✤ Hana

 I was walking home late at one cold dark night, and like the past couple of days, I felt like someone was following me. But as I looked back I found no one. I was terrified, and the thought of that guy started haunting me again after I was finally kind of getting over it and starting to feel good. I told myself to just run but my feet didn’t move any faster. I heard footsteps coming closer and I stared to panic breathing fast but still walking. I felt dizzy and I didn’t notice that I stopped walking until someone tapped my shoulder and I thought this is it, I’m going to die. I turned my head slowly my heart beating faster and I couldn’t take my breath. “Hey! Are you okay?” when I finally looked at his face I was instantly relieved. It was Kai’s brother. I took out he inhaler from my bag and nodded to him. “You just scared the hell out of me.” as much as I was relieved I was kind of annoyed. “Sorry! I really didn’t mean to.” He gave an apologetic smile and continued:”I wasn’t so sure if it was you or not. What are you doing here so late anyway? It’s kind of dangerous you know?”

“Yeah.. just had a lot of stuff to do today.”

“Let me take you home then.”

“ No, no it’s okay I can go alone, it’s umm a couple of blocks away.”

“No really, I can’t let you go alone at this time.” He insisted and I didn’t want to sound rude so I just nodded and we started walking together. Even though he was right next to me, I couldn’t help but look behind my back every now and then afraid that someone was still following us.“Hey are you okay?” he asked with concern. “Huh?” I say focusing back on him. “You keep looking behind you.” I was quite for a couple of seconds, and then I looked at him and smiled. “It’s nothing, kind of a habit I think.” I gave him a weird laugh cursing myself in my mind for that lame excuse. He didn’t seem really convinced but then shrugged and laughed as well. “What a weird habit you’ve got there.”

“Ahaha..yeah! I know, right?” I looked up ahead wondering why the distance to my house got longer, I just felt like something’s wrong or I shouldn’t be here and I wanted to just get home. “So you’re Kai’s friend, right?”

“Um… yeah… I think.” I said that last part almost to myself, it’s true we’ve been texting and talking, but he’s still distant and most of the times I don’t understand what’s on his mind. The thought of him made me smile slightly and I was reminded to text him back when I get home. “Do you like him?” I was shocked when I heard that question, and I doubted that what I heard was right. “What?”

“I mean… you know, our family got through a rough time, people started talking… he was really affected.”

“Yeah I know, but I don’t really care about what people say.” He nodded slowly “So do you like him?” I looked at him incredulously, and I felt even more uncomfortable. “I just don’t want him to get hurt,” he said casually. “And what does that have to do with me? Am I not like these people okay? I know Kai is a good person, and I wouldn’t say or do anything to hurt him!”

“You don’t know everything.”

“That doesn’t change anything.” I stopped walking, we finally arrived at my house and I was getting annoyed ”And we’re here.” I pointed to the building and he nodded again. “You wouldn’t want to get any closer to him.” he said with a small smile that somehow crept me out:”Because it won’t be only him that’ll get hurt.” That got me confused and I wondered what he meant because it sounded more like a threat than a warning and shivers ran down my spine, but before I could ask him he smiled again and said ”Just be careful. Good night.” then waved and turned away leaving me in my confusion and lots of questions. The Kim brothers are sure weird.

 When I got home I was so tired I slept the moment I put my head on my pillow and got comfy under my sheets. But the next day I couldn’t help but think about that conversation all the way to the college. Who else would get hurt if it wasn’t me? and why any of us would get hurt? And why was he talking about this in the first place? I was getting more and more frustrated. Stupid.

 “Good morning to you too.” I stopped walking and looked at the owner of the voice only to find Kai with a raised eyebrow and folded arms. “Did I say that out loud?” I asked with a nervous laugh, he nodded with a bored expression. “Sorry, totally not you… I was thinking about something.”

“What got you  thinking so hard and cursing early in the morning?”

“Uh…” of course I wasn’t going to tell him about what happened last night and I struggled to find anything to say, I’m just a terrible liar. “Ummm… just some stupid assignment.” I nodded satisfied with my answer, he gave me a weird look but just shrugged “Whatever, let’s get to class.”

“You didn’t answer me yesterday, though.” We were on the bench outside eating our lunch away from others’ judging eyes since I got somehow closer to this guy. “Answer what?” I said then took a bite from the sandwich. “I was asking if it’s okay to go to your aunt’s diner today… to continue our project” I checked my phone and I remembered the unread message from yesterday “Yeah sorry, something happened and I forgot to text back.”, took another bite and nodded my head”But it’s okay, we can go.”

“Oh, okay.” He paused then opened his mouth to say something but decided against it and continued eating. “Ah right, I’ve to get home first to bring my laptop. I forgot it.” I nodded and gave him a thumb up still munching on my food. “You eat like a pig by the way.” He said so casually and I rolled my eyes at him and just shrugged.

After classes ended we went to his house which wasn’t that far from my aunt’s place. He invited me in, instead of making me wait outside. His house was big, with two floors and a stairway leading to the bedrooms. I saw a table nearby with many photo frames on it, I took a closer look and I found pictures of Kai’s childhood-self with his brother and pictures of his parents. I smiled at how he resembled his father so much, it reminded of my own father as well. “She’s beautiful, right?” I snapped out of my daze and put down the photo of his mother that was in my hand. “Yeah… she’s really beautiful.” I smiled:”I’m