They said, happy endings don't exist

Daehyun feels overflowing. I'm so sorry. 

_______________________________

 

It was a long day in school. I was reluctant to attend the group study but it was almost examination week. My subject teacher had split the class into study groups to benefit everyone. Everyone didn’t agree to the idea at first but slowly we were getting the hang of these group studies. The teacher would be there for any assistance but other than that, we were supposed to help each other. Share knowledge together. There were six in my group with an equal number of boys and girls.

“Okay, how about we do a one on one and test each other?” One of the guys suggested.
I was too tired to even listen to their words. Then I felt and an arm wrap around mine.

“I’m taking her!” My friend, Eunkyung tugged on my arm. I couldn’t help but smile at her silliness.  

“But it won’t be fair! One girl to one guy.” The other girl crossed her arm.
I began to tap my pencil on the table as the group started bickering. It wasn’t like I didn’t cared, I was just exhausted and brain dead.

The noise subsidized and I realized everyone had been paired up. Then I heard a chair being dragged in front of me. I lifted my head and my breath hitched.

“I guess we’re testing each other,” His voice spoke as he sat across from me, our knees barely brushing against each other. I turned to see the others a few meters away in their own pairs. My eyes widened as Eunkyung sent me a sly smile and wink.
“Are you okay with it? Or do you want to swap?” He asks worriedly. My heart thumped as I cursed inwardly. I should have known she would pair us up.

“I-It’s okay, let’s get started.” I mumbled loud enough for him to hear me and tried to look as though I was occupied.

My heart raced and I was suddenly so self-conscious about myself. How can I not when I am sitting in front of my unexpected crush?
I sneakily stole glances at Jung Daehyun. The guy who made me feel all weird inside and outside. I had no idea why I was so attracted to him but I just was. Out of nowhere, these feelings just bloomed and the only person who knew about this was of course, Eunkyung. Darn that sneaky girl,

“So which chapter should we start with?” Daehyun asked as he flipped through his notes.

I stared at the fine beauty in front of me and wondered how can someone be so perfect? He excels in everything. Studies, Sports, Arts, and eating. Definitely eating. He eats anything. But what makes him irresistible is his witty character and….his breath taking smile.

 

“I don’t know which chapter to start with.” He laughed.

I could hear myself take in a short breath. He was angelic. Who wouldn’t love him?

“How about we just start from Chapter 1 and go in order?” I suggested as I fumbled through my own set of colourful notes. Daehyun nodded and he too turned through his notes. I peeked at him and saw a frown on his face. It was adorable. I didn’t know why I found everything about him cute. A small laugh escaped my lips.

“I need help with this.” Daehyun pointed to a certain part of his notes. I stared at him in disbelief.

“That is one of the easiest things to understand about this chapter. The smartest student doesn’t know?”

Daehyun’s face flushed in embarrassment, “I can’t be good at everything…Humans aren’t perfect creatures you know.”

He’s humble too… I was trying hard not to admire him throughout the whole time I was trying to get him to understand. The way his brows creased together when he couldn’t get it. The way he scratched his head when I told him he was still wrong. Eventually, he got it. He’s a smart student after all.

Time passed too quickly to my liking and the extra session ended. I could finally get home to my comfortable bed. I got up after packing my bag and made my way out of the door before I heard someone calling your name.

I turned to see Daehyun running after me.
“Hey, you left your pen.” He held out my pink lollipop pen that I use for my notes. His smile coming back to his lips. I returned his smile and received the pen from his grasp. I looked down to his fingers and noticed how beautiful they were. I wanted to slap myself. Love was making me notice every single thing about him.

“Thanks.” I muttered.

I was about to continue making my way to the bus stop before he stopped me again. I turned back to him and that was when he asked, “Do you want to…grab something to eat? I don’t think we’ve hung out before.”

I was truly shocked by the suggestion. I couldn’t believe Jung Daehyun was asking me that. Is this a dream?

“I mean, it’s okay if you have anything on…” His voice trailed off.

I didn’t want to appear eager but hell yes I was eager to spend time with him. Opportunities like this don’t come easily.
“I think that would be nice.” I forced myself to keep my composure. Behind Daehyun, I noticed Eunkyung giving me a sly smile and kissy faces. I swear I have no idea why I befriend her, she’s an embarrassment at times. But, I love her as my friend anyways.

