c h a p t e r  12

"I'm amazing, I know." He brushed his hair up.

"You're entitled to your wrong opinion." I walked ahead.

"Just admit that I'm the best dancer you've ever met."

He was.

"I've seen air mascots dance better."

I haven't.

"I made you blush."

He did.

"The weather was hot."

It wasn't.

"Are you gonna deny everything I say?"

"Yes." I answered too quickly. I bowed an apology as I collided with a stranger.

He snapped his fingers. "So you admit you're just denying it!" He exclaimed as if it was the greatest discovery of his lifetime.

"I'm entitled to an attorney." The air in my lungs almost got knocked out as I collided with a much larger stranger.

He laughed loudly before putting his hands over my shoulder, pulling me to his side. "Oh, Pororo. The lengths you go to just to avoid complimenting me." He pinched my cheeks rather hardly.

I yelped in pain before raising a fist, attempting to threaten him. "You have a death wish?" I snarled.

He didn't even flinch and just beamed a smile. "So, where we off to?" He swayed, causing my body to sway with him since his arms were around me.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "Home, duh."

We had just finished our cups of ice cream and was now walking along the very busy streets of Itaewon.

"The night is young, Pororo. And so are we." He gestured to the open air. 

"The agreement was to get ice cream and go home." I said. I resisted the urge to stop by every store that we passed by. There were a lot of things to do in Itaewon yet I don't think I'm with the right person.

"I don't remember agreeing to that." He pulled me towards a nearby stall.

It was a small stall that was selling various types of scarves. Hyunjin bowed respectfully to the woman behind the tables. "Hello! Look around! We have plenty of patterns to choose from!" The woman greeted cheerily. "Aya~ What a handsome young boy." She cooed.

Hyunjin smiled shyly before turning to me. "Hear that? Handsome." He smirked, shrugging.

"It's called marketing tactic, dumbass." I rolled my eyes at him.

He frowned at me before picking up a scarf and aggressively wrapping it around my neck, obscuring half my face. "There. You look pretty." He smiled sarcastically.

I also did it to him but with a bit of struggle since he was too tall for me. I failed in retaliating. He still looked like a model. "Pretty." I murmured, disappointed.

"Thank yo-"

"Pretty fucking ugly." I muttered angrily before unwrapping the scarf off me.

He laughed before scanning the table for different designs. "Aren't you gonna shop for scarves or jackets?" He asked, lifting a black scarf.

"What for?"

"The annual senior trip. I hear it's gonna be in the mountains this year." He said, trying the scarf on.

"Oh." I eyed his crooked scarf. I decided to step closer and fix it for him. "I won't be going." I said, untying the knot.

His eyes that were watching my hands, lifted to meet my eyes. "Really? Why?" He asked.

I tapped his chest twice when I finished and stepped back. "They said it wasn't required so I figured why go?" I shrugged nonchalantly.

It was fine. I've never really participated in the school trips. And no, it wasn't because I didn't have a bus seat buddy- a buddy rather and end up sitting next to the adviser, listening to the stories of his youth. Not at all.

He pursed his lips. "But it's our last trip for high school." He faced a small mirror.

My hands ran along the soft scarves. "It's not like I attended the past ones, anyway." I lifted a maroon scarf, admiring it.

"Not a single one?"

"Nope." I placed the scarf back.

"We have a buy 1 take 1 promo!" The woman cheered, interrupting our conversation. She must be wondering what's taking us so long. "Perfect for couples like you!" She giggled, winking at us.

"The only person this guy's in a relationship with is himself." I deadpanned as he took off the black scarf.

Hyunjin laughed putting his arms over me again. "My girlfriend is such a comedian." He gripped on my shoulders. "Her face says it all." He playfully poked my nose.

My lips curled in anger. "Crazy bast-"

"We'll take these." He handed two pieces of the maroon scarf that I was holding earlier. "Thank you!" He smiled gratefully, taking the plastic bag from the woman before dragging me away.

Why would he get two scarves of the same color? Maybe he had someone to give it to.

"I thought you're lessening your usage of plastic." I point at his hand that was holding the bag.

He suddenly stopped walking. "You're right."

He walked back to the stall and took out the two scarves before giving the bag back to the woman. He hung the first one to himself before picking up the second one. I expected him to ask me to hold it for him, like the prince that he is, so I held my hand out for him to give to me. I was surprised when he pulled on my hand causing me to stumble towards him. With a small smile, he carefully wrapped it around my neck. I blushed under his scrutinization. I was thankul that the scarf was covering a part of my face. Up until he spoke.

"Like a pretty leash." He cupped my face with a devilish smirk.

Suddenly I wished he had seen how the chain of colorful words flew out my mouth.

"Miso?"

I spun around.

"Minho?" I was surprised when Hyunjin also called his name.

Minho approached us with a smile. "What's up, Hyunjin." He greeted as they do those typical boy handshakes.

"You guys know each other?" I asked, gesturing to the both of them.

"I could ask you the same thing." Minho imitated the gesture.

"I, too." Hyunjin chimed in.

"What are you doing here?" Minho observed the two of us. "Are you on a date?" He teased with an easy smile.

I scoffed but couldn't help the blush that was surfacing. "Definitely not." I denied.

"Is she the girlfriend you were telling us about?" Minho elbowed Hyunjin.

Hyunjin choked on air. "What girlfriend?" He sputtered.

"You have a girlfriend?" I found myself asking. I don't know what I was expecting. He was popular so it wasn't surprising that he was in a relationship.

Minho wrapped an arm around him. "Oh, he is. He's been gushing about this girl since forever." He dragged the word out.

Oh.

"So this is where you were! Seungmin and the guys' were waiting for you!"

Waiting? For him?

Hyunjin muttered something to Minho to which the latter only laughed at. "So, what are you doing here, Minho?" Hyunjin changed the subject with a forced smile.

"I just got off university and I'm heading to my shift at the store." Minho ticked his head at me. "Where we met." He informed Hyunjin. "Where are you two headed next?" He asked.

"Nowhere. Can I go home with you?" I spoke first.

"Sure."

"You're leaving?" Hyunjin seemed taken aback.

I merely nodded giving him a brief glance. "Let's go?" I nudged Minho.

"He knows where you live?" Hyunjin asked.

"She lives close to the store I work in." Minho casually put a hand over my shoulder.

I knew I was short but people have got to stop using me as their armrests.

Hyunjin nodded, eyeing Minho's arms over me.

"Seungmin's house is near here. You should drop by. They're still expecting you." Minho laughed.

Hyunjin nodded once more, keeping silent.

After knowing the fact that he had a girlfriend, I suddenly didn't feel comfortable being alone with him. I didn't think the feeling was jealousy. Maybe respect? To whoever his girl was. Hyunjin will thank me once he realizes that me ending this day early was for the better.

"We're off." Minho waved a hand.

Hyunjin waved back.

"Bye." I muttered.

"See you."