Confessions (2/2)

“Are you okay?” I asked him. He nods. “But…” Then I noticed him sweating. I touched his forehead and then his arm. His sweat was cold. I was really worried. “Geun Seuk-ah… what’s happening to you?” He shook his head. “Come on… we’re done here” I told him. Once the ferris wheel reached the ground, I commanded the operator to let us out. I put Geun Seuk’s arm around my neck and we went to the nearest bench. I helped him sit. He turned weak after that ride. I left him there to buy him a bottle of water. I went back and gave him the water. He was calmer after that. I sat beside him. I am panicking back then that I forgot that Hong Ki and Choo Hee was still on the ferris wheel.

“You okay now?” I asked him. He nods. “Geez… You scared me.” I sighed with relief.

“I am claustrophobic” He said, he is still weak but his color is turning to normal again. I looked at him, surprised on what he said. I did not know that. “Narrow spaces make me feel uncomfortable and dizzy” Then I remembered how he holds my arm and pulled me on to his side. *Was that the reason why he wanted me to go with him?* I kind of liked it when he told me that he was claustrophobic. It seems like I am getting to know him more. Then, I remember how scared he was back there.“Yah! Why did not you tell me that you are like that?!” I shouted at him, worriedly. He turned to me.

“It’s because you were so excited to get in there. I do not want to ruin your excitement” I turned silent. I did not argue back. *Is he being considerate truthfully this time?* I was staring at him when Hong Ki called and came running towards us, behind him is Choo Hee.“What happened?” Hong Ki asked.

“Geun Seuk-ah is just a little uncomfortable with the ferris wheel so I decided to get out of it. Sorry about leaving you two behind.” I apologized.“Geun Seuk-ah… Are you ok?” Choo Hee stood before Geun Seuk and I could see that her face was really worried. Geun Seuk grinned. “I am fine now” he answered, erasing that worried-look from Choo Hee’s face. She blushed and smiled. I smiled. “Jaaaaaaaaaa! We’ll go there next!” Hong Ki-ah pointed the horror house. The dark horror house, the freaking scary, horror house. I stood up.“ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?!” I shouted. Hong Ki turned to me. He pouts.

“What’s the matter?”

“Are you scared, __________-ah??” Choo Hee asked me, caringly.

“Ahhh…” I looked behind me and saw Geun Seuk looking right at me. “No… I… am… I am excited.”

“So? Let’s go?” Hong Ki smiled at me and we followed him. I was walking slowly. Obviously, I was so hesitant to go there. I am not afraid of insects, cockroaches or even the weirdest things. But the dark… Come on! I think that is my biggest phobia. It’s just that I do not want them to know that I am afraid of the dark. It’s so child-like. So I lied that I am just excited. We entered the horror house. At first it was quiet and the light from the outside still lights our way. But as we go deeper, the light started to fade. I was walking slowly. We go in together but I do not know now who’s beside me, in front of me or behind me. All I want to do is to get out of that horror house, ASAP! I grabbed someone’s arm. I do not know whose arm was that and I do not care whose. My eyes were closed and I was really trembling. I hate darkness. I hate rooms without light. It’s very scary. My eyes were closed the whole time were inside that scary house. I just opened them when the arm I was holding shook me. I opened my eyes slowly and saw Hong Ki looking at me, smiling. It was Hong Ki’s arm I was holding all this time. I let go. And my tears fall. Everyone was surprised. I sat on my knees, and covered my eyes. I was sobbing.

“_______-ah!” I heard Hong Ki’s voice.

“________-ah… Are you okay?” Choo Hee’s voice next. I nod as I continue to sob and cover my eyes. “Are you… afraid of the dark?” Hong Ki asked me. I nod again. Then I wiped my tears away. I stood up and looked at all of them. Geun Seuk was just looking at me. I know he doesn’t know what to do at times like this. I smiled at him. Assuring him I was okay now that is when he turned away.“I’m sorry everyone. It’s just that, I am really scared of the dark. I cope up with that fear by crying it out.”

“_________-ah… Mianhae” Hong Ki told me.

“It’s ok. As long as you guys had fun” I smiled. I fixed myself and later on I was able to calm down.

**JANG GEUN SEUK’S POV** We decided to go home. Me and Choo Hee were walking beside each other again. While Hong Ki and _________-ah walk beside each other. I admit, I was really worried back there when __________-ah cried. She was trembling and all I could do is to just stare at her. I could not say anything but I really want to calm her down. She really is something that could be scared and hurt easily by something so small but she’s not scared to protect someone she really loved. All I could see all this time is myself staring at her. Looking at her. *Did I learned to like her even though we argue a lot? And why do I feel so uneasy when she’s with Hong Ki* I shook my head and smiled. We exited the amusement park and went straight to the parking lot where my car is.“Geun Seuk-ah… Hong Ki-ah and me will just walk together why don’t you take Choo hee-ah home. It’s getting late too.” ________-ah told me. Eversince we got here, ________-ah’s been putting me and Choo Hee-ah beside each other. I noticed that she’s been pushing us together. She was smiling at me and I agreed to her idea. I wanted to know what is up too.“Choo Hee-ah… Let’go” I told her. She was about to get inside the back seat but _______-ah stopped her.

