“Friendship ought to be a gratuitous joy, like the joys afforded by art.” 

 C H A P T E R  T H I R T E E N

It’s good. I don’t realize how much I actually miss being with him. It’s been

too long since the day we did this. It’s been too long. And there’s no doubt.

I miss him. But then, I’m scared at the same time. Because the same question

always lingers on my mind, never drift away.

       Does he feel the same way too?

               After he had finished with his work, he made himself a cup of black coffee and stood by the window in his office with his right hand holding the coffee and another one stuffed in his pockets. He contemplated the busy city with cars filling in empty spaces on the roads, people walking down the streets, birds flying in the sky and the sun shining so bright, as if it’s having a good day and he thanked God for the reasonable weather today. 

               “YO!”

               He jumped in surprise and ended up with his hand raised in the air, in a position where he’s trying to steady the cup from spilling any coffee, while Eunmi was laughing seeing his reaction. Realizing that, he glared at her.

               “Yaaa! Psh thank god I didn’t stain my shirt or else, it’ll have an ugly stain like your face.”

               And then, he felt her hand smacked on his shoulder, and he couldn’t help but let out a laugh even though it actually hurt.

               “You know I’m not ugly,” she claimed with her mad face.

               “Why are you so sure?” he asked with his eyebrow raised, in a sarcastic way.

               She rolled her eyes in annoyance and when he saw that, he laughed for another time and took a sip of his coffee.

               “Because if you say I’m ugly, then that means you’re uglier.”

               “Fine, I’m uglier then. I never said I’m handsome in the first place,” he mocked.

               “Hmph! Sarcastic! Fine!” she retorted and crossed her hands against her chest with an annoyed look ghosted over her face.

               “You do know that I like pissing you off.”

               “Okay. Fine. Seriously. Whatever,” and after she’d finished with her statements, she rolled her eyes.

               “Haha.”

               “You going anywhere for lunch break?” she asked.

               “I don’t know maybe I’ll just get some food from the cafeteria?”

               “Duh, you’re so boring.”

               “Okay, entertain me then.”

               She looked up at him and scoffed, and then she said, “You make no sense.”

               “I love doing that. It’s fun. You should try,” he stated.

               “Shut up. Okay, well, let’s go to Crab Shack? I’m craving for their awesome steamboat.”

               “Wow wow wow easy woman, when did I ever say I want to go out with you?” he teased.

               “Like, seriously, you like turning people’s offer down? It’s my treat, your loss.”

               “Okay, Crab Shack then,” he answered immediately.

               “You’re so pathetic,” she laughed and then she said, “Meet me there at two, don’t be late.”

               “Okay Grandma Eunmi.”

               She rolled her eyes in annoyance and then she spoke, “Ugh, I don’t speak monkey.”

               And then he laughed out loud. He didn’t even know why it made such a big deal for him to laugh. She just called him a monkey, but then, adding with her facial expression, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. That’s the main reason why he loved teasing her because it had so much joy in it, and then later on, it’d make him laugh. She never failed to make him laugh.

               When the lunch break had finally kicked in, he grabbed his coat and put in on, and then walked out from the building and went straight towards Crab Shack. As soon as he stepped his feet into the restaurant, the only word that crossed over his mind was wow. That’s what he thought. It’s busy and pack with so many people that he could tell it would take ages to find Eunmi if she didn’t leave a message where they’re going to sit. He walked past a couple who was making out, not minding the other toddlers who might be wondering what on earth were they thinking and doing shoving their tongues in each others’ throats. That’s just plain disgusting.

               When he was so sure he’s at the right place, standing in front of the table 12, he stood still, not knowing what’s going on when he saw a woman with her back facing her sitting there. He was so sure it wasn’t Eunmi because today, she sported a red dress and matching killer high heels, while this woman before him was sporting a pencil skirt with a loose blouse and pumps but they’re still nothing difference than Eunmi’s though. He wondered how women actually manage to walk with those killing heels. He would die if he ever wore that, and that thought actually made him being so grateful being born as a male.

               He took a couple of steps towards her and took a deep breath first before he coughed, and then he said,

               “Hrm miss, I’m so sorry to tell you but—”

               He had to stop when she turned her face around, when he clearly saw her face, when he finally knew who she was actually. It’s Shinah. His mouth left opened because of the unfinished sentence and then he closed it, and opened it again.

