Haneul’s POV

That crazy man really meant it when he said he wouldn’t stop trying. The more I ignored him, the happier he seems to get. In class, he kept throwing paper slips at me, asking me the same question; can we be friends? He comes to the book store every night and stays till dawn.

 Sometimes, he doesn’t go to the basement, but instead he would purposely sit beside me to read. Wherever I move, he’ll follow. I admit, it was nice having company, but I just couldn’t bring myself to say ‘okay’ to him.

“Are you going to work? We can go together! I have nothing on today!” He said, bouncing like a bunny beside me.

I stopped and frowned at him.

“If it’s this book that made you think we can be friends, then I’ll return it to you.” I said, shoving the book back to him.

“No no no! It’s not! I’m sincere!” He said, putting the book back into my hands.

“I’m also sincere! I’m sincerely telling you I don’t wish to make any friends with anyone of your nationality! Which part of it did you not understand!?” I shouted.

“Every single part! Is it that difficult!? I’m not even asking you for money!” He said.

“I’ll be glad if you asked me for money! I’ll give it to you and at least you’ll stop irritating me!” I shouted into his face.

“I am irritating you?” He asked, hurt obvious in his voice.

I felt bad. I felt guilty. Really.

“YES! DO I LOOK LIKE I AM ENJOYING YOUR COMPANY!?” I shouted back.

Actually I do. I really, really do.

“Oh. I didn’t know.” He said softly.

“Now you know! So get lost!” I screamed.

“Is this sincere?” He asked.

“MORE SINCERE THAN EVER!” I yelled.

“Really?” He asked.

“YES!” I shouted.

Actually, no.

“Okay. I’m sorry. Bye.” He said, walking away in another direction.

I watch him walk off. Why do I feel as thou I’ve did something gravely wrong? Why do I feel so guilty? Why does my heart hurt? Are my words really that hurting? Did I hurt him too badly?

That night, he did not appear in the book store. I thought I would enjoy the peace and quiet, but actually I felt quite scared being alone at such timing. Usually, although he wouldn’t talk and would usually be sleeping, at least I knew I wasn’t alone. But now, it was just extremely quiet.

The next day in school, he didn’t appear too. Although I managed to have peace, I found myself glancing at his seat occasionally, wishing that someone would actually throw me paper balls to distract me from the boring lessons.

As the days passed, he still didn’t appear. Not in class or the book store. I was starting to feel uneasy. Did I really drive him away? Did I really drive my only potential friend away? Did my words hurt him so bad that he quitted school? I didn’t want this to happen. I just wanted him to leave me alone, but I never meant to drive him away.

From uneasiness, I started to miss him. Was this even normal? Skye, what is your problem? Why are you contradicting yourself!? The more I tried to keep him out of my mind, the more I kept thinking about him. I thought about him so much that my reflexes became slower. When people tried to trip me, they’ll succeed and I’ll just fall flat on my face.

“So, you’re the girl who is close with Junhyung Oppa?” One of the queenkas in school stopped me when I came out of the toilet cubicle.

“What?” I asked, washing my hands.

“WHEN I AM TALKING TO YOU, DON’T YOU DARE DO OTHER STUFF!” She shouted as she pushed me to the wall.

“Who are you to control me? Even my mom doesn’t do this.” I said, making my way out.

“HOW DARE YOU TALK BACK!” She slapped me across my face.

“You offended me on the wrong day, you know?” I smirked.

“Do I have to get an auspicious day to offend you, hmm!?” She stuck out her s. For what, I don’t know.

“Of course. Or else, things would be the other way round. You’ll end up hurting instead.” I said.

“Girls!” She signaled her other es to surround me.

“What are you doing? Acting out a drama?” I laughed.

They pulled my bag away and threw it aside. They locked the toilet door and closed up on me.

“We’ll see who is unlucky today.” She said.

They punched me in my stomach and forced me onto the ground where they kick and step on me. I took the chance to grab their legs, digging my nails into them.

“AHHHH YOU !!!” One screamed as she kicked me in my nose.

I pulled her skirt to pull myself up. I grabbed her face and twisted her nose. I hope her nose is real. She yelled in pain. Someone from behind grab me by my waist and pushed my head into the sink, trying to drown me. My hands scratched and grab her face wildly. I couldn’t see and I was choking, of course I would panic and go wild. Who do they have to blame?

“YOU !!! !!! !!!” She grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the hand dryer.

I felt dizzy and lost balance. They took the chance to hit me. I could only shield myself with my arms, there was nothing else I could do.

“Stay away from Junhyung Oppa! I’m warning you!” The leader of the trio said.

