Chapter 1
1979 Words
Note: The following three chapters happened before she ran away from her wedding.
“Hey, why don't you swim?” Dylan sat beside me. I shook my head and faked a smile while watching Xian and Armie having fun together. They look cute.
“These two, I know there's something between them. I wonder why aren't they confirming it yet.”
I looked at him because of what he said. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged. He shook the canned beer on his hand before drinking from it. “They’ve been together since birth, I am sure they are not just plain friends. Look at Sean and Sam, they are slowly discovering their real feelings.”
I nodded. I looked back at the two and nodded unconsciously. They are not telling us what they really are, but we all can feel it, we all know there's something between them. They grew up together and they live far from us so we can't really tell. They usually visit us when we have bondings like this and they just completely act so comfortable to each other.
But when Sean and Samantha started to show us what’s going on between them, I immediately knew it's gonna be the same scenario with Xian and Armie. They are probably in a relationship by now, maybe they're just not saying it because everyone here knows that I liked Xian eversince.
All my life, I never liked anyone else aside from Xian. When I was twelve, we played truth or dare and that's when I was forced to tell them I like him. They would often tease me about it, especially when our family have gatherings.
I thought it's fine with him, telling our friends and family that I like him. But later on, I noticed he's been avoiding me. Xian is actually a cold and snob guy, he rarely smiles too, but he's not that distant towards me before.
I distanced myself too, afraid that he might get mad at me because our friends keep on teasing us. In the end, we both got used to it. I would just smile at him whenever I see him and that will be enough, I don't dare talk to him because I'm afraid he might just ignore me.
I sighed. I looked at Dylan beside me and I caught him looking at me teasingly. "Are you jealous?" He started tickling me on my waist that made me laugh a little.
“H-hey stop it, I'm not jealous.” And that's the truth. I got used to it, I got used seeing them this way.
“Really? You've been staring at them like you want to join them.” He teased.
I shook my head. I know he's not gonna stop so I just stood up so I can stay away from him, he's such a bully.
He laughed when he saw me walking away. I stuck out my tounge and laughed before my eyes landed at Xian who's watching me. I immediately frowned and looked away.
We're at our house, having a night out. Well, we always do this when we have time, gathering together in our house. My parents purposely had our house designed to accommodate gatherings so we have a lot of spare rooms on the second floor.
Xian and Armie lives in Seoul but they make sure they can come if they're free. I actually didn't expect them to be here because it's just a simple night out, I just want to hang out with them. I would understand if the two of them won't be able to come but I was surprised they arrived here yesterday.
“Hey, aren't you cold? You should change.” Dylan followed me to the table near the pool. He opened the cooler to get another beer before he turned to me.
“I'm fine with this.” I'm not even wearing swimsuit, compared to Armie and Samantha. I'm just on a sleeveless top and shorts, what's wrong with this?
I opened the cooler to look for a bottled water but I forgot that we didn't include it here.
“What are you looking for?” Dylan peeked at the cooler.
I shook my head, "I forgot to tell mom to put some water here too. I'll go get some inside," I closed the container and left Dylan at the table to get some water inside the house.
Samantha and Sean are both going down the stairs when I saw them. Samantha smiled at me. "Where are the others? You look bored."
"They're playing cards."
She nodded. I went to the kitchen to drink water and to get some too. I took six bottled waters and closed the refrigerator. I turned around but then stepped back when I saw Xian at the door, watching me like he's been there for quite a while.
"Uh, do you need something?" I asked but then looked away. I really can't stand looking at him for too long. His eyes are like magnets, it attracts me and I'm afraid I won't be able to stop looking at it.
He walked towards me and stopped infront of me, "Go change your clothes upstairs. Put on a shirt."
My forehead creased. I looked up at him and found his dark cold eyes looking down at me.
"H-huh?"
The bottles fell on the floor before he could even answer. I knelt down to pick it all but then stopped when he crouched to help me.
"Clumsy.." he murmured that made my cheeks flush.
He picked up four bottles while I'm holding two. I stood up and tried to get them from him but he didn't give it back. He took the bottles from me instead.
"I'll bring these outside. Go upstairs and change your clothes."
"But I'm fine with this.."
"Just go get changed."
