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Seunghee looks into his eyes and answers thoroughly, "Jun is just a friend Jeonghan-shi. We've met in the university last March and from there we became friends. He's really childish and all and he's become close to me so I think we're really comfortable with each other. But he's really just a friend, that's all he is to me."

"But he seems very fond of you, in a different kind of way."

"Well he is, I don't want to say this but I rejected him three times already. But he's still persistent. Though I've told him to stop so many times. But I keep him dear even though he's like that. He's a precious friend and I don't want to be harsh on him. He's been there for me ever since even if I tried pushing him away."

Jeonghan can understand somehow. But it still bothers him, the thought that they're close.

"But he's not trying to force himself on you in any way right?"

"He can be annoying and demanding at times, being the immature person that he is but it's tolerable. It's okay. He's not that type of person."

She's trying to defend him, he silently utters. But it doesn't matter anymore. As long as they're nothing but friends. That's a relief for him. He sighs inwardly. But the competition is still on.

"Alright. I really thought you were almost going out with him."

"No!" Seunghee exclaims. "That thing is far from happening. No, not even in the future."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Well, because I like someone else."

She freezes at her comment. Oh Seunghee!! Why did you say that? What are you doing? Are you actually trying to sell yourself off?! She scolds herself. She just wishes he doesn't bite it.

But Jeonghan heard it loud and clear. He cringes at it. She actually likes someone else? That is something new. After all these years, there is really someone she likes. And he doesn't have any idea who it may be. He tries to deliberate on who the person can be.

"That person must be the luckiest guy in the world if he knows."

Seunghee can see the sudden frown on his face. What is this? Is he actually sad about it? She can't really comprehend the look on his face.

Jeonghan tries to contain his feelings. He might say unnecessary things if he continue to talk about it now. He changes the topic in a mere instant. This is not the right time for him.

"Oh yeah, the detergent."

He gets it from under the kitchen sink and gives it to her.

"Here and if you need anything else, just give me a knock."

Seunghee stands slowly and picks it from him. "Thanks. I'll pay you back later."

"Don't mind it."

"And thanks for the pie. It was delicious."

"I'll give you something else next time."

"Yah."

And they give each other a warm smile.

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Seunghee lays on her bed now. She's still thinking about Jeonghan. Before leaving his room, she can feel something was different. He was acting a bit aloof and his face was all grumpy too. But she couldn't ask him why.

"Did I say something? I only said I like someone else, right?"

She still ponders as to why he was acting like he did. The idea of him liking her is the only thing she crosses out amongst the others, trying hard to be ignorant of the surfacing fact.

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Jeonghan stares at the pictures on his wall. Thinking hard of the possibilities that may happen. He stands up and attaches a new photo alongside the batch with a sad expression. Things may or may not turn out to be in favor of him, and all he has to do is bet on it. He will really start his move on her when the morning comes. It's now or never. Whoever that guy is, he'll do everything to erase his existence.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

A twelve-year old Seunghee was running across the school corridor because she was late. She halted before her room because a couple of students were also late for the first class. She was panting as she stood in line with the other students as the teacher was still at the door ready to give them their punishment. There were five students there. She tried to peek at the other ones and she saw someone surprising. Jeonghan was there too. He was never late for class. It's probably his first time being late in class. While Seunghee had been late much more often since she wasn't really a morning person. She smiled to herself. It's the first time she ever saw him late. She peeked once more at him and unexpectedly, he glanced at her too. She quickly averted her eyes and stood straight from there. Then Jeonghan was the one who smiled at himself. From there, her alarm clock rings.

She sluggishly reaches for it and turns it off. With grumbled hair, she rises up and sits on her bed. She is still dreaming. Thinking why Jeonghan smiled to himself in her dream. I wonder if that really happened... she mutters inside. She then lazily gets out of the bed to prepare for breakfast.

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Seunghee opens her door ready for school at 8AM. When going out of her room, she doesn't really look at anything else but his door beside her, always wishing he's gonna open it and together they walk to school again. But it only happened once before. And she misses him everyday.

But this time, she's turning out to be the on a lucky streak. She beams the moment she sees him, standing coolly at the corridor infront of her unit.

"Good morning Seunghee-shi. I was waiting for you," he greets as he approaches her.

"Really? Why, what is it?" she asks.

"So we can walk together?"

She smiles at him saying, "Sure."

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

For the next couple of days, Jeonghan will show up more times than usual in her surroundings that makes her wonder a bit. He will be showing up when she's alone in the library, when she's waiting for her next class or even when she's buying snacks at the canteen. For a couple of times, he's waiting for her early in the morning too. They will talk about just anything that comes to mind just for the sake of a chat. She's somewhat being used to meeting him unannounced and it's really nice of him to be actually be friends with her. But she doesn't let her hopes up. She doesn't think he's up to more than just friendship. She doesn't want to expect anything from him.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

"Don't you think he's being obvious?" Areum says.