“Ha~ The more I want to stick to him.” I managed to choke out.

“WHAT DID YOU SAY!?” She squashed my cheeks.

I smirked and closed my eyes.

I was saved by the knocking of the door. They pushed me into a cubicle and hurried out. How typical of them. Doing yet not daring to admit. I sat on the floor, waiting for myself to feel less dizzy before picking myself up.

I made sure no one was outside before coming out of the cubicle. I picked up my bag and made my way out. I walked with my head down, not wanting to create unnecessary attention, but I guess it wasn’t obvious that I just got bashed up.

At that point of time, I started to wonder. If Junhyung was with me today, would this have happened to me? Would he have prevented it or would he have gotten bashed up as well?

“Oh sorry!” A voice said as I bumped into him.

I shook my head and walked off. Actually it was my fault.

“Hanuel?” The voice called out.

I turned back saw Junhyung, looking at me in shock and holding a stack of paper in his hand. Is he really quitting school? I looked away and power walked out of school.

“HANEUL!! HANEUL!! WAIT!!” He caught my arm.

I pushed his hand away and glared at him.

“What happened to you?” He asked, looking at me with concern.

“Why do you care!?” I shouted.

“Haneul ah..” He said.

“We aren’t that close.” I said.

“Haneul.” He called.

“What?” I said.

“What happened?” He asked.

“I got bashed up, can you not tell?” I asked.

“At this point of time, I cannot believe you’re still trying to act tough.” He said.

What did two weeks of missing in action do to him? Suddenly he has the courage to say such words to me?

“Then don’t believe it. No one asked you to.” I walked off.

“YOU ALWAYS ASK IF I’M CRAZY! IN FACT, I THINK THE CRAZY ONE IS YOU!” He shouted.

I stopped and turned to face him.

“What did you say?” I asked.

“I SAY YOU’RE CRAZY! YOU ALWAYS THINK YOU’RE VERY TOUGH WHEN IN FACT YOU’RE NOT!” He shouted.

I stomped towards him. I tried to raise my hand to slap him but they hurt so much.

“Can’t even raise your hand to slap me and you still want to be tough?” He said.

I kicked him hard on his shin. He whined in pain but manage to force out a smile.

“I may not be tough like other guys, but at least when you get bashed up, I am willing to cover you. I just want to be your friend.” He said.

“I don’t need your pity! How many times do I have to say!?” I shouted.

“I’m not pitying you! I’m sincere! How many times do I have to say!?” He shouted back.

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

“You shouted at me first! From Day one you never stopped shouting at me! Shouldn’t I be the one asking you why are you shouting at me!?” He yelled.

True. From Day one I have always been shouting at him.

“I cannot be bothered to know whether you want to be my friend or not now. I’ve tried for so long, I could try longer. Now, I just know I have to dress your wounds.” He said, grabbing my hand.

“WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU TAKING ME!?” I tried to free myself from his grip.

“DEFINITELY NOT HELL! STOP SHOUTING!” He glared at me.

This was the first time I actually saw him so fierce.

I followed him behind to a bench. He made me sit down while he went to buy medicine. He came back and dressed my wounds for me.

“Who did this to you?” He asked when he was done.

“None of your business.” I said, looking away.

“Haneul..” He called.

“Just a bunch of es.” I said.

“I was only gone for two weeks and you ended up like this.” He said.

“So? Even if you were here for these two weeks, it’s not like you could have prevented it from happening.” I said.

“How do you know?” He said.

“Would you hit a group of girls?” I said.

“No..” He said softly.

“That’s why.” I said.

“But I’ll shield you.” He said.

Junhyung’s POV

She looked at me and then looked away.

“I am serious. I would have shielded you.” I said.

“Should I say thank you then?” She scoffed.

“No. You don’t have to. It’s not your style.” I said.

She glared at me, but I just smiled.

I noticed her shirt torn at the side. I took off my jacket and covered it over her.

“I don’t want it!” She threw it back at me.

“Just wear it for goodness sake.” I said, putting it on her again.

“Why are you being so nice!? What exactly do you want from me!?” She shouted.

“Do you not know how to speak properly? Why do you always have to shout? And, is your level of understanding that bad? From weeks ago, I’ve been trying to explain to you that I just want to be your friend! That’s all!” I said.

“What do you have to lose if I don’t agree!? Nothing, right!? Stop bugging me!” She shouted.

“Is it really that difficult?” I asked.

“YES! Because I don’t wish to have anything to do with you people! Don’t spoil my plan!” She said in frustration.

“Trust me, I wouldn’t hurt you.” I said.