“No…! Choo Hee-ah! You can seat at the passenger seat at the front”

“Eh?!” Choo Hee exclaimed.

“It’s ok. Come on.” ________-ah insisted. I went inside and Choo Hee sat at the passenger seat. I ______-ah waved and walked away with Hong Ki. I turned the engine on and I drove away.**LEE HONG KI’S POV** ________-ah decided that we walk home together. After all, it was her plan that she will help Choo Hee and Geun Seuk get to know each other better. Then, I realized. We are the only ones left and it is my turn to continue with my plan too. I like _______-ah. I know Geun Seuk managed to notice it by now. And I wanted know what ________-ah thinks about me too. “________-ah?”

“Hmmm?” she replied but did not look at me.

“What if a friend told you he likes you?” She stopped walking and turned to me.

“Are you serious?! That will be impossible. Me? Who is like a guy?!” She laughed. Yeah she is right. She looks like a guy and acts like one. But I noticed that soft side she has and I really do not think of her as a guy either.“Eh? But you do not look like anything like a guy…” I assured her.

“Really?! And why is that question all of a sudden??” She asked me and she continued to walk and me behind her. Then she stopped again. I was just looking at her back for a second as if she was thinking something. And then, she turned to me suddenly, pointing at me. “You like me?!” She was smiling. My eyes widened. I did not know what to say. *She got through me?!* She laughed and approached me; put her arm around my neck.“I like you, too, Hong Ki-ah!” She told me. I felt my face getting hot. I turned to her and her face was just an inch away from mine. I looked away. “I wanted Hong Ki-ah, to be my friend forever.” She told me next. She let go and I looked at her. “Friend?” I asked and she nods.

“Hong Ki-ah’s been a great friend for me. I really like you as my friend.” Her smile was really beautiful. I looked away and looked straight.*Friend, huh? Just a friend, Hong Ki. She said it. You are just a friend* I grinned on the idea.“Come on. I’ll walk you home” She nods at me smiling. I know it’s not the time to give up. Feelings will change, someday it will. I promise to stay at _______-ah’s side until she realized how much I like her.**JANG GEUN SEUK’S POV** I was driving for sometime now but still Choo Hee-ah was being quiet. I really wanted to know what is happening to ________-ah. Why she was doing all this.“Choo Hee-ah, do you know why __________-ah’s doing this to us?”

“Eh?” She asked, I did not take my eyes off of the road.

“________-ah’s been putting us closer together. Are you okay with this? Sorry about her childish acts”

“Ah! No… It’s okay…” She replied. “Geun Seuk-ah… Do you have someone you like?” She asked me all of a sudden. I did not answer. *Someone I like?* I think hard.

“Do you like… ________-ah??” the traffic lights turned to stop and I stepped on the break. I did not look at her. *_______-ah?* I heard myself asked me.

“You’ve been staring at her every time she laughs. When she’s with Hong Ki, I could see your eyes getting angry like you are jealous. I kind of noticed everything. Your different facial expressions when you are with her. When she was crying back there, after we went on that horror house, you were just staring at her but those looks were so full of worries, Geun Seuk-ah… Do you like her?” She repeated the question again. “You noticed those things?” I asked her. She nods. “I always look at you. Coz I really like you Geun Seuk-ah…” She confessed without hesitation. I grinned. “But if you like her, I could back off now.” She smiled at me. Do I like her? Is this what am I feeling all this time? Then I recalled what Choo Hee told me.“You’ve been staring at her. Everytime she laughs, when she’s with Hong Ki, I could see your eyes getting angry like you are jealous. I kind of noticed everything. Your different facial expressions when you are with her. When she was crying back there, after we went on that horror house, you were just staring at her but those looks were so full of worries, Geun Seuk-ah… Do you like her?” Is Choo Hee, right? I did not answer again. I am not sure. But she’s right about her observations. I noticed myself doing that too.

“Mianhae…” I told her. She shook her head. “I am not sure about all this too”“It’s okay. But if you’re going to ask me. I think you do like _______-ah” She laughed. I looked away and turned on the road, I grinned. The lights on go and I drove on. I stopped in front Choo Hee’s home and she went out. She waved good bye, smiling and I waved back. “Gomapseumnida” I told her. She smiled and I drove away.As I made my way back, I think hard. Is this is it? Do I like her? That girl who is like a guy? But suddenly I always see myself wanting to protect her. Wanting to be with her side. And Choo Hee’s right, whenever I see ______-ah with Hong Ki, I could feel myself getting angry. Am I jealous? I really do not understand the feelings I have right now. I sighed deeply. If these are true, then someone managed to help me moved from that hurtful past.