Seunghee, Sehun and Areum are at one of the school benches again.

"I don't wanna hope for nothing unnie," Seunghee rejects.

"I'm just stating a theory. Well, you're probably right. It's better not to expect. We don't know him personally yet," Areum replies.

"He's just checking you out. Maybe he has a lot of vacant hours. You know guys. Guys like that with long hair and charisma, are probably just checking out pretty girls like you my cousin. He's most likely trying to find a girlfriend in this university by this time of the year," Sehun states.

"For nine years, I haven't seen him with a girl yet," Seunghee defends him.

"Now you're defending him. That was the past Seunghee. He probably has the need now you know. You know what I'm talking about?" Sehun says.

Areum pinches his cheek though. "Stop with the perverted talk Oh Sehun."

"Aw! Alright! But it's definitely one of the reasons I'm sure," he recoils.

"I don't think he's like that," Seunghee still protects him.

"He's a guy Seunghee. I don't think there's a guy in the world who doesn't think like me. Unless he's gay," Sehun adds.

"Of course he's not," Seunghee quickly represses.

"Ah! Don't listen to him. Stop corrupting him in your head Seunghee. I bet he has his reasons. Maybe he wants something from you or stuff like that," Areum tells.

She sighs about it. She's supposed to be happy but why is she feeling like this? Being friends with him is better than nothing right? She wants to convince herself that she's content with just that from him. But this heavy feeling is hindering her way of thinking. She's getting troubled by it. It's making her feel really sad and depressed. Cuz deep inside, she really wants more. But she can't let that overwhelm her. She's fully aware of the consequences and she might not be able to accept it if she expects more than what she's supposed to. She better clear her mind of unnecessary thoughts. That way, things will be a lot easier for her.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

She walks by the park for some time in the afternoon before going home to clear her mind. She doesn't want to meet Jeonghan this time. She wants time for herself for the mean time.

She sits a one of the swings, the same swing Jeonghan sat on the other night. She's really feeling down and she can't stop sighing. She spots some kids playing basketball in the court just a few meters away from where she is. She suddenly starts reminiscing their younger days.

There was a time during the sports festival in high school when she watched him play basketball. He was the forward of the team. He's good at the game. It made her cheer for him along with the other girls in their class. She knew she couldn't be noticeable with a group like that. She almost lost her voice yelling and screaming his name everytime he scored a ball. But she almost jumped at her seat one time he got injured. She felt really worried for him that she cried her heart out in the restrooms when no one was looking.

She smiles to herself thinking about it now. She will only just look at him from afar then. She can't talk to him, she can't smile at him and most especially she can't spend some time with him. But now that she's finally able to, she's has this really heavy and excruciating feeling. She has to be happy now, at least she's close to him now, right? She shall be content with what they have now. But without knowing it, a tear falls down her cheek. She's surprised herself. More so when another tear follows, then another. The thing is, she can't help crying anymore. She bows her head down in caution that someone might see her. But someone already did. She hears some footsteps nearing her. By the time she sees whose shoes it is, she looks up in relief that it's not Jeonghan. She might blurt out her feelings if she sees him now. She's relieved to see Jun instead. It has been a week since they last talked.

"Is it really worth it?" Jun asks her. "Is he worth your tears?" he utters standing infront of her with a grumpy expression.

Seunghee looks on the ground again and says, "I don't mind crying for him over and over again. Even if I stay friends with him my whole life, I'd still chose this path. It's better than be with any other guy in the world."

"You'd still chose him even if the only thing he brings you is pain?" Jun is calm outside but he's like a volcano inside, ready to erupt anytime.

"Yes," Seunghee is so sure she doesn't need to think in answering him. "I don't think I'll ever feel this way for anybody else."

Jun is gripping his palm now. But Seunghee utters something.

"But thank you Jun. You helped me in ways you don't know these past few months. I really appreciate being friends with you. So please don't be like me. I don't want to see you suffering like myself. It's not an advisable path. You can still find the one that's best for you. There's still someone else but me."

Jun finds it in his heart to calm down. They are on the same boat. Trying to pursue a one-sided love. They may be hurt now, they may be suffering now, but still in their hearts they both want to go on. Even if it means waiting for a frog to fly, they will still continue this path.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Jun walks Seunghee to her apartment soon. Her eyes are still a little red from crying. And her face is a bit flushed too. Jun just looks at her tenderly as they reach the second floor.

"I'm okay now. Don't look at me like that," she says.

"He just doesn't deserve you," he starts again.

"Jun, stop it. Don't say a word about him again," she warns.

That moment, a person is standing at the corridors staring at them and they are only just about to notice.

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To be continued...

(16.01.01)