Mystery Girl

First Love 3

From that day on, we talked every morning before classes started. She would tell me something about her interests and I would listen intently, admiring the way her eyes lit up when she was talking about something that she was passionate about. In many ways, I looked up to her, I wanted to have interests and hobbies that would impress her. 

It was a childish sense of awe, looking up to the girl that I had a crush on, but it helped motivate me to do many things in my life that perhaps I wouldn't have done before. I was already involved in auditions during this time and soon I would have to move to the arts school to learn how to dance and develop my singing.

My friends did not bring this up too much as they knew that we would be upset if we focused on the fact that I would be moving away and probably losing contact with them very soon. We instead adopted the approach to acting as if we were always going to be friends- the friends forever ideal that many children have when they are younger- before friends drift away and life throws hurdles at you to jump over. We each knew within ourselves that this was the way it was going to be, change would happen at some point and we would have to accept that. So, my last year of school was pretty much the same as all the others, minus my newfound crush and my lack of free time with dance practice.

"Hey!" I span around at the voice sounding from behind me, it was one of Ha-eun's friends, standing a metre or so away from me, her arms crossed in front of her as she leaned back into her hip. "Yes?" I replied, mirroring her look of impatience, deciding I wasn't going to let a girl that I hadn't even bothered to learn the name of look down at me. The girl before me let a flicker of hurt flash across her eyes before she regained her cool composure. "Ha-eun wanted me to tell you to meet her after school by the gate." With the message relayed, the girl sashayed off, unaware of me rolling my eyes at her back. 

Despite being annoyed by her friend, I was delighted that Ha-eun wanted to meet up with me after school, it proved that maybe I was getting somewhere. 

That afternoon, I waited by the gates for 5 long minutes before Ha-eun turned up, a strong smell of perfume hanging around her like a cloak. I could feel the negative emotions lifting from me as her eyes met mine and a small smile played on her face. 

"Hey Tae," Ha-eun had said smoothly, with the confidence of some model or movie star- which admittedly, at the time, I thought of her as. After stuttering and stammering a reply, Ha-eun asked if I wanted to go into town with her. What I had been waiting for was finally coming true and although red-faced, I accepted her as cooly as I could and with that, Ha-eun waltzed ahead of me, pulling me along without missing a beat, her hair flowing behind her. 

That date was my first, and my last official date until now. We ran around town, me blindly following her as she skipped into and out of shops before we arrived at the local park. She sat on one of the swings and requested me to push her. Gladly, I accepted, but I felt shy pushing against her back. Every time my fingers brushed the shirt she wore, my heart skipped a beat. Once we realised that the sun was lowering in the sky, it was half five. Ha-eun let me walk her home and before she skipped off to her door, she pulled me in for a quick kiss. 

I stood frozen for a minute or two as she waved me off, unable to get my limbs to move until she closed the door behind her, a grin spread across her pretty face. I couldn't believe my luck, a girl like that took interest in me? 

That evening, I jogged home happily, feeling the breeze on my face push back my hair. When I opened the door, my grandma stood there, spoon in hand, asking me where I had been. The harsh look in her eyes almost instantly evaporated as she made eye contact with me. I was breathless and smiley, something that didn't seem to happen so much anymore. 

Grandma let me off without any repercussions except warning me not to be so late again without telling her where I was. I could tell she wasn't mad and only said that because she had to as a responsible adult. I didn't dwell on her minor telling off for more than a couple of seconds though, I had more important things to think about like the fact that Ha-eun kissed me. 

She kissed me. My crush kissed me. I felt her lips on mine momentarily before she pulled away and disappeared inside. That really happened. 

Dinner that night was quiet, I sat, mindlessly putting food in my mouth, not focusing on the taste or what exactly I was eating, but instead staring blankly into space, thinking about Ha-eun and when I could see her again. It had been a Friday, so usually, I wouldn't see Ha-eun over the weekend, but maybe I could swing by her house to see if she was in? My face spread into a grin. Tomorrow, I could walk to hers and ring on the doorbell, and Ha-eun would answer flustered that I came unexpectedly and I could ask her out and then we could spend the day together...

My thoughts were interrupted by my grandma telling me to clean up my plate and head to bed. Smiling at her, I stood up and practically waltzed about the place, finishing cleaning at least two times quicker than normal. Singing a good night to my grandma, I headed to my room and collapsed onto my bed, falling asleep shortly after.

(1021 words)

Author's Note

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh omg I'm so sorry that this took me absolutely forever to do, I don't really have an excuse I just didn't have the motivation. I hope you did like this chapter though! A lil fluff before we come back to the main story soon. Tell me what you think of this sub-plot, it was a spontaneous decision to try to tie loose ends, please tell me your opinion :) Hope everyone is well, vote and comment if you want. Love you guys 💜