               “What are you doing here?”

               Turned out that both of them asked the same question at the same time. He brushed his hand over his face and then he said, “I asked you first,” and then he sat on the chair across her, realizing how much her face had changed because of the new hairstyle she was sporting. He seriously had no idea when she had gotten a new haircut and she even got a perm which took him a moment to recognize her. She looked different with a short haircut, but it didn’t mean she looked bad in it. She looked awesome, like she always did.

               “Well, Eunmi asked me out for a lunch.”

               “Me too,” he answered, still hadn’t taken his eyes off of her face.

               “Okay, so, I think…..” she suddenly stopped and then he saw her rubbing her neck in awkwardness and then she continued, “I think she’s asking two of us out? Why isn’t she coming with you? And how come she never mentioned you’re coming too?”

               “I have no idea.”

               When they remained in silence, he started feeling nervous and scared at the same time. He hated whenever this happened. It felt….it felt awfully awkward and he loathed it because it always made him feel like he didn’t know Shinah. Like, she was no one but a stranger albeit she actually wasn’t. And when he felt his phone vibrated in his pocket, he fished his phone out and saw a message from Eunmi.

“Have fun! ^^”

               “From Eunmi?” he asked.

               “Yeah.”

               “This Eunmi….” He sighed while shaking his head with a smile plastered on his face. He had no idea why she planned this. But he hoped it’s just her good intention.

               “Haha, have never thought she actually planned this.” She stated while having a small laugh.

               “Well, it’s kinda good though because I can’t recall when the last time we sat like this and ate together.”

               “Yeah, right. I’m starving. Shouldn’t we get our orders now?”

               “Yeah, sure.”

               After they had finished eating the foods which Eunmi had specially ordered and already paid the bill for them (which they actually had spent fifteen minutes insisting to pay but had been convinced by the manager they didn’t have to), they went out from the restaurant while laughing, totally never expected this to come. Eunmi had planned very well and they kept on asking each other how long had she planned this? Since when? Because it seemed like she had planned it a couple of days ago.

               They walked side by side, slowly as he’s escorting her to her office. Their arms constantly hummed next to each other every two steps and he thought it’s just nothing since it usually happens every time two persons walk next to each other. But when he heard sounds of her heels tapping the ground which sounded weird to him, he looked down at her feet and found she’s walking in a weird way, the way that proved she’s in agony. Yeah right, walk with six inches heels for approximately five hundred meters, you’d be dead. Like, seriously.

               “Are you out of your mind?” he asked. 

               “What?” she asked while scrunching her face in agony.

               “Wearing these killing shoes? Yaa, you’re crazy.”

               “Well, I’m certainly not crazy,” she stated. She looked at him and then she explained, “The reason why I decided to wear them is first, because I love them and I rarely wear them and second, I rarely walk, just, you know, I usually do my work at my desk.”

               “Okay,” he stated while nodding and then stared at her face from head to toe, and then he asked, “So, are you feeling okay now?”

               She remained setting her eyes on his face, and then she clearly stated, “No.”

               “Serve you right.”

               “Yaaa!” she retorted and smacked him on the shoulder, totally felt hopeless.

               A sigh escaped from his mouth and then he said, “Fine, fine, stop whining. Just, let’s find a shoe store or what and get you a pair of comfy one.”

               “Awww you’re such a sweetheart,” she confessed while pinching his cheek. And it felt so good to her and she soon realized it’s been ages ever since the last time she did this. He scrunched his face in pain and annoyance at the same time and yanked her hand away from his face, and then he rubbed his cheek which had a red mark on it while saying,

               “I know.”

               “Shut up,” she stated and gave him a smack on the shoulder.

               And then in the end, they didn’t even manage to find a shoe store, not even a single one after walking for almost half an hour, and she felt like she had lost her feet. They felt numb now. And she had no idea how she’s going to walk for another hundred meters, she assumed until they finally reach the building of her office.

