Haneul stretched her arms high above her head, squeezing her eyes shut as she enjoyed the feeling of her vertebrae popping one by one. It had been several days since Baro had pulled her into the dreamlike memory and she had learned his horrible, heart-wrenching past; yet, the ordeal had only brought them closer together. Baro was his right self again- if anything, he was happier, full of relief to get the impossible weight of his sin off of his shoulders. Haneul was not sure yet how she would achieve the feat of reverting his demon status, but she had not lost hope yet. Somehow, some way, she would do it.

Meanwhile, autumn had begun to set in, turning the leaves gold and red and orange and the air crisp and cool. Haneul had always loved fall best- it wasn’t too cold nor too hot, and she loved the way the trees burst with color, as if displaying one final show before the stark, bleak coldness of winter. She couldn’t help gazing at them as she walked beside Sandeul, admiring the way the leaves caught the golden sunlight and shone with radiance as they waved in the breeze. The boy did not share her appreciation of the season, as he was chattering on about various events during the school day. To be frank, Haneul wasn’t listening to his idle chatter.

“Haneul? Have you been listening?” her best friend complained, catching on to her lack of interest. She glanced over at him with a small, joking smile.

“Not really,” she admitted honestly. “I’ve just been enjoying the view,” she explained when he began to protest loudly, and she swept her hand to gesture at the scenery that had left her so enthralled. “It’s just gorgeous, isn’t It?” He pursed his lips, his gaze sweeping over the yellow-orange bursts of color, and then nodded approvingly. Before he could respond, Haneul eyes caught a dash of blue amidst the fiery red and yellow. “Oh? What’s this?” She frowned as she paused to wander over to the flyer taped to the nearby light pole. She peered closer, her eyes absorbing the cursive white lettering. “Of course! The Daeyang Moon Festival!” she realized with elation. Samuel came up from behind her, propping his head on her shoulder as he read the announcement.

“Wow, is it that time of the year already?” he beamed as he peered out of his peripheral vision at her. “It’s next weekend, it seems. I can’t believe it came up so quickly. Remember when you and I used to go together, when we were little kids?” he smiled fondly. Haneul nodded, memories dancing in her head; She and Sandeul running across the docks, their hands stuffed with various treats and prizes. They ran from booth to booth, exploring anything and everything, while their parents lagged behind chatting amiably about adult things.

“Yes, I remember,” she nodded. Those were good days.

“You know, it’s real popular with the ladies,” Sandeul grinned suggestively, but Haneul was quite unsure just what he was getting at. “It’s perfect for dates.” Instantly, her face turned a bright shade of pink as Baro flashed in her mind. A… date… The thought gave her a strange giddy feeling, the idea of her and Baro strolling down the docks, holding hands as they wandered down the beach, looking into each other's eyes under the full moon as their lips drew close. She exclaimed aloud at the fantasy, putting her hands on her cheeks and shaking her head vigorously to clear the vision. Oh, my word!

Sandeul was giggling uncontrollably at her, having guessed what had just passed through her mind.

“Considering asking Baro?” he teased, and she blushed further, confirming his suspicions. He laughed teasingly, ruffling her hair as he hugged her happily. “Oh, my little Haneul, on her first date!”

“It’s not a date if I haven’t asked him!” she protested.

“Well, we'll have to fix that problem, now won’t we?” he grinned while sticking out his tongue, and Haneul knew that there was no way that Sandeul was going to allow her to skip the festival. She couldn’t help but smile, slightly grateful for her friend’s persistence. “Come on! I’ll help you practice, and we'll plan your outfit, and pick out your makeup!” he began babbling excitedly, grabbing her hand and pulling her along the sidewalk. She couldn’t help but giggle with excitement.

She and Sandeul stayed up well into the night, and even long after her best friend had fallen asleep exhausted on her floor, Haneul lay in her bed staring up at the ceiling with a broad smile on her face. A date with Baro! She thought once more, squirming slightly in the sheets as she felt a wave of excitement and anticipation wash over her all over again.

However, as soon as she walked into the Chemistry classroom and laid eyes on the attractive boy, Haneul felt her heart began to pound furiously and the careful practiced words vanish from her mind. She hovered in the doorframe, kneading her hands nervously as she worked up the courage to approach the demon. Why am I so nervous? It’s just Baro! She scolded herself lightly; yet still, she continued to stall until one of her classmates gave her a light shove from behind and told her in a very annoyed tone that she was blocking the entryway. Ashamed at being scolded publicly and caught in such a shy state, she slunk over to Baro lest she irritate another of her schoolmates. The boy immediately smiled as she joined him at the lab station, and that made the girl’s heart flutter all the more.

“Hey, Haneul. I was wondering what was taking you so long,” he greeted her happily, and all she could do was give him a nervous laugh in response. This is crazy! She thought as she placed a hand over her heart, feeling the muscle palpitate furiously. I’ve… I’ve never felt this way before. Sensing that something was awry, Baro leaned close to her and whispered, “Hey, you okay? You’re acting all nervous. Did something happen?” Though it was a harmless question, Haneul shook her head emphatically, much too emphatically; the feeling of his breath tickling on her ear set her face on fire, and the warmth radiating from his body excited her nerves in a way she had never experienced.

