I Was First | Joshua Hong

Chapter 16

Walking by the streets, Hiah couldn't help but look elsewhere. It felt like an eternity and she just couldn't wait for them to get in each of their houses, and now that Joshua and her were walking side by side, it felt awkward and nerve-wracking as hell.

Joshua didn't say anything and she couldn't also. Even though she was itching to ask Joshua why did he lie that they had a project to do when they really didn't have one, and on why did he suddenly wanted to walk with her home.

Joshua didn't even say that they were taking the taxi that's why they were just walking and was already near their neighborhood.

Despite not talking to him, ignoring him and giving him a silent treatment, he wasn't even mad at her nor felt anything bad towards her. Yes, Joshua felt and realized what Hiah has been treating him, he just could because ever since they became friends and closer, he almost knew everything about her, and what he means by everything, even her moods and how she treats people.

Hiah felt guilty too, how she could eye Joshua from beside her, he was wearing a serene smile and looked like he was enjoying their silent-tranquil walk, she couldn't help but now regret everything she did and could've just understood him and couldn't have been someone she would also hate.

She felt the need to say sorry but she just didn't know how to properly bring up a conversation now that she felt like she forgot how to even approach him after not having a proper talk with him for awhile now.

"So uhm...", Joshua suddenly started that she instinctively tend her attention to him. After seeing him all smiley earlier, little did he know that he was somewhat awkward and nervous too. "... about the science project-", He stopped when she even managed to wheeze.

Even at this kind of moment, she still finds it funny that Joshua could lie like that, to his father, and it may not sound that laugh worthy yet she just find it one.

"Y-Yeah, I know you were lying."

Joshua's face somewhat softened when she saw how she smiled, the smile she always had when he manages to crack a joke that is funny for her.

"So... what's the real reason why you wanted to do an non-existent project with me?", She continued and looked at him with a teasing smile. Funny how she easily got comfortable with him again.

"I just wanted to walk with you home."

Her heart. Her heart started to pound uncontrollably fast, it went crazy just by hearing what Joshua said. His words were just simple, it was normal between friends yet she couldn't help but had her mind wonder and thought of it as if it could help her one-sided feeling.

"Just like what you did last time, we walked home together."

'We...' 'Together...' Why does those words flutter her so much? Why does it make her heart beat ever so crazily?

She wanted to know but she didn't know who to even ask.

She faked a cough and looked elsewhere, avoiding eye contact with him. Why does it feel like every nerve-wracked feeling she had earlier, came back in split seconds.

Joshua realized that Hiah suddenly looked tensed and that left him to crease his forehead. Did he say something wrong? He asked himself and tried to recall everything that he said just now that made Hiah like that but out of all the things he said, there wasn't seem something weird.

Wanting to break the sudden wall of ice that divided them, he cleared his throat. "By the way, y-you're art earlier was good.", He said and Hiah slowly diverted her eyes back to him

"M-Mine?", She asked, that Joshua nodded unsure. She was so nervous that his words now were hard for her to process. Did she even hear him right when he said that what she made earlier in art class was good?