Before Us ✔

Don't ask me if I love him

"Sour apple, huh?" I teased.

"But I taste so sweet, aye," He winked playfully.

Our moves matched to the beat and even when the song came to an end, I was lost in the moment. We were dancing so closely with an eye contact that could kill. He held me by the shoulders as we danced, my arms over his neck. Our faces were just inches away and I couldn't help but blush over the proximity. The weather was romantic, and his lips invited me to kiss him.

We stood there like that, frozen in our spots even after the song ended. I could literally hear the surpressed squeals of Ah Rin and So Mi. I could even feel Kang Joon's glare on our frames. I didn't want to make him jealous but I didn't want to let go of Joo Hyun's embrace either.

"You both will get sick, come back!" Kang Joon hollered.

Our precious moment broke and Joo Hyun let go of me, blinking furiously as if to understand what just happened almost. I wanted to kill Kang Joon for ruining a moment like this. We could've kissed and- no, Ji Hee, no! You're his best friend, don't do this to yourself!

We both soon returned to our friends. I couldn't help but be dazed over the incident. Ah Rin and So Mi were wiggling their eyes at me but I ignored them. Or at least I tried to.

My attempts to not react by blushing seemed to have failed. Joo Hyun put his hand over my forehead to check the temperature. "Are you okay? Your face is all red-"

"Oh she's sick." I could hear Ah Rin mumbling to herself, "Lovesick."

"What?" Joo Hyun asked.

She shook her head and said, "I just didn't want her to be sick."

I wanted to scoff at that. Of course, she's worried but she's wantedly dropping subtle hints. And I'm tired of hiding them along with my feelings. However, I couldn't control how my body reacted, I wouldn't have blushed if I could.

Kang Joon came and checked my temperature too, just to be sure. Because Joo Hyun was wet by the rain like me and he didn't want me to be sick. I felt guilty for rejecting him but there's nothing I could do now. Because my heart belonged to someone else, once again. As if my heart's never mine to begin with.

He signed in relief, "No, guys, she's just as cold hearted."

I swatted his hand away, "As if you have any heart either."

He shrugged, "At least you agreed that you're heartless. I'm happy that you did."

I rolled my eyes, "You'd just be jealous if I had one. Because that would be something way better than your looks or success."

He gasped, "Are you even for real?"

"No, I'm Barbie."

Joo Hyun burst out laughing and it caused everyone to laugh. His laughter is contagious. My happy virus. His laughter, his voice is a song I'd not get tired of replaying for a thousand years. It's a melody that not everyone can hear and the one who does, like me, gets lost in the beauty of it.

We hurried home the moment rain stopped. Kang Joon and So Mi went together because they live near. Joo Hyun, Ah Rin and I decided to spend the weekend at Ah Rin's house.

We were playing truth or dare as if we are preteens from the early 2000s. It was quite fun and nostalgic. Ah Rin danced like a hen, Joo Hyun could only open his mouth for mooing like a cow. All the dares given and all the questions asked were pretty funny. It's probably because we're goofy little shits in adult bodies.

After what felt like an eternity, came the question I dreaded to answer. "Do you like anyone?"

I wanted to kill Ah Rin for asking me that but apparently I couldn't because it's illegal. And I'll miss her so much, I'll eventually get bored too. So I heaved a sigh before clearing my throat, "Dare."