“N-No, not at all,” she answered quickly, not meeting his gaze. She scooted away from him, unable to stand being so close with the attractive demon. She couldn’t even look him in the face without feeling slightly faint. Had his eyes always been so alluring? Had his muscles always been that defined? Abruptly, she was noticing much more about him than she ever had, and each new realization did little to still her pounding heart. Oh, I can’t do this! She wailed silently. Baro, hopelessly perplexed, just stared at her with slightly wide eyes and a deep frown.

Before the demon could inquire further to her agitated state, the teacher began the lecture. Haneul tried her best to focus, she truly did, but every time Baro even shifted her eyes and mind became drawn to him like a magnet. She found herself staring at him, her eyes following the curves of his muscles or the structure of his jawline, analyzing the highlights in his hair or the radiant colors of his irises, and her mind wandered away from the droning words of the instructor. Occasionally Baro’s eyes would shift to her, and she would jump slightly and pretend to busy herself with taking notes, and several times she saw the edges of his lips curl into a self-satisfied smile. Thoroughly embarrassed, she would focus intently on the teacher before falling into the trap all over again.

Once the experiment began, her mind somehow found its focus and the proceeded through the work with little issue. They finished well in time of the final bell, and for ten minutes Haneul doodled on the corner of a free sheet of paper, her stomach twisting itself into knots as she struggled to force out the question.

“Haneul,” Baro murmured in that deep, soft way of his, and she felt goosebumps rise on her arms. She straightened up slightly, trying to seem nonchalant.

“Yes?” she responded with fake cheer, staring hard at the little depiction of a ladybug coming to life on the notebook paper.

“You’re acting strange,” he accused. She swallowed a scream, forcing into some semblance of a smile, and then glanced up to face him. Oh, he’s so… she started to think as she stared into his dreamy face, but discreetly pinched her hand to bring herself back to reality. Focus! Focus, Haneul! You are not some fangirl! Get ahold of yourself.

“Strange? I don’t think I’m acting strange at all,” she answered brightly. Eyebrows knit, Baro frowned at her and opened his mouth to speak; however, before he could say anything, a chorus of giggles and whispers arose from behind them, and the pair of them whipped around in their chairs to see a gaggle of girls. One of them, standing in the center, was staring shyly at her feet and shifting her body nervously. The others, obviously some sort of emotional support, were kindly offering encouragement and giggling while they passed glances at Baro.

“Go on, ask him!” one beamed as she nudged her friend.

“Look, he’s listening!” the other sniggered teasingly, winking at the demon boy. Baro just looked positively bewildered, and was staring at the shy girl with a mixture of pity, confusion, and kindness.

“You want to ask me something?” he inquired politely, and the girl nodded furiously, kneading the fabric of her skirt anxiously as she lifted her face to look up at him. Idly, Haneul thought, She has pretty eyes. They were bright blue, clear like the sky. She looked vaguely familiar as well, and she pondered on where she had seen the girl before while she finally worked up the courage to ask Baro her question.

“I, um… W-We have a festival here, every year, and it’s n-next weekend… I-it’s traditional for girls to ask g-g-guys to go, and I th-thought… M-maybe… If n-no one had asked y-you yet… If you would… Go with me…” she asked timidly, dropping her voice lower and lower until it was barely a whisper. Haneul felt strangely numb as she stared wide-eyed at the girl, and suddenly she realized why she recognized the girl- she was often at Baro’s side when Haneul approached, chatting idly with the boy while he waited for Haneul to get out of class, calling hello when the passed in the hall, everyday conversation. She likes him, she thought dumbly.

“Oh, um, that’s sweet,” Baro began, smiling shyly as he rubbed the back of his neck. As he laughed nervously, looking everywhere but at the girl, Haneul felt as if she were going to explode. Say something. Say anything. “Uh, this festival, what is it?” he asked.

“The Daeyang Moon Festival!” one of the supporting girls explained. “It’s so much fun. You would definitely have a great time with her!” She grabbed her friend’s shoulders, grinning.

“Right. Um…” Baro’s gaze slid to Haneul, and the hesitation in his eyes told her all she needed to know. The bottom of her lip quivered as she smiled, and she rose abruptly to leave, her emotions in complete and utter disarray.

“Hey, Haneul, where are you going?” Baro exclaimed as she slipped down from her seat and politely asked the girls to move aside so she could pass through.

