile on my face. “Isn’t the weather so nice today, Sunbae?” 

He shook his head. “Well… Oh, have you met the new interns from another school?” 

I shook my head. “I was with Mr. Jung since morning so…” 

“I heard that your girlfriend knew someone from there.” 

Ahh, girlfriend. I almost blushed at the word. But wait— Sandara knew someone from the new interns? 

“Huh?” I asked, confused. 

“I saw her talking to the other guy. Maybe they’re friends.” 

My eyebrows furrowed as I heard him say the word ‘other guy’. It’s a man. A He. 

“Oh, maybe a high school classmate.” I replied. 

“Well….” 

I bid my goodbye and went to Mr. Jungs’ table to give the printouts. And to my surprise, I saw Sandara with… a guy. Someone I don’t know. And from the way they laugh, it seems like they’re close. What the heck? 

I didn’t mind it— heck, I don’t want to be rude especially since we are having internship right now. But, , I just want to pull her away from that guy— probably 2 meters away from him. What the heck are they talking about? Why is she laughing with him? Is she a friend from high school? Heck! Damn it! 

“Sir.” I called Mr. Jung, trying my best to keep my cool. 

“Oh, Jiyong! Let me introduce you to the new interns.” 

We went to the interns and I set my eyes to that one specific person. I almost smirked. Okay, he looks… what the . 

“They’re from Y University.” 

They all said their names, which I don’t give a . And when that guy spoke, I almost wanted to kick his foot. 

“I’m Lee Donghae. Nice to meet you.” 

“I’m Kwon Jiyong.” 

He held my hand for a handshake. I held it and grip it tightly. I smirked. I saw him smirked at me too. I let go first. 

“Now that you’re all acquainted, I hope all of you enjoy your internships and interaction together. It was nice having the best interns in our firm.” Mr. Jung said with a smile on his face. 

“Babe… I mean, Sandara.” I said, putting the emphasis on the word ‘babe’. 

Sandara looked at me while raising her eyebrows. I know she told me not to call her like that while we are still in the firm but heck— I just want that guy to know that I am Sandara’s boyfriend… errr, technically not yet the boyfriend but… special boy friend. 

“What?” She went towards me and I saw how that guy, Donghae, looked at us. 

I smirked. “Let’s have lunch together…” I said using a soft voice, eyes still at the boy. 

Now what, huh? We are something special so soo! Back off! I thought. 

“Are you done?” She asked me. 

She gave me a soft smile. And with that, all of those negative feelings that I felt vanish. One smile from her and everything gets back to normal. Heck, is Sandara a witch? She really had me under her spell! 

“Uh-huh.” I said. I lowered my head gently pat her head. “What do you want to eat?” 

“I want to eat rice.” She said while chuckling. “I’m famished.” 

“Okay. Rice it is.” 

We went to Mr. Jung ans said we will have our lunch. As we go to the car park, I suddenly have the urge to hold her hand. Damn it. Why does it feel like I’m a highschooler— like this is my first relationship and Sandara is my first girlfriend. I almost blush. 

Sandara might not be my first girlfriend but I consider her as my first serious girlfriend… errr, soon serious girlfriend. 

I opened the car door for her. We just went to Cocos’— the restaurant 2 blocks away from the firm. Luckily, it’s not packed today. 

I sat beside her- she’s near the window. We are now facing the wall. 

She looked at me, confused. “Why are you sitting next to me?” 

“Why? I just want to be next to you.” I said while chuckling. “Is there a problem to that?” 

She looked away and smiled. “N-Nope.” 

We started to order our food. And while waiting we talk about our thesis. Surprisingly, she added something to the paper last night. 

“I told you, thesis is not an individual project.” I said, as I shook my head. I can’t believe she’s doing it again. “We can always—“

“I was bored yesterday, you know.” She pouted. Oh, how I wish I could kiss her lips. But, nope. Restrain, Jiyong! You’re just a special boy friend. 

“You should have called me so we can do it together.” I said while mumbling. 

She looked at me, the ghost of small smile is on her face. “Wait, why are you sulking? It’s not like I finished the thesis or what.” She said while laughing. 

I laugh. “Of course not.” 

“Come one, babe…” 

I almost fell on the chair as she said those words. It was like a whisper in my ear— soft whisper, like a lullaby. My heart did a backflip. Damn it! 

I bit my lower lip as I look at her. This is the very first time she called me that. And her saying that word to me, means something. Few hours ago, she just told me that she likes me. Heck, I can probably die now with so much happiness! 

“Babe…” I mumbled. 

I held her hand and placed it on my leg. Gently playing with her finger tips. What the heck is this! Who are you? Am I still the same Kwon Jiyong? 

“Hmmm?” She whispered. 

If someone will see us, they will surely conclude that we are dating. An item. Girlfriend- boyfriend. Couple. 

But the thing is, we are not. And yet, we are holding hands right now. Silly how complicated yet simple our situation is. 

“What are we…?” I carefully asked. “We… as much as I want to become a couple, we… we are not.” 

