As promised, I met Sejun around 5 a.m. in the morning. Congrats, soon to be encaged bird he said extending his hand. I ghastly smiled at him and squeezed his hand as hard as I could. Ow.. he cried So sorry for whoever was a fool enough to marry you. I laugh at that and let go. For a bridge-to-be, you seem extremely gloomy. He asked looking at my face.
This girl still wants to be free. I said starting to jog. The cool morning breeze is kind of helping me to relax and keep from freaking out on how jeopardized my life is now.
Whats up with Hisi, she wont even reply my text or my calls he asked catching up with me.
I stop for a sec then race up ahead, if only running helped put all this mess behind Panting, Sejun caught up with me and stopped me by pulling both hands. Without thinking, I pushed him and he fell on ground. Oh no, Im so sorry. I offered my hand to get up. Sorry, I am just so stressed out with everything. I will run in class and get first aid kit for you guilty, I try run to get the kit, but he stopped me by holding my hand, this little fall is nothing, he smiled, Dont worry, we can talk about it when you feel like it.
Thanks I smiled gratefully for his understanding. He didnt bring it up again and we went in class after running few more miles and doing stretches.
I didnt feel calm even after judo class, so I decided to skip university classes. I packed enough lunches, bottles of juice and water in my bag, and went out on my cycle. Nothing helps like cycling!
Sejun was bothered by things lately, so he went over to Hisilas house to meet her. At start, Hisila refused but eventually gave up and came out to meet him. I dont want to talk about Etisha or anything.
No, youve got it wrong, Im here to talk about you. He said smiling warmly.
There to nothing to talk about me saying this, Hisila started walking back in her house.
Wait Sejun blocked her way, Your eyes are clearly worn out from crying too much, it would really help to talk it out, you know to see her face sad, it pained him deeply, You can even beat me like Im your punching bag to release stress.
What will you take to just leave me alone? annoyed that he wouldnt even budge, Hisila surrendered.
A cup of coffee at my favourite café please he said smiling childishly.
Are you kidding, Yala café is like half an hour walk from here exasperated at this absurd request, Hisila tried to walk was him by force, but he lied down flat at the doorway Either take me out for coffee or I will spend my life lying here like this.
Reluctantly, she had to agree and they headed down to café.
You know, its quite boring to walk without a word. If you want, I can sing for you blithely starting singing one song after another until they reached the café.
Seeing Hisila was distracted, Sejun whispered to barista to serve coffee only after an hour.
Sejun tried to get her attention to him, so he started talking about his childhood and people important to him. Hisila started crying when he told him about his loss of his best friend to a bike accident. Im sorry to hear that saddened, she felt like she could not hold back her own feelings. I am not a good friend like you
He held her hand you are the sweetest friend I have ever seen, and the bravest he chuckled remembering Etisha, very few can survive so long being together with that violent best friend of yours. Even boys in judo class fear to shake her hands after she threw one so hard just coz he hugged her.
Dont make her sound bad, he deserved it for randomly hugging a girl.
He made a serious face and said Thats not reasonable, that boy had his shoulder dislocated, reading carefully the expression on Hisilas face.
At least now that pain will remind him to keep his hands to himself angered, she got up to leave, I dont have time for your nonsense. I will pay and leave.
I can clearly see that she still means a lot to you same as before, then why are you two like this? He tucked on her sleeves with pleading eyes to sit and clear it out for him.
Sighing, she sat back, looking down at her hands on table, fumbling fingers, she kept silent for a while. I know she wont ever do anything to hurt me. Its just it was so chaotic suddenly, all my emotions overpowered me, and I was lost in my own despair she paused to take a deep breath, Sejun reached out and held her hands tight.
You could say it was sort of love at first sight Bright as sun but with gentle glow, like some prince charming out of fairytale, he walked past me, I dared not to turn around to have second look. It was just a glimpse but I couldnt get him off my mind, recalling that feeling, she blushed slightly. Sejun felt a bit jealous and hesitated a bit and slowly let go of her hands but smiled enthusiastically for her to continue.
I saw him again in art class and got his name. I really wanted to know him better, but he would keep coming around to provoke Etisha. They both would always be fighting like cat and dog. So, I didnt try to pursue him and high school went by. With a sudden shine in her eyes and soft shy smile, she continued, We met again in university, and it felt more like it was destiny. Then one day, he saved me, shielding me with his own body and taking the hit himself. That feeling of being in his arms she blushed violently, face and ears all turning red, I decided then to tell Etisha how I feel. I was in cloud 9 when he said he felt the same, like finally, all the stars came together that it was fate...
Her expression changed suddenly and tears rolled down her eyes; confused, Sejun signalled barista to bring in coffee. They silently sipped on their coffee without saying a word.