"Stop calling me Yifan, I'm Kris now." He whined.

"Old habits die hard you know." I said.

He just got his braces out and we were walking down a street.

People kept on looking at him.

Like he was a celebrity or something.

 

*********

November 1997

"Happy birthday, Yifan. Happy birthday, happy birthday. Happy birthday, Yifan." Everybody sang.

"Make a wish, Yifan." The teacher said.

Yifan closed his eyes.

Made his wish, and blew the candles.

"What did you wish for?" A kid asked.

"To become good looking." He smiled.

Showing off his missing teeth.

Everybody laughed again.

"UGLYIFAN" They laughed.

 

 

"Hey, do you want to die?" I asked, showing the other kids my fist.

They all went quiet

 

******

 

 

 

"Uglyifan, is now gone." He said. "For good."

"You were never ugly, okay." I said.

"You're just saying that 'cause you're my best friend." He glared at me. "Well, only friend for that matter."

 

Growing up, it was me and Yifan against the world.

Against everything.

 

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I said.

He just gave me one of his "I dont care" looks and kept on walking.

Okay well I don't blame him.

Being teased ugly his whole enitre life.

Its gotta be hard.

"I will show them." He mumbled.

"What?" I looked up at him.

"Here's the list." He gave me a piece of paper with names of some of our old classmates.

"What are you gonna do?" I asked.

He just smirked and continued walking. "Come on."

 

 

We went inside a cafe.

"Look, that's him." Yifan gestured to the manager.

"Shi Yoon." He looked at the list.

 

I ordered something from the cashier since it was a scorching hot day and I was feeling dehydrated.

When I got my drink.

"Pretend it tastes like crap." He whispered.

"What? Why? It tastes so good." I whined.

The manager overheard me, and smiled.

Yifan facepalmed his face so hard.

He got my drink and took a sip.

"It tastes like ." He said, making everyone hear it.

Everyone's eyes lingered on him for awhile.

Was he that goodlooking?

 

The manager came up to us.

"Is there a problem here?" He asked.

"Yeah, your iced coffee tastes like iced toilet water." Yifan said.

"I'm sorry, we would kindly replace it--" The manager explained.

"No, I don't want anymore toilet water, Yoon Shi Yoon." Yifan said.

Shi Yoon was slightly shocked. "You look familiar."

"Yifan, let's go." I said, tugging at his arm.

"Yifan? As in Uglyifan?" Shi Yoon looked even more surprised.

"Yeah, looks like you sell crap juice now." Kris said.

"Well, you don't look like crap juice anymore." Shi Yoon laughed.

Yifan was ready to punch Shi Yoon in the face.

And Shi Yoon was ready to punch him back.

 

"Guys can well all just keep calm?"

I said, trying to put some space between them.

 

"Wait, you're Rose right?" Shi Yoon smiled.

"Uhh, yeah?" I answered.

 

"Wait, I'm not through with you yet. I've waited for so many years to punch you in the face." Yifan said.

 

"You slapped me in the face when we were in first grade." Shi Yoon talked to me, ignoring Yifan.

"Yeah, you were kinda like a hole back then." I said.

 

"Back then? He's still a hole now. Making crap juice" Yifan said.

 

"It's nice to see you again." Shi Yoon smiled at me.

"Yeah." I said, feeling all awkward.

 

"Hey, dont be all googly-eyed with her." Yifan said.

"What? You jealous?" Shi Yoon taunted.

"She's my bestfriend, I won't let her go out with an like you." Yifan said, pulling my hand.

"Why would you decide who she gets to date, huh?" Shi Yoon pulled at my other hand.

 

I got away from their grasps.

"Can you guys just shake hands and make up already?"

 

"No"

"No"

They yelled at me in unison.

 

I sighed.

They were like kids.

I made my way to the door.

"Hey, where are you going?" Yifan asked.

"This is embarrassing." I said.

I turned to Shi Yoon "Sorry I slapped you in first grade."

Shi Yoon smiled "Lunch could make up for it."

 

"You little--" Yifan glared at him.

 

"Yeah sure. Lunch." I said.

 

"What?" Yifan turned to me, "Have you gone mad?"

"It's just lunch." I shrugged.

He looked at me for a good few seconds and walked out of the cafe.

 

Shi Yoon and I exchanged numbers, and I went out to look for Yifan.

 

"Yifan?" I called.

"I said its Kris." He said, popping out beside me.

"Kris, fine." I said, rolling my eyes.

"I'm still mad at you." He said, folding his arms.

I slapped the back of his head

"I've got a plan."