“Great! I know a good place for an early Dinner!” He rubbed his hands together eagerly. I laughed. Of course, leave it to Daehyun when it comes to food.

“Lead the way then,”

~~~∗∗∗~~~

It wasn’t a long bus ride. Just a couple of stops and we alighted the bus. I tailed Daehyun as we walked through that foreign street. Although, to Daehyun he must have known it like the back of his hand.

“Here we are. You don’t mind eating Korean BBQ do you? Some girls think it’s messy. There’s a western restaurant nearby too and it’s amazing!” Daehyun asked. I noticed the twinkle in his eyes as he spoke about it. The guy really loves food.
“I’m okay with Korean BBQ, I’m not that picky.” I ensured him. He gave a nod and the two of us went into the eatery. It wasn’t grand but it was rather classy and etiquette. I felt like a lost lamb.
 

Once we settled down, we were handed a menu each and Daehyun met my eyes.
“Order anything, my treat.” His smile reached his eyes and I felt myself getting a little shy.
“Oh Okay,” Were the only things I could muster up.

Looking through the menu, I was pleased with the reasonable pricing but I got one of the cheapest dish they had. Daehyun urged me to get some of the best dishes there but I just shook my head and said, “I don’t want you to waste your money on me.”

Daehyun chuckled at my words, “Silly girl, I’m the one that asked you for dinner. So, I will feed you well.” Without another word exchanged, Daehyun ordered probably food enough for four.

“Kamsahamnida.” He smiled and passed the menu back to the waitress. I swore I saw her blush. Who wouldn’t? Maybe this is just my jealous side.

“So, let’s get to know each other better. I hardly talk to you in class.” Daehyun laced his fingers together and rested his elbows on the table. His eyes were gazing intently at me. It was making me feel embarrassed but I hid it.
“Uh, what do you want to know?” I choked out.

Suddenly Daehyun popped a question, “We were from the same elementary school right?”

I blinked my eyes before nodding my head. Daehyun leaned back in his chair; he was rather amused at the fact.
“I don’t remember seeing you around though.”

“I was in the higher classes. You were from the normal ones right?” I accidentally blurted out.

Daehyun raised a brow, “Yeah, I was. I didn’t know that you were from a higher class. You must be really smart, well considering you tutored me just now.”

I blushed, “T-that was just something simple. I’m not that smart.”

“Eyy, don’t be humble now. You are really a smart girl.” Daehyun complemented, “You aced the previous maths test right?”

“Y-you aced it too.” I tried to cover up. Daehyun simply shrugged his shoulders.

The food came and we both sat in silent as they laid out the table. Serving after serving and soon the whole table was filled with food. We gave small thanks to the waitress and I stared at Daehyun.
“This is a lot of food. Can we finish it?” I asked feeling dumbfounded.

Daehyun picked up his chopsticks and his lips, “Sure, why not?”
I watched as Daehyun placed some meat on the grill and the sizzling sound made my mouth water.
“On second thought, I feel like I can eat a whole horse.” I picked up my chopsticks and assist him.
“I can eat a whole dinosaur.” Both of us looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Dinner passed by quickly. We didn’t talk much about school, rather we talked mostly about food. It amuses me how much he loves eating. I couldn’t help but beam at him when he was stuffing lettuce wraps in his mouth. Then when he noticed me watching him, he smiled. It was the cutest thing ever. I’ve always thought he was a held back and talk-only-necessary kind of person but I was dead darn wrong. Never judge a book by its cover. Daehyun couldn’t stop talking. He was ranting on and on. How can a guy be this entertaining? I figured maybe he didn’t like silent dinners. He was a bundle of joy.
“And I told my best friend to stop being shy! And I literally grabbed his face and bit the biscuit off from his lips. I didn’t know why he was being shy, it was just a game!” Daehyun scrunched his face.

I let out a small laugh, “Maybe he likes you.”

Almost immediately, Daehyun started chocking. My eyes widened and quickly poured him a glass of water. I passed it to him and he chugged it down. I watched anxiously as he wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
“Are you okay?” I mumbled feeling guilty.

Daehyun gave me a nod and regained his posture, “Why would you say he likes me?”

“Don’t people tend to get shy around the person they like?” I didn’t dare to meet his gaze. I tried my best to grab the last piece of meat with my chopsticks but my hand was shaking for some reason. Feeling his eyes on me was pressurizing.

“Oh. Then I don’t have to worry about you, right?” Daehyun suddenly asked.
I looked up, “What do you mean?”

“You’re not shy around me.” Daehyun rested his head on his fist, “Means you don’t like ‘like’ me”

I swallowed a lump in my throat. That is the opposite of how I feel about you,

“Yeah…sure.”
 

