Sunsets and Flowers

Chapter 7

"You missed the fun last night. Are you dating someone already?" Chaeyoung asked with her eyes set on the horizon.

"You'll be the first one to know." I answered, busy digging on the sand to find some seashells.

"You've been busy so I thought, you're getting giddy over a girl. But then, I think, Lia's holding you back." she stated which made me let out a heavy sigh.

I spend most of my time with them to the point they'd think I'm going crazy over a girl just because I missed the fun. I think Chaeyoung forgot I'm still studying.

"The least that could hold me back isn't someone like Lia, it's someone around me. Y'know, like Giselle, the constant reminder of who I should and who I should not date." I opened another can of beer and placed it on top of the cooler.

"The hell they care? Date whoever you want."

"Yeah, I know. I told you, you'll be the first one to know." I said with a smile before initiating a fist bump with her.

"And it'll never be my business to tell." Chaeng responded.

I pulled out my phone to take a picture of the sunset. I remember Yeji told me she loves sunset. It's weird but maybe it's aesthetically pleasing for her.

"Since when did you learn to take your phone out to take a picture of nature?" Chaeyoung sarcastically asked, "you're easy to read, Ryu, aren't you?" she added.

"You told me before I wasn't."

"When I didn't know much about you. But having a glimpse of your character made me realize you're easy to read, your eyes speak it all." she stated which made me smile in an instant.

Sometimes I could say, certainly say, that Chaeyoung is one of those comfort person I can consider. I'm glad to hear how someone somehow understand me. Someone notices the tiniest bit in me. It's healing, it's making me happy for some reason.

The old me would think I am in love with Chaeyoung. Before, I confused a lot of relationships. I didn't know whether it feels romantic or platonic. Sometimes when it reaches to the point that I couldn't understand what I feel, I'd just consider it romantic.

I ruined a lot of friendships thinking I felt more than that. The sensitivity level of my attachment had no boundaries.

"Chaeng, I still have a room to be a better me, right?" I asked with my eyes glued at the small waves.

I feel myself slowly changing for the better. I just can't see a way out of all the bullshits.

"You're still young, you got a whole room waiting for you." she answered.

"I know you hated me for leaving Lia. No matter how you disliked her for me, I know deeper inside you that you were happy for those times she'd put up with me."

"You two had put up with each other. She knew you haven't moved on from your first ex at that time but she stayed thinking she could be a better help for your healing." Chaeyoung stated that's why a deep sigh came out of me, "I think, Lia knew she couldn't change your mind but she tried to. She risked it all just to love you and be loved by you." she added which I responded with a nod.

"Besides, you two were too young at that point." Chaeng added. She always adds up the 'too young' just for me not to feel guilty about everything.

"We were teens, Chae. We weren't kids playing dolls or making sand castles." I said.

I feel like I'm being babied too much especially by Chaeyoung. Before, I liked this feeling. Someone siding on you, someone being mindful of their words just to avoid hurting you. But now, I feel like I want them to be blunt just once.