“Oh, well… I need to turn in our work, and I’m sure this girl doesn’t want me here while she’s waiting on your answer, so…” she explained, her voice robotic. Before Baro could protest, she shouldered past the girls and stomped to the front of the class to hand in their work, then wrenched the door open and half-walked, half-ran down the hallway. She hadn’t meant to make such a scene, but she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Stupid! Stupid, stupid! She screamed at herself silently, bonking herself in the side of the head. You missed your chance! You shouldn’t have been such a coward! Sniffling, she angrily wiped at the tears forming in the corner of her eyes as she wandered mindlessly through the halls, simply brooding on her failure. Somehow, she ended up in the library, and as the bell rang to signal the lunch hour, she settled herself in a quiet corner, beneath dusty shelves stuffed with dusty books, and finally allowed the tears to flow.

I’m pathetic, she thought as she sobbed. She was sure she sounded pathetic, chest heaving as she hiccupped and gasped for breath and hiccupped again. I’m stronger than this. I am. She curled into a ball, her hair falling over her face as she retreated into herself. It shouldn’t hurt. It shouldn’t. Yet her heart was constricted, aching and burning as it broke. Why are you so upset? He didn’t say yes.

But he didn’t say no.

After a while, the tears stopped falling, but the pain didn’t end. It just kept throbbing in her chest, dully aching, as she lay curled up on the carpet gently rocking herself back and forth, trying to piece herself back together but miserably failing to do so. She pretended not to hear the soft footsteps approaching, and didn’t look up as they halted in front of her. She didn’t want to look, she couldn’t look, or she would fall apart all over again.

“Haneul,” Baro asked sternly, and she just remained still. If I don’t answer, he’ll leave, he’ll leave me alone… she thought, even though she knew it was a lie. She heard him crouch down in front of her, and he just sat there, contemplating. “Haneul,” he demanded again, more forcefully this time. “Look at me, will you?” he huffed as he ran a hand angrily through his hair. Slowly, she lifted her head, peering through tear-heavy lashes at him. He looked a mixture of sad, confused, and pissed off, and she felt like crying again. He thinks I’m pathetic too. God, I just want him to go away, but I want him to stay. God, I’m so confused! Angry and hurt, she turned so that he was facing her side, and propped her chin on her knees. He sighed in exasperation, scratching the side of his head.

“Jeez, why are girls so hard to deal with?” he muttered under his breath, closing his eyes as he sighed again. “Haneul, talk to me, please,” he begged her, and she stiffened as he reached out and wrapped her up in his arms, resting his head against hers. No, no, don’t do that, please, but it was too late, and the tears began falling again. Helpless, she leaned against him, burying her face into the fabric of his shirt sleeve. The material darkened with her tears, and it was a few moments before she whispered, “I wanted to ask you to the festival, but when I saw you, my tongue got all tied up and it was hard to breathe and I just… couldn’t. Then that girl came, and I just… I just… I was scared… I would lose you to her,” she admitted. It sounded silly, as she said it out loud, but even now the fear pulsed inside of her. Stay with me. You’re my ‘something good,’ you can’t leave me, she pleaded silently, and she subconsciously pressed further into him.

She couldn’t help but gasp when he began laughing.

“Oh, my God, Haneul. You are such an idiot!” he howled, letting go over her to roll onto his back and hold his belly. Stunned, she stared down at him with tear-stained cheeks as he writhed on the floor, legs kicking and shoulders shaking as he cackled.

“What?” she cried incredulously when she found her words. Still hooting, he waved his hand, trying to force out words.

“I… Hahahaha… I told her ‘no’!” he gasped, sitting up and wiping tears from his eyes. “Oh, that’s hilarious… Haaaaaa, Haneul, what the hell would make you think I would go with that girl to some festival?” he asked with a slight snicker. Her cheeks reddened as she tried to defend her emotional breakdown.

“Y-You’re with her a lot, you know!” she huffed.

“Yeah, she’s in some of my classes. I don’t make a habit of being mean to girls, you know,” he mused, smirking at her. She went redder and crossed her arms, mouth opening and closing as she tried to formulate some semblance of an argument.

“W-well, some girls would take that to mean something, you know? Guys don’t spend time with girls they don’t like!” she snorted. Suddenly he had this smoldering look in his eyes, and was leaning close to her, and she felt the words dying in . “S-so… That could m-mean…” she trailed off as he halted inches away from her.

“Mhmm. Guys don’t spend time with girls they don’t like,” he echoed. Oh, his voice… she thought absentmindedly. “Tell me, Haneul, who do I spend almost every afternoon with?”

“Me,” she answered quietly.

“Who do I eat lunch with every day?”

“Me…”

“For whom do I wait to walk from class to class, or to walk home?” Now she was embarrassed, and she shrunk down slightly, blushing from head to toe.

“Me…” she whispered.

“Exactly. So, who do I spend most of my time with?” he demanded with a smirk.

“Me?” she answered back, and he nodded with a chuckle. He grabbed the back of her head, and she squeaked as he pulled her close so their foreheads were touching.

“And who do you think I would rather go to the festival with?” he asked softly. A smile broke across Haneul’s lips, and her heart began to flutter, but not from nerves. No, it was a flutter of pure happiness, and she was so emotionally volatile that she thought she would begin crying again. Pull yourself together.

“Me.”