I took a glance at Sandara and saw her bit her lower lip. 

“I… I don’t know.” She answered. “Just… friends but more that friends?” 

I chuckled. “Special friends huh…” 

I played with her thumb. Sandara’s hands were small. It was soft and has long fingertips. It has a -pink nail color which makes her hand more elegant. 

“I’m happy.” I said, still playing with her hand. “Knowing that I can now sleep in peace knowing that the feeling is mutual. Minus the label, well, who am I to demand.” 

“But it’s still unfair on your part…” 

I laughed. “Who says?” 

“Me…?” She said while pointing a finger to herself. 

“I choose to be in this kind of situation with you. And I told you, I can wait.” I said. “I’ve got all the boyfriend privilege here! I can take you home, eat lunch with you, hold your hand like this! Text and call you. You even let me call you ‘babe’ like heck, I’m probably the luckiest guy right now.” 

“As a special friend… not a boyfriend.” Sandara snorted. Cute. 

“Well, I respect your decision. As long as I know you’ll be mine at the end of this, waiting is not a problem.” 

The food came. Sandara is enjoying her food and it makes me happy. She’s really a good eater. Watching her eat like this makes me contented. 

“Do you know the new intern? Donghae?” I asked. Oh, I still can’t forget that guys guts. 

“Oh, he’s my classmate in high school. Chaerin knows him.” 

I nod. Hmmm. So a high school friend huh. 

“Well, he’s supposed to be enrolling to our school too but he didn’t pursue it. His family all graduated in Y University. More like it’s their family tradition so yeah, only me and Chaerin enrolled here.” 

I grinned. “Well, that’s a good news to me…” 

“Huh?” 

“I mean, it’s the best to follow the family tradition. Good for him.” I commented, sarcastically. 

“Yeah. Their family is a family of Architect so…” 

I looked at her. Sandara is really innocent. She didn’t even got a hint that I was jealous. That I was sarcastic in my comments. 

“Well, I think Donghae likes you.” I casually said. “Did he confess to you before or something?” 

Sandara looked at me, confused. “No…? And that’s… weird.” 

“Why weird?” 

“‘Coz we are friends since elementary?” 

I shook my head. “I can see and feel that he likes you though.” 

She shook her head. “Nope. We are just friends.” 

“So as we.” She pouted. How cute. “Stop pouting. This special friend of yours might kiss you right now.” I teased. 

I saw her eyes wide opened and looked away. I almost laugh. I bit my inner cheeks to suppress my smile. 

“But I think he likes you though…” 

“Stop it, Jiji. You’re kidding right?” She commented, smiling. Maybe she thought that I am saying silly things. “Nope. That’s not close to the truth.” 

“Well, as a man, I can sense that he likes you. Although I don’t give a to that coz I know you like me too and we have ‘something special’, I just want to tell you that I got jealous earlier.” 

“J-Jealous? Why?” 

I looked at her as if she’s asking me the biggest joke in town. Is she blind or what? That boy is smiling from ear to ear while talking to her! And he’s even leaning towards her while talking! Damn it! 

“You’ve got to be kidding right?” 

“Huh?” 

“Can’t you see how he looks at you?” 

Sandara laughed. “Well, he’s looking at his friend that he hasn’t seen for years!” 

“To me, it’s not though. He looks at you like you’re some of like his ‘the one that got away’. Heck, well of course you are his TOTGA! And it will remain like that because I won’t allow him to flirt with you.” 

Sandara started to laugh. “Why are we even having a conversation like this? I am just friends with Donghae.” 

“Well, I guess you’re the only one who thinks like that.” 

“Hey, babe…” 

I closed my eyes. “Oh, please, don’t babe me this time.” 

Sandara laughed. She held my hand— she held my hand for the first time! With her own volition! She went closer to me, putting her head on my vision. She put my hand on her cheeks and smiled. Those illegal smile! Damn it! 

“Why are you jealous? Why’s my babe so jealous?” 

“Your high school friend has a feelings for you—“

“— well, the feeling is not mutual.” She chuckled. “I don’t like him. He’s just a friend.” 

“Hmmm…” 

“Don’t be jealous! Come on, babe. Smile.” 

I sighed and smiled. “I’ll be honest with you, Sandara. I’m the jealous-type of boyfriend… errr, special friend. And I’m sorry if you might feel that I am caging you but, I easily get jealous. But I assure you, I will try to control this because I know, we have something special. Something special that needs time. Something special that needs trust. And I trust you so much.” 

Sandara looked at me with those eyes. Those eyes filled with emotions- happiness and content. Her lips were trembling from those emotions. 

“Jiji… I’m—“ 

“As I told you, I don’t need the label.” I gently held her hand. It’s a bit cold. I placed it on my cheeks. “The special situation we have… I’m happy with this. As long as I know that you’ll be mine… I… As much as I want to be your boyfriend, I can wait.” 

“Thank you.” She whispered. “And… I really, really like you too. And I… I am happy that you understand this. And…” she looked at me straight to my eyes. “I want to be your girlfriend too. Soon. Please… please wait for me.”