Lisa POV
I have a favorite person, he is my childhood friend Owen, and he has been around me for as long as I remember. Because I learn martial art from my family, the girls around me were reluctant to play with me because I am too rough, and the boys also didn't want to play with me just because I am a girl. But, Owen was different, he play with me despite me being a girl, and didn't reluctant to be with me.
When he was little, he was such a crybaby, that he often got bullied by the other boys. I often help him by beating up the bullies and staying beside him all the time. I looked at him as a little brother that I have to protect and love as a friend.
One day, tragedy struck, and his parents passed away in the accident. He became so depressed that he cried for 3 days after the incident. I tried to cheer him up as best as I can.
"Owen, please don't be like this. Uncle and auntie must be sad if they looked at you like this…. It's okay, I am here for you Owen."
"...lisa…..uh…UWAAAAAAA"
After that Owen cried in my arms until he fell asleep. As I looked at his sleeping face, I determined to always be with him and protect him. When he woke up, there is something different about Owen, his eye is full of determination as he asked something from me
" Lisa, I know it's selfish of me to ask something from you after your family actually let me stay here after mom and dad passed away, but please Lisa, I want to be strong!"
"Owen?"
"Please let me study martial art with your family, Lisa, I want to be strong and grow up as a man that my parents will be proud of!!"
"….yes, of course, Owen!"
With that, my crybaby childhood friend didn't have the eye of a weak brat anymore, it transformed into an eye of a determined man. As days follow, Owen begins to train together with me, at first he cannot even finish the first session, but he never gives up and always stand up over and over again, seeing him like this, I got a mixed feeling. I feel lonely that the crybaby Owen that is always with me is not here anymore, but on the other hand, I feel happy that Owen didn't just follow me from behind, but stand and walk beside me now. My feeling toward him gradually changed, I no longer saw him as an existence that have to be protected anymore, but as a partner and an equal that I can respect. And before I know it, I beginning to harbor a feeling toward him.
As years goes by, we grew close as childhood friends and fellow martial artists. He is still weaker than me, but he is no longer bullied by his peers anymore. And I have a feeling, if I begin to slack, he will overtake me in no time, I, feeling prideful as a senior train even harder so he cannot overtake me. Those days are fun and very fulfilling.
Those happy days passed by, and then…. I meet that man
"Lisa, I like you! Please go out with me!"
"…. I am sorry Jack, I appreciate your feeling, but…. I like another person."
"... it is Owen?"
".... Yes."
"as I thought, I mean you guys are so close, it didn't weird if you two are going out."
"…. I am sorry, jack"
"no, it's okay. But at least can I still become your friend? I admire you Lisa, and I want to have a friendly relationship with you…. But, it's okay if you refuse, I mean if you are afraid that it will create misunderstanding with Owen…."
"….no, it's alright, I am sure Owen will understand if it's just that much…."
"Really, thank you, Lisa! I am glad I can become your friend."
And then from that day forward, I sometimes meet with jack, I help him when he has some assignment, and sometimes he gives me advice about how to get closer to Owen. One day when he has a consultation with me at a cafe, Owen happened to pass by
"Hey Lisa, it's rare seeing you here! Hm? This person is…..?
"ah, Owen… um, this person is….
"Owen, pleased to meet you, my name is Jack, and I asked for Lisa's help with a school assignment. Don't worry, there is nothing between me and Lisa, I mean she already rejected me, hahaha!"
"….. what?"
" w-wait, jack!"
"to avoid the catastrophe called misunderstanding, it's important to come to clean Lisa! Owen, I once confessed to Lisa, but she rejected me! So instead asked her to become my friend! So don't worry I just see Lisa as a friend now."
"JACK!"
"Ummm…. Your friend is a weird one, Lisa….."
"hahaha, well people often say that to me"
"Ummm, then sorry for disturbing you two…., I will go over there bye"
"wait, Owen….."
The Owen just goes away from the café, as I get angry at jack
"WHY YOU DID DO THAT?"
"well. I mean it better come clean and said the truth instead of hiding it like it is some kind of affair right? It will create misunderstanding. I mean you two are going out, right?
"......"
"eh…..? really I thought you two like each other! But why didn't you two go out already?"
"….ah, that, well…."
Then I told jack about Owen's circumstances, that I think that Owen thinks of me more as a family than a girlfriend, and then I was also afraid that I will get rejected
"That won't do Lisa, you know how wonderful Owen is, what if he got taken by another girl?"
".....!!"
"Don't worry, Lisa, you are a wonderful girl! I will help you! I can give you advice on how to interact with a man and get his heart! Then he will definitely accept your confession"
"....okay, thanks jack"
At that time, I never in my mind that this man is actually a devil, and I actually fall for his sweet whisper…..