“Everyone says things like this from the start! And then!?” She threw my jacket into my face.

“Ah..” The zip hit me in my right eye. My vision blurred for a second and I couldn’t stop tearing.

“Yah.. Are you.. Okay?” She asked, poking my arm.

“I can’t see..” I squat down, holding onto my eye.

She did not respond.

“Sor.. Sorry.. I.. I didn’t mean it.” She suddenly said.

This is the first time I hear her stutter.

“It’s okay.” I said as I felt better.

It was still painful to open my right eye fully but it was much better.

“See, I’m not suit to be anybody’s friend. Just leave me alone.” She said softly as she handed my jacket back to me.

“Accidents happen.” I said.

She walked off, leaving me behind. I walked back to the bench to clear the stuff I used to dress her wounds just now. Should I give up? Maybe we aren’t fated.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” I heard someone yell.

I turned around in shock and saw Haneul running towards me.

“What happened!? What happened!?” I asked as I ran towards her.

She jumped into my arms and buried her face into my chest.

“What is it!?” I asked anxiously.

“THERE’S A CAT!!!! THE FREAKING CAT!!!!!” She shouted.

“What cat!? Where!?” I asked, looking around.

A black cat jumped out from the bushes, shocking me and causing her to scream even louder. The cat must be hungry because it daringly walked towards us, meowing loudly.

“AHHHH!!! PLEASE!!!! GET RID OF IT!!!!” She yelled as she grabbed me tighter.

“Sure, but will you be my friend?” I asked, making use of her weakness. Although it’s really mean, but she left me with no choice.

“WHAT!? HOW COULD YOU!!?” She glared at me.

“Okay then.” I let go of her and pushed her closer to the cat.

She freaked out and burst into tears when the cat’s tail touched her leg.

“FINE FINE!!! ANYTHING!!! PLEASE!!!!” She cried.

I kind of felt bad when she started crying. It kind of shocked me. I didn’t know she was that afraid.

I pulled her back and shooed the cat away. After it ran away, she was still crying and shaking badly.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were really that afraid.” I said.

“WOULD I JOKE WITH YOU!?” She yelled in between her sobs.

“Sorry. I really didn’t mean it.” I said, rubbing her arms.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!! HOW COULD YOU PUSH ME TOWARDS IT!? IF I WASN’T REALLY AFRAID, WOULD I HAVE RAN TO YOU!?” She pushed me away.

“I’m really, really sorry.” I pulled her closer to me.

How would I have known that a tough girl like her would actually be this afraid of cats? She didn’t even flinch when guys bigger size than her threaten her, and then a cat and she starts to cry?

When she finally stopped crying, she glared at me.

“I’m sorry.” I apologized again.

“You said you want to be my friend. You said I could trust you. But just now, you just proved to me that you aren’t worthy of my trust.” She said, still sniffing.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know. I mean, you’re so tough, and it’s just a cat.” I said.

“YOU MEAN I CAN’T BE AFRAID OF A CAT JUST BECAUSE I’M TOUGH!? AND TO YOU, IT MAY JUST BE A CAT, BUT TO ME, IT’S LIKE A MONSTER!” She yelled into my face.

“Okay okay! I’m at fault! I’m sorry.” I tried to calm her down.

“But you said it just now that we’re friends.” I said softly.

“HOW DARE YOU USE SUCH DIRTY METHODS TO CHEAT ME!? BESIDES, YOU’RE LEAVING SCHOOL, AREN’T YOU!? WHAT FRIEND!?” She shouted.

“I may not be able to protect you from all the bullies, but I am confident I can protect you from all the cats. And, who said I am leaving school?” I asked.

I looked at the paper in my hand and started laughing.

She glared at me and walked away.

‘YAH YAH! THAT’S MY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FORM!” I laughed.

So was she pissed off because she thought I was quitting school? Did she miss me?

“So we’re friends right!?” I caught up with her.

She punched me in my stomach and walked off.

“FRIEND!! WAIT UP!!” I clutched my stomach as I ran to her.

“You don’t want to walk alone here. There are a lot of cats in this area.” I said.

She froze and stared at me blankly.

“You need my protection, Friend.” I smiled.

I put my arm over her shoulders and pulled her close to me as we walked. Surprisingly, she didn’t push me away. Instead, she clutch tighter onto my jacket, eyes darting left and right as we walked. Maybe next time I'll bring her to areas with lots of cats so she would cling on me like this. Although it was funny to see her like this, I made a mental note never to kid with her weakness anymore. My heart hurt so much when she cried. But it was cute. Really, really cute.