Haneul’s POV

I ran to the back of the building and faced the wall. Although the weather was cold, I felt hot for some odd reason.

“Skye, you overreacted!” I mumbled to myself.

“It’s just a peck, why did you have to punch and kick him?” I asked myself.

“But he is absolutely at fault!” I said, rubbing my cheeks.

Actually, I was more surprised than angry. In fact, I don’t think I am angry at all, but I had no idea why I hit him. I touched the part he pecked me on and I found myself smiling.

“NO!! WHAT IS WRONG!?” I kicked the trash can beside me.

His lips felt soft and plump. It felt a little wet maybe because of his habit of his lips.

“EWWWW!!!!” I pulled my hair and jumped around, trying to get the thought off my head.

“Friend?” I heard a familiar voice call out.

I froze and turned around. Junhyung stood in front of me, with his nose bloody, hand still holding onto the Donald Duck and panting deeply.

“I… I’m sorry.” He said, looking down.

“I didn’t mean to.. You know.. Kiss you like that.. But I.. I…” He stuttered.

“You what!?” I shouted.

“You were so close and I was just.. I don’t know.. I’m sorry.” He said.

“Can I punch you and then say I’m sorry?” I asked.

“You always punch me but never once apologized.” He mumbled.

“WHAT!?” I yelled.

“I’m sorry! I tried to hold myself back, but I don’t know what went wrong!” He screamed.

“YOU’RE A ERT! THAT’S WHAT IS WRONG!” I shouted.

“I KNOW I AM! I AM A HUGE ERT! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!?” He yelled back.

“Why are you yelling at me!?” I shouted back.

“You yelled at me first!” His fists clenched.

I wasn’t angry, but I don’t know why I just didn’t want to let him off so easily. And the fact he shouted back at me, I just felt pissed off. I walked off, clashing against his shoulder hard.

“Haneul!! Haneul!!! Wait!! Please!! I’m sorry!” He grabbed my hand.

“What did I say about touching me!?” I glared at him.

He let go of me but looked clearly upset.

“Why are you treating me like that? We are friends, aren’t we? But why do you change so much? What sort of friends can’t even touch each other?” He said.

“If you’re so unhappy, we can always take it as if we never met, you know?” I said.

He looked at me with a mixture of shock and disappointment on his face.

“I never understood how you could say such things so easily. Is our friendship so weightless to you that you can just easily throw away? I doubt I would be able to say that. I really doubt. I’m so amazed how easily it comes out of your mouth. It feels as if you’ve rehearse this several times. Yes, I kissed you, I’m at fault. For the third time, I’m sorry.” He said.

I looked down, guilty for not thinking before I speak.

“I really, really cherish you, not just as a friend, but as a person as well. Just so you know, I’ll never say such things to you.” He smiled and walked off.

I stomped off in the other direction. As I walked, I thought about what he said. Indeed, how could I say such things so easily? The situation itself was tense, with such words, it just made things worse. He kissed me, but I wasn’t angry. Why did I have to hurt him with my words?

I strolled the streets until it was dark. On my way back to the bookstore, I stopped by an ice cream shop. After buying what I wanted, I made my way back. My heart was beating wildly. I felt so nervous for some reason. Would he still be there? What if this time he leaves and never comes back?

My worries disappeared when I saw a figure sitting on the steps outside the bookstore. He had his head buried in his knees and he was still clutching onto the toy.

Junhyung’s POV

It was my fault that I kissed her. I should have just kept apologizing instead of yelling back at her. But I was really hurt by her words. How could she say such things? How could she take our friendship so lightly? I admit I am extremely sensitive.

“Trying to freeze yourself?” A voice asked.

I looked up and she stared down at me.

“I’M SO SORRY!” I apologized.

“I didn’t mean to yell at you. I didn’t mean to just walk away. I’m so sorry!” I said.

She looked at me and then a smile slowly crept onto her face. She grabbed my arm and pulled me into the store.

“When I am angry or upset, if someone buys me ice cream and anything of this sort, I would be happy again.” She said.

“I don’t know if it works for you. But…” She took out a huge tub of ice cream and two slices of cake.

“Sorry for overreacting. Sorry for punching, kicking and stepping on you. Sorry for saying such mean words.” She said.

She held out a spoon in front of me. I took it and scooped a huge spoonful of ice cream. I shoved it into my mouth and ate it despite feeling already very cold.

“Is it painful?” She asked, poking my nose.

“Oww..” I winced at the sudden pain.

“Sorry.” She said, touching the bruise lightly.

“It’s fine.” I said.

“Can I… Erm..” She said.

“What?” I asked.

“My toy.. Can I have it back?” She said.

“Oh! Sorry.” I totally forgot I was clutching onto her soft toy.

“What’s this?” She asked, looking at the red stain on Donald Duck’s cheek.

Damn, I must have wiped the blood from my nose with the toy unknowingly.

“Please don’t tell me you…” She looked at me.

I buried my face into the tub of ice cream.

“YAH!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU USE MY TOY AS YOUR TISSUE!?” She took the whole tub of ice cream away from me.

“Sorry… I really didn’t know… It was just… I’m sorry…” I said.

“I’ll wash it for you!” I said, trying to take the toy from her.

“NO! Don’t touch my toy!” She pouted.

“Sorry.” I said.

“Forget it. I’ll let it go this time because I was the one who punched you. If you ever use my toys as tissue again, I’ll rip off your hair!” She puffed her cheeks.

I smiled and nodded.

“So, are we still friends?” I asked after we finished eating.

“Why do you keep asking the same question?” She said, cuddling her toys.

“I just want to make sure.” I said.

“Yes. Friends.” She said.

“Do you think… We can be… You know.. More than that?” I daringly asked.

“What?” She said, looking at me.

“I mean…” I looked away.

“Do you want another punch?” She asked.

“No. I don’t.” I smiled and changed the subject.

Is that a no? Does it mean we can only remain friends? But Haneul, why?

***

And, are you curious how the idiotic looking Donald Duck actually looks like?