In the end I know I cannot disobey him so I nodded and turned my back so I can go to my room and change even when I am wearing the most conservative clothes among the girls here. I honestly don't know why they want me to change my clothes.
I did change my clothes but I think I'm not on the mood to join them anymore, not because they asked me to change but because I feel sleepy.
I changed into my pajamas and sleeveless top and laid on my bed. I fell asleep quickly but then woke up in the middle of the night with knocks on my door. I ignored it and continued to sleep but then woke up again when I heard the door open.
I squinted to see who came in expecting my mom but then my eyes widened when I saw Xian standing beside my bed. I sat up in shock.
"W-why are you here?"
"You're not locking your door?"
I glanced at the door and then back at him, "I forgot."
He raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything.
"Are you guys done? I'm sorry I fell asleep. I'll just change, I'll go down to accompany--"
"Don't go down anymore, the guys are drunk. Just sleep here."
"Huh?"
"And lock your door."
"But I need to--"
My eyes widened when he sat beside me and rested his head on my headboard. What is he doing? I don't want Armie to see us here like this.
"Don't be stubborn and just sleep here," he said while his eyes are closed.
"B-but what are you doing here?"
"Let me rest for a while."
I glanced at the door. I should lock it right? I don't want my friends to see him inside my room, especially Armie, I don't want issues.
"Don't worry, I locked the door." He murmured.
I sighed, can he even read my mind? "You should just rest on your room if you're tired."
"I know, I just checked on you."
What? "Y-you don't have to check me, I-I'm fine, this is our house."
"Sshh.." That made me quiet.
I let him rest like what he wants. I stayed seated and blushing with my heart racing fast inside my chest. I can't believe this, why is he here? Is he drunk? But I don't smell alcohol from him.
I almost jumped when he opened his eyes and found me watching him. He sat up and pat the space between us on my bed.
"You can sleep, I'll leave once you're asleep. I'll lock the door."
"Y-you don't have--"
"Why do I feel that you're avoiding me.." he leaned closer. He placed his arm on my side with his face closer. "Hmm?"
I blinked several times before I realized how close we are. I can feel the heat on my cheeks and I'm sure he can clearly see that I'm blushing.
"I-I'm not.." I shook my head at the loss of words to say.
A familiar grin appeared on his lips as he watches me. I flinched when he tucked some strands of hair behind my ear.
"You are doing it for the past few years Kim Scofield," he breathed. "And how is it?"
"X-xian.." I tried to move away but I almost fell from the bed, thankfully he caught my arm. He pulled me to the center of my bed but he didn't remove his hand from me.
"Relax.." he whispered. "You're trembling."
"Xian I don't want Armie to think--"
"You didn't answer my question," he's looking at me like we're in an interrogation and I can't help but tremble. Why is he doing this to me?
"How is it? You've been avoiding me for years so tell me how is it?"
I looked down at my hand because I can't look at him. I never expected him to ask me why I've been trying to distance myself from him, I thought it's all okay, I thought it's the best thing I can do so he won't get mad at me, so I won't get in the way.
"I..I thought you're mad at me.." I can barely recognize my own voice, it sounded like a tamed cat.
"I thought you hate me when our friends found out that I like you, I thought you'll hate me evenmore if I continue to talk to you. And..and I don't want to get in the way between you and Armie."
He chuckled sarcastically that made me look at him. He's looking at me now like he's seeing an amusement park in my eyes.
"I never thought a girl like you can conclude such things," he scoffed. "You avoided me for years because you believed that I don't like you." He murmured it like he's talking to his self and not to me.
"You're pretty but you're clumsy and too engrossed in your fallacy."
"I just wanted to stay away,"
"You can't stay away from me Kim, you know that to yourself."
I know, he's a part of the circle of friends that I have. I will have to let go of my friends if I don't want to see him anymore but that's impossible. We were childhood friends, our parents are best friends. I know to myself that I won't be able to avoid him permanently but I still want to try, I still want to avoid him even when I know it's not possible. Because I know that's the only way I can be comfortable, by avoiding him, that's the only way I can find peace of mind.
I looked at him and caught him staring, like he's enjoying that my mind is in chaos. He completely knows how he can affect me, he completely knows I'm crazy for him and he's having fun seeing me this way.
He smirked, "Go to sleep, don't stress yourself about it. There's no way you can remove me from your life Scofield."
**
- Writer
