Chapter 32: Childhood Friend
"Kyung-ah" there is a cheerful voice of Dan Oh when she saw the handsome man waiting for her in front of the house.
It is very unusual for Kyung to come there and pick her up before leaving for school. Since middle school the man more often left and went home from school alone without taking Dan Oh with him. The two of them have been best friends since elementary school, but since entering high school, Kyung has stayed away from her and behaved indifferently towards her. But today she doesn't know what made the man come and take Dan Oh to leave for school together.
The little girl was unable to hide her happy smile when she saw the man appear and waited for her. They haven't gone to school together for a long time. Who wouldn't be happy to see the man she had liked for a long time suddenly show up in the morning before she started her day?
"You came to pick me up?" Dan Oh was sweet and smiled widely while asking that. Everyone who sees her will know that she is too happy right now.
"Oh..." Kyung stands up straightly from his backrest and remove the white wireless earphones that were originally attached to his ear. His face looked flat and tended to seemed upset. Well... The man rarely showed his smile anyway.
"Do you know what time it is?" asked Kyung flatly as he checked his watch. His forehead wrinkled when he realized that they had just little time before being late to school. Kyung immediately walks quickly so that they don't get late to school.
"I'm sorry... I didn't know that you were coming this morning, you didn't tell me at all, why did you suddenly want to go to school together?" asked Dan Oh curiously. She follows the quick pace of Baek Kyung's long legs with a little running to balance their steps speed. But the girl still kept putting on her cheerful smile. Kyung's appearance this morning really raised a great spirits in her heart.
"It's a surprise," Kyung said, sticking with a flat face without seeing the girl.
"From today onward let's go to school and go home from school together again every day," he continued then so relaxed.
"eeeh... Really? Well. Thank you Kyung-ah!" she accept the idea excitedly.
Imagining that they would leave and go home from school together every day just made the girl so happy. The smile on her face soon expanded, she looked so cheerful. The twinkle of her eyes seemed to be very glistening and beautiful. Kyung glances at the girl's expression and its put a smile appeared on his face.
"Why are you thanks me? Are you so happy that we're going to be together like this every morning?" asked Kyung with a smile.
"Yupp! I'm so happy!" said Dan Oh excitedly.
Kyung's smile gets wider. He raised his hand and gently rubbed Dan Oh's head which was not as high as his shoulders. Kyung knows that all along Dan Oh has a special feelings for him. The girl never tried to hide it. But all this time Kyung wasn't interested in any of that before.
Dan Oh love for him starting since elementary school age. Seeing Dan Oh show her feelings overtly is nothing new to Kyung. He was too used to accepting all of that, it was just that he hadn't treated her well before this. But there's one thing that makes Kyung want to change, one thing that makes him willing to make time to pick up this little girl in the morning before leaving for school. One thing that makes Kyung doesn't want to regret it later.
"Quickly! We'll be late," Kyung said, grabbing Dan Oh's hand and pulling her to make the girl walk faster. The girl is shocked when Kyung suddenly clasps her hand. But who would protest when the person she like was holding her hand like that. Dan Oh can only smile and follow Kyung happily.
When they arrived at class, Kyung is immediately greeted by the two of his loyal fans. There are two girls who have a charm and beautiful face who each involved in a fair competition for pursuing Kyung. The two of them immediately wrap their arms around each of Kyung's arms. One of them even pushes Dan Oh with her body to keep the little girl away from him.
Kyung looks uncomfortable, he takes the two girls' hands off from his arms. The man turns his gaze to Dan Oh and appears to smile smugly when he sees Dan Oh's annoyed face over the behavior of two other girls who try to be too familiar to Baek Kyung.
" Don't forget we'll go home together later," Kyung reminded Dan Oh before walking to his seat. Of course the man's sentences instantly turned the annoyed expression on Dan Oh's face into a big smile.
"All right," said Dan Oh, tucking her hair behind her ears with both of her hands.
Unlike Dan Oh, the other two girls had snorted with annoyance while staring intently at Dan Oh. The little girl didn't bother with them. She was been used to receiving cynical treatment from Kyung's fans for a long time. Even in the first year of high school, Kyung has attracted a lot of attention from girls because of his physicality and skills as the captain of a football team. The two girls stomps their foot on the floor before returning to their respective seats.
At the break time, Dan Oh was carrying a pile of heavy books on her hand and was about to return them to the library. The pile of books covered Dan Oh until her neck. Although the girl had a small body, but carrying many books at once like that was not a difficult thing for her.
"Yaah... Eun Dan Oh, it's understandnable that you didn't grow up well. The weight of this book holds back your growth." said a man who suddenly appeared before Dan Oh.
The man had white and clean skin, medium stature and his face was quite handsome. He is a second-rate senior and also the head of the karate club following by Dan Oh. The man immediately picks up all the books that are in Dan Oh's hands and helps the girl to take them. This action is not missed by Kyung who is walking in the school hallway and sees them from a distance. The tall man seemed disturbed by the interaction between the two.
