Chapter 26: The new me

"Yah. Kim Kyung Rok. Its me. Han Byul. What kind of a best friend are you? Leaving me like this. I miss you. I really do. Im...sorry...I must of caused so much drama for you. You liking me all this time....and me...being a stupid girl not knowing. Minwoo and I....we....we are on a break now. We have been ever since the day you left. He understands what im going through..He even understands if I dont go back to him...but...im not sure what I want. You know i watched that tape of us. We were sure happy back then huh? Always playing at that playground together. Eating ice cream cones at the ice cream shop. I went there a couple of days ago and ordered the strawberry deluxe that you and I always shared.It didnt taste good as it used too...I think its becuase I have no one to share it with. Its been a month since you have been gone...a month...im here...confronting you after a month you have left. I...im sorry i didnt go to your funeral. I ...I couldnt face it. Im guilty. Guilty of everything. Guilty of us falling apart and leading you to....die... Im the bad friend. I really am. But...I am free now...telling you all this is making me feel new. Even though your not infront of me....i know that your listening to me. Kyung Rok ah...My Rookie.......I miss you."

I held back my tears and smiled. I placed the roses on his grave.

"I'll never forget you....best friend."
A tear rolled down my face but I wipped it away. I smiled as I left his grave.

The sorrow was growing apart from me. I walked down the alley and into the playground. I sat at the swing set that Kyung Rok and I would always swing on.

I kicked my legs and started pumping. I rose and rose into the air swinging back and forth.

"IM FREE!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.
"KYUNG ROK WE ARE FREE!" I yelled once more.

I started laughing and some tears spilled out of my eyes.

I stopped pumping my legs as i slowed down. The cool air surrounded me.
The fresh smell of fall and the crisp leaves started blowing around.

"I thought you were a mad women when you stared yelling that you were free."

I turned around and saw Eun Byul lean against the swing pole.

He sat down at the swing next to me.

"What are you free from?" he asked
 

"Guilt. I confronted Kyung Rok today."
 

"...you went to his grave?"
 

"yup. My fears are gone."
 

"thats good. Did you tell him about you and Minwoo?"
I nodded.

I looked out on the play ground and saw two kids playing on the slide. They were laughing and playing so well.
I cracked a smile.

"Hey Eun Byul."
 

"Eung?"
 

"You want some ice cream?"
 

"Ice cream?"
 

"Come on!" I grabbed his hand as we ran to the ice cream shop.

"One strawberry deluxe" i oredered as Eun Buyl and I sat down
 

"Strawberry deluxe?" Eun Byul asked
 

"yup. its really good!"
 

"eww. I dont like strawberry."
 

"What!? How can you not like Strawberry? Its the best!!"
 

"no. I like vanilla. Cant we get a vanilla deluxe?"
 

"No! Strawberry!"
 

"aww come on! vanilla!"
 

"no. your eating strawberry with me like it or not."

he frowned. He fiddled with his napkin.
The waitress gave us each a glass of water and some cookies.
I took a cookie and nibbled on it.
Eun Byul took a cookie and took a big bite.

"So. Are you going to get back with Minwoo?"
 

" I dont know."
 

"Han Byul...its been a month. Shouldnt you have an answer"
 

"I dont know what I want."
 

"oh cut the drama and tell me."
 

"why did you break up with Youn Ah?"
 

"Cuz I didnt have the same feelings. Stop changing the subject."
 

"You know that she really liked you."
 

"Park Han Byul."
 

"I mean seirously why did you break up with her? You played her and then liked her then loved her then break up with her?"
 

"Ok the question is why do you care? Stay on topic. Tell me why you dont have an answer"
 

"did you leave Byul at home?"
 

"PARK HAN BYUL!!!"

"Strawberry Deluxe." The waitress said in a cheery voice as she placed down the order. I took my spoon and took a bite of the ice cream.

Eun Byul had his arms crossed and gave me the eye. I avoided it and continued eating.
Then the plate of icecream went toward Eun Byul as he took his spoon and started digging in.

"Hey i thought you didnt like strawberry! stop eating it all you pig!"
 

"I dont like it. Im eating it all if you dont tell me the real answer."
 

"No! Stop eating it you bahb tong!"
 

"No. not till you tell me."

I managed to take a spoon of the strawberry deluxe before he took it out of my grasp again.

"Yah tell me. im getting sick of the strawberrys!"
 

"no. im wating for you to quit."
 

"come on! I COMMAND YOU to tell me."
 

"nope."
 

"i'll make you clean the whole house for a week."
 

"nope."
 

"yah!"
 

"forget about it."

He put his spoon down. He looked like he was getting sick.
I giggled.

"That bad?"
 

"taste like throw up. i hate strawberries."
 

