Chapter 25: Best Friend

I walked into Starbucks. I looked around and saw Kyung Rok sitting there.
I gathered up my courage and went to him. He looked up as i sat down

"Kyung Rok ah..."
 

"Im glad you came."
I looked at him. He didnt mean it in a welcoming way...

He took out a box and placed it infront of me.
I looked at it.
He took a sip of his coffee and walked out.
I sat there for a moment staring at the box. I slowly opened it..

Pictures, potery, letters, tapes, stuffed animals...all that we gave each other.
Tears started flowing down my eyes.
I grabbed the box and ran for the door.

"Yah!"
He turned around we were in the street of the bums and the hospital.

"What?" He asked cooly
 

"Is this it? Is this what you call friends? Is this how your going to leave me? Is it?" I yelled
 

"I told you. people change." he turned around and started to walk away.

"YAH!" I threw the box at him. The box exploded and all of our memories were flying in the air and falling to kiss the ground.

He didnt turn around he just stood there..
"I TRUSTED YOU. I TRUSTED YOU! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME!? I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND!!!" I cried.
 

"People change. I change. Friends dont last forever. Didnt that half dead mother of yours tell you that?"

Kyung Rok's POV.

I took out my phone and text Han Byul. After tonight....im going to be free.

I took the box of our memories and went on my way down to Starbucks.
I passed by the playground that we would always play on and the ice cream shop that we would always eat at.

The memories sticked to me like glue. But slowly as time over comes they will detach from me. I have to do this...

I walked into starbucks and looked around. She isnt here yet.

I sat myself down at a table in the back. I placed the box down on the table and waited for her.
I stared at the box. I couldnt help it. I opened it and looked at everything once more.
The pot that she made for me when i was sick. It had best friends written all over it.
The stuffed animal that she gave me on valentines day. It said i love you best friend.
The letters that we wrote to eachother during class.
The picture frame of me and her when we were in the 7th grade. Us on the swings holding hands. smiling.
and the tape....the tape of us as we played when we were little. The one that my mom would tape of us.
when we were little...and happy....not knowing what would come for us...
all these things...are going back...as if it never happened...

What i have to do....is for the best.

I placed the box down next to me as the waitress came.

"can i get you anything?"
 

"coffee please."
She bowed and went off. I looked out the window. No sign of her.
Its dark...i wonder if she is going to come...

The waitress came back with my coffee as i payed for it. I took a couple of sips.
I looked at my phone...9:30.
I let out a sigh.

"Kyung Rok ah.." I looked up as Han Byul sat down.

Make it to the point....dont look back.
"Im glad you came." I made sure what I said was in a cold way. It hurts me inside....but I have to do this. Its best for me and for her.

I took out the box that had the memories that she had given me since we were little. She looked at it. I took a sip of my coffee and walked out like nothing happened.

The cool air hit my face.

Your a horrible friend Kyung Rok....but she will understand later on....dont regret it Kyung Rok...your letting go.. forever.

"YAH!" Her voice ran out through the street.
I turned around and saw her eyes full of tears. How much it hurts to see her like this...
 

"What?" I replied.
 

"Is this it? Is this what you call friends? Is this how your going to leave me? Is it?" She yelled.

My stomach started to turn. This isnt right. This isnt how friends are supposed to be...but I cant be the rebound board no longer.

"I told you. poeple change." I turned around to leave.

"Yah!"
I felt something hit my back. Then i heard the clangs of the pottery she made me and the picture frame break.
I didnt turn around. I was scared if she would see my tears. Be strong be strong..

"People change. I change. Friends dont last forever. Didnt that half dead mother of yours tell you that?"

I held in the rest of the tears i had. The words hurt me as much as it hurts her. I rather have her hate me then for me to be her best friend.

I heard her feet coming closer.
She faced me and slapped me across the face. I didnt reply. I just stood there staring at the ground.

"Your right. Friends dont last forever. Goodbye Kim Kyung Rok."
She started running down the street.

I watched her run as she left me here. Tears were slowly flowing out of my own eyes.

This is wrong...this is all wrong. I regret it. I regret it.

Han Byul...

"HAN BYUL LOOK OUT!!!"

Han Byul's POV.

I cried as I ran away and crossed the street.

Stupid Kyung Rok. That bastard. I cant believe that I saw him as a loyal friend.

"HAN BYUL LOOK OUT!" I Turned arouond to see Kyung Rok running towards me.
What does he want?

BEEEP BEEP!!!!
The horns of a truck was honking. Slowly i faced where i was standing and a truck was coming my way.
Fear locked me down not letting me move an inch.
The head lights coming closer and closer.

"HAN BYUL!!!"
.....

I opened my eyes. Everything was spinning
soon my focus came back. There were people surrounding me and some cries.
I looked at myself. Nothing...I wasnt harmed...but the blood...where is it....

"KYUNG ROK!!" I screamed.
Laying next to me was a half dead Kyung Rok. His eyes were closed and blood was flowing out of him like a river into the ocean
 

"Kyung Rok!"I cried. I took him into my arms and cried.

"Han Byul.." I heard a faint voice. I looked at Kyung rok as he slowly opened his eyes.
 

"babo! Why did you take it? Why do you have to get hurt!?" I yelled.
He slowly smiled.

"All those things....I said....to you...I didnt mean it....."
 

"Kyung Rok please. Save your breath. Someone call 911!" I yelled.
A couple of people in the crowd took out their cellphones and started calling for help.

"Han Byul...I thought I could....I could....let go.....but...I cant..."
I looked at him. He wasnt making sence. As he layed in my arms I could feel that he was growing weaker and weaker. Each breath was harder for him to breath.

"Kyung Rok please...."
"I ...love you....Park Han Byul..."

Tears were my answer. Tears.

"Dont....cry....." His bloddy hand touched my face as he wipped my tears away. I held onto his hand.
 

"Im such a bad friend....arent I?" He asked
 

"No. No. Kyung Rok. Your the best. Dont leave me..." I cried
 

"Han Byul...im ..in love with you...I always...have...been." He said softly
I cried even harder. All this time. He...loved me...
 

"Im free ...Han Byul...free from... my ...deepest ...secret....now...I ..can leave..." He started breathing harder.
 

"No. please. dont leave me."
 

"I ..love.....you....best........" His grip on my hand lossened.
 

"no...please...kyung rok...dont do this..."
 

"best.....friend..." he whispered. His eyes closed forever as he entered the enternity of sleep.

The guilt inside me grew as my heart was about to explode.
 

"Kyung Rok...KYUNG ROK!!" I screamed as i sobbed over the body of my best friend.
Sirens of an ambulance were drawing closer as i too closed my eyes and the dark surrounded me.
Kyung Rok...im sorry...