~~~∗∗∗~~~

 

“Waah! that was a good meal wasn’t it? Food always taste better with friends.”

I silently watched as Daehyun stretched out his arms and gazed up at the sky. Both of us ended up at a rooftop a building nearby. I didn’t know how we got there. Everything was a blur after that. The orange-red sky coloured the area. The sun was setting, it was getting late.

Friends, His voice rang in my head.

It felt as though knives were stabbing into my chest.
“Hey, you feeling okay? You’re a little pale…” Daehyun worriedly glanced at me, “You’re not having indigestion are you?”
Daehyun reached out to feel my forehead but I flinched away.
“I’m okay.” I didn’t intend it to turn out cold but it just did. Was this how rejection feels like? Daehyun’s expression was dumbfounded. Probably because of how I reacted and the tone of my voice.

Everything started to turn out awkward. It was my fault.

But…

I couldn’t help it.

“I should get going before my mum gets worried. I told her I was coming home for Dinner today, guess it slipped my mind.” I mumbled and grabbed my bag from where I left it.
“You should…have told me that you needed to be home for dinner,” Daehyun whispered.

I made my way to the rooftop exit. I turned back slightly to him who was still standing at the edge of the rooftop.

Because I wanted to spend time with you,

“Like I said, it slipped my mind.” I gave him a small smile, “I’ll…see you around.”

And I walked off.

Tears were threatening to escape. If my life was a drama, he would chase me. He would ask me what’s wrong. He would get worried. He would say sorry and that he loves me too…but this is reality. My life is a reality.

Once I reached the bus stop, I took out my phone and called the first person that I needed right now.

Ring Ring

“Yobuseyo? Hey! How was the ‘date’?” Eunkyung giggled, “Had fun?”

It was silence for a while before Eunkyung called out my name.

I choked, “Eun…”

“Hey, something happened?”

“He doesn’t like me the way I like him,”

~~~∗∗∗~~~

 

The next few days in school passed in a flash. It took Eunkyung a whole load of effort to pull me back together. Daehyun tried to talk to me the next day in school. He asked if I was feeling sick, I simply replied: “I’m fine.”
The day after that, he tried to talk to me again this time asking me to have a small dessert with him at a café that just opened up. As politely I could, I told him: “No thanks.”

It wasn’t his fault.

It was mine.

Why did I fall for him? There were other better girls out there.

“Hey…”

Someone shook my arm. I turned to see Eunkyung’s face. I turned myself away from the window and faced the front of the class. Class was over?

“I…uhm, have a project meeting with my group today. Are you able to head home by yourself?” She was hugging her books to her chest.

I looked around to see half the class gone and some others still busy packing their things. “What project meeting? You told me you had to visit your grandparents later.” I grew confused.

“I-it’s just a short one… then, I’ll be making my way there.” She explained.
I let out a sigh and nod my head, “Okay, I’ll head home myself.”

“I’ll see you next week okay?” Eunkyung and I exchanged small smiles and I nod my head before waving to her.

After I packed my things, I made my way to the bus stop to head home. It was going to be a gloomy evening. Dark clouds were starting to cover the sky. Then I heard a small rumble of thunder. I don’t have an umbrella with me, I thought as I looked up at the sky. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in the bus watching the rain fall from the sky. Even the sky was sad,

I took out my phone when I realized I received a text from Eunkyung.

Where are you right now? Becareful, it's raining.

I was too tired to reply but I still did anyways.

I’m in the bus

Putting my phone aside I looked up to find myself in a place I wasn’t familiar with. My eyes widened and I sat up. I looked around and I found nothing similar to the usual route my bus takes. I took the wrong bus?

I groaned in frustration and pressed the buzz button to alight at the next stop. I read the road signs and cringed. I had no idea where I was. The bus finally stopped at the nearest bus stop and I got off. It was a rather eerie area.

Where am I?

The rain was pouring and I had nowhere else to go. Not that I had any choice. I took out my phone and decided to call Eunkyung for help. She was usually the one better at sense of direction.
The phone rang and rang but no one seemed to pick up. I frowned deeply. She usually answers my calls.
Just then I heard someone call my name. I spun around to see Daehyun alighting the bus. My eyes widened.

“What are you doing here? At this bus stop?” Daehyun asked as he came a little closer to be heard. The rain was really pouring. I glanced at my phone to see no return calls from Eunkyung. I debated on whether or not to ask Daehyun for help. It wasn’t the best idea but I needed to find my way back home.
“I took the wrong bus,” I honestly answered.
“Figures, this isn’t a good area for girls like you. Come on, I’ll take you to the subway from here. There are no bus to where you stay.” He explained and dug through his bag. I watched as he took out an umbrella. “Tadah~” He grinned.

Without myself knowing, my heart fluttered.

He opened it and held out a hand, “Let’s go…”

Why was he doing this to me? Reluctantly, I slipped my hand into his and stood under the umbrella with him dangerously close to my side. I tell myself to think of him as a friend but my heart rebelled. I still have feelings for him.

