Chaerry's mood slightly lightened up as she indulged and busied her mind with the gift shopping. "Wow! I love shopping. I hope he is gonna like them. Fingers crossed!" She exclaims before looking at the lad that stood beside her. He was not only done with her but if she were a boy, she would have already bruised her cheeks. But then she was cute so she got a pass at whatever she did.
They hear the beep of the alarmed door of the shop as they exit it. It doesn't take the eyes of a hawk to find out that aside from helping Chaerry shop, he too had bought a gift for someone. He was just that bad at being discreet. "Who you got that for?" Chaerry wriggles her eyebrows teasingly. He hadn't planned to buy anything but it was impulsive. He just felt the need to buy her something - in case Chris doesn't remember to buy her a gift. But of course he couldn't tell her that.
Valentine's Day, as believed by Eugene's mom, wasn't restricted to lovers involved romantically but you could gift someone on that day to make them feel special and important. That being the main reason why she held a Valentine's Day party every year.
"If I am able to muster up the courage to tell him my feelings I will do so. In case I fail, I will still gift him in the name of friendship."
Chaerry explains in reply to Hanji's question about her proposal.
He couldn't but feel apprehensive. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what he was feeling but he knew he didn't want her to get hurt. He wanted her to get back as much love as she was giving but he didn't want it to be Chris. He could feel his stomach swirling but he didn't know why. He wanted the get home faster but he didn't mind prolonging the time he was with either.
He was conflicted but he was just worried about his friend, right?
"Hey, you are coming to the party right?" she asks breaking the silence. "No." he replied without sparing her a look. Thinking that it was because he hadn't received invitation, Chaerry reaches out for her bag and takes out a wine coloured card. "Here. You are coming."
"No buts and ifs." she cuts him off before he could utter anymore word. Eugene's mom had always treated her no less than her own daughter so everytime they held an event she would give her a bundle of invitation cards for her friends and family.
"Also Sunday is going to be a big day for me. I need you there." She seemed earnest. There he was melted and convinced. Those puppy eyes of hers, could anyone ever say no to them or was only him that would never date to?
He nods and smiles at her. His words were getting less and lesser as they were nearing home because he was enjoying listening to her talk. He would only interrupt occasionly when she diverts the topic to a certain someone. For some reason, she always felt the need to include him in her talks.
He drops her home and begins a train of thoughts that mainly included Chaerry. He was indulged in them that he drove a few metres past his house. He slightly hits the back of his neck. " What on earth is happening to me?" he mumbles as he reverses back his car.
He walks in his house looking rather weary but the gleam in his eyes hadn't died. His mother was slowly taking notice of how much her son was changing for good. She knew the reason.
"Is that for me?" His mom asks pointing at the gift he held in his hand. "Ah this! It's for someone else. I promise I will buy yours next time." He kisses her forehead.
"Can you give me her number?" She brings forth her phone and he takes it almost immediately beginning to type her number. Yes. He had it memorized .
He was halfway done when realization him. "Did she just...?" He nevertheless gives her the number and doesn't forget to add, "She is just a friend."
"Sure." His mom raises her eyebrows then smirks. He squeezes his eyes and with his hands atop his head he walks to his room not bothering to convince his suspicious mom.
Once he was out of sight, his mom dials the number she just received. What she wanted to talk about was supposed to be kept secret from Hanji.
Chaerry in her house was rather happy now that her dad was away for work and the house was now peace. She sleeps on her mom's chest as they both watch a romcom movie. She misses when it was not only her and her mom. Her dad would work most days and when he came back home, he would create a ruckus and find reasons to fight her mom. He hadn't always been like that but the alcohol effect had been getting worse. She more wished he was away than he was at home. Sad but true.
Her mom was teasing her about having a first love when she gets a phone call from unknown number. She excuses herself from her mom when she hears the person introduce herself as Hanji's mom.
No one would have thought she was Hanji's. At least from the way she talked. She was soft spoken, gentle and kindly considerated as she made her request. Chaeryy was excited when she had her plan.
She was happy to finally do something for Hanji. Something that would make him happy she believed. She walked back to living room just to see her mom waiting with inquiring eyes. "So who is Hanji that even his mom calls you?" she begins her investigation.
"Oh! I didn't tell you about him. He is a new student in our class." she simply says.
"I am itching to ask more but I will stop here since we both have to wake up early tomorrow." Her mom hugs her and wishes her a good night.
With that Chaerry heads to room, where she spends a sleepless night as she thinks excitedly about both Saturday and Sunday.
It was the day after that, on Friday, that she was supposed to meet Hanji's mom. She just knew how she would be like already.
She couldn't wait for the night to end.