It was the 14th of July. It was known as Silver Valentines in Korea. And that was how we remembered our day.
Sae and I were at our usual spot in the park. The atmosphere was even more romantic as Sae was dressed even more revealing.
She had styled her hair and tied it to the front, revealing her nape and her right ear. She wasn't wearing her glasses when I made her as she was rubbing them with her handkerchief.
She was wearing a white jacket on top of a blue T-shirt with very a loose collar. She was still wearing her usual short pants but it felt like her thighs were even more revealing. Perhaps it had something to do with the balance of thickness between her top and bottom getup.
It wasn't as if she looked extremely beautiful but her restlessness as she waited for my arrival made her very seem attractive to me.
I sat beside my childhood friend and started by coming up with simple conversation starters and small talks. We were quite calm as we both knew that we couldn't just talk about it immediately. Eventually, as if the time was right, we started to discuss our main topic for our gathering.
"So… since when did you felt that way?"
"Since I was 17," Sae said casually as if today was just another with her childhood friend. "But I kept it to myself and focused on the exams."
Realizing that it had almost been 2 years since she had kept those emotions, I recalled her saying she had a crush on someone in her vocational school. Therefore, I asked her about it.
"Didn't you tell me you liked someone from vocational school? What happened to him."
"I found out he wasn't who I thought he was and let's just keep it at that."
"I see."
"Actually, I wanted to confess to you when I visited you at Comiket."
"Wait. Why? You knew I was dating someone else."
"Yeah, but I was ready to be rejected. I just wanted to move on with my life. But when I saw how you were having so much fun, I didn't have the heart to do it. Then when you told me that you had broken up with her, I thought I could just let my heart do what it wants and see how things go."
"Then," I said quickly as I turned to face Sae who was also looking at me. "It's a good thing you didn't do it. If not, this meeting would not have happened."
"I guess you're right." She said as she remained emotionless.
With that, I believe it was my turn to talk so I told her what I was willing to her.
"The truth is, I kind of saw it coming. Through the way we talked and how you acted around me, it was starting to be obvious to me. Even my friends knew something was going on between the two of us."
"Honestly, I was surprised how dense you were. I was throwing so many hints about my feelings for you and you just thought we were having fun."
"I really thought it was just how you were. I guess I really am dense, huh."
"Dense."
We both smiled as we continued talking about my shortcomings. After that, I told her my honest feelings.
"Gin told me that I had changed a lot since meeting you again. You see I used to be a big show-off and liked to flex my relationship in front of them. He knew I was the kind of person to do so, so he was willing to let it slide. But when he found out that I had broken up and began spending more time with him and our social group, he realized that I slowly changed into a nice person."
"Even I can see that you were a huge show-off. I was worried you were going to be the type to drop your current social group and run off somewhere else once you realized there were more fun there."
"Honestly, I can see myself doing that now. Though, I can trust that you would slap some sense into me and bring me back. After all, you changed me into who I am now."
Sae who had just been praised, began to stroke her hair as she hid her face with it also.
"I'm glad to hear you say that."
At this point, I had already reached a point of no return. There was no way I could leave without giving her an answer. The girl beside me had gathered her courage to give me her side of the story and had shown me her everything.
It was time for me to be a man and do the rest. After a few seconds of silence, I decided to gather my courage and called out to her.
"Hey, Sae. Don't freak out about what I'm about to say next. Okay?"
"Hm?"
I breathed in.
And then I breathed out.
And then I said the words to my childhood friend whom I had known for almost 14 years.
"I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Sae quickly picked up on my words and I could see her try to contain her smile. However, they proved useless as her face turned red as her ears turned red as well. Her smile was too visible for me that I could tell she had given up on containing it.
She then slowly leaned onto my shoulder, all while still sitting next to me. With that, she nodded.
At that time, I had only said those words half-heartedly as my heart was only thinking about getting another girlfriend. I had yet to know what I had gotten myself into but I knew for sure I wasn't willing to break my childhood friend's heart.
I was glad to know that there was a change of pace in my life. It was the first time that I learned about a girl liking me first before I had fallen for them. I wasn't going to let that opportunity go away and quickly grabbed hold of it.
So for that reason, I took advantage of her feelings for me and kept her all to myself. I had yet to understand if the feelings I had for her was love or lust.
But, at least for now, I want to treasure her in my own way.
END