I expelled ample amount of air to avoid saying things that could hurt him and could hurt me. I tried to sound calm as possible. “I was just mad because… why was I the last to know? And what’s worst is … I only got to know it this morning, and you are going to leave by tomorrow. How will you expect me to react?”

            He bobbed his head down. “I’m sorry.”

            Silence has taken its way. Nobody dared to speak. After a few wasted minutes I inhaled deeply and started again. “I know it is your dream, so I won’t be holding you back.”

            He met my eyes, probably startled by my sudden approval. I gave him a smile which already understands and realizes how important this thing is to him. Forcing a smile at this moment is the hardest thing to do but it is the only I can afford to prevent an upcoming drama. “Just promise me one thing, don’t ever forget that once you get there no matter what bad things they might say to you, I am always here, quietly supporting and believing in you.”

            He shot me his wary look like he’s weighing the words that had slipped my tongue. And all I have to do was to convince him that I’ll be fine, that I have to be fine once he’s gone. I stabled a sanguine smile on my face. He moved closer and gave me a warm hug, a hug that I will surely miss after tomorrow. “I promise.” I pulled myself out from his clasp and looked deeply through his eyes. He repeated, “I promise.” And he kissed me on my forehead. “I am asking you one thing as well.”

            I raised my brow while waiting for his next words. “Promise me that you will wait for me.”

            I snorted detaching my gaze from his face.

“Hey, I am serious.” And he tilted back my head in front of his.

“You’ll be meeting prettier artists soon, why do you still want to go back to me?”

He first looked at my lips then to my eyes with his brows scrunching.

“Ouch.” I say as he lightly clouts the middle of my forehead with his index finger.

“I won’t be looking at them, so don’t try hitting up on some other guys as well.”

“Do you think I would buy that? You are gorgeous and sweet and charming and …and cooks really well, how do you think girls could not like you?”

“Tam!” He scowled, grabbing my attention with his really serious look.

“Okay. Okay. I promise.” And he smiled his lopsided smile.

“Why are you doing this to me Tam?” His face was really close to becoming bloody red. “Don’t make it hard for me please.” The way his brows plead and his lips twitch in an inverted U, I cannot help but chuckle and apologize.

                It was just last month, his second month, that I was able to sort my feelings out for him. As the days went by, I realized how huge my crush I have for him. The erratic palpitations every time my heart had gone wild whenever he flashes his famous smile to me for like fifty or more times a day, the awkward staring after Jody and Joonmyun teases the two of us at lunch, the exchange of self-conscious smiles after that awkward staring, my heedless blushing because of his undeniable way of being gentle in front of me, his humor which I can only understand, the way he looks at me with pure curiosity, his big dough-like eyes every time he stuck in his own trance … basically just some of my proofs.

“How could I say NO to you?” I finally muttered.