~~~∗∗∗~~~

We walked silently under the rain, I refused to talk. Daehyun tried to have a conversation with me but I didn’t reply much. It’s been minutes since we left the bus stop and the rain was slowly stopping. We kept walking and walking. It’s been a minute or two since Daehyun last spoke a word. I finally thought he would stop talking but I was wrong.

“Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?” He mumbled.

I was taken by surprise by his sudden question. I glanced up at him. He was looking forward with a straight face. I shook my head without a word.

“Then why aren’t you talking to me, I thought we’re friends.” His voice was cold. I didn’t thought he had this side of him. For a second I thought he was hurt but then I threw that thought away.
I tried to fake a laugh, “It’s not like you’re going to die from it Daehyun.”

“It hurts me.”

I stopped. “What?”

The both of us stopped and stood there. Under the umbrella, under the rain.

“It hurts me…” Daehyun repeated.

I grew confused. “Why would it hurt you?”

“Because…I thought you liked me too.”

“T-too?”

Daehyun turned to me abruptly and I jerked a little. His eyes were shut tight.
“Daehyun, what are yo-”

“I LIKE YOU!” He exclaimed. His eyes still shut, his ears turning red. “I’ve liked you since elementary school. I lied about not noticing you in elementary school. I was too nervous. I-I was really shocked when I got to know you’re in the same class as me. I thought I could stop myself from falling for you again but but, I couldn’t and….and I LIKE YOU.”

I was speechless. His face was really turning red. He likes me too….
I’m dreaming right? These things happen only in fairy tales.  
“You…like…me?” I was too shocked to react.

Daehyun nod his head, still not opening his eyes. I touched my face. It was too real to be true. I rested my palm on Daehyun’s cheek.
“This is a dream right?” I whispered.
Daehyun’s eyes finally opened.
“It can’t be. Happy endings don’t exist.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“I….like you… Jung Daehyun. But, this isn’t real right?” I was barely breathing. Daehyun’s eyes met mine, his eyes were sparkling. “You like me too?”

I managed a nod.

Suddenly, Daehyun’s lips crashed against mine. The feeling was amazing. It left me breathless. Daehyun finally pulled away and looked at me in the eyes.
“This is real. Happy endings do exist. I love you, will you be my girlfriend?”

 Tears welled up in my eyes. “This is real… Daehyun, this is real!” I threw my arms around his neck as I felt tears of joy rolling down my cheeks. Daehyun lost his balance and the umbrella slipped off his hand.
“Whoa...” he mumbled but I rested my lips against his again. Slowly, our lips moved against each other’s and we ended up kissing under the rain.
“I love you, Jung Daehyun.”

 

ASDFGHJKLJHSGDFAGJDKHSADHKADJAHKDHSA ;A; 

 

 

 

~The End!~