               When she thought of nothing but to walk fast and just go with it until they arrive to their destination, she accidentally tripped over her foot and fortunately, he managed to reach out his hand and steadied her. She was so close to falling face first, she could tell that, and at that time she felt nothing but grateful to both God and Wooyoung for saving her from getting humiliated. But of course, she still had humiliated herself with the awkward position she had when Wooyoung actually steadied her by gripping onto her hair.

               That— made her almost wanted to commit suicide. She really had no idea where to hide her face. She blinked her eyes for a couple of times and then she shook her head, in a way to tell him to let it go and thank goodness he did like what she wanted. She coughed and swallowed hard. She then stood still, looking on the ground and felt blazing glares from people.

               God, kill me now.

               And when she felt his arm brushed over hers, standing next to her, she turned her body towards his direction in a way to hide herself even though she knew it wasn’t a great help at all.

               “, I’m not wearing these anymore.”

               A grin was formed on his face and that was when he lent out his hand, to fend her. Seeing that, she couldn’t help but asking herself whether what she was seeing was real or not. It was probably wrong— it was probably just her imagination after what had happened to her, she wasn’t in her right state. But when she had convinced herself it was true by pinching her cheek, she knew it’s real.  She looked up at him, showing a clueless face.

               “Here, hold onto it.”

               “Are you sure?” she asked.

               “Well, I’ve taken a bath with you before.”

               She rolled her eyes in annoyance and then she claimed, “Yaa! Ish, fine!”

               They walked like that, the way a couple always walked down the sidewalk with the woman holding onto the guy, and from the back, they looked like a couple, so in love with each other even though in real, it’s just a way to prevent her from falling again. They knew they’re mistaken as a sweet couple by seeing how people stared at them and said, aww all the way long. They made they felt awkward, but just kept it quiet, didn’t say a word to each other until they finally had arrived to her office.

               She slowly let his arm go and steadied herself, and then she awkwardly said,

               “So, uhm, thanks.”

               “No biggie,” he answered while rubbing his arm.

               “Sorry, it must be painful.”

               He looked at her and then he said, “Obviously.”

               “Sorry,” she answered in a serious manner, didn’t get the idea of he’s just joking around. He let out a small laugh and then he said,

               “No worries about that. See you later.”

               “Yeah.”

               “Bye.”

               “Bye.”

               And then he turned his body around with his both hands stuffed in his pockets, he started to walk away, but his track was stopped when she suddenly called out his name.

               “Wooyoung!”

               Correction— when she suddenly screamed out his name.

               He slowly turned his body around and when he met her eyes, he asked, “Yeah?”

               “Can I call you?”

               “You just made yourself sound silly.”

               “I’ll take that as a yes than.”

               “Suit yourself,” he stated with the end of his mouth twitched a bit. And then for this time, for real, he turned around and walked away until he was completely gone from her sight. After she was convinced that he was gone and he’s on his way towards his office, she spun around and walked slowly. But this time, she walked with so many cautions as she was so sure she didn’t want to repeat the same mistake again. But never did she expect her track would be stopped when someone suddenly reached her, and that’s when she realized it’s just one of her colleagues, whose name was Kim Hana.

               “Who’s that?” she asked with curiosity filled her face.

               “Who?”

               She rolled her eyes and linked her arm with Shinah’s and then she answered, “The guy with you just now.”

               “Ohhhh.”

               “Is he your boyfriend?” she asked.

               “No, he’s just a friend of mine.”

               “Ohh, what a waste. You guys made a cute couple.”

               Hearing that, she couldn’t manage to do anything other than forming a smile and actually wanted to be in other people’s point of view, seeing how they actually looked like just now. Did they really make a cute couple like what Hana and other people thought? Did they?

               “But, well, keep him for me. Just in case if I am suddenly divorced. I’ll ask him to be my new husband. He’s good looking, you know. I can’t miss my chance.”

               “Hey, you’re a meanie!” she glared at Hana while letting out a small laugh and then she continued, “Remember, it’s bad for your baby to hear that. It might report to his dad.”

               Hana turned her face towards her direction and grinned before she finally said,

               “Don’t worry, it’s on my side.”

               Both of them laughed, and got into the elevator.  What Hana said to her made Shinah to think— who was she to Wooyoung? Because in her case, he’s more than just a friend. She could say that and it’s the truth.

               But what about him? Who was she actually to him?