Yonghwa's POV

Seohyun wrinkled her nose when I slurped my soup down my throat.

"We're in a restaurant, bozo. Try to act civilized."

Bozo.

I bit my lips then smiled brightly. 

"That's like asking me to stop breathing."

Seohyun insisted on buying lunch for me. Something about paying me back...

"You really don't have to do this," I protested, not really meaning it.

"You saved my life. Can I really not even buy you lunch?"

So I got dragged along to a fancy Italian restaurant where apparently you can't slurp soup or the waiter will give you a dirty look.

"So, what's the real reason you called me out?" I leaned back in my chair.

"What?"

I gave her a look.

"Fine, I thought, if we're gonna be friends, we need to get to know each other."

"You know, normal people usually get to know each other gradually."

"Well, I'm not normal."

I stifled a laughter. "You know I'm not gonna argue with that."

She rolled her eyes. "So here's the deal. Everytime I ask you a question, you can ask one about me."

"Anything?" I got an intense fire starting in my eyes.

She looked away. "Pretty much."

She pulled out a notebook.

"First question," She flipped a page.

"I feel like I'm on a TV show." I grumbled but leaned forward.

"Family members?"

"Mom, Dad, an older brother."

"Why don't you live with them?"

"Hey! One question at a time." I narrowed my eyes and started pondering what question to ask.

Seohyun nervously drummed her fingers on the table.

"I'll start with an easy one. I saw you have a dog. What's its name?"

"Um... Tofu."

"You have a dog named Tofu?"

"What? You can name a dog Cookie or Brownie and not Tofu?"

"Cookies and brownies are perfectly fine food. Tofu... well you would like them.."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You carry around a journal full of questions to ask people. Do I need to explain what it's supposed to mean?"

"No, because I'll probably get hurt by whatever you're going to say."

"Good choice."

She flipped the page and asked the next question.

"Have you been to a funeral?"

My heart stopped.

I laughed nervously, and said, "Really? You ask that to people?"

"Yeah..."

I waited her for to continue.

"Why?" I asked finally when it was clear she wasn't going to talk.

"No reason." She replied way too quickly.

"The answer's yes." I tried to choke back the sob. 

It didn't work very well.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that."

"No, it's nothing. Can I ask my question now?"

"Yeah."

"Why do you ask people if they've been to a funeral?"

She bit her lips.

She was hiding something, I could tell she was.

"I don't think we're close enough for me to tell you that."

I didn't press her.

After all, I was keeping things from her too.

She quickly closed the book and stood up.

"Game over, come on, let's go to the bookstore or something."

"Bookstore?"

I wrinkle my nose.

"You don't like to read?"

I shook my head.

"Well, I'm gonna teach you how to read."

"I know how to read," I grumbled as I followed her outside.

"You know what I mean!"

We started walking toward the bookstore and I couldn't help but wonder...

What was written on the next page of the book?

It was in her bag... so close.... 

So when she told be to hold her bag while she goes to pick out some books for me, I looked.

The heading at the top read Questions to ask Yonghwa.

There was a question on each page.

There were normal questions, and answers scribble next to the ones I answered.

Do you like reading? A: No

Do you have a sibling? A: Yes

Did you experience death in your life? A: Yes

Then, there were empty questions.

Do you like sweet potatoes?

Have you dated other girls in the past?

Are your grades above average?

I stifled my laughter. 

This was like she was trying to interrogate me.

Do you like me?

I touch the words. Yes, I want to scream. 

I resisted the urge to write down my answers and flipped to the next page.

Can you love me?

Huh?

What does that mean?

It's too complicated for me to think about, so I don't.

I flip to the next page before I can stop myself.

It was the last page, which means this was the last question she was gonna ask me.

I read the four words on the page.

I drop the book in surprise, but quickly pick it up again.

I shove the book back in the bag and try to make sense of what I just read.

Can you forgive me?

Whatever you do, I can forgive you.

Because you're an angel, and I love you.

And love is greater than hatred, than anger.