"haha. no one told you to eat it."
 

"you won. i give up. Miss can i get a ginger ale?" He said as he rubbed his stomach.

I threw a cookie at him.
He threw it back.

"You bahb tong. haha serves you right." I said as the waitress gave him the ginger ale. He took it and drank it down.

"ah. i hope that will work." He said.
 

"why dont you just eat yahk?"
 

"i dont like yahk."
 

"well it helps you feel better."
 

"rather be sick than eat that."
 

"wow. i dont get you."
 

"i dont get you! Eating strawberries. blehk"
 

"hey i like strawberries!"
 

"and i like vanilla"
 

"your a weird bahb tong."
 

"your a weird babo who cant turn on the shower."
 

"OK we have been through this!! YOU NEED A NORMAL SHOWER!!"
 

"i have a normal shower!! your just not normal!!"
 

"BAHB TONG!"
 

"BABO!!"

"CHECK!"

We looked up at the waitress as she tried hard to keep a smile on her face.
we payed the bill and left.

Wow...that lady is so mean -___-::

"You babo. you got us kicked out."
 

"WHAT!? I DID!? You bahb tong!"
 

"aigoo. i musnt be seen with you in public." He started walking away from me.

I caught up to him and linked his arm with mine.
He gave me a bewildered look

"what are you doing!?" he asked trying to pry my hands off of his arm
 

"dont act like you dont know me."
 

"How can i not? Your a babo walking around who doesnt know how to turn on the damn shower!!"
 

"ok just wait a second mister! YOur the one hiding inside the bahb tong. who is the babo?"
 

"you. i was 5."
 

"well 5 year olds should know that people nor BABY's *cough cough Byul cough cough* dont fit into bahb tongs!"
"Aish. Yah go bother someone else!"
 

"No one else to bother. Eun Byul ah~ Nohl jah ^.^"
 

"Your freaky. get away from me you mad women."
 

"chi. you bahb tong. Fine. i'll go to the arcade by myself."
 

"No! You cant go there!"
 

"Eh? Why?"
 

"Cuz im going there!"
 

"psh. im going weither your going or not. MERRRROOONNNGGG"

I stuck out my tounge at him and started skipping down to the arcade.

I felt new and fresh. From now on nothing but a smile will be on my face...
 

.......

"Han Byul..."
 

"Minwoo...."

We stood there infront of the arcade.
Aish...why do i have to meet him here!?

"How....are you?"
 

"Im.....good....you?"
 

"uh....great.....great..." He looked down at his shoes.

He looks different. Looks tired and out of it. I wonder whats been going on with him...

"YAH! you Babo!! I think im really getting sick from that strawberry crap!!....Minwoo yah!"

Eun Byul ran toward us. He placed his hand on my shoulder as he coughed.

"You ok there buddy?" Minwoo asked
Eun Byul waved his hand a little
 

"Im fine. just this dumbo ordered a strawberry deluxe."
 

"and im guessing you ate it."
 

"wow your the new Einstein."

Minwoo gave a little smile.

Eun Byul looked at me then back at minwoo then back at me.
He straightened up and gave me a little push toward Minwoo

"I'll be in the arcarde." He said as he walked to the door.
Then he looked back and came back to us.
He pushed me into Minwoo and then ran into the arcade

I turned red. I was still in Minwoo's arms.

"Sorry.." I said as i took a step back.
 

"Uhh its ok..."
 

"heh...Eun Byul."
 

"hah yeah..."

..............

"Han Byul."
 

"Yeah?"
 

"...listen....I know...that your going through a really hard time..."

I looked down at my shoes.

"and that talk we had before..."
 

"I think we should just be friends."

He looked up at me.
I gave a weak smile.
 

"I think its better of this way..."
 

"oh...I...I was going to say the same thing." He said as he gave a smile.
We both gave a little laugh out.

He stuck out his hand

"Friends?" He asked
I looked at his hand....
I held onto his and shook it.
 

"Friends."

He gave me that million dollar smile.

"Great! Well i have to get going. See you later.... ok?"
I nodded.
He smiled and walked off.
I watched him walk away and cross the street.
Our eyes met and he waved.
I waved back and he disappered into the crowds of seoul.

I turned around for the door to enter the arcade...but Eun Byul was standing right there

"Thats it? Friends?"
 

"Eun Byul.."
 

"-_____-:: i thought you guys promised to always be together!"
 

"...we both wanted it."
 

"im sure you did" He said sarcastically.
I punched his arm.
 

"ow! What was that for?"
 

"I dont know."
 

"Aish. you babo."
 

"psh. come on lets go play some games."
 

"I'll challenge you in DDR."
 

"You sure you can keep up?"
 

"Psh sister your in for sore feet today."
 

"your on."