" ah oppa! Thank you," Dan Oh smiled happily. The senior smiled broadly and showed his charm to Dan Oh. He is a senior who always helps Dan Oh during the karate club. But lately the senior has been trying to interact with his juniors even outside of their club hours. He wanted to become more familiar with the little girl.
"Dan Oh... After the club end, do you want to go somewhere with me?" the senior asked Dan Oh. The girl had just opened her mouth to answer the man's question, but she hadn't had time to answer when there was already another voice responding to the question.
"No. You're going home with me," Kyung said firmly to Dan Oh. He immediately walked up to the two and sent a signal of intimidation to the male senior.
"What are you doing?" asked Kyung then looked towards Dan Oh.
"Ah... I was looking to return these books and Woo Young oppa came to help me," Dan Oh explained to Kyung. She doesn't know know why does her childhood friend seemed colder and more intimidating than usual. His eyes were so sharp when he saw Ji Woo Young who was a senior at his school.
"I doubt if he only intends to help" Kyung commented sarcastically as he glanced for a moment towards Woo Young. The senior just laughs for being annoyed at Kyung's behavior towards him.
"He has helped you bring you the books, let him help you bring it back to library too. Let's go," Kyung pulls Dan Oh's hand and drags her away from the senior who clearly has take interest in his junior, Dan Oh. Woo Young only gawked them when the two juniors left him with a pile of books in his hand.
After school, Kyung is waiting for Dan Oh after completing his football club. He was still wearing his tracksuit and waiting for the girl to change her karate shirt to her school uniform. After the two met, they walked together towards the outside gate of the school. Dan Oh occasionally glanced towards the tall man walking beside her. She felt that today the man looked very strange and different from his usual self.
Starting in the morning when he picked her up at home. Then his cynical attitude toward Woo Young who helped her. Before this Kyung didn't really care about who the girl was interacting with, but why was he being so cold towards her senior earlier? He even took the initiative to wait for her to finish the club and constantly reminded her to go home together. Is it wrong if the girl feels that this man seems to want to not be separated and stay with her all the time? Dan Oh wants to ask Kyung about that but her word was stoped when another girl's voice calls Kyung's name.
"Kyung-ah? Are you busy? I've been waiting for you since then. I'm looking for you everywhere and it turns out that you're here now," the girl said, trying to show her feminime side in front of Kyung. That girl really looks different compared to Dan Oh who is tomboyish and loves martial arts.
Kyung doesn't answer the girl's words and just lets her walk along with him and Dan Oh. She is one of two Girls from his classmates who are trying to get close to Kyung.
"Kyung-ah... Do you want to accompany me to looking for the DVD I told you yesterday? I think you'll like it too," the girl continue to talk in a spoiled voice. Dan Oh who listened to her tone just sneered at her in silence with the movement of her mocking mouth and rolled her eyes in annoyance. Kyung seems to be uncomfortable too, he sighs deeply then turns his head towards the girl.
"Sorry Ye Jin... I am not interest. I'm going on a date with Dan Oh," Kyung said lightly then tightly embraced the little girl's shoulders beside him. Dan Oh was in shock and looks at Kyung in disbelief. Since when are they going to go on a date? Aren't they just going Home now?
"are... You two... Dating??" asked the girl hesitantly and in disbelief.
"Ah no... We're not dating," Dan Oh replied quickly without wanting to continue this misunderstanding.
"Cch... You don't need to hide it anymore, Yes... We're indeed dating!" said Kyung firmly removing his embrace on Dan Oh's shoulder and swift his hand to tightly holding on Dan Oh's hand.
"Let's go... Ho-ney...." Kyung then pulls Dan Oh's body to walk away from his fan. Ye Jin looked at the two classmates who left her alone with a pitiful faces. She is stomped her foot on the ground Then leaving while crying like a little child.
"Yak! Baek Kyung... What are you doing? You want me to be the objects of bullies for your fans?" asked Dan Oh annoyed at Kyung who pretended to make her as his girlfriend as a shield to get rid of his fans. If only they were actually dating, of course the girl wouldn't feel upset like this.
" Don't worry, I'll protect you," Kyung said flatly as he continued to hold Dan Oh's hand. He was being so relaxed as if it wasn't a serious matter to him.
"Chh... Let me go ... I don't want to be the object of misunderstanding," Dan Oh said, pulling her hand from Kyung.
Kyung stops walking and turns his body over to Dan Oh. He looked at the girl with a sharp look and a serious facial expression.
"Do you not want a certain person to misunderstand our relationship? Are you worried that So Young or whoever is him thinks that we're dating? Do you like him? "Ask Kyung in a cold tone.
Yes, Woo Young is the reason who makes Kyung starts to worry about losing Dan Oh for the first time. Seeing the closeness of the two of them inside and outside the club activities makes Kyung getting scared if Dan Oh's feelings will turn away from him. Every time he saw the girl smiling cheerfully at Woo Young, it makes Kyung become so angry and wants to hit the man. All of this time Dan Oh just looked at him and smiled at only him.
It has become a reasonable thing that accompanied Kyung's daily life. And when a third person threatens Kyung's position in Dan Oh's heart, the man begins to realize the important feelings he already has for the girl. It's just that Kyung never realizes about his true feelings for Dan Oh before.
