CHAPTER 038: Dating And Dishes

            "Are you trying to impress Yixing?" Tao mumbles as he stares at Eunsul's face. "Is that why you decided to go with the no make up face? So you could look innocent and cute?"   The girl snorts, "For your information, I just forgot to put on make up. I don't wake up every morning trying to impress boys. Even if the boy is someone who I'm interested in."           "So you're interested in Yixing?"    Eunsul smiles at Tao, "Wasn't that obvious?"    Tao really loves Eunsul. She's his biggest role model. "I wish I could be as blunt as you. Just say whatever I want and do whatever I want."    Eunsul tilts her head, "Just go by this motto. Do whatever the you want, just don't hurt people."    Tao smiles in awe.    Kris snorts, "Are you really following life advice from someone like Eunsul?"            "She has some pretty good advice," Tao shrugs.    The lunch bell rings.           "I don't think you should be following advise from someone who's been arrested before," Kris says as he stands up.    Eunsul gasps, "How do you know I've been arrested before?"    Tao gasps along with her and Kris snorts, taking their articles so he can give it to Mr. Nam before leaving for lunch. While Eunsul and Tao walk out of class, talking about Eunsul's long crazy past with the authority, Kris stands up and walks towards Mr. Nam's desk to turn in the work. While he's stapling his and Eunsul's article, he feels someone stand next to him. He looks to his side as is met by your face.           "What?" He automatically asks because you're usually around him if you're there to question him or bother him or need something from him.    You look around you as if he's talking to someone else. When you realize that yes, he's talking to you, you point at the stapler, "I'm waiting for you to finish so I can staple my papers."    Kris' eyes linger for a second longer than needed to before he nods and hands you the stapler.           "Thanks."    He doesn't bother to say anything else before placing the work on Mr. Nam's desk and moving towards the exit of the classroom, heading to the cafeteria. As he leaves, he sees Chanyeol waiting by the door. He makes sure not to make eye contact because he really hates the guy, not to mention it's kind of obvious he's waiting for you and that's just irritating.    Kris goes straight to Luhan's classroom and is happy to see the boy just waiting there for him, just like Kris told him to.           "How was class?"    Luhan looks upset. "It was great."           "You don't sound very great."    Luhan sighs, "Yeah, it's just... I asked the boys about this Chanyeol guy and it turns out he really is dating Hana."    Kris frowns, "So?"           "So?" Luhan repeats, "So, it means that she's taken. I'm sorry, Kris."    Kris is annoyed, extremely tired that people keep questioning him and telling him that he likes Hana when even he's not sure about it. Especially when it's coming out of his best friend.          "Luhan," Kris sighs. "I wish you would stop mentioning Hana the way you do. It's making me uncomfortable. I don't like her that way."   Luhan pursues his lips, "With pleasure. I'm glad you've given up because I asked that Yixing kid to tell me about Chanyeol- you know, so I can be informed about who I'm gonna fight- but apparently he is a lot taller than I imagine and you know that I don't mess with tall people..."   Kris smiles, actually smiles, "You're an idiot, Lu."           "But I made you smile," he grins as they both start walking towards the cafeteria. Kris puffs out his cheeks, "Today has been an extremely tiring day and it's only beginning."             "Why?"             "Because of Hana," Kris mumbles. "I just don't know what to do. She's acting awkward, I'm acting awkward. I wish we could go back to when we first met. It was fun to argue and tease each other, but still remain friends, you know? It's annoying."    Luhan looks at him and sighs. "I don't understand you, Kris. I'm sorry that you feel like that but from what I've heard from nana and from what I've seen from you two, I thought you liked Hana as much as she likes you."   Kris rolls his eyes. "Hana doesn't like me. She likes- no, is in love with Chanyeol. She wouldn't be dating him if she didn't."          "No," Luhan groans, "you pushed her towards Chanyeol. It was obvious she would have given you a chance Kris. I heard you two in the ice cream parlor. When she asked you about the kiss- A KISS YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ABOUT- it was obvious she wanted your relationship to progress but you ruined it."    Kris comes to a stop and turns to Luhan, "Because I don't want to pursue something that will not go anywhere!"            "How do you know it wouldn't go anywhere?!"             "Because she loves someone else!"    There's tension in the air and a pair of girls passing by almost jump in surprise, but they mumble something under their breath and keep walking.    Luhan frowns.              "I don't want to go out with a girl that is in love with someone else. I don't want to pursue a girl when I know I will love her more than she loves me, Lu. I don't want that."    