One.

I couldn't believe this. I was actually counting and sweating.

Two.

Today was the day where I would meet Kim Jongin on my 24th step.

Three.

Would I be able to meet him?

Four.

Did he even get my note?

Five.

Gosh, I didn't even write my name.

Six.

Should I continue counting?

My brain was working so much, thinking thoughts that I shouldn't have thought in the first place.

Twelve.

It wasn't very early. Students were already filling in the school ground. I didn't even know what time Jongin usually came to school. Would we be able to meet?

Sixteen.

I think I could do this.

Nineteen.

I felt so dumb and pathetic over everything. The hope that once was there in my heart was nowhere to be found.

Twenty.

I was walking on thin rope. I did not dare to look up.

Twenty-one.

What was I even thinking? Meeting me on my 24th step?

Twenty-two.

I was being so ridiculous.

Twenty-three.

I began to regret everything.

Twenty-four.

I looked up, and there was no Jongin.

I felt something inside me shattered. Was it my heart?

What was I even expecting, really? I should have known. And maybe this was for the better. Maybe this was just a bad dream and I just had to wake up.

No Jongin, no nothing. Just me and my heart.

I sighed and brought my head down. I had missed my locker so I decided to turn back. I spun on my heel only to crash into somebody's chest. A guy's chest, to be exact.

"I'm sorry." I said unwillingly. My mood suddenly turned sour. I didn't even look up to see the owner of the chest I had bumped into.

There was no time to be sincere when my heart was just sent crashing to the ground.

"I'm here."

A familiar deep voice stopped me on my track as the owner of that beautiful voice held my wrist.

"We met on your 24th step." Jongin said as he gazed down at me softly.

"Jongin?" I asked innocently.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Jongin was standing right in front of me with one hand holding on to my wrist.

I didn't know which spot was hotter, my face or the spot where Jongin touched me.

My head was spinning from too much happiness, rendering me from being able to utter a coherent sentence.

"I'll take that as a yes, then." He smiled mischievously as he took my hand in his, leading me toward my locker.

"Besides, I've been following you since your first step at the front gate. I won't take no as an answer." He said confidently and pulled my body closer to him.

My stupid cheeks continued to blush, and I couldn't stop smiling. I took a peek at Jongin's side profile.

Jongin cleared his throat.

"Stop staring at me." He said, looking back at me.

"I-I'm sorry." I stuttered and lowered my head.

"And please stop blushing. You make me want to hug you so tight till you can't breathe." He confessed.

"Y-yah!" I tried to complain at his cheesiness and hit his shoulder.

"Ouch!" He screamed in pain.

I shot up in panic. Did I hit him that hard? Oh no.

"Oh gosh. I'm so sorry. Does it hurt? Omg, where does it hurt? I'm so sorry." I apologised continuously and tried to redeem myself.

"Here. It hurts so much." Jongin said, placing my palm on his left chest.

"Here?" I asked and tilted my head a little.

That was weird. I hit him on his shoulder, didn't I?

"Are you sure it hurts here?" I asked curiously.

"Yes. I couldn't feel my heart anymore." He continued.

"What?" I raised my eyebrow at his weirdness.

"I think somebody stole it."

Jongin leaned closer and now his face was so close to mine. He was about to say something but was cut off by a loud ruckus.

"Oh my goodness, my eyes. My eyes." Baekhyun shouted dramatically.

"Guys, it's still 7 in the morning." Jongdae continued with the teasing.

One by one Jongin's friends came into the picture, and I became even redder if that was possible. But the firm grip on my right hand gave me the reassurance that this wasn't a dream, that this was real.

"Yah! You guys owe me a meal!" Sehun suddenly yanked me from Jongin's grip.

But before I got dragged away by Sehun, Jongin stepped in.

"Excuse me. Hands off my girl, you brat!" Jongin pulled me away from Sehun.

Sehun was so shocked that his mouth went ajar. He tsk-ed and could only roll his eyes.

"Besides we didn't owe you any meal." Jongin said casually.

"You did, you ungrateful brat! I helped you two days ago. How could you forget? If it weren't because of me, you wouldn't be here with her!"
Sehun and Jongin started bickering like ten-year old kids.

Then I found back my voice.

"Yah, you! You called me so early on a Sunday morning! Don't you know that it's illegal to call someone that early on a weekend? Come here. Let me hit you!" I shrieked and flung my arm toward my best friend.

"Yah! I was just helping. Yah! Kim Jongin, help me!" Sehun screamed and started to jog away from me.

"Nah. Sorry, man." Jongin just laughed. It was heartwarmingly pleasant to my ears.

"That's my girl." He gave his support to me.

"It's been a while since I last felt this happy." Joonmyeon said and patted Jongin on the shoulder.

Jongin and the rest of his friends were watching me and Sehun chasing each other. Soft smiles were plastered on their faces.

"She's a great addition to our group. I approve." Chanyeol nodded at Jongin who kept his eyes on me all this while.

I stopped chasing Sehun and looked back at my man.

He winked at me and gave me a thumb up.

I snorted at his weird antic and rolled my eyes. That guy would seriously be the end of me, I smiled to myself.

Perhaps it was true that we could close our eyes to the things that we didn't want to see. And we could close our ears to the things that we didn't want to hear. But we clearly couldn't close our hearts to the things we didn't want to feel.

My life with Kim Jongin was indeed a rollercoaster. One day I'd be so happy as if I owned the world while the next day I was sent to the bottom of the ocean. But that was alright. Jongin and I had faced our feelings head-on. Although it took a while and the journey ahead was unpredictable, I had this moment with me and I should start living for the present.

Feelings were meant to be felt. They weren't meant to make sense. They were meant to be real.

And the feelings I shared with Jongin were real.

Before I even realised it, Jongin slipped his warm hand into mine and interlaced our fingers. His eyes were fixed on the sight ahead, but his smile told me everything. He was happy.

We didn't say anything and I followed him by looking ahead. It was as if we were looking at the possibilities of our future and we were standing at our starting point, ready to embrace whatever life throws at us. As long as we stayed true to our feelings, I think we'd be alright.

Because it's okay, it's love.

THE END!

To you who have stayed with me till the end, thank you!

Although this story is far from perfect, I hope you've enjoyed yourself.

See you next time, my friends! ♡

Call me Baby? ;) ㅋㅋㅋ