"What do you mean? I don't like him. Who I like is.... !!" Dan Oh immediately closes her mouth when she almost mentions Kyung's name. Her face immediately turned red because she felt embarrassed of her words.
"Who do you like is me?" asked Kyung later. The man looked at Dan Oh with a lot of expectation. He prayed that the girl's feelings had not changed to him. If she had moved on, it would have made Kyung feel very hurted now.
"ehem! Why do you still need to ask that?" said Dan Oh turned away her gaze.
The girl's face felt so hot right now. Dan Oh lowered her face to hide the embarrasement she felt at this moment. The girl's response makes Kyung smile with satisfaction. He again pulled Dan Oh's hand and held it tightly.
"So where are we going now?" asked Kyung later. He looked fixedly at the girl and enjoyed every pseudo-red on her face which caused by his presence.
"What do you mean by where?" asked Dan Oh can't understand. Finally the girl lifts her face and looks straightly at Kyung. The man was smiling at her.
"cchh.. I told you earlier, right? We're going on a date. Is there a place do you want to go?" asked Kyung later.
The girl is unable to answer Kyung's question and only blinks her eyes for a few times. She can't digest Kyung's words. Is that guy really asking her out now? But why? Does Kyung like her too? But the man didn't say anything about it. Dan Oh feels very confused now.
They both enjoyed their first date while enjoying a snack on the highway. Kyung also invites Dan Oh to visit some trinket shops and buys her a cute keychain. Dan Oh love the gift she got. They then visited the playground and rode the swings in turn. When Dan Oh is on the swing, Kyung will push the swing for her, and vice versa. They have fun visiting playgrounds that used to be their favorite spots as children.
"Kyung-ah, I want to take a picture over there!" said Dan Oh excitedly when she found a photo box not far from the park where they were playing.
Kyung was reluctant, he's not the kind of person who likes to take pictures. While Dan Oh, she enjoys capturing every moment in pictures. Actually this isn't the first time she 'invited" Kyung to take a picture together, and Kyung's response has always been the same. Although at first he refuses, in the end he will follow Dan Oh's wishes. The little girl forcibly pulled the man who is much taller than her with her strength.
Dan Oh pushed the man into the photo box and closed the curtains. The two of them started taking pictures in many proses just for fun. Let we corrwct that, only Dan Oh who keep changing her pose because Kyung always looks awkward in every photo. Seeing the girl being so excited and acting funny in each of her photos made the man smile meaningfully. His awkwardness slowly began to dissipate.
"One, two... Chuup" suddenly Kyung gently kisses Dan Oh's right cheek and makes the camera capture the beautiful moment. Dan Oh was surprised and just fell silent in her place. Suddenly she felt so hot and her heartbeat started to pounding hardly. She immediately opened the curtain next to her and came out of the photo box. While Kyung just looks at her in confussion.
"It's started to getting dark, let's go home," said Dan Oh slowly. Kyung finally catches up with her and go out of the photo box.
"Okay... I'll take you home," Kyung said awkwardly. Dan Oh just nodded slowly without looking towards Kyung.
Along the way home, not a single word came out of the mouths of the two. The two of them just walked side by side and were busy with each other's thoughts.
"We've arrived now, I came in first," Dan Oh said without looking at Kyung. When the girl starts walking, Kyung immediately catches her hand and restrains Dan Oh from leaving him.
"Eun Dan Oh, why are you so angry? You said you liked me?" asked Kyung who didn't understand Dan Oh's behavior. The girl always liked him, but why did she behave like this after Kyung kissed her on the cheek? Shouldn't she feel happy instead.
Dan Oh doesn't answer and still show her back on Kyung. The man couldn't take it anymore, he pulled Dan Oh's hand and made the girl turn around to look at him. Dan Oh was crying in silence.
"Dan Oh... What's wrong?" he softened his tone. Kyung looks at Dan Oh with a great care and anxiety. The girl wipes away her tears then looks straight at Kyung.
"Kyung-ah, do you even like me? I used to like you and accept that these feelings are only one-sided. But when you casually kiss me, tell others that we're dating and use my feelings for your own advantages... All of that hurts me a lot Kyung-ah... Why are you doing this? "Ask Dan Oh who started sobbing. She looked so sad and hurt. Kyung sighs deeply and then gently pulls the girl into his embrace.
" Stupid girl ... I like you too..." Kyung told her quietly while resting his chin above Dan Oh's head.
"Really?" asked Dan Oh in disbelief. The girl hugs Kyung's waist tightly and hides her face on Kyung's board chest.
" Oh... Sorry for not saying it clearly to you. To be honest, I've only realized now, ever since that senior guy approached you, I've started to feel anxious and afraid of losing you... At that moment I realized that I had always liked you too... I'm sorry... "Baek Kyung said with a great tenderness.
Hearing the love confession from the man she had liked for years made Eun Dan Oh cry even more because she was really happy. The two of them continued to hug until Dan Oh was able to stop her crying. During that time Kyung continues to rub Dan Oh's hair gently and pat her on the back to comfort his childhood friend who has now become his lover.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone