Annoying Girl in Next Door - 15
- Third Person Pov -
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"I like you."
"I like you... a lot."
"I like you... I like you... I like you... What?"
"Hey, what the hell!?"
You were jolted out of your thoughts by your sister's loud voice echoing through the room. Her tone was intense and demanding as she locked eyes with you. She was sprawled out on the couch, watching you with suspicion.
"Can you stop pacing back and forth, chanting 'I like you! I like you!' like a broken record! Who the fuck are you even talking about?" she demanded, sitting up straight and crossing her arms. You immediately bit your lip, realizing your muttering had been loud enough for her to overhear.
"No one, I don't like anyone," you laughed nervously, trying to brush it off, but your mind was still reeling from Kang Haerin's sudden confession the night before.
Did she really mean what she said? But everyone always claims drunk words are honest words. So... Kang Haerin, the person who has been a thorn in your side since you were six, actually likes you? The one who constantly teases you and calls you ugly even though you're definitely not? How could you be ugly when you're Kim Minji's sibling, the prized one?
But still... Kang Haerin likes you? The idea was both shocking and confusing, and you couldn't shake off the weight of her confession from your thoughts.
"Y/n—" your mother's voice snapped you out of your thoughts as you turned to see her serving breakfast on Haerin's plate. Haerin, looking half-asleep and battling a hangover, seemed to be eating slowly and struggling to stay awake.
"Yeah, Mom?" you mumbled, trying not to stare at Haerin, though your attention kept drifting back to her. "Why aren't you eating breakfast? What's on your mind? Worried about next week's exam?" your mom asked as she gave Haerin an affectionate pat on the back. Haerin chewed her food lazily, finally glancing your way for the fifth time that morning, her cat-like eyes half-open but still striking.
With the mid-term exam looming next week, you had been hitting the books hard, and you were also responsible for teaching Haerin, hoping she retained something from your sessions.
"Wait, what...? The exam is next week?" Haerin asked, catching you off guard. You bit your lip in frustration. So this cat doesn't even know when the exam is...
—ッ—
"Why is it so damn quiet? You haven't even said a word to me all morning!" Haerin whined as she massaged her temples, her hangover making her irritable. She looked at you as you both waited in class for the teacher to arrive.
"I hate all this quiet; it's awkward as hell. And hey, why are your ears so red?" She squinted at you, leaning in closer, her fingers reaching out to touch your flushed ears. You flinched and smacked her hand away. "Don't touch me!"
"Who do you think you are? You're not my mom!" she shot back, rolling her eyes before groaning and laying her head on the desk. "My head's fucking killing me!"
"Why are you even here, then?" you asked, recalling how your mom suggested Haerin should stay home to recover from her hangover, her first ever.
"To getkeep you," she said, and you blinked in surprise. "W-what—"
"Just messing with you," she said with a smirk. "Honestly, I came because the mid-term exam is next week, and the teachers always give us important notes around this time. Plus, I'm here to keep you company," she said with a yawn, stretching her arms out.
"Uh... yeah, that makes sense," you mumbled, still distracted. "Does she even remember what she told me yesterday?" You couldn't help but wonder if Kang Haerin remembered confessing her feelings for you, or if she just brushed it off as a drunken moment.
—ッ—
"First of all, it was just a joke. Secondly, she was drunk. Third, she would never like you. Fourth, you don't have any feelings for her either. Fifth, she loves frogs. Sixth, you would rather date a rock than Kang Haerin. Seventh, she'd be a terrible girlfriend. Eighth, she's a troublemaker. Ninth, you are no match for her—she's stunning, and you... Well, moving on. Tenth, you both hate each other; Kang Haerin can't stand you, and you feel the same about her. You're deluding yourself—this isn't a novel, period. She may have said she likes you, but she hates you... Wait, did she really say she likes me?"
"Who are you talking to?" A voice broke through your thoughts, and you looked up to see Jang Wonyoung, a senior.
"Uh, no one," you quickly replied. You were in the library, trying to process the strange events of the day after classes ended. Haerin had probably left after basketball practice.
"Really? It looked like you were reciting an incantation or something. Anyway, you know why I'm here," Wonyoung said as she approached, placing her hand on your shoulder. "You mean the debate?" you asked, and she nodded.
"Yeah, the one happening right after mid-terms, the day after. So, we need to practice even during the exam period," she explained, removing her hand.
"Got it, no problem. Did they announce the debate topics yet?" you asked, and she shook her head.
"Not yet, but maybe tomorrow we'll get more information. In the meantime, take it easy. Don't overthink things—we'll do great, just like always," she said with a wave before leaving the library.
You turned back to the book in front of you, trying to immerse yourself in the topic.
"Physics is the worst! Newton can go fuck himself—"
"Haerin, watch your language!" you heard someone playfully chastise, and you recognized the voice of Kang Haerin's.
You closed your eyes briefly, trying to block out the sound. "Y/n, stay focused on your book. Concentrate—"
"Kim Y/n!" Haerin's voice interrupted you, causing you to grit your teeth. "Why is she calling me? Why is she calling me now? No, no..."
You felt a hand on your shoulder—a gentle touch, warm and oddly comforting.
"Kim, aren't you heading home? I've been waiting for you outside the gate," you heard Haerin say as you turned to see her in her basketball jersey, slightly sweaty, her hair in a messy bun that somehow made her look even hotter. But no, you couldn't allow yourself to think like that, Y/n. Remember, you can't stand her, right?
You swallowed hard. "Why were you waiting for me?" you asked, thankful you didn't stumble over your words and hoping your expression was neutral. Was it? You couldn't tell, but your face felt like it was on fire.
"Yeah... I messaged you. Didn't you check your phone?" Haerin raised her eyebrows, her expression a mix of playful teasing and mock disapproval. "You sent me a message?" you asked, surprised as she pulled her hand away from your shoulder, and you turned to see what she was doing.
Why did she pull her hand away? You had almost forgotten how nice it felt to have her hand on your shoulder—wait, why did you even think that?
Haerin took a breath before slipping her hand into her shorts pocket and pulling out her phone. She scrolled through something on the screen, and you couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness, wondering what she was up to.
"Look at this!" She practically shoved her phone in your face, the screen so close it brushed against your nose and lips. You couldn't make out anything.
"Back up a bit, I can't see a damn thing!" you said, pushing her phone away to finally get a clear view of the screen.
The conversation read:
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Expired kidney of a doggy -_-
Where are you?
Upstairs with Dani and Hyein. What's up?
Nothing.
....
23 March, 20##
Hey, Kim, where are you?
I'll wait for you outside the gate.
Don't ghost me, or I'll hunt you down.
....
Why aren't you answering?
I'll assume that's a yes (ಠ_ಠ)
Seen
---
You shut your eyes, biting your cheek in thought. "I waited for an hour, seven minutes, and forty seconds. Why did you stand me up like that?" Haerin sighed, slamming her hand down on the desk with a loud noise that drew the attention of several people in the library. "You saw my message, didn't you?" she asked.
You had seen the message, but your mind was in a fog, and you hadn't even acknowledged it. You'd been staring blankly at your phone, lost in your own world, and now you were unsure what to say.
"Kim, are you listening?" Haerin's voice, slightly louder than before, pulled you back to reality. You turned to her, noticing her striking cat-like eyes fixed on you with an intense expression. You were caught off guard.
'I like you... a lot.'
"Kim, I'm heading out—"
"Do you actually have feelings for me?"
( To be continued... )
A/n: it's been a month since I last updated this book :P