Chapter 17 (1/1)

Changes really surprise anyone who sees it or feel it.  Its not that you don’t want to see him like this, that you aren’t happy to see him acting this way. But you feel, these changes might make you fall in love with him even more. Undeniably, you like him, that typical him. That guy you would often see near the soccer field, sketching. That guy who sits beside you on your biology class, not listening to your teacher, even if he’ll be called for a few times. That guy who eats alone during lunch time at the school cafeteria. That guy you barely see the smile. But these past few weeks, your star seemed to shine at its brightest. A lot of people actually noticed his changes. Its quite surprising to see him going to school earlier, with a bright small drawn in his lips. His eyes sparkle, full of motivation. You now see him opening his notes, not doodling at them, but actually full of written discussions. You can now see him talking to your other classmates, asking for help regarding some of your subjects. You can now see people sitting beside him every lunch time, and as days pass, they grow in number. From afar, you can hear laughter slowly filled their area. You can’t help but smile seeing him in this; you felt those quick glances you make weren’t enough to see that smile again. That smile you only saw on a picture when he was young. You feel that by simply looking at him, already makes you happy. And he does feel the same. Your quick glances are his reasons of smile, his reasons of being happy. You are simply the reason of his changes.   And he really wanted to make you feel that you are the one and only reason he is changing.Often times, he would catch you looking at him. You would look away, hide yourself on those books you weren’t even reading. You would look again to see if he isn’t looking anymore. And surprisingly, his eyes never left you, as he smiled, fascinated on how cute you looked like, with your cheeks turning pink in embarrassment. Knowing you had just said everything that you’ve been feeling for him, made you feel confused on why he was doing this to you. “Is he just taking advantage of the situation?”, you ask yourself, staring down at your notebook. “Miss ____________?...”, your teacher asked, snapping you back to your senses. You looked at your teacher, and everyone sitting around this long table. Every one of them looked at you in confusion. “…Are you okay? You seemed a little distracted.”, she continued.  “No Ma’am, I’ am doing fine.”, you said, smiling at her, hiding your hair behind your ears. You looked down, and started jotting down notes again. You are completely not on focus today, and on every single day that had pass and will pass.  After a few minutes of reminders and so, the meeting of your school organization ended early. Finished packing your things, you went out in a rush to see if DaeSung was downstairs, waiting for you. You are really not sure if he’s really coming, the weather for today seemed like it won’t be good. Gray clouds filled the sky, as the sun seemed like it won’t show up. Upon pushing the door, a familiar figure shows up, standing near the classroom where the meeting was held. “_______________.”, he said with a smile on his lips, going near you. “Oh! Ji…JiYong…”, you said, surprised. You are indeed in surprise to see him here in a Saturday.  “…what are you doing here?”, you asked, with tight-lipped a smile on your face. You can feel everyone that was coming out of the room, looking at both of you, smiling, and giggling. JiYong looks down in embarrassment, as he scratched his head, while his other hand hides inside his pocket. You can see that sweet smile drawn on his lips. “I was planning to meet…DaeSung for practice. But I can’t see him. I figure out that if I’ll go to you, I might be able to see him.”, he said, that he looks up, then stares at your hazel eyes. “Oh. I was planning to see him too, but I’m not sure if he’s downstairs right now. I told him to fetch me here..”, you said, slowly walking down the hallway. It was a different feeling, more different, to see him now walking with you. The two of you were the only ones left at this floor now.  “I see…”, he said. As he looks at the paper bag you were carrying. They were all filled with books, you borrowed to your classmate. “…Mind if I carry these…?”, he said, as his hands went down to reach for the paper bag’s handle. You looked down, in a cold sensation, slightly touching your fingers. Seeing his hands almost touched yours, you look at him, as his eyes sparkle like diamonds.  He was happy in what he was doing. You nod in response, as he grabs the paper bag, carrying it with his right hand. You bit your lips in embarrassment, and a feeling of happiness flowing out of your heart. You feel like you were floating going down the stairs. He was quite all throughout, and only the beat of your heart is all you hear. Going out of the school building, you went to look for DaeSung whom you thought will be there. You were calling him, yet he wasn’t answering. You look at JiYong who quietly sits at the bench near the school’s entrance. He was so quiet, like he was thinking something deep. You watched him taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes, letting the wind pass by. His hair played with the breeze. He opens his eyes, with a satisfied smile drawn on his lips. You were completely mesmerized by him. Going near him, cold drops of water hits your head. You look at the sky and saw a million drops pour out from the gray sky. Standing there, not knowing what to do. One hand grabs you, wanting to pull you out of the rain. Holding your hand, JiYong drags you out of the school, looking for a place to save you from getting soaked by the rain. But it was too late. The rain grew stronger than what it seemed. Both of you were running down the street now all soaked. Yet you didn’t mind. Seeing him, holding your hand, that even if the water made both of your hands slippery…He never lets go, and instead holds your hand tighter.  There was a unique kind of bliss flowing out of you that it was only him who let it all out. Seeing an ice cream parlor, having a good place to shade in for the rain, you both went there at the parlor’s entrance. Catching your breath, you look at JiYong who after catching his breath, lets out a small chuckle. Like a child, who just played in the rain, you see he was really happy and satisfied. “You are really weird.”, you said, looking at him, laughing quietly at his expression. He looked so cute with that smile, that childish smile you only see. “Do I look weird?”, he asks, as he gazes into your eyes. “You are…See?...”, you said, then pointing out his hand that is still holding yours. “…Until when are you going to hold my hands?”, you said, looking back at him. Pulling you closer to him, he opens your hands, placing your palm on his damp chest. As he looked deeply into you, who were so surprised by his sudden actions. Time seemed it stopped, and the atmosphere suddenly changed. The sound of the rain hitting the ground is all you here. Your hand suddenly shivers, as you feel his heart beat every second that pass. “Can you feel my heartbeat?...”, he asks, with sincerity in his eyes. You weren’t able to answer, that you intently wanted to listen on what he wanted to say. You tried opening your mouth, hoping words would come out, but nothing came out. “...as long as you hear and feel this heart of mine beat… ….I’ll never ever let your hands go…”, he smiles, yet every word he said, slowly ate you, that you were completely astonished. “…So, _________________...             …are you willing to hold my hand forever?”