Luhan's lips curl at the corners. "That means you like her... You like Hana, don't you? You finally admitted it!"    Kris groans, "No, I don't like her- that's not- I don't know, Lu. I don't know!"    Luhan finally smiles, "Kris... You're scared, aren't you?"    Kris stifles a laugh, "That doesn't make sense."            "Is that why you rejected her?"    Kris sighs, "Do we really need to talk about this in the middle of the hallway?"              "You're an idiot. You like her and she likes you. Chase after her! Don't hesitate!"    Kris groans again. "I don't like her. Am I attracted to her physically? Hell yes, she's gorgeous. But like her? As in a relationship? No, I don't think so."             "Are you sure?" Luhan questions, "Because I feel like you like her a lot more than just physically."            "I don't know," Kris admits. "That's another reason I don't want to be more than friends. I don't want to enter a relationship when I'm not even sure about my own feelings. Besides, relationships at my age are a waste of time. It's not like I'm getting married with the person."    Luhan groans, "You really are an idiot. What if Hana is the right girl? Maybe you'll end up marrying her for real! Not to mention, that relationships at our age are meant to be fun and unexpected, Kris. You're not suppose to think about marriage, you're suppose to think in the moment and enjoy yourself with that person."   Kris blinks at Luhan, thinks about his words but doesn't say anything about them. "Whatever, Luhan. I don't think me and Hana fit into a relationship. She loves Chanyeol- you heard her say it herself in the ice cream shop. I also am not looking for a relationship, nor do I know how I feel about her. This whole thing with me and her just doesn't work in our favor. No matter what Nana, Eunsul or you say, okay? It's not gonna work out. Besides, She's dating Chanyeol now. It's obvious she made her decision to move on from me- that is, if she really did like me like you all say she does."    Luhan snorts, "She's been giving you obvious signals that she does like you, Kris."            "Then if she likes me so much then why is she dating Chanyeol?"    Luhan shrugs, "Maybe because she wants to try her fate with someone who actually knows he wants to be with her."    Kris forces himself to smile, "Well then that's great. I hope it works out between them and that they last for a long time."    Luhan grins, "Do you really mean that?"    Kris hates himself for lying, "Of course I do."          *************************         You and Chanyeol eat lunch in the rooftop, with the excuse that your friends are annoying and that you two want to be alone. The boys and Eunsul had played offended but at the end of the day they gave you your privacy and waved at you two goodbye. However, you couldn't help but notice that Kris wasn't there.              "Are you avoiding Kris?" Chanyeol blurts out. He's lying on the bench, with his head on your lap.    You look down at him, stopping your hand from his hair. "Why would you say that?"              "I saw you two earlier before we left for lunch. You guys don't seem comfortable around each other."    You wonder why Chanyeol would ask you this. Doesn't he hate Kris? Why would he care about him now? Why does he sound concerned?            "We just got into an argument. That's all."    Chanyeol watches you quietly. He can't tell if you're lying or not. There was always something going on with you and Kris, though he's not sure if it's physical or actually emotional. Either way he hopes that you can rely on him now rather than Kris. He wants you to act like you did before he started dating Yuri and before Kris popped out of nowhere. He just wants to feel at ease. To make you happy and to make himself happy, too.    Chanyeol sits up. "Hana, are you happy?"    You look at him, "Where is that coming from?"    He shrugs, "Just asking."    You smile at him. That's a funny question. Are you happy? Because you feel.. average. "I am," you say.    Chanyeol smiles. "Good. I want you to be happy."    That's all he wants. He doesn't wasn't distance between you both. He wants you near him, smiling and happy. He doesn't want you to avoid him anymore.            "Oh," Chanyeol remembers that his parents had asked him about you. "My parents really want to see you again. Do you want to come over anytime soon?"             "So soon?"    Chanyeol frowns, "What do you mean? You've been there before."    You fiddle with your hands, "I mean, that was before we were dating. They wouldn't see me as your best friend now. They would see me as your girlfriend and I don't know how to handle that kind of pressure..."   Chanyeol laughs. "Trust me, they love you already. They always have."    A memory resurfaces. The memory that his parents never liked Yuri because they so happened to always catch her when Chanyeol and her were arguing.            "Chanyeol?"    The boy snaps out of his thoughts. "Huh?"            "I asked if you wanted to go eat with me after school on Friday," you repeat.    Chanyeol seems dazed for a second, but then he smiles. "Of course. Where to?"          ********